All
over what is known as the “World Heritage Core Zone” in Georgetown Penang these
amazingly cool sculptures inform people of the history they are currently
standing in.
From the very first one I saw I was captivated. I cannot resist photographing them. It is such and engaging way of educating people. Amid the chaos and jumble of fully restored, slightly dilapidated
and totally decaying buildings it is difficult to get a picture of what must have created this cacophony of cultures, but with these simple cartons and captions a great deal is conveyed vividly and charmingly.
From the very first one I saw I was captivated. I cannot resist photographing them. It is such and engaging way of educating people. Amid the chaos and jumble of fully restored, slightly dilapidated
and totally decaying buildings it is difficult to get a picture of what must have created this cacophony of cultures, but with these simple cartons and captions a great deal is conveyed vividly and charmingly.
(Since the captions are not always readable I will copy them! and throw in a photo or 2 of the actual buildings in the vicinity and the odd other piece of street art)
The heritage walk on which we spotted most of these buildings and caricature sculptures can be found at Brochure.pdf
The heritage walk on which we spotted most of these buildings and caricature sculptures can be found at Brochure.pdf
“To
the dismay of parishioners of the Portuguese church there- Church Street also
housed the headquarters of the notorious Ghee-Hin secret society”
“
The Hokkiens called this street Pak Thang Ah Kay or ‘Copersmith Street' a
reference to the early Malay Brazier making brass and copper ware”
“
The Tua Pek Kong Hueoh Grand Float Procession is held in the Year of the Tiger
to wash away bad luck and bring great wealth and health.”
“
Nasi Kandar originated from Tamil, Muslim hawking homecooked dishes of curry
dishes and rice from contaners slung on both ends of a kandar (a wooden
stick)”
“
May I borrow your high heels?” / “ The counter of the pawnshop is typically
higher for security”
“Where’s my husband?” / “The local Chinese say the rich men who lived on Muntri Street kept their mistresses here, hence the name Ai Cheng Hung or Love Lane.”
“Where’s my husband?” / “The local Chinese say the rich men who lived on Muntri Street kept their mistresses here, hence the name Ai Cheng Hung or Love Lane.”
“
At the turn of the last century many shophouses were turned into cheap hotels
making this internationally known tourist strip very popular with backpackers”
– Love Lane
“
Much of the traffic of pilgrims to and from Muslim holy land for the haj went
through Acheen Street where tickets for the trip were sold- shopping was also a
favourite activity for both pilgrims and their well wishers”
“A
cannon shot fired during the 1906 Penang riots made a large hole hence the
name.” – Cannon Street
“The
‘five foot way’ of Wan Hai is said to be the narrowest in Penang.” / “Obviously
this is less than five feet”
“The black and white Amahs were Cantonese domestic servants from Guangdong who did all kinds of household chores and would refer to themselves with wry humour as Yat Keok Tet (one leg kicks all)” – the black and white refers to their standard attire of black long pants and white blouses.
“Thick
medium or thin?”
“Locally
known as beca most of the trishaws also double as tour guides.”
“Also
called toddy or palm wine tuak is an alcoholic beverage made from
underdeveloped flower of coconut palm. The collecting and market for tuak was
an entirely Indian affair with the majority of its drinkers being Indian labourers.”
“Roti
Bengali came from the word Penggali (shareholders in Tamil)”
“Tok
tok mee is so called because hawkers would strike a tok tok to signal their
presence.”
“Parrot
astrologers were Indian fortune tellers who used green parakeets to foretell a
person’s future.”
“While
its royal English name sounds very grand it’s also locally known as ‘Gudeng
Rumput’ or Grass Godown with bullock carts being parked along this side street."
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