Georgetown, Penang Malaysia: Temples and Hills

Today’s excursion was in the capital of the state of Penang, Georgetown.  The purpose was to visit Penang Hill and three temples.  The Muslim and Hindu temples were on Penang Hill, and it required the use of a funicular up the 2750 foot hill.  The final stop was at the Buddhist Temple called Kek Lok Si (or Temple of the Supreme Bliss) which required climbing lots of steps up the side of a hill. 

The day was hot, humid, and hazy.  I was exhausted from the heat, humidity, and the climb.

We had to use the train (a funicular) to get to the top of Penang Hill to visit a mosque and Hindu temple.

These monkeys were not as bold as those at the Batu Caves.  They generally stayed away from people in the trees.

These long tail monkeys were of a different type than those I've seen in SE Asia to date.  Note the coloring and eyes.

Despite the use of the funicular, there were lots of uphill walking and climbing to get to the mosque on Penang Hill.

Here's the Hindu temple on Penang Hill.

This was the longest funicular I've ridden (there's one in Paris I've ridden several times).  It takes you up to 2750 feet.



A look up at the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia.  This is Kek Lok Si or Temple of Supreme Bliss.

Here's another view after passing throughshops at every level and inside the main temple complex.

The pagoda combines a Chinese octagonal base with a middle tier of Thai design, and a Burmese crown on top.

This is Liberation Pond.  One Buddhist ceremony is to release turtles.