We actually got to stay with people we somewhat knew while we were there. At our missionary send-off service at Toronto International Celebration Church, back in September, this lovely couple approached us afterwards and explained that they spend winter every year in Penang, and if we ever wanted to visit, they would be glad to host us! Well we aren’t fools. We definitely took advantage of that offer! And I’m so glad we did! They met us at the airport with maps and brochures of things to do on the island, they took us to all these cool spots we never could have found on our own, AND they also gave us lots of time on our own to do our own exploring. Most welcoming people ever. ALSO, when they offered for us to “stay with them”, we imagined a guest room in their home, and we were happy with that idea. BUT… what they actually meant by “stay with us” was “We have a super amazing apartment we usually lease out to people but it’s open for your visit so please enjoy!” For free!!! Here are some pictures of the apartment and touristy things we enjoyed, but there is more to this blog, so keep reading at the end.
This is where we stayed.... up on the 26th floor!
I am never calling it an elevator again...
The gate that keeps our door safe and sound while we aren't home.
This is our living room...
This is our big screen TV and entrance to our balcony...
This is our kitchen...
Our Dining room...
Our bedroom! Did I mention earlier that a maid came in every day to refresh our towels and toiletries?! (There were two bedrooms in the apartment, each with their own bathroom! After careful consideration, I let Steve stay with me in this bedroom).
Bedroom again
This is our precious balcony.
Part of our view. Housing developments are booming in Penang right now. It's funny because in some parts people are buying ocean-front property... but right now they are just finalizing plans in certains parts to bring in silt and whatever else and expand the shore... so you might spend a lot of money today on ocean front property... but in a couple years you will have high-rise apartment-front property. Burn.
More part of our view (we have the same view from our bedroom).
I Heart Penang. Best balcony view ever.
View later on in the day.
View at night. The fun strip with all the vendors you can barter with (and bartering is easy and FUN here!) is only a 20 minute walk from where we were staying. For bartering, always try to pay 75% less than what they first offer. And you don't really have to fight them, like you do in the Dominican. They say 100. You say 25. They say "I could never let this go for anything less than 50". You say, "50. Well I'll remember that you said that. But I don't want to pay more than 25. I noticed earlier there's some more people selling the same thing further on
It's wonderful! And you don't have to worry about "Oh but I really like this one, I can't risk losing it." There are always more.
I really wanted a Louis Vuitton (knockoff) purse for my mom. I went to a purse booth but they only had Gucci. So I told the man "Sorry but I only want Louis Vuitton" and he looks around like a sneak, then goes under his table and pulls out this box, before quietly saying "I'm not allowed to have these on display... they are genuine copy." haha, oxy-moron.
Anyways it made me feel like I was with an arms dealer. Of course, I "didn't" buy the purse, since it would be illegal. But "if" I "had" of, I "would" have gotten it for 80% less than what he asked, and my mom "would have" been very pleased with her souvenir when I "would have" given it to her in May. I heart Penang.
Oh but there is one man with signs that say "No Discount!" Don't waste your time trying to get him to go lower. He absolutely will not. BUT, even though he wouldn't go down further, he still had the best prices by far.
Another night view.
More enviable views.
Just thought this was neat. Right out my window!
Still our view. Our apartment had tennis courts and a pool!
To prove I was there.
Because he's so handsome. Look at those broad mechanic's shoulders! Grrrowl.
Apartment Courtyard.
This is a beach we went to. Phee and Lorna go here almost every day and apparently it is always practically desserted.
Oh! And I don't have to swim in modest apparel in Penang! How lovely.
What a catch.
There is a crab! Can you see him?!
There he is!
We went to a market one day. Here are some pictures from that...
Oh! This is the floating mosque! ...it lives more up to it's name when the tide is in, and it looks like it's floating. Interesting fact: After the big tsunami came, pretty much all of the area directly surrounding the mosque was damaged, but the mosque itself was untouched and completely damage-free!
Just another reason to love Penang.
In case you can't read what the next picture says, In 1951, this Rolls Royce was carrying former British High Commissioner Sir Henry Gurney, his wife and his secratary. They were ambushed by terrorists. Henry was killed as he exited the car, stepping right into the line of fire. His wife and secratary escaped unhurt. The Rolls Royce had 35 bullet holes in it. Later the 1st Governor of Penang used this car as his own. Today this car is found in the Penang State Museum, which is a pretty cool place, although don't bother trying to take pictures once you get inside.
This is the Penang Town Hall. It opened in 1880.
This is the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower. It's 60 feet tall. It started being built in 1897, and was completed in 1902, to commemorate the 60th year of Queen Victoria's reign.
"In commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee"
St. George's Church. Completed 1818. Pardon the crappy picture, it is currently being renovated, and this was the closest I could get.
Steve and I took a tour in this building. It is the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, built by one of the wealthiest tycoons at the turn of the 20th Century. Cheong Fatt Tze was called the "Rockerfeller of the East" because he was so rich. Again, we were not allowed to take pictures once we were inside, but it was very nice.
Also I would like to say that we saw all of these historical buildings just by going on foot. They are all within walking distance. BUT if you don't want to walk, there is a free UNESCO shuttle that goes to all of these places. How convenient!
Cheong Fatt Tze's.
The entrance (from behind... which I guess would make it the exit) to Cheong Fatt Tze's house.
Neat Details on the Entrance/Exit
This is Steve (and a random bacak man) in front of the Hainan Temple, also known as the "Temple of the Heavenly Queen". It was founded in 1866. This building was restored in 1995. We went inside, so the next couple pictures are from inside the courtyard and temple.
This wasn't in this temple, but I just remembered; we went to this one temple and in it there was a sign that said "No Meat Sacrifices on Fridays Please".
This is us with Phee and Lorna outside the apartment.
So! Aside from being amazing hosts, Phee & Lorna also are involved in a weekly ministry with the organization Youth With A Mission (YWAM), and so Steve and I joined them on the Wednesday. What everyone there does (among other things) is provide breakfast and lunch 3 times a week for homeless/poor people. They also have shower facilities upstairs in the building for them so they can clean up, and also they have like, a clothing exchange, so the poor people can bring in dirty clothes, leave them to be cleaned, and take out clean clothes (as far as I understood it). So Steve and I helped out with breakfast and lunch. Then Wednesday night we joined them again for the weekly street evangelism they do. We went and shared God’s unconditional love and favour with prostitutes (women and men, young and old). The YWAM staff have been doing this for quite some time now. They don’t condemn anyone or say things like “What are you doing?! Stop doing this!” But just to let them know God loves them no matter what, that He is always there for them, and cares for them, and wants the very best for them, and if a person wants help to get a different job or needs help with anything, that they are there to help them however they can.
We would go in groups of 4 or 5. The women do the talking to the women, men to the men. But my group, even though we were talking to the women, brought two men along as well for “bodyguards”. (Steve was a bodyguard in another group). One women I shared with for awhile about Jesus, and hearing about her life and her past, and she was getting tears as I was telling her how valuable she is to God, and as we were leaving one of the people who goes weekly told me that usually that woman walks away from them when they come, and he had never seen her so receptive before. So I was very glad she was willing to listen that night, and that I got to share with her!
Here are some pics of the breakfast/lunch (obviously, I did not take my camera for street ministry).
Steve serving welcome beverages.
Emily peeling eggs.
Phee & Lorna. Check out the huge pot thing she is cooking in.
Feeding the poor.
And that's it!
