Published on Mar, 2020
I booked this tour online but was able to customize it to fit our needs by emailing mamholidaysmy@gmail.com . I corresponded with Mahbubur Rahman (Mahbub) who was wonderful to work with. He responded promptly to all my emails and made changes to the tour, such as picking us up at the cruise ship dock, rather than at a pickup point in Georgetown, and allowing us to add some stops to the regular itinerary. We really appreciated his willingness to work with us to create the perfect tour! When our boat docked, we easily found our guide, Maxwell. Originally from Malaysia, he had studied in the US, getting his BA in Florida and MBA in Texas. After working for the tech industry in the US, he moved back to Malaysia to share his country with others. We felt so privileged to have such a wonderful guide who had so much first-hand knowledge of the history, economics, and culture of Malaysia and Penang—and who spoke such perfect English! We rode the funicular to the top of Penang Hill (where the British went to get away from the heat in Georgetown and relax). The views were spectacular and the plants and flowers lovely. Max even gave us jungle survival tips as we wandered through the garden. Next stop was Kek Lok Si Temple (Temple of Supreme Bliss), where we made our way up the hill, passing through one amazing temple after another (9 have been built so far, 10-11 are in progress, and 12 and 13 are being planned). The most impressive pagoda, completed in 1930, contains 10,000 alabaster and bronze statues of Buddha, a Chinese octagonal base, a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown. It was magnificent. Then on to the Reclining Buddha (wat Chaiyamangalaram)—3rd largest in the world and the Burmese Temple (Dharmikarama), which inspired thoughts of Siam and “The King & I,” with its many gold filigreed domes. Back in Georgetown, we visited the Pinang Peranakan Mansion (built at the end of the 19th C.), typical of the home of an affluent Chinese family who had adopted a British colonial lifestyle. It combined Chinese carved wooden panels, English floor tiles, and Scottish ironwork and was built around a central courtyard open to a large skylight above. The outside was typical English colonial with green clapboard and white lacy decorations. In addition to the house, there were two galleries full of magnificent gifts the family had been given and clothing, beadwork, shoes, and handbags. After the mansion tour, Max drove us through Georgetown showing us the wonderful street artworks painted on buildings and walls and then took us to the Chew Clan Jetty where we walked along he wooden sidewalks to see the variety of shops and houses behind them. This jetty (and others nearby) were built over the water on stilts over 100 years ago. They are tax-exempt and have been passed from generation to generation. He drove us past the Khoo Kongsi Clan House and told us the history of the clan houses. Because family was so important, those who prospered built large houses. As immigrants arrived, they invited any from their clan to live with them. They supported them and helped them to learn a trade and become self-sufficient. They were then expected to “pay it forward” to other immigrant clansmen. Thanks so much to Mahbub and Maxwell for making our tour of Penang perfect!
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