영어1 YBM 한상호 4과 본문 My Trip to Penang

Lesson 4 A Trip for Cultural Diversity

 

My Trip to Penang

 

Last winter, my family and I visited Penang Island, Malaysia. 

 

I had always been interested in Malaysia because it is a multicultural country, where Chinese, Indian, Islamic, and traditional Malay cultures coexist with European influences. 

 

In addition, we chose Penang as our destination because it is famous for its street art, something that both my mother and I are interested in. 

 

Penang is a tropical island located off the northwest coast of Malaysia. 

 

Its capital, George Town, was built by British settlers in the late 18th century and named after King George III. 

 

As a center of trade between the East and the West, George Town has been home to a diverse population for a long time and has many beautiful, historically important buildings. 

 

For these reasons, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 

 

 

In the last week of January, my family and I flew to Penang. 

 

As soon as we entered George Town, I was struck by its unique beauty. 

 

European-and Asian-style buildings stood side by side, and many buildings looked neither completely Western nor completely Eastern but a mixture of the two. 

 

Having left our luggage at the hotel, my family and I walked around the city. 

 

First, we stopped at a nearby restaurant and had asam laksa for lunch. 

 

Laksa is a spicy noodle soup that blends Chinese and Malay cuisine. 

 

People from different regions and cultures have invented different types of laksa. 

 

Penang asam laksa is made with fresh seafood and has a sour, spicy taste. 

 

At first I thought it looked like Kalguksu in a Korean Ramyeon sauce, but with a strange smell. 

 

When I tasted it, however, I found it was really delicious. 

 

The soup was very rich, and its sour, spicy taste was very refreshing. 

 

 

After finishing lunch, we visited some famous, old buildings. 

 

Among them, my favorite was Blue Mansion, a large, luxurious house built in the 19th century. 

 

Painted in vivid blue and built in a style that combined Chinese and European architecture, it was both beautiful and unique at the same time.

 

The next day, we went to see some impressive historical temples. 

 

First, we stopped by the Kapitan Keling Mosque, the largest Mosque in George Town. 

 

Visitors wearing shorts are not allowed to enter, so I had to borrow a long skirt to get in. 

 

Then, we went to see Sri Maha Mariamman Temple, which is covered with colorful carvings of countless Hindu gods and goddesses. 

 

Lastly, we visited Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia located in a suburb of George Town. 

 

It was terrific to see how all these different religious temples coexist in the same area.

 

On the third day, we went to Armenian Street. 

 

It is called that because many Armenian immigrants moved to this district in the 19th century. 

 

However, they did not stay long, and soon Chinese traders replaced them.

 

As a result, many of the buildings on Armenian Street have unusual appearances. 

 

They appear to have been designed and begun by Europeans but decorated and finished by Chinese. 

 

Although there were many white buildings, some badly in need of paint, there were also many other buildings painted in yellow, pink, orange, and brick-red. 

 

The colorfulness and slightly different decorations of the buildings made the whole street look really delightful. 

 

We also saw some of Penang’s famous street art on Armenian Street and more on nearby Cannon Street. 

 

I was amazed by the diverse styles of murals.

 

 

Some of them were quite realistic, while others were artistically simplified or somewhat abstract. 

 

A few combined actual things such as a bicycle or a cart with paintings on the wall. 

 

I was also surprised to learn that these works of art were created not only by local people but also by artists from all parts of the world. 

 

A famous mural of two children riding a bicycle, for example, was created by a famous Lithuanian artist named Ernest Zacharevic. 

 

My favorite pieces were the mural of a very large cat and another painting of two cute little owls.

 

On the last day of our trip, we visited the Little Penang Street Market, a street market that is held on the last Sunday of each month. 

 

It was one of the reasons why we decided to take this trip near the end of January. 

 

The Little Penang Street Market is known as the best place to see local crafts, and it really was full of beautiful ethnic goods, including clothes, shoes, wood carvings, woven baskets, and much more. 

 

 

 

The atmosphere was so lively and exciting that the entire event felt more like a small festival than a market. 

 

My parents bought a small wooden sculpture of a monkey. 

 

The seller explained that it was traditional artwork made by the Orang Asli, the inhabitants who have lived in Malaysia longer than anyone else. 

 

After having lunch at a food stall, we left for the airport.

 

On our way home, I thought that Malaysia and Korea might have more in common than I had originally imagined. 

 

Like Korea, Malaysia was occupied by other countries but overcame this tragic history to achieve economic and cultural development. 

 

I was deeply impressed by how the Malaysians have embraced their diversity and how it has made their culture richer. 

 

Korea is also becoming an increasingly diverse country. 

 

The trip to Penang makes me wonder what Seoul will be like in the future.

 

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