Penang - Morning and Evening of the First Day

Morning:
Penang, Malaysia, is an island, reached in our case by a six hour train ride from Kuala Lumpur and !/2 hour taxi over a long bridge and highway.

First class car was good, but scenery was not outstanding.

 It is bigger in area than Singapore. The new section is supposedly a booming technology center. We chose to stay in the old section, a UNESCO Word Heritage site. But, as we have learned in other places, such as Colonia, Uruguay, this is no guarantee of beautiful preservation of old structures. At the moment, it appears to be a bigger version of Malacca, without the charm of a winding river running down the center.

This is as charming as it gets.

Add 95 degree heat and high humidity.

Watch your step.

However, this judgment may be premature because we haven't yet been to its waterfront, its beaches, or its interior natural wonders. I can however, warn you about the overrated and boring Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion or Blue Mansion. You have to join a one-hour tour to see it. And it's third-rate in my opinion.

Mansion of Wealthy Man Now A Hotel and Tourist Trap

More Than You Want to Know About This Money Man

The finest work in the house.

A bored tourist tries to do an endless regression photo.

There were some small noteworthy things:

Jackfruits being weighed by deliveryman. This one about 12 kilos.

Savvy tourists learn how to take breaks in air-conditioned hotel lobbies as they move through town.

Giant fish heads were not our lunch at the Line Clear South Indian restaurant. We had big plate of chicken, rice, okra, cabbage and green beans, both of us for $7.

The only interesting design object I've seen so far was this bamboo cane

Pink buns are attractive.

 Evening: The waterfront failed to change my opinion: We walked for kilometers without being able to get real water access. Just a few docks for ferries and cruise boats and general dilapidation. Finally an esplanade along the water, a food court and coconut  redeemed the evening. That and some quirky street art were the only small pleasures.

Ugly water view.

Bruce Lee depiction.

Mixed media

Wrought iron, not paint.

Finally, a food court.

A coconut drink relieves the misery.

 Keep in mind that all moments of delight are separated by long periods of hot suffering.

Kuala Lumpur Supermarket Oasis

The enormous Isetan food market in the basement of the Petronas Towers is worth a visit. When one tires of searching in high heat and humidity for the illusory fantastic hawker food mentioned in NY newspaper articles or trendy food blogs, here is one place to find decent, reasonably-priced food of all types. Tables are provided for eating. and, when you finish eating you can go upstairs and buy what you need in Tiffany's, Gucci, DeBeers, Chanel, Ralph Lauren and scores of other name-brands at ridiculous prices.

There is also a food court on the Fourth level but we found it lacking in authenticity,

Kuala Lumpur

By the time we have found the best coconut in Kuala Lumpur, it is time to leave. Shown here: coconut from Isetan Food Market in basement of Petronas Towers. Hard top ingeniously removed without breaking globe of coconut meat or disturbing liquid inside.

Emma invented chopstick method of removing interior coconut meat cleanly and quickly.

Tremendous irony in photo of veiled woman photographing her husband behind peacock in city's very fine Bird Park.

Our hotel lobby

Petronas Towers were the world's tallest buildings for a while.

Model of Mecca Mosque and sacred Kabba for those who can't get there. (From Islamic Museum)

No kissing joins other prohibitions in taxi window decal

Red ibis - Bird Park

Fancy relatives of New York pigeons

Dawn from our window

Miscellaneous things which caught my eye.

Giant baby sculpture - Singapore Gardens By The Bay - named "Planet" by British artist Marc Quinn

Carnivorous pitcher plants, from abundant display in Gardens By The Bay

Fine carvings holding plants at same place

Ingenious butter at Pollen restaurant in the same gardens - Made by dropping liquid butter into container of broken ice.

Juxtaposition of Hindu temple and Chinese New Year decoration in Singapore

Art center with durian appearance

Interior shopping Mall Singapore (Wisma Atria)

Chiese Zodiac ceramic figures from the wonderful Museum of Asian Civilizations in Singapore. This and the following from the Tang Dynasty, about 8th century I think.

Early trading depicted in Singapore public sculpture

Malacca - First cold coconut milk, then scrape out the soft coconut flesh.

Ingenious rotary slicer creates endless potato coil, stretched out and fried on stick - Malacca.

Malacca - Street dim sum

Malacca - T-shirts with various symbols

Mystery metal box with strange title - Malacca Flea Market. If I didn't have to carry it for three months I would have bought it.

Singapore street sign show parking spaces available at various places.