Fruit and Spice Stands Dotted the Countryside



Traditional Malay-style Wooden Country Houses

After a pleasant lunch with a tasty traditional buffet, we visited a nearby batik factory. Observing the woman, we admired their skill and patience in creating intricate batik designs. First, the outline of the pattern is blocked out onto the cloth, traditionally with charcoal or graphite. The patterns on traditional batik have been handed down from generation to generation. Once the design is drawn onto the cloth, hot wax is applied to the areas that the artisan wishes the original color of the cloth to show through. The fabric is draped over light bamboo frames called gawangan to allow the freshly applied heated wax to cool and harden. Mistakes are very difficult to correct so the artisans have to be very careful not to smudge the wax. After that the waxed fabric is immersed in several dye baths to bring out each color. The artisans we observed, however, painted the colors onto the cloth with brushes. An aside: to me the workshop did not look entirely safe or sanitary—nor did the workers seem to be enjoying their work.

Batik Factory

Indonesian Arts and Crafts
On our return journey, we explored two temples in George Town. Dhamikarama Burmese Temple, the first Burmese Buddhist Temple in Malaysia. As the first Buddhist temple to be built in Penang back in 1803. It provides a historical evidence of Burmese occupation in Penang.

Dhamikarama Burmese Temple

The temple is located across the road from another magnificent temple Wat Chayamangkalaram, a Thai Buddhist temple.Built in 1845, on land donated by Queen Victoria to the Thai Communities of Penang, Wat Chaiyamangkalaram is the largest Buddhist temple in Penang. From our modern perspective it seems ironic that the English Queen was honored for “donating” land back to the people that were the original inhabitants. The temples reclining Buddha statue is covered in shimmering gold leaf, and the eyes and the toenails are sheathed in delicate Mother-of-Pearl. The pulled back hair symbolizes Buddha's great enlightenment, and the dot or "third eye" symbolizes spiritual vision. The reclining Buddha’s head rests in the palm of the right hand reflects the peace achieved on reaching the highest state of enlightenment, or Nirvana. The walls of the temple are decorated with hundreds of little golden sculptures. Underneath the Buddha is a mausoleum, holding the ashes of cremated Buddhist worshipers. Writhing dragon serpents at the entrance of the meditation hall are the link between heaven and earth, and are propitious beings. Fierce green-faced beings, or Dewas, stand guard at the temple entrance. This ornate, glittering structure brought back memories of our visit to the resplendent temples and places we had visited in Bangkok, Thailand.

Wat Chayamangkalaram Thai Temple

Heritage and History in Penang Malaysia
History of Penang

Kek Lok Si
Rambling over a steep hillside, Kek Lok Si s the largest Chinese temple in South East Asia. On the ground floor, we stopped to marvel at Reclining Statue of Buddha, the fourth largest in the world, which measuers108 feet. Photos
Then we climbed the maze of steps leading up to numerous prayer halls, pagodas, statues, and courtyard gardens, which create a glittering array of styles typical of Burmese, Chinese, and. Dominating the temple is a strikingly ornate seven-story pagoda completed in 1906. The pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base, a middle tier of Thai design, and a top tier capped with a Burmese crown. The varying styles reflect both Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism. On the hillside above the pagoda is a huge bronze statue of Kuan Yin, the goddess of mercy, popular in Penang. 

Kek Lok Si Temple

http://www.penang-online.com/pages/place-of-interest/tropical-fruit-farm.php
A side note: In preparation for our trip, I read the novel The Gift of Rain by Tan Twan Eng primarily because the story takes on the island of Penang, and paints a vivid picture of the city the historic area known as Georgetown. I had been looking forward to exploring the area, so I was exasperated when, at the end of the tour, we only caught a glimpse of the place. Still I highly recommend the novel.
Butterfly Farm, Penang. The eight-hectare butterfly sanctuary houses an impressively varied collection of butterfly species as well as an assortment of other insects. The farm sits at the foot of the Teluk Bahang hills, between the Taman Rimba Park and Teluk Bahang village. It felt dream-like to wander through the sunlit glass conservatory filled with a kaleidoscope of tropical flowers and a marvelous array of gorgeous butterflies. It’s mesmerizing to watch the butterflies flitting from flower to flower then pausing to balance on fragile, elegant legs while unfurling their proboscis to sip on the sweet nectar and fruit. The farm features more than 4,000 butterflies from more than 120 groups as well as other insects and reptiles. David Goh, the owner, founded the farm to introduce and promote entomology. In order to safeguard the various species of butterflies on the island, this conservation centre is dedicated to protecting these insects and their habitat. Penang Butterfly Farm is not only a popular tourist attraction has earned an international reputation as a conservation center.

Penang Butterfly Farm

To prepare for our adventure in Penang, I read the novel, The Gift of Rain by the renowned Malaysia author Tan Twan Eng. From his descriptions of old George Town I had formed vivid images of the area. Unfortunately, we did not have enough time to wander around the area—that’s what happens when you stick too closely to a schedule—we’ll have to plan another trip.
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