Photo Essay: Different Side of Penang

A Photo Essay Based on My Travel Log

It has been few months ago since I came back from my backpack trip to Penang Island or also known as Pearl of orient. Exactly like its given name, Penang is like a pearl which has its own attraction. It’s attraction including old building, culinary experiences, it’s habitants, values, tradition and so on are still remain the same even though it started as a small port which then has become second largest city in Malaysia.

Penang is my second must visit city in Malaysia after Malacca. And I did visit this city! In this photo essay I will try to share my experiences through some images which I never uploaded to public before, although one or two was used on my previous photo exhibition with same title.

In this photo essay I would focus on three Penang’s attraction “its habitants, heritage and foods”. Enjoy! Please drop any comment Please Visit (by click) Different Side of Penang Cheers Felix Kusmanto

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="A Boy Who Waved to Me"][/caption]

It was neither a Hawaiian's flowers nor Military Parade which welcomed me as soon as I arrived in Penang by Train at 06.00 AM. It was boy who welcomed me. A little boy from Inside the train.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Early Morning Customer"][/caption]

A cup of tea or coffee with accompany of one or two friends are just nice combination for breakfast in Penang. During breakfast time, many of  kopi shops around the island are fulled with these regular customer. I was observing this man, having his tea.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Early Morning Customer (2)"]

Breakfast 2

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Another vivid image shows a man having his breakfast. A cup of tea is just nice. I guess people in the restaurant were aware that I was a guest there. Since many of  them looked at me and smiled.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="182" caption="Time for work"]

Work

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Time for work. He did not care whether I would take his picture or not. I was not his business. His business was with those Singkong?

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="I still want to sleep"]

Becak

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But those routines (breakfast and work) were not applicable for all. At Least for this man, a Becak paddler. Perhaps he was too tired and need more sleep. I just wondered when I took this image "what is in his mind right now". Any way I have some others images that show a similar image.

[caption id="attachment_606" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Laksa's Seller near Aceh Street"]

Laksa's seller

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Warm and humble are some words that I can dedicated to him. Served me with his best Laksa in Penang. It locates near Aceh Street. I had my laksa under the tree. I really like his Laksa and his kindness.

[caption id="attachment_609" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Uncle From Armenian Street"]

Uncle

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Kind, Warm, Helpful, peacefu, openl and family man are those some characters that I can dedicate to him. I spent sometimes to have a conversation with him, He was talking about Penang now and before, his family, his shop and so on. When I come back to Penang, I promise I will come with a photo of him.  I can not wait to see his smile and his story.

[caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="216" caption="Market or Church?"]

Market

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What is the best way to see human's civilization in term of  trading or exchanging? the best way is by looking at its trading place. A market. This building has serviced for public since many years back and its functioning as it before. Looks like a church but it is not. It is a traditional market. Many people still doing their trade here, mostly for fish and meat.

[caption id="attachment_620" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Becak now and before"]

Becak

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No such thing as machine that can move people from one point to another point. No such thing as Rapid Penang at those time. But there was becak, while in fact it has survived through decades or even more. Human's power that moved people from one point to another last time. Interestingly this mode of transportation still exist in Penang and has become extra point for Penang's attraction.

[caption id="attachment_626" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Time to Time"]

Time

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Can you imagine how beautiful this  block last time? I was trying to imagine about it when I took this image. Looked up, pretending calling somebody up there. I wish I could capture the vivid image of the boy behind the window. He did not want me to take a photo of him

[caption id="attachment_632" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Abandoned"]

Abandoned

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Abandoned is a right word for this site, mamak place site. I found this site when I was walking for nowhere. It was looked this place had been abandoned for quite long time. I met three new owners of this site. They were three cats.

[caption id="attachment_634" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="early morning"]

In the morning

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I like when I was there. It was chill and quite. The clouds give another dramatic atmosphere for me personally. I came back to this place the next morning. To capture another angle of this church.

[caption id="attachment_638" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Church and Grave"]

Church and Grave

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Worship place plays an important role in most society, especially in this case is eastern context. When somebody is buried in front or in worship area sometimes it means the person is great. Great in terms of his contributions, achievements, ideas and even because others respect to the person.

[caption id="attachment_641" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Milo, Char kway teow, Siomay"]

Milo, Char kway teow, Siomay

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one of Penang's attraction, is its Char Kway Teow.

[caption id="attachment_643" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Laksa"]

Laksa

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Laksa from Aceh Street!

[caption id="attachment_645" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Mix Rice from Chinese stall"]

Mix Rice

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Mix Rice near from my Guest House.

[caption id="attachment_646" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Nasi Kandar"]

Kandar

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Nasi kandar from Indian Stall

[caption id="attachment_648" align="aligncenter" width="200" caption="Nasi Goreng with egg on top"]

Nasi Goreng with egg on top

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Nasi Goreng with egg on top from Malay Stall. It was located near Penang National Park's Dock

[caption id="attachment_650" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="This is it"]

This is it

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This is my last image for this post. Hopefully you enjoyed my experiences

Please drop some comments and tell your friends about this photo essay.

Thank you