Pg05 Penang Island

This is the last journal in my Penang 2005 series. It features a selected hodge-podge of photos from all over the island (vs the city) including Bukit Benting, Spice Garden, Kek Lok Si at night, and Tanjung Bungah, featuring Pearl Hill & the new floating mosque.

There's an island map here showing the main sights & villages that may help you get oriented: http://wikitravel.org/upload/en/b/b7/Penang_Map.JPG

I'll be back with more in 2006 ;o)

BUKIT GENTING - hilltop Thai restaurant
with a spectacular view near Balik Pulau in the south-west corner of...

Looking down from farther up the trail

It's a multi-level setting
with several private dining pavilions. This place is sometimes...

One of the private pavilions
The only trouble with this type of setting is the long distance between the...

view of the top where the kitchen/bar
and public/open dining pavilions are located.

At the top, near the parking lot
where there's more viewing/dining pavilions.

Panorama from the deck
where we had dinner. Depending on which side you're standing on,...

Another sweeping view

Jon taking a pic of a critter

My shot of the small lizard (gecko)
A couple of his cousins are hidden guests in my condo and help keep the few...

Hibiscus, the Malaysian national flower

A pot of peppers Peter Piper
didn't pick ;o)

What we had for dinner
since I don't know my Thai food, I let Jon order & he did...

Green Curry Chicken (with eggplant).

SPICE GARDEN
is located on the outskirts of Teluk Bahang, a few minutes drive from Batu...

There are landscaped trails,
natural pathways, stream crossings, cascading waterfalls and interesting...

I will not attempt to identify the flora
I am hoping my horticulture friend Lisa in New Zealand will help me...

I know this one - hibiscus
a pretty orange one.

Christmas flowers - poinsettias
in the wild.

A little waterfall among the ferns
There are three undulating & criss-crossing trails that lead to 11...

Staghorn fern

Staghorn fern host tree

Small bridge over babbling brook

Can you spot the monkey?

KEK LOK SI TEMPLE at night
Pagoda of a Million Buddhas. Night photography is not my strong suit....

Another angle
I visited the temple with another local friend, Fred. He and his wife &...

Greeted by thousands of lanterns

Lotus pond pagoda on the right
and a small pavilion housing Lord Buddha teaching Dhamma to the Bhikkus...

closeup

I find that row of figures
very photogenic.

Majestic bronze statue of Kuan Yin
(Goddess of mercy) on the top level of the temple complex.

We didn't know what this was.
It's on the top level & I think it's new?

People can buy memorial roof tiles
for the temple.

TANJUNG BUNGAH - view from the top
of Pearl Hill. If you go right around that hill in the back ground,...

Straight ahead view
I visited Pearl hill with Fred & Poh.

There's a small Buddhist temple
at the top of Pearl Hill.

Many lanterns

Incense coils

Handsome temple rooster

This stairway likely leads to some WWII
bunkers which some claim are "haunted". One of the reasons we came up...

The new floating mosque
in Tanjung Bungah, Penang Island's newest landmark. It is the...

Fishing kampung (village)
The new mosque, which was built to replace the old mosque seen here on...

Another kampung view
taken from the entrance deck to the mosque.

Hong Kong Hotel in Tanjung Bungah
is close to the Island Plaza shopping mall. I also wanted to show the ugly...

article published 12/5/2005

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Hi,

I have been enjoying all of your SE Asia pics. As always I greatly enjoy the many building potos. I did not realize the European influence so so strong in many of the places you visited. I had mentioned one time that I would do some pintings from your church photos. I have not done that but I did post images of some of my painting on WiR as personnal postings. Thought you might want to know. I also have articles to psot on my trip to Austrlai. Just no time lately.
— Clay Sneller, February 4, 2006

Another great presentation!!!!
Hi Lorraine, just last weekend, my son who returned from this region, showed me his pictures and looks like he went to almost the same areas. It is interesting to learn that you are going back there. It is obvious that you really like the feel of the atmosphere and hospitality of locals. Another great presentation. Greetings, Rafal
— Rafal K Komierowski, December 5, 2005

Yes, Lorraine,
you really did save the best for last! As a country fellow at heart, I found it refreshing to get outside the city and see more of the rest of the countryside. Your photos give a well-chosen and diversified picture of what the culture is like, and it's enjoyable to see your night-time photos too. As you said: "there will be more in 2006" -- I'm looking forward to them already.
— Fred Perry, December 5, 2005

My hometown ! i'll be composing a collection of Penang soon. Your photos are really inspiring !
— Patrick, December 5, 2005

Rainy, this final one more pleasing to my eyes! LOL. I passed by floating mosque many times but didn't bother to stop for a snap or two.. :P Thanks for showing beauty of Penang, AGAIN!
— Adeleide Lim, December 5, 2005