Today (and on & off for the past week) it has been raining. From light showers to tropical monsoonal downpours it has been exasperating. Like Melbourne one minute it’s raining next the sun is shining. No going out today I’m afraid so over time I will try and paint a picture of Penang from previous excursions and maybe that will ‘bring back the love’.
For my first blog on Penang I’ll start off with our Condo(minium). I have got pictures to show of some of the place but as there is so much to see here I can’t cover it all. So much in fact that Shane and I have visited parts that we haven’t been able to find again!
The Building is known as Penang Times Square and it is part of a commercial/residential complex built by Ivory Developments. Out front we are ‘guarded’ by two huge Transformer Autobots. Out back there is a newer building called M Mall (similarly commercial/residential) which in fact joins our building making the transition from one to the other seamless (4th picture).
The first 4 floors are commercial consisting of retail shops of all types, a hardware store, banks, medical, and the like. Complimenting those are 2 pubs, 1 nightclub and about 60 – 70 eateries. We really could live out our time here without leaving Times Square.
As we wander through the different floors you can see that there are different themes throughout the commercial floors. There’s London Street. There’s a Hong Kong Section with mock HK buses.
They have a Thai ‘floating market’, a Japanese garden
and a children’s floor that would spoil any kid.
That’s just the start of it. There are Tromp-l’oeils for photo ops and you sometimes wonder if you’re walking upside down because of the ceiling decorations.
There’s all this and more. I haven’t shown you any of the 70 or so eateries. From the Food Gallery with 40 or more stalls to the exclusive up-market restaurants we have it all in this complex.
Just briefly (if your still reading) I’ll post some pictures here of our unit. It’s a 3 bedroom unit but unlike Australia it doesn’t have a kitchen. There are 2 burners in the laundry space but generally food here is so plentiful and cheap (we can eat a great meal here for $3 Australian) that everyone eats out each night. The view from our bedroom window is fantastic and the rent is very cheap compared to Australia.
Well that’s about it for where we live. The only other thing I could mention but won’t post pics is the wonderful displays and activities that they put on in the building. We’ve had a Comicon Convention, High School robotic contests, sand art, singing performers and tonight for Deepavali we’ve just been told there will be a sumptuious public outdoor dinner for free. Ah! The love has returned.
Thanks for the new links Garry, I’ve caught up on your wanderings now, due to building new house I missed stuff after India, house all finished so now I fish and laze away on the beach……..Penang has certainly changed since my time doing tours with RAAF S.P’s.
Ian, Life here is pretty good. The folks are nice, food is great and cheap, beer too cheap (hangovers!) and plenty too see and do plus being a fantastic place to step off from. Heading to Taiwan in a week or so. Cheaper than flying to Brisbane!
Nice very nice