Khoo Kongsi
The Historical City of GeorgetownI stayed a week in Penang and decided to take traveling around the city at a slow pace. I took my sweet time taking in the city's culture and history.
The clan jetties are home to families of dock workers, traders, and fishermen. It's nice to know that Penang values the blue collar workers that built the city from the ground up. The houses of the clans are built over the sea on stilts.
The houses in Penang were very much like the ones back in Malacca. The Chinese influence in architecture is prevalent in many of the houses in Georgetown.
Fort Cornwallis was built when Captain Francis Light first landed on Penang. The fort stands guard over the island. There were a few war relics and replicas inside this small fort. There is an entrance fee of MYR 2 to enter.
St. George's Church was built in 1818. This church is said to be the oldest Anglican Church in the region.
It was unsurprising that there were also quite a few old colonial buildings standing in this former British-held colony.
The Town Hall was built in the late 1800s and was a common venue for social gatherings for Penang's educated and elite.
The 60-foot Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower was erected in honor of Queen Elizabeth, just kidding, Queen Victoria back in 1897.
Temples Galore
When you're in Penang or Malacca, you'll never run out of Buddhist temples to go to. The Chinese influence has left its indelible mark on Malaysia.
One of the best temples I've been to in Malaysia is Khoo Kongsi. The whole temple is dedicated to the Khoo Kongsi clan. My friend and I had a hard time finding this place, but out of the blue, the person I asked for directions decided to give us a ride, how nice! I managed to hitch a ride without asking for one. The nice lady and her daughter knew about the Philippines because of previous business deals. She also talked about Malaysia and Penang during the entire ride.
Since the temple was dedicated to the Khoo Kongsi clan, people who enter the temple are constantly reminded of the things they have done for Penang.
The temple was completed in the early 1900s and features elaborate Chinese architecture.
The Kapitan Keling Mosque was founded in 1801. This mosque follows Moghul architecture and is the biggest historic mosque in Georgetown.
The Masjid Melayu Lebuh Acheh was built in 1808 by Penang's Arab settlers. The descendants of the first Arab settlers still live in the area surrounding the mosque.
Mahamariamman Temple is the oldest temple in Georgetown. Built in 1883
The Bengali Mosque was built in 1803 for the Bengali Muslims from India.
The Goddess of Mercy Temple is dedicated to Kuan Yin. This temple is a popular destination for both tourists and locals alike. The temple finished construction in 1800.
New found friend from Australia
There are more Chinese temples scattered in different parts of Georgetown. Georgetown is a nice place to walk around in. There are different streets that represent a certain piece of its culture and history. The many immigrants from different parts of the world make Penang a diverse place to visit. The street art located in Georgetown gave it personality.
