Traveling Tolins 2

Capital of the Malaysian island of Penang, George Town has long been a crossroads. Resting on the Strait of Malacca, it served as an important port on the prosperous trade routes between Madras and Canton.  Today, it is a glorious celebration of culture, one of Asia’s most colorful corners.  Malays, Indians, and Chinese all share a past here, as a ride around town via a pedaled trishaw will show.  George Town’s unique city-scape features shops from colonial days, Buddhist and Taoist temples, and kongsi , brightly painted clan houses that traditionally open their doors to all who share a surname.  The town’s rich literary past includes temporary residents such as Rudyard Kipling, Somerset Maugham, and Noel Coward. George Town, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its unique blend of colonial and Asian architecture. One of the first British settlements in Southeast Asia, it was founded as an entrepôt, a trading post where goods were imported, stored and exp...