What To Do In Penang When You’ve Got Three Hours

Wander, of course!

I mentioned in the last Campaign for a Lane post that I had some time to kill before awaiting my friends’ return to the Penang round-island bicycle ride’s starting point. My itinerary was to wander around for a bit, have some breakfast, then wander around again before heading to the hostel to hide from the noontime sun. I’ve been to Penang before and did the tourist route. The town’s layout is a bit familiar, even with bad sense of direction and all.

There are scattered installations of art all across Georgetown’s historical district and I was hoping to see those along the way.

I start at the reason why we were in Penang in the first place (besides the food, of course) — bike lanes!

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Little Children on a Bicycle is on Armenian Street.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Also somewhere in Armenian Street.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

There were many of these found too. Instead of boring plaques, they had wired sculptures depicting the history of all the street they were in.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

In Burmese Street, there are two Buddhist temples that face each other. The first one I stopped by was the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. There was a sign in front saying no bicycles were allowed, but I rolled the Brompton while folded and nobody batted an eye.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

The Thai temple Wat Chaiya across the street houses a reclining Buddha. Unlike the Burmese temple, I was able to bring the Brompton in the complex without having to fold it. I just left the bike outside the doors of whatever temple I was in, alongside the footwear of worshippers and tourists alike.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Long shadows always tell you it’s still early morning. By this time, I was looking for a place to stop and have a drink.

Campaign for a Lane 2012

Somehow, I ended up at Gurney Drive before calling it a day.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012