lechua photography

Chowrasta Market is a famous wet market facing Penang Road, in the centre of George Town. The market has an indoor section with market stalls spilling out onto the streets, mainly, Chowrasta Road, Tamil Lane and Kuala Kangsar Road (see map). Below are some street captures of the outdoor market activities that start to wrap up before noon.

stalls lined along Jalan Kuala Kangsar

(left) fishmonger selling off his remaining fish by the roadside; (right) a boy intrigued with swimming goldfish

scene of the local community at Chowrasta

hanging up chinese dried pork sausages (lap cheong) at a sundry shop

market vendor packed up for the day

Just around the corner is another popular local morning wet market open, the Campbell Street Market. This heritage building of Victorian style stands at the intersection of Campbell Street and Carnarvon Street.

facade of the Campbell Street Market

the signboard at the front of Campbell Street Market with the historical names of Campbell Street. Originally called ‘Sin Kay’ in hokkien which literally means a ‘new street’, it also has a double meaning with the play of words, meaning ‘fresh chickens (prostitutes)’ straight off the boats of migrants arriving from the port of Macau.

The clan jetties of Penang along the Weld Quay (click here to see map) are traditional Chinese fishing settlements and part of Penang’s heritage. Originally, there were eight clan jetties named their respective last names (Chew Jetty, Koay Jetty, Lee Jetty, Lim Jetty, Peng Aun Jetty, Tan Jetty, Yeoh Jetty, Mixed Clans Jetty), with the residents of each clan jetty representing the distinct origin of the clan.

water villages on stilts

Today, the Chew Jetty remains as the largest clan jetty along the quay. Built in the mid-19^th century by immigrants from the Xin Lin She Village of the Fujian Province, the Chew Jetty is the only clan jetty today to have any clan-related activities. It is known for its huge festive celebration of ‘Pai Thee Kong’ in worship of the Jade Emperor God (Ruler of Heaven) on the 9^th day of Chinese New Year (also known as the Hokkien New Year).

the walkway of Chew Jetty made from wooden planks over water

(left) drying rice grains and tiny shrimps; (right) Chew clan community living in wooden houses

fishing boats docked by the jetty

the jetty against the background of George Town

view looking out to sea

George Town, the capital of the state of Penang, is a city that bears a rich history with its well-preserved architecture and cultural traditions. In 2008, George Town, along with Malacca, was recognised by UNESCO as a world heritage city. Take a walk through the Penang Heritage Trail (click here for the map) and experience the grandeur of the buildings that represent the various ethnicity who have lived in Penang over the past two hundred years.

Street of Harmony

Masjid Kapitan Keling Road (formerly Pitt Street) is often known as the Street of Harmony in Penang with its various landmarks of worship. The Kapitan Keling Mosque, at the corner of Buckingham Street and Masjid Kapitan Keling Road, is the oldest mosque in Penang, built originally by the East India Company’s troops in the late 18^th century. The mosque we see today is a result of major renovation works that gave the mosque a face lift, including the construction of a tall dome-shaped minaret, largely influenced by Islamic Indian architecture.

a tourist on a trishaw in awe of the minaret of the mosque

Walking north along Masjid Kapitan Keling Road brings you to the oldest Hindu temple of worship in Penang, the Mahamariamman Temple. The front of the temple faces Queen Street, which lies parallel to the east of Masjid Kapitan Keling Road, and within the vicinity of Little India. The sculpture at the entrance is adorned with 38 statues of Hindu gods and goddesses.

the statues of the Mahamariamman Temple

Further on along Masjid Kapitan Keling Road is the Goddess of Mercy Temple, the first Chinese temple in Penang. This temple was built by early Hokkien and Cantonese settlers and remains a popular temple amongst the local community today.

incense burning at the front of Goddess of Mercy Temple

At the junction of Farquhar Street and Masjid Kapitan Keling Road, is St. George’s Church. As the oldest Anglican Church in South East Asia, it remains a significant Christian landmark in this region.

the neo-Palladian architecture of St. George’s Church

Clan Temples

The clan temples of Penang were built by the different clan associations who originated largely from the Fujian province of China and settled in Penang from the 19^th century. Clan associations were formed originally to assist fellow immigrants who came from similar villagers to settle down and seek employment. These temples were then constructed to worship patron deities and ancestors of the clan.

One of the many clan temples is the Yap Kongsi Temple along Armenian Street, built on a piece of land donated by Yeap Choor Ee, a famous tycoon of the Yap Kongsi. Within this temple are ancient tablets of the Yap clan. 

the ornate carvings and decoratives of the Yap Kongsi Temple

More Heritage Buildings

Just a few steps away from the Yap Kongsi Temple is Dr Sun Yat Sen Penang Base at 120 Armenian Street. This traditional shophouse was once the base of Dr Sun Yat Sen’s revolutionary party and it is where the country’s oldest Chinese language newspaper Kwong Wah Jit Poh was founded by Dr Sun’s supporters. Today it houses a gallery of Dr. Sun’s personal collection.

Sun Yat Sen base

Next we head towards Leith Street where the remarkable blue Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion stands with its blend of oriental and western architecture. Built by Cheong Fatt Tze, one of the wealthiest tycoons, this estate earned the Most Excellent UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Conservation Award in year 2000. Today, the mansion is open to the public for viewing and part of it has been converted to a hotel.

the blue colour of the mansion walls made from mixing lime with natural blue dye from the Indigo plant

the roof decorated with little pieces of pottery

Take a walk towards the Esplanade, where the City Hall with its British Palladian architecture, is worth admiring. Just next to the City Hall is the Penang War Memorial dedicated to the soldiers who died in World War 1.

facade of Penang City Hall

the cenotaph

Sungai Chiling Waterfall is considered as one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Selangor. Located 55 km from Kuala Lumpur city, near Kuala Kubu Baru, it is a highly recommended waterfall to visit for those looking for a leisurely nature trek to a waterfall within Selangor.

With the recent hot weather, a group of us decided to make our way in 3 cars to cool off at the waterfall. After 1 ¼ hours of driving (click here for GPS coordinates and map), we arrived at our destination. The 2.5km trail includes wading through 6 river crossings before reaching the main waterfall. The trail is well marked, much of it being over flat terrain with a few muddy patches during this dry season.

an option to take the suspension bridge over the first river crossing – only 4 persons allowed at any one time on the bridge

“following the leader… the leader… the leader”

hugeeee moth

gigantic spider web…

… up close

the ant trail vs. the human trail

river & rocks

the final river crossing

arriving at the waterfall!

                  getting ready…                                            …to plunge into the cool water

our star jumpers taking off

enjoying the cool water sprayyyy

chilling on the high rocks

a little girl playing with the water by the waterfall

& here goes a big hurray!

On a sidenote, here are a few points to keep in mind when visiting the Sungai Chiling Waterfall:

• Our visit was during the dry and hot season. The water level in the river was up to about knee to hip level during this time; but it is known that the water level can be up to waist high with stronger currents in the rainy season.
• For those carrying cameras, it is safer to keep your camera away (or in air tight sealed plastic bags) whilst crossing the rivers especially where the water is deeper. Try to keep your footing on the sand rather than the underlying rocks, as they are slippery.
• Recommended to wear sandals or crocs that can withstand water and mud. Soaked trainers are not entirely comfortable and flip flops can sometimes be swept away by the current of the river.
• Bring a set of clothes to change and carry it along with you from the car. The toilet/changing area is a 10 min walk from where you leave your car.
• There is an entrance fee of RM1 to enter.