Georgetown, Penang, day #2.

 Full day wandering the streets of Georgetown, Penang,--- a UNESCO world designated historic city,

I see four eyes.....

under heavy clouds, but no actual precipitation---just a little cooler, welcome relief. Visitors mostly confine themselves to the core area which is (supposedly) subject to renovation and redevelopment so as to preserve historic character. How are they doing?---Well, a mixed report. In many places the old chop houses, shop in front, live at the rear, are being replaced with modern style Starbucks and McD. et al. Cynically, one has to suspect that a lot of money might have been thrown at the city planners to permit so many out-of-character exceptions.
The streets are safe, clean and well supplied with eating holes that reflect the tremendous ethnic diversity of not just Penang, but the whole of Malaysia. On the streets of Penang, Indian, Malay and Chinese citizens all seem to co-exist agreeably enough, but I am not sure what tensions exist beneath the surface. Back in 1969 there were major riots across the country as the majority Malays felt      

Protecting the house....

economically & socially deprived in light of Chinese economic dominance and demanded almost complete ethnic control of the government, the military & police plus the educational curriculum and priority for the Malay language. I observe that each racial group in Penang seems to restrict itself to residing in its own residential area. Here is a Wikipedia link to further information on this issue:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_contract_(Malaysia)   
Outside the old core area of the city, the look and feel is bland & very similar to any other prosperous and growing conurbation in the region.
          Considering that Malaysia is an Islamic

Teaching respect....

country, it was interesting to hear (non- religious) Christmas music being pumped, along with plastic Christmas trees and Santas into the shopping plazas located in the city centre area.
           I have explored my travel options south from Penang and it seems that tomorrow night I should be in the coastal town of Lumput for a couple of days. Inconveniently, buses for Lumput only run from the Butterworth terminal, a ferry ride away, back on the mainland.