Georgetown, Melting-pot on the Malacca Strait

Georgetown on Penang island, on the west coast, is one of the most beautiful example of cultural mix. Three centuries ago, it was on the spice road between India and China. The British took advantage of its interesting central position and the island became a melting pot. Malays, Chinese, Indians, Indonesians, Japanese, Arabs, Europeans...all came to Penang with their culture and aspirations. First Chinese mixed up with the Malays, but the later comers kept their own communities and traditions. The result is visible in the amazing architecture of the town centre. Beautiful temples and Chinese clan halls have been renovated thanks to Unesco Heritage funding.  It reminded us of the temples in Vietnam. As usual, Chinese trading skills have been an asset to the city. Chinatown still shows import/export shops and the most amazing tea shop where tea is treated like precious wines. Some tea leaves are apparently kept for many years and flavors of the best teas in Asia are available.



Islam was brought in Georgetown by South Indians and Arab traders. Several mosques were built. In one of them I could enter thanks to the guardian who gave me a veil to cover my head. They had plenty of useful leaflets about Islam, women rights and misunderstanding. So which country in the world has got the most Muslims you think? ..Indonesia. And the second country with the most Muslims?... India! In Malaysia, women must cover their head but they look quite active in the society. Some states are more radical than others, but even in the north east where the Islamist party has recently won elections, the atmosphere is "relaxed". And if you are not Muslims, clearly, you do not have to comply with their rules. Anyway, even though Islam has got some interesting aspects (for example the fact of not charging interest on loan and specific rules of Islamist accounting), as a woman, I prefer seeing my peers free to wear what they want...

So Chinese temples, mosques, what are we missing? A cathedral of course! And? A colorful Hindu temple, built by the Tamil Nadu community. We really loved walking in Little India, it reminded us dearly of our two months in India...saying how much we enjoyed our naan, our tandoori chicken and massala tea is impossible:-)

This cultural mix is visible everywhere in Penang. We took a bus to the biggest Boudhist temple in South East Asia: we passed streets were Chinese and Malays were eating in Indian restaurants or vice-versa...Communities may not marry each other, but at least they can live peacefully together. The high growth of Malaysia and the generous land may have helped this common agreements.

Street Art 

Old Town

Very interesting street-food: the tables are surrounded by the food carts competing for the best food

Not clear what it was about.. but was Little India.. 

 

Hindu Temple

Little India.. put your future in your hand!

Little India, Temple Detail

Detail of Chinese Pagoda

Book a seat in Heaven

Chinese Pagoda

Chinese Pagoda

Chinese Pagoda