Day 5 - Part 2 (Kek Lok Si Temple, in Baski's teksi)

The taxi driver who took us from the bus station to our hotel when we arrived in Penang, had offered to take us around the island to see some sights, and it was a convenient way to see things. It was also great to chat to Baski and he really seemed to enjoy telling us about the place. Baski is Indian Malaysian but had a little flag in his taxi that seemed to be Thai Buddhist. He said that he likes all gods and goes to most churches, perhaps to hedge his bets.

He also said he loves driving and once when he went a day without driving, he didn't like it at all and felt edgy.

After the War Museum we stopped in at a diamond factory, and it was interesting to see some of the industry on the island. We saw factories from lots of names that Matt recognised, making semiconductors and other little electronic thingies. At the diamond factory, we had a look at wedding bands for Matt but he needs a ring larger than anyone in Malaysia stocks. Later Baski said he would take us somewhere with cheaper rings, and dropped us off at the pewter factory. They did have some handsome mugs...

We went to the snake temple, which was not super-impressive. But we did both pat this white python (I'm guessing) from head to tail so we have good luck for a year.

Kek Lok Si temple was a much bigger deal and very impressive. It did involve walking up a fair few stairs and I had forgotten my hat and sunscreen.

Well-known Chinese deities Minnie Mouse, Porky Pig, a bear, Donald Duck, Mickey Mouse, and Pluto. Maybe someone can explain these but they look very Disney.

Here's Matt being a Tiger, his Chinese star sign. Oh look, I seem to have lost the picture of Karen being a rat. Oops. (It actually looked like I was pretending be Chinese... and very insensitive.)

This evening we had a drink in the front courtyard of our hotel then set off for a walk in Georgetown. The foodstalls were set up right on the edge of the road so everyone walks between the parked cars and the traffic and the traffic generally seems not to hit the pedestrians.

Although Penang seems to be a fairly happily multicultural island - the manager at our Chinese hotel is Indian; the host at the Indian restaurant was Chinese - there was one cultural group who we did cross the street to avoid: drunk Aussies. We decided to go back to our balmy hotel courtyard for dinner and had some great Chinese food. We'll have a look around historical George Town tomorrow.