Archive for February, 2011
Georgetown Freebies
By Thomas on February 28, 2011 | No Comments »
Spectacled langurs in the Penang Botanic Garden
Who says nothing is for free anymore? We have come across a few great freebies in and around Georgetown worth mentioning:
- Visit the Penang Botanic Gardens where you can spot long-tailed macaques and spectacled langurs in the wild
- Explore Georgetown’s Old Town using the Free shuttle bus
- Get a free cup of coffee at Prangin Mall’s Secret Recipe with purchase of a piece of cake between 3-6 PM (you have to ask for the free coffee special)
- Visit the Chew Clan Jetty to see stilt house life
- Make ATM withdrawals without fees at HSBC Bank on Lebuh Pantai (however, your home bank may charge you)
- Ride the Penang Ferry from Georgetown to Butterworth (however, Butterworth to Georgetown costs RM 1.20)
- And remember, visits to most mosques, churches and temples are free (donations are appreciated)
Great views of Penang from the ferry
That’s Some RED Wine
By Tony on February 26, 2011 | No Comments »
And you thought red wine made you flush!!! We crack up every time we see this billboard around town. The Malay slogan translates as “highlight your happiness with Lucas red wine.” Man, these people must be happy!
Han Jiang Teochew Temple Doors
By Tony on February 24, 2011 | No Comments »
I simply can’t pass by the incredible 14-foot doors of the Han Jiang Teochew Temple on Chulia Street without stopping to take another look. Unfortunately, they are now fronted by an annoying metal gate which makes photographing them all but impossible – or so they thought!
Click on the image above to enlarge
I fell so in love with these doors that I spent a ridiculous amount of time photographing them from different angles, altering the photos to compensate for angular distortion, and piecing the photos together into a single image. Now, that’s some serious architectural obsession.
Pinang Peranakan Mansion
By Thomas on February 21, 2011 | No Comments »
While not busy with Ken’s family or trying out new restaurants, we are actually doing some sightseeing around town. Georgetown has plenty of dilapidated yet charming British colonial architecture and some beautifully restored mansions which beckon to be explored.
A recent visit to the late nineteenth century Pinang Peranakan Mansion introduced us to the architectural style of the affluent » Continue reading this post »
Chap Goh Meh
By Tony on February 19, 2011 | No Comments »
The fifteenth night of Chinese New Year, known in Hokkien as Chap Goh Meh, is the final night of celebrations. This day, which marks the first full moon of the new year, coincides with the Chinese version of Valentine’s Day.
Here in Penang, unmarried women gather to toss oranges into the sea and unmarried men are supposed to throw apples. While we were there, everyone was throwing mandarins. When we asked why men were throwing mandarins, we were told that » Continue reading this post »
