Penang Malaysia

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Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: the Komtar tower, the main landmark in the island city.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Note the sign beneath the elevator call buttons in my five star hotel! There seemed to be a lot of unsophisticated Chinese guests here.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Inside the grounds at Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Outside the Chinese temple people added new sticks of incense to these "logs" of smoldering fragrant wood.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: The Continental Building.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Inside the grounds at Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

16-28 December 2002

Hello from Penang Malaysia.

I am in the $37 four star Sunway Hotel in Georgetown on the vacation island of Penang Malaysia where I chilled out for twelve nights while rousting myself out to explore from time to time. Christmas day passed without too much notice of fanfare on this Muslim island, though the hotel did decorate a bit for the benefit of foreign guests. Little could I have known a few years later several floors of the hotel I used would be under water and many people drowned. Much of the island where I stayed was inundated in the tsunami that hit the coastal regions of Malaysia in the aftermath of the monstrous earthquake that destroyed much of coastal south-west Sumatra on 10 January 2009.

Peace

Fred L Bellomy

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: All religions are present on the island. A Hindu temple sat directly opposite the Sunway Hotel where I stayed.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Panorama view from my hotel room.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: A view of the Hindu temple that sits across the street from the Sunway Hotel.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: A Muslim grave yard.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Inside the grounds at Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: This is the object of worship at the Chinese temple I found after following the loud noises being made by some drum and cymbal players in the building.

END

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: The Sunway Hotel is located in a Muslim country, but still celebrates Christmas.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Panorama view from my hotel room.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: A Muslim grave yard.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Panorama view from my hotel room.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: Inside the grounds at Wat Hammikarama, a Burmese Buddhist temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: This is the furnace used to burn play money at a Chinese temple.

Georgetown Penang Island Malaysia: The minnerrette at a mosque near the cyber cafe I used here.