March 17, 2024 George Town, Malaysia 49 days left of 138

 This is our third day in a row of a new city each day. Today was the best day in regards to heat and humidity. Today's temperature was high 80's while we were out. It did get up to 93 later in the day.

Good Morning George Town, Malaysia. We have been seeing some very active shipping ports in these islands, that require everything to come in by ship.

You can't make some of these things up. This blue house was built for this man's seventh wife. It has 36 bedrooms for all his kids, so now it has been turned into a boutique hotel. It is very near the cruise port and downtown.

These Rickshaws are waiting for tourists to take a tour. One of our excursions included a tour on them. We did not take this one, and we have not talked to anyone who did. I am sure it was a good time. 

Below was a park like setting with thousands of these lanterns hanging. These were decorated by local school children and hung here for display.

We drove past many large and small temples. They are decorated inside and out with wood carvings, some of which are covered in gold leaf.

This is Penang Bridge connects the peninsula and the island. It is the second-longest bridge in Malaysia. The bridge total length is 5.2 miles. It was impressive.

Life goes on living in the city. You could see many people hanging their wash on their balconies to dry.

This was a World War II memorial. They were Japanese occupied during the war, falling in just 70 days.

Above I wanted to show a regular city street. There is less traffic due to it being a weekend. We also were told the population is only 80,000, which is much less than other countries we have been visiting.

The picture to the left shows a fruit vendor selling everything on the street.

Below is another vendor selling chicken. 

George Town hired a famous artist to paint some murals on local buildings. He accepted the commission, but was visiting trying to come up with ideas for his murals when he saw this girl riding her bike with her brother on the back. He was making a racket, and left an impression on the artist. The murals are great, and they are three dimension. Note the bike and basket in the pictures.

This is another street in the same area. They have hung all these umbrellas over the street. It made for a beautiful colorful display.

     Above and below is the temple complex of a thousand Buddhas. I only took a few pictures of the many Buddhas in this area. We did not go into the temples, or even get up to the uppermost level.  The area we did see was peaceful and beautiful.

Below is a peaceful quiet area. If you look closely on the right hand side this side of the bridge the grey areas are turtles.    

Since I am still struggling with my mouse letting me write where I want to, so scrolling down you will see me in my Buddha pose. The next picture is a close up of the turtles. I looked on the other side  of the bridge and saw this lizard. If you made the picture bigger you will see I got the picture with his tongue out.                                

A good picture of the Malaysia flag, and a sign celebrating their Chinese New Year. 

If you look at the purple tree, I don't remember the name of the tree, but I picked up a flower from the tree and the picture is below. We were in a Botanical Gardens. This used to be used by the British for their garden parties when they occupied George Town. They also named the city for their King George III.

 

Above is Mike walking through the gardens up to the orange arbor. Note the dog that is lying on the bricks in the shade. He wasn't moving for anyone.

On the right is a lotus flower in the koi pond.

These temples are made without using nails, instead they use wood dowels and the use of large beams and supports. The alter below is again wood carved and gold leaf covered.

The next picture below is art work that surrounded the sides of the temple.

This is another gate in front of a temple. Below is the lions that guard either side of the gate. I am trying to scare you with the female side of the two lions.

Fort Cornwallis is a bastion fort in George Town, Penang, Malaysia, built by the British East India Company in the late 18th century. Named after the then Lieutenant-General the 2nd Earl Cornwallis, the Governor-General of Bengal at the time of the fort's construction, it is the largest standing fort in Malaysia. The fort never engaged in combat during its operational history.

Below is a tree that was dying, so they made it into metal art.

We have left the dock, and a ship came in behind us. Below is the port area we used to enter the city.

Tonight there was an Explorer Society toast for returning Viking guests. Then our vocalists and Sea Six band rocked the night for dancing under the stars.  Happily the rain predicted never arrived and everyone was having a great time. Happy St. Patrick's day everyone. We were rocking our green.