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Click here for weather in Penang, Malaysia
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(note: this is one of my pre-scheduled posts set to appear at 5:00am EST each morning I am in a port city. I will post follow-up information about each trip once I am able to get back on the computer.)
The ship is scheduled to arrive at 0800 in Penang, Malaysia.
We will be in Malaysia for the next 4 days.
These are the trips I will be going on today...
Penang Island Orientation (Time: 0920 - 1700)
Description:
Georgetown is the capital of the island and state of Penang. As one of the largest islands in the Strait of Malacca, it was a hideaway for pirates and alter a base for the British East India Company. Georgetown became one of the most cosmopolitan cities in Southeast Asia. Sir George Leith, governor in the early 1800s wrote, "There is not, probably, any part of the world where there is so small a space, so many different people assembled together, or so great a variety of languages spoken." In Penang, Malays comprise about 30% of the population. Nearly two-thirds of the population of Penang is Chinese, most of whose ancestors immigrated during the 19th and early 20th centuries. The Chinese are mainly urban and possess considerable economic power. Malaysians of Indian descent make up approximately 9% of the population. Their ancestors came from India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka around the end of the 19th century and worked primarily as laborers on rubber plantations.
This orientation to the colorful life in and around Georgetown begins with a visit to Khoo Kongsi clan house and continues to Chor-su Kong Temple (Snake Temple), where poisonous snakes adorn the altars. Drive through the quaint countryside in Balik Pulau, where spices like cloves and nutmeg led to the founding of Penang in 1876. Stop at the Butterfly Farm, the largest in this region. Pass the tourist belt of Batu Ferringhi and have a late lunch at a local Chinese restaurant. Then visit the Kek Lok Si Temple and Pagoda devoted to the 'Ten Thousand Buddhas.' Enjoy a walk through the Botanical Gardens, where monkeys roam freely. Conclude with a brief stop at Fort Cornwallis. (PRICE: $35.00)
Welcome Reception and Shadow Puppet Performance (Time: 1850 - 2230)
Description:
Here is an opportunity to meet local university students. On previous SAS voyages, contacts made at the Welcome Receptions have served as excellent sources of information on what to see and do in the local area. The reception will be held at Universiti Sains Malaysia in Penang and will include a live performance of traditional shadow puppets. Unlike the three-dimensional Bunraku puppets of Japan, the shadow puppets developed in Indonesia and Malaysia tell their story with the aid of images cast on a screen. After the performance, you will have a chance to meet the performers and to interact with the Malaysian students. Local snacks and beverages will be served. (PRICE: $30.00)
Some links relating to today's trips...
- Penang
- Butterfly Farm
- Snake Temple
- Batu Ferringhi
- Kek Lok Si Temple
- Universiti Sains Malaysia
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shadow_play
Update:
I was up early as I always am when we get into a port and went up to the 7th deck yet again.
approaching Penang, Malaysia, on the ship
approaching Penang, Malaysia, on the ship
(click here for bigger version of the video)
approaching Penang, Malaysia, on the ship
(click here for bigger version of the video)
We were told in Logistical Pre-Port last night that we wouldn't be docking directly next to land. Instead, we would have to take tender boats (ie. one of the lifeboats on the ship that holds about 75-80 people) to the shore from the ship.
We were told last night as well that we wouldn't need to meet face-to-face with customs officials in this port and that trips that were leaving early would be able to disembark (ie. get the tender boat) first. My trip was one that left early and it seemed like a painfully long time to get everyone on the tender boat to the shore. This was matched by the long wait to get back on the ship after the tour. Apparently the tender boats are scheduled to be every half an hour from 7:00 am through midnight and every hour during the late night/early morning hours. Given that this was the first day where everyone was getting on and off the ship at once, there was slowness all around. The tender boats were hot and crowded. Even though the distance from ship to shore isn't that far, it still takes about 5 minutes or so to make the trip in the lifeboat.
inside the tender boat going from the ship to the shore in Penang, Malaysia
As for my tour, we started it at a Butterfly Farm. While butterflies are all well and good, I guess I should have mentioned I dislike something...um, things flying next to my face - more specifically, things flying next to my face that have legs. As the name might suggest, there were a lot of friggin' butterflies at this place. It was fine, but while other people were letting butterflies peacefully land on them, I was swatting them away when they got too close. I guess I fail to see the entertainment factor in butterflies. That's why I'm not a biologist I guess.
the restaurant we ate lunch at in Penang, Malaysia
After a quick stop at the Botanical Gardens, the buses dropped off some people at the tender boats again because the Welcome Reception would be starting soon and people needed to get back.
at the Penang Botanical Gardens in Penang, Malaysia
monkeys at the Penang Botanical Gardens in Penang, Malaysia
some longer video I took in Penang, Malaysia
(click here for a bigger version of the video)
After taking a quick shower (everyone on the trips was drenched in sweat because it is hot and there has been no breeze at all), I went to go on the Welcome Reception event. This event was really not for me at all. The shadow puppet performance was slow and mostly in Malay and the bits they did put into English were a bit odd. The very few Malaysian people in the audience found some parts extremely hilarious though so apparently it was just lost on me (and most of the other Semester at Sea people in the audience).
