Prewar houses @ Stewart Lane
In July 2008, Penang (Georgetown) became a designated UNESCO Heritage
Site (together with Malacca), thanks to the efforts of conservationist
who have worked tirelessly to preserve Penang , the historical parts as
they are and have been. This should prevent further demolition of
historical homes and sites to make way for modern and tall buildings and
a reminder to Penangites and visitors alike how lucky we are in fact to
be able to visit or live in a historical site which is still thriving
as it was before, okay – plus a few minor adjustments to modernisation.
There is still some work to be done on the side of the Penangites and
the local government, to restore dilapidated buildings, preventing
further pollution and congestion in the historical parts of Penang and
keeping the areas clean.
Pathway between the prewar houses
The most intense part of Georgetown that reminds you well why it was
awarded the UNESCO Heritage Site in the first place , is the older part
of Georgetown, close to the port. (Weld Quay). Penang has been a port
since time immemorial, where traders from near and far have docked and
traded. As such you see a cacophony of people, some settling down and
eventually became local Penangites. You have Armenians, Jews, Arabs,
Indians, Sumaterans, Jawanese, Chinese , Dutch, Portugese and English
to name a few who have ventured to Penang and made her their home.
Airwells typical in the prewar houses
Sir Francis Light accordingly in the history books, has been rather
pivotal in the development of Penang as a trading port. He ‘founded’
Penang 1786. He moved his famil from Thailand (then Siam) to Penang and
died there in 1794 from malaria. You can find his tomb and statue in the
Protestant Cemetery at Jalan Sultan Ahmad Shah (Northam Road).
One of Dr. Sun Yat Sen’s base in Penang
With that development, the building and heritage sites you find in
Penang are such mix blend of architectures – it is as precious as
Venice. I hope it will never be neglected lest the future generations
will never come to know of their hometown’s rich and unique history.
The most interesting area is downtown Georgetown – from Beach Street,
Church Street Armenian Street, Muntri Street, King and Queen Street –
stretching all the way to Light Street and Penang Street. See Map below:
Penang was also a major stronghold of the Peranakans (nyonyas and
babas) and Mamaks (Indian Muslims, Indians originating from the Southern
part of India) besides the local Malays and Chinese Hokkiens and to a
degree Eurasians and Jews. This rich fusion of cultures quite likely has
made Penang a food paradise. As time passes, Penang became well known
for her cuisine and hawker street foods and mamak stalls – reflecting
the lifestyle of her forefathers, the settlers – quite unchanged, fast
food for the common people, this food heritage grew, so much so, Penang
was and is known first and foremost for her food, later the beaches and
lately now her heritage too.
Typical finishing of the facade, patterned tiles
And if you are already at Weld Quay, you
must not forget to pop into the Jetty Clans, where chinese settlers
divided into clans lived on houses built on stilts sprawled out to the
sea. Each clan (according to their surnames) are accorded a part of the
jetty to build their homes. They still live there until today.
reference from yoonsy.wordpress.com
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