Marsha in Malaysia, Part 2

We are now in Kuala Lumpur, exploring the sights. More updates to come on that. Last Thursday, we explored a number of Chinese Buddhist temples in the old section of Penang's city of Georgetown. Pix are below.

Here are more Marsha impressions of Penang so far:

• The lushness of the tropical landscape, the Straits of Malacca right outside my building, the multicultural population, the colonial architecture, the vibrant colors in Little India, the veggie & fruit stands at the wet market, buildings associated with 4 different religions sprinkled all over town (Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Christian)
  
  
• The feel of beautiful silk fabrics and cotton batik sarongs, the refreshing taste of nutmeg juice and an Indian yogurt shake called Mango Lassi

Above is an offering area at a Chinese temple on Armenian Street - note the offering of three cups of tea and incense sticks.

The stunning entrance to Khoo Khongsi - a Chinese clanhouse and temple. Per my Eyewitness Travel guidebook, "kongsis are designed to function as places of worship and community centers for members of the clan that built them. This kongsi however became a center not just for the Khoos, but for four other powerful families, the Cheah, Lim, Tan and Yeoh clans, who ran an influential secret society." The clanhouse was recently renovated. The original structure had secret passageways and tunnels.

Mom at Khoo Kongsi with the happy buddha. Note the cool signboards behind her. Red and gold are very significant colors to the Chinese. We later visited the tradesman who handcrafts these.

Above is the signboard maker. He treats the wood panel with a base coat and carves the letters into the wood. Then, he paints the sign. Unfortunately, it's a dying art.


The Goddess of Mercy temple, one of the oldest in Penang - this is a public temple, open to all. This place is always hopping - it's located on a main street and people are in and out all day. The woman above is offering a candle. People offer fruit, flowers, and oil as well.

Outside the temple, people can buy a bird or birds, which they then release after saying a prayer. The gesture symbolizes a good deed, putting magnamous energy out to the universe. We were there around lunchtime, and we saw a forty-ish woman in business clothes buy a bird. The seller gave it to her in a little cage. She walked to the entrance of the temple, said a soft prayer, then opened the cage and watched the bird fly free.