The golden glow of yellow lanterns illuminates this five-foot way of century old shop houses on Lebuh Cintra, George Town, Penang. This street was once home to the Japanese ‘Karayuki-san’ or women of the night who left their homeland to escape extreme hardship. Many were sold off by their families and ended up as domestic…
Category: Penang
Colours of George Town: Heritage Tiles
There is always something new and fascinating to discover every time I walk along the streets and alleys of George Town in Penang Island. I often walk down the lanes of this UNESCO listed city at night. A night walk has its appeal, the cooler climate, the quiet streets, the glow of ornamental lanterns, the…
Sweet Bubble Treat
Never understood the fixation with Bubble Tea and it’s variants, but to each their own. So with apprehension, I agree to try a cup with our friend Sel who was raving about it! It was 10pm at night, and there was a line when we pulled up in front of Xing Fu Tang Bubble Tea…
Kek Lok Si Blooms
A hot and hazy afternoon in the hills of Air Itam in Penang isn’t exactly ideal. But we nevertheless decided to wander around the grounds of Malaysia’s largest Buddhist temple – the Kek Lok Si temple built on the slopes of this hill. Construction of this temple began in the 1890s, funded by a few…
Our Fading Heritage: Jerejak Island
My next read! Waiting to dive into the pages to find out more about our very own Ellis Island here in Penang, Malaysia. Sadly, the spot where more than a million migrants to Malaya landed between 1877 and 1957 is earmarked for development of a theme park and resort. Heritage groups are fighting to preserve…
Place in The World: Home
Cliche but true – home is where the heart is.
Down Love Lane
I’ve walked through Love Lane in Georgetown , Penang many times – usually in the daytime or late at night. But a wrong turn and evening walk through Love Lane yesterday made me see it literally in a different light. It is true what they say about how different the rich hues of dusk and…
Maria Dass the World 