Peaceful Prosperous Poetic Penang
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
It’s a familiar name close to my family
We eat
Taste Pulaw Penang Tubers occasionally
Penang Laksa and Kway Teow some days
Batik Longyis and shirts complete the array.
(Penang Between the Blue Sky Above and Blue Sea Below)
I was therefore delighted to visit the island
It is known in Malay as the Pulaw Pinang
Meaning the “
British called it the “
We have a similar island, “Bilu Kyun” in Monland
At the mouth of
It produces betel nuts and smoking pipes by hand
But conditions are different in the two islands.
(Map of Penang Island and Mainland Malaysia)
We went to
By boarding a 747 Boeing jet from Kuching
It’s still dark and the sun had not yet beaming
All the roads to the airport were lighted gleam
It’s different from
(Penang Bridge Seen From the Shore)
Our daughters were delighted with the flight
The Captain of the aircraft was skilled and polite
The plane was flying smooth and good for sight
Stewardesses were serving sweets, snacks and Sprite
They were smart, smiling, sweet and swiveling
It’s a pleasure on board such a plane for traveling.
(Entrance to Burmese Buddhist Temple on Burma Road, Penang)
We changed the plane at
We from Kuhing, all of us must do as a rule
To go to any destination with no direct route
Never mind after an hour we’re through
It’s still Boeing 747 and all the fittings were new
We almost sang when we saw environs of
(Cityscape of George Town, Penang)
Yes, the sky above
The sea around
Only the
The sun above was so bright, brilliant white and beaming
I thought it was a fairy tale town hung in the dream
We’re happy to be in this land for enjoying.
(Captain Francis Light, Discoverer of Penang for the British)
A reception guide took us to the hotel
By driving a brand new bright vehicle
We’re all the only travelers to get settled
We’ve arranged this before we traveled
We’re glad to have the transport and guide special
Like resting, bathing, eating, shopping and personals.
We’re taken to an evening drive to the sea side
The sun was setting and the air was cool and refreshing
Ships and steamers were shoving slowly in the twilight
Every body was moving fast and vendors were vending
We’re going to eat the local food and fruits tonight
Our guide ordered eleven types of noodles for sampling.
(Cititel, George Town, Penang)
I tasted every noodle and I like the Penang Laksa
It was fresh noodle in soup that is spicy, sweet and sour
I said I like it as it’s similar to Burmese Coconut Khauk-Swe
My wife liked Fried Kway Teow similar to fried rice Khauk-Swe
Our daughters ate two plates each of Kolo Mee voraciously
I ate one so delicious as the Si-Chek Khauk-Swe in our country.
(Penang Laksa or Kaw-Ye KhaukSwe as Good As Sarawak's)
We then walked along the enchanting embankment
Guide took and showed us various restaurants
Full of foods, fruits, fun, fashion fairs and people
They were similar to food sellers every where do
Shouting for customers and ferrying food fast
I like the sounds and sights of
(Penang Trishaws)
We then sighted a trishaw or 3-wheels sidecar
Passengers sit in the front seat separate from driver
There’s a roof overhead of the passengers and peddler
It’s different from the side cars of
Where the driver rides by the side of the passengers
Here you ride in front and it’s riding for pleasure.
(Komtar Tower and George Town by Night)
We then climbed the
It’s steep and squeaking but it’s swift
There’s a revolving restaurant high above
We entered and enjoyed the sights very much
It’s right in the centre of colonial
The British Colonial town still serves the throng.
(Penang Thai Buddhist Temple)
Penang was backward once like
Captain Francic Light grabbed it for the British and transformed
It to be a trading colonial town with easy residential facilities
It became a thriving trading
Haven for the British traders supported by the Chinese Coolies
It became a boon town for the Chinese Malay Nyonya colony.
(Nyonya Beauties with Their Kebaya Dress)
I like the Nyonya for their menu, industry and ethnicity
They transformed
Chinese Joss Houses, dwelling houses and hotels prospered
Pagodas, prayer places, monasteries and museums appeared
Gardens, parks, pleasure places and working people proliferated
(Burmese Buddhist Snake Temple)
We had also visited the Burmese monastery
We drove direct along
It’s a sentimental and sensational sojourn surely
We paid homage to Burmese Buddhist monks humbly
They greeted us in Burmese and we spoke sincerely
They said many Burmans are coming out of the country.
(Chinese Temple for Kwan-Yin Goddess of Mercy)
It was bright day light when we woke up
We showered, we dressed and had breakfast
We then walked to the beach for swimming
We saw many people in blue water frolicking
My daughters and I joined the group in splashing
It’s cool in clear water despite the warm surrounding.
A tourist company offered us to Butterworth and beyond
Its guide said he would take us to the butter flies pond
Where ten thousand butterflies danced and dallied abound
I said I have seen one in
Written in Chinese poetry praising the butterflies found
But it was never ten thousand and its’ just Chinese jargon.
(Kek Lock Si Temple Where Buddha, Kwan-Yin and Other Statues
are housed)
Instead we went to the Chinese Pagoda
It lies on the highest plateau of the area
We paid homage to the statue of Buddha
Not withstanding the big Kwan Yin Bodhisatta
That the Chinese kowtowed with precious Puja
This Kek Lock Si Temple is a must for every traveler.
(Penang Funicular Train Passing the Viaduct Bridge to the Hill Top)
We climbed the Penang Hill by train
It’s the highest point they claimed
It’s just five hundred meter plain
But it was fun riding the small train
(Train Going Up the Hill Top by Pull of the Levers)
I felt young as I remembered the Blue Bell Train
I rode it when I was in
(The Penang Suspension Bridge, Longest in Asia)
We also visited and viewed the
It’s the longest suspension bridge in the East and big
It’s shining and shimmering in the sun posing scenic
Myriads of motor vesicles passed across it every minute
It’s an achievement of Penang and
They were trying to build another one for all to visit.
(Modern George Town With Chinese Houses Lining the Street)
Penang is a Chinese majority state in
But it’s multi-racial and all races are assured
Of their ethnicity, customs, religion and culture
We saw Chinese, Malays, Indians, Eurasian and Nyonya
Moving and mixing about in harmony and happiness
Pagodas, mosques and churches attest to their success.
(Penang Curry Mee Similar to Burmese Coconut Khauk Swe)
It was just a trading post and not stylish
Now that it’s independent and industrialist
Malaysian people could take due credit
For its development, prosperity and opportunity
It’s a shining example of labor of love and industry
What a sovereign country can accomplish for its people
Penang is the “
Dr Maung Maung Nyo
28.01.2009 (original)
No comments:
Post a Comment