This week we spent a lovely few days at George Town, the capital city of Penang Island
Despite seeming quite small, it is Malaysia's second largest city with a population of 700.000
although it really doesn't feel like it!
George Town was established as a port by Francis Light of the British East India Company in 1786
The town was in fact the first British settlement in South East Asia
Along with Malaca and Singapore- which if you don't know is now a country smaller that its dot on the map
George town formed part of the Straight Settlements
They were largely chinease in population with a small but powerful European minority
Since then many different ethnicities and Malaysians have arrived on its shores, making it one of
the most diverse places in the world.
Due to the eclectic assortment of colonial and Asian architecture styles
George Town was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008
Today we can see this mix in the different areas of the city
European Area
In each you'll find specialist shops,
Restaurants
Street food
and music.
China Town also hosts a number of air-conditioned coffee shops
that are the most accidentally perfectly hipster things you've ever seen !
Although after seeing this ultra hipster launderette we realised it may not be accidental!
Also leaving a mark on Penang's architecture and cuisines are the Paranakans
or Baba Nonya
a hybrid ethnicity created when men came from China and married local girls
'Baba' is the term for the men and 'nonya' for the women
Culturally they follow Chinese customs but speak Bahasa Malay and English.
Yeah, pInang not pEnang
I don'k know why
Is a great example of Baba Nonya style, it's an ostentacious mint green structure that is among
the most stunningly restored residences in George Town.
Every door, wall and arch is carved and after painted in Gold leaf.
The grand rooms are furnished with antique pieces inlayed intricately with mother of pearl.
The house belonged to one of the wealthiest Baba-Nonyos of the 19th century .
A merchant and pillar of the community who just happened to also be in a secret society!
As beautiful as George Town is however it's the food you really shouldn't miss.
It's certainly Malaysia's food capital
Home to 5 very distinctive cuisines, we highly recommend you try all of its most famous dishes
There are many cheap and delicious open air stalls as well as food courts and it's here you'll find
the best food in quantity and quality.
Once you've gorged yourself with many tasty marsels you'll need a walk to digest so I highly recommend to go on a hunt for street art
Although you'll be hard pressed not to stumnble upon it!
The truth styles of the George Town scenery however are the wall paintings in the city
The best come from Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic who combines it's paints with objects like motorbikes
chairs and architectual features
In 2010 Penang state government commissioned a series of cartoons street art pieces across town.
Affixed to street walls these 3D artworks humorously detail local customs and heritage
- often explaining seemingly odd street names.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay in George Town and hope that you could see that from this video!
Thank you for watching, please leave a comment and like if you want to see more of this type of video
and subscribe if you are new here to follow our adventures
Next we'll be in Lankawi, then Kuala Lumpur and then heading home to England, which is an adventure all in itself!