Penang - Pearl of the Orient (1)

There has been recent reports of traditional businesses moving away from the heritage site of Georgetown due the effects of the repeal of the Rent Control Act.

So I thought that this would be a good time for me to share photos that I took during my trip to Penang in April 2009. This was the time I was trying to justify to myself the need for me to invest in a DSLR camera.

While it is not KL, walking about in Penang reminds me of KL of the 1960s.

While the fuss is about the Yin Oi Tong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hall on China Street, this place should be around for some time to come.

A rattan shop.
An 'old world' furniture shop.

I'm not too sure what business this is, but there were a lot of metal around.

This looked like a place where you could get used machinery, but its name suggests that they may have been in the audio equipment business.

A customer waiting for his duplicate key to be ready at one of the many key-smiths around.

We saw this during our walk along Jalan Ipoh.

This is the place to get anything made of metal pipes and rods.

Making chick blinds. Those days, these things used hang in front of shops and were lowered during the day to keep out the rays of the sun.

Canvas bags anyone?

One of those things that I've seen only in Penang. KL bread vendors use completely covered bins on the bicycles or motorcycles.

I just liked the name of the restaurant. The world could sure use a lot of Peace & Joy.

Flowers sellers and garlands made to order.

Queuing has become the name of this restaurant next to the Masjid Kapitan Keling.

Trishaws (or rickshaws) are synonymous with Penang. If you're driving in Penang, be careful, they are the 'kings' of the road.

The sign says that this is the 'Original Jeans House'.

I am always facinated by the way the poh-piah (spring roll) skin is made. Near the Chowrasta Market along Penang Road.

A drink stall near the market.

The famous Penang Road chendol. There are actually 2 stalls operating here, both claiming to be the original.

Transporting his wares. This was near Komtar.


007 Fashion House, no worries about copyright infringement when the signboard was first put up, but subsequently the gun had to be covered up...

... 'Too high' the probable excuse why this has not been covered.

Saloons don't look like this anymore.

The famous Dawood Restaurant, now closed...

... although A Dawood operates next door.

I couldn't resist this...


... nor this.

Walking a Triangle - Jalan Pahang

My walk started at Jalan Ipoh and proceeded to Jalan Tun Razak. Then the rain forced me to run to the Titwangsa Monorail Station from where I boarded the train back to the Chow Kit station. I continued my walk along Jalan Pahang from the Chow Kit station when the rain stopped.


This block at the corner of Jalan Ipoh / Jalan Pahang has been spared demolition probable due to the economic downturn. Otherwise it would have been a shopping mall, I think.

Two trains crossing each other just after the Chow Kit station towards the Titiwangsa station.

The Institute for Medical Research or IMR.

Although the signage is somewhat faded, the information is quite readable and informative.

The architecture of the various buildings of the IMR also tells of the different periods the buildings were erected. It would be to the Public Works Department (PWD or JKR which is the acronym in Malay) current building design of the time.





The security personnel was happy to have me photograph him.

The famous (or infamous) wards 13 and 14 later renamed P1 and P2.

These orignally wooden structures, were the wards one got admitted to before being sent to other wards. They were usually overcroweded with patients even sleeping on trolleys. The doctors and staff of the wards must be commended for their patience in putting up with the though work conditions here.

A closer view of the entrance to the ward, which is now closed for re-development.
The hospital was where Universiti Kebangsaan used to have their training before moving to HUKM in Cheras. Now Universiti Putra uses the hospital facilities for training their medical students.

A view of one of the blocks of the hospital and the parking available. When visiting try to take public transport.

A worker on one of the walkway roofs. When you're already in the hospital compound, you can be lax about safety concerns.

The Malaysian Medical Association building opposite the hospital.

I remember this book supplier from the 1960s.

The books and sundry goods were both sold in this premises then.

A Buddhist society building.

The Sentosa Hospital, now a member of the KPJ Group.

The imposing Grand Seasons Hotel along Jalan Pahang.

Walking a Triangle - Jalan Tun Razak

As we turn the corner, there'll be lorries of various types and sizes parked there.

In the mornings, there'll also be many rugged looking men, some young and others not so young, waiting or just loitering around there. This is one of the places in KL where you can rent a lorry and hire odd job workers, for any heavy moving planned.

A motorcycle sales and repair shop.

Balancing this bread vendor's loaded bike is an art in itself.

Lush green grass and yams along the river.

The river may be polluted, but it seems to provide lots of nourishment for these plants.

The now deserted low cost housing project dating from the mid 1960's.

This was probably the first pre-fabricated buildings in the city. I vaguely remember the cubical units being raised up to be stacked.

I've been to one of these 2-room units and can tell you that were actually very small. Each room is only the size of a queen-sized bed. (In the 1960's sleeping on mats was still common.) 4 queen-sized beds is the size of the whole unit consisting of 2 rooms, a living area, kitchen/dining and bath/toilet.

The owners and tenants have moved to make way for development.

The buildings are deserted and whatever was salvageable have been vandalized. That includes door and window frames.

Collecting empty drink cans.

It's possible to elk out a living in the city if one is not so choosy.

A view of the Pekeliling Bus Terminal. One of the main terminals to get to Kuantan and other towns in Pahang.

A little closer view of the terminal.

The motorcycle parking bays are as good a place as any for socializing.

The site of one of the buildings that have been demolished.

The undergrowth shows that the demolition took place quite a while back.

The monorail track along the road.

The driver waved at me walking with my camera, so I took his picture.

This started as a community centre for Muslim residents ('Balai Islam') and later became a Friday Masjid.

The community centre for non-Muslim residents. I've usually seen funerals and wakes being held here.

This Siamese Buddhist temple has been here a long time lending it's name to the village that was nearby - Kampong Siam.

This is the first time I'm visiting this temple.

One of the shrines in the temple compound.

The main temple.

I couldn't help but notice the Chinese figurines besides the Buddha.