Picture Walk through George Town

Some mornings, I like to explore George Town which was named after King George III. You remember him, don't you? Thirteen years after American colonists ticked off both their king and the East India Company by dumping tea into Boston Harbor, some Brits landed on Penang Island and said, "Come on over here!!" Hey, you win some. You lose some.

Like most old cities, the streets are narrow and tightly lined with buildings. There's a mix of residences, shops, eateries and businesses. Walking down the covered sidewalks, I'll pass a busy restaurant, then a closed shop, then a family home where everyone is sitting around the TV just a few feet inside the open front door.  At times, it's quiet, and I feel like I'm alone in the world. Other times, my ears are assaulted by the cacophony of honking horns and puttering scooters.

Love Lane is one of Penang's oldest streets. Prosperous families settled here in the early 1800s.

I have no idea what this place is, but I liked the entrance.

Located within the UNESCO World Heritage Site, there are lots of Western tourists wandering around along with me. Some are brave enough to ride the trishaws. Personally, I prefer walking since I can quickly jump out of the way when a car or scooter zooms by, mere inches away from me.

Built in the 1860s, the Cathedral of the Assumption is a World Heritage Church and was the seat of the Bishop of Penang from 1955-2003.

Some of the buildings are old and in need of a little TLC, but I love the bright colors and trim.

Others, like this relatively new block built in 1927, have been recently renovated.

If you visit Penang and want a quieter place than my home,
this is a wonderful boutique hotel called Coffee Atelier.

A few families have a rare, free-standing house.

They should have had the decency to cover their satellite dish in cloisonne.

This is one of the more modest Chinese clan association buildings in Penang. The rest deserve their own post (but I need to visit them first).

I was breakfasting across the street when the cafe proprietress
exclaimed, "Come out and look at the sky!"

I know I have more meandering to do in the future. Stay tuned!