_'ALLO, 'ALLO - PENANG STYLE

" 'Allo? 'Allo! What you want pay? I give you very good price!" Their voices chase me as I slowly climb the steps towards Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia, and whenever I pause, they shout again, "'Allo? Five dollar? OK!"

There are hundreds of steps leading to this most ornate of temples combining Chinese, Thai and Burmese architecture. At the end of the climb is the magnificent temple of the 10,000 Buddhas, and a tortoise pond where hundreds of the creatures plod around in a swampy soup, tussling each other for strands of water weed. Crowned by a thirty-metre, seven-tier pagoda – Ban Po Thar – every Penang visitor writes this place on their must-see list.

Yet the approach to the temple is every bit as fascinating as the glittering red and gold and blue edifice at the top. The steps are lined with dozens of trader's stalls selling every possible temptation  – copy-watches, fake designer clothes, ersatz French perfume, makeup, shoes, fans, shell jewellery, souvenirs. You could (and I did) buy all your take-home presents right here and spend little more than 100 ringgit (A$50).

Opening couple of paragraphs.

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This article continues with details of things to do and see in Penang and  includes information on accommodation provided, local food and cuisine.

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(finishes…)

Whatever you do, don't leave Penang without a trip to the Botanical Gardens, thirty hectares of flowers, jungle, and monkeys. Arm yourself with peanuts and tiny sugar bananas, but be prepared for conflict, for while the smaller hairy red rascals are irresistibly picture-cute, their daddies and grand-daddies are after as much food as their cheek-sacs will hold.

I can resist the baby monkeys. I can hold out against those bargains, and I can, in time, I reckon, even resist the urge to sample yet another new food in Penang. But the hardest thing to resist – I find – is the urge to return.

It makes sense. 'Allo is so much easier to say than Goodbye. 

©Sally Hammond 2006

Picture Credits: ©Gordon Hammond 2006

(Sally and Gordon Hammond travelled as guests of  Tourism Malaysia)

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