I was temporarily decommissioned of my spot in Cebu and was sent to conduct a five-day training in Penang, Malaysia. I stayed there from April 5 to April 13.
After the five-day training, two new-found peripatetic friends toured me around the island. Luke Chin, a Malaysian who doesn’t seem to know how to frown and a self-admitting tourist in Penang offered to drive us around with the admission that he sometimes take wrong turns. Jeffrey Belleza, a fellow Filipino engineer working in Penang who seemed to know every nook and cranny of the island was our tourist guide.
I will always be grateful to these two kind persons who made my last day in Penang worthwhile.
I’ll return the favor if they pay Cebu a visit.
I have decided not to include the full account of this adventure in words. Below are the selected snapshots I have taken during the whole day adventure which ended up with a fine dinner in Nando’s, a restaurant of Luke’s liking (for photography enthusiasts, you know what snapshot means).
The sun shown brightly that day casting harsh lighting conditions. I have not taken time enough to think of apertures and shutter speeds, as well as exposure compensations. The contrasts were just too high. Instead, I allowed myself to enjoy and went on clicking to “capture the moment.”
(The pictures below are optimized for LCD monitors, however some may appear too dark…)
PENANG HILL
At 830m above sea level, Penang Hill is the highest summit in Penang. Cool and breezy, the hill is a popular tourist destination. It offers its visitors a funicular train ride to its peak. Operational since 1922, the 30-minute ride is an adventure in itself with two train transfers and people squeezing and standing during the sluggish climb. At the top, one could view the panorama of Penang.
__________
Inside the Chinese temple.
__________
Luke and Jeff in the entrance gate.
__________
Inside the train on the way to the top.
__________
On the top of the hill with the cloudy city view at the back.
__________
The Hindu temple undergoing repainting.
__________
The Penang Hill Mosque
__________
Heading for Batu Ferringhi
A Hindu temple on the way to Batu Ferringhi. Taken inside Luke’s car.
__________
Taking the shade in Batu Ferringhi.
__________
__________
__________
The Ship
__________
PENANG BUTTERFLY FARM
This well-planned butterfly farm is said to be home to hundreds of species of butterflies and other lepidopterans, arachnids and scorpions. The butterflies are fluttering in the air along with artificial mists, so it was very hard to take close-ups. The other collections of amphibians, fowls, tropical fishes and flowering plants add splendor to the farm.
From Batu Ferringhi to the farm, we traveled mainly along the coastline of the island. We also passed by the Floating Mosque and the Tropical Spice Garden which Luke dismissed with his new line: “There’s nothing much.”
__________
The pupae station.
__________
In the pupae station, with a newly emerged butterfly.
__________
Leaf insect. I mistakenly tried to pull it thinking that it was an odd looking leaf.
__________
A member of the stick insect species.
__________
Butterflies sipping the juice of pineapple slices.
__________
Jeff on the bridge of the tropical fish pond.
__________
Luke on the bridge, requested for a different perspective.
__________
Mandarin ducks.
__________
Taking the shade near the horse-shoe crab station. The horse-shoe crabs however proved to be very mobile. The four shots I made were all blurred.
__________
Inside the insectarium. Beatles on display.
__________
St. Anne’s Church
This century-old church resides within the small township which retains a respectable patronage. The church was constructed in 1888. The remains of the priest who had the old church built lies in the center of the old church’s floor.
This church is located in the mainland and we had to pass through the posh Georgetown and the Penang Bridge. The “Oh, too late” expression became prominent in this leg.
It was drizzling when we arrived at St. Anne’s Church. We ended the day with malling at Queensbay.
__________
Silverton Building
__________
Passing through the Penang Bridge. Taken inside Luke’s car.
__________
Old St. Anne’s Church
__________
The new St. Anne’s Church at dusk.
__________
Nindot mark. Great Documentation sa imong trip, next time, train only for 3 days and spend 2 days raoming around. I was surprized that most of your shots now have people in it and including you..
Nindot kaayo Mark. Wala na nako maadto ang uban nimong naadto labi na ang Penang Hill…
WOW! Mark!! You really are an ARTIST!! GREAT SHOTS!!!
Thanks for sharing the beauty of the places you visited Mark. Again, really great writing and photos. Keep it up.
Hahaha – suddenly i was on a tunnel in the middle of reading – that part of Batu Ferringhi was shaded black but i managed to still read it (akala mo ha) that it’s a beach resort resto and that it was not a wrong turn hahaha. Taga-Cebu na gyud ka kapatid…
Those throng of butterflies scavenging over pineapple slices, and the mandarin ducks – they are so lovely…