Malaysia 2022/23 - #15 - Second George Town Photoshoot Day

Today we did a deep dive into the Peranakan/Malay-Chinese culture of George Town. We visited two sites that were historically integral, a Jetty and a Clan House. 

The Jetty is essentially a neighborhood built on pylons above the water. The Clan House was the center for the Clan's activities which I will describe below. There are Jetties and Clan Houses for all of the major clans that came to George Town from Fujien province in China. 

As we understand from the various tours and readings over the last couple of days, the clan alliance dating back to the ancestral connections in the hometown in Fujien was very strong. When you arrived as an immigrant to George Town, your clan would be the place you went for a first place to stay, to help find work, and to get adjusted to your new world. Taxes and land costs made it too expensive to build in the city. Building the piers over the water was more economical. 

As the clans became more established, they became centers of finance, places for social congregation, social welfare for those ill or suffering from some setback. They were also centers for business activity, often illegal activities. 

Chew Jetty

Entrance

 An unusual shrine build into a tree

We enter

 Chew Jetty is one of the most popular among tourists. Its central pier is like any main tourist street. But move a short way to one side on a parallel path and you were in a neighborhood.

Slice of Life from Chew Jetty

Neighbors Chatting

Shopkeeper

 

View of what a Jetty looks like from the outside

 

 Scenes on our way to the Cheah Kongsi (Clan House)

Street Art

 

One can find remnants of daughter #3's retail empire still though she has moved on to software sales

 

Laundry, Penang Style

Workers

 Ethereal Fairies point to badly needed liquid refreshment in the 90 degree heat

 

 Fresh Coconut Juice - Natures Natural Electrolyte Beverage

 Scenes from Cheah Jetty

 

 Lunch

Roast Chicken Rice, Assam Laksa, Coke, Beer - $6.19. We continue to be blown away by the value when buying food

 SIGNS OF THE WORLD

 No Thunderbolt Throwing...That Means You Too Thor and You Zeus!

 

 Inter Dimensional Portals Are Strictly Forbidden