Some shots from our wanders around Penang.

One of the more interesting places to visit in Penang is the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. About 100 baht equivalent gives you free reign to a two storey mansion stuffed with artefacts. I particularly liked the windows of stained glass:

The Georgetown area of Penang has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. What this means is that buildings inside the designated zone cannot be torn down and turned into high rise malls. What it doesn’t mean is that the place has become some sort of museum. There are some fancy restored houses dotted around, but most of the area remains a place of working shophouses and street markets; and people.

I lived for seven years in Malaysia and developed an addiction for the food. A multi-ethnic country may lead to political and social problems; but it does wonders for the choice of food and I was completely besotted with Chinese char kway teow, Malay desserts, and Indian roti canai. The latter was a particular favourite and every Saturday I would pop down to the local roti shop for a couple of roti canai and a bowl of chicken curry. The absence of this dish in Thailand has been a constant source of heartache, so any chance to indulge is always welcome.

The Son and his girlfriend made a trip to Penang as part of their recent Asian tour. Five minutes after checking into his hotel, he sent me a mail to inform me that there was a roti restaurant right over the road. Oh, and the hotel was very good too.

Driven more by the former fact than the latter, I therefore booked a trip for a couple of days, emphasising to she who must be obeyed that it was all about soaking in the culture and not about eating roti.

The hotel was indeed most pleasant. Only opened a few months ago, it is the result of an extensive refurbishment of a block of old Chinese shophouses.

Going to be without internet access for a few days. The massive enterprise that is Pattaya Days is closing down for a while. Toodle pip!

Comments 🔗

2011-06-20 | K.B. says

What !!!!! No pre-scheduled photos of your cats or of polo ponies for us to look at while you are gone. What is the world coming too.

2011-06-20 | Spike says

Be careful what you ask for…..

2011-06-20 | genuinej says

…..and broken lightbulbs.