Cultural Blending

One of my favorite terms is "cultural blending" -- that lovely mishmash when various cultures are thrust together and somehow coexist.  Cultural Blending is more meaningful if there is good food in the mix.  And that would be Georgetown on the island of Penang, Malaysia.  Penang was the waterway between Asia's two halves and the outlet to the markets of Europe and the Middle East.  Today the preserved old town is a fascinating mix of alleys & shops.  And the food:  Penang is the food capital of Malaysia.

I arrived after 2 long mini bus rides from Ao Nang.  It is a bit funny -- you give your ticket to the driver who picks you up.  From there on out you have no paperwork & just trust that they will remember "one lady to Penang."  I had to switch buses in Hat Yai:  "sit there and wait" were the polite directions.  But eventually driver #2 arrived:  "Penang" and off the bus went, crossed the border, and eventually he left me at the corner of my street:  Love Lane.

I had dinner at a food court.  And this was no regular food court:  this was cultural blending at its best.  Name a country -- there was food.  Name a beverage -- there it was.  Maybe 30+ stalls waiting to make your order.  The only stall that I could easily pass:  FAMOUS PENANG FISH HEAD CURRY.  The burger place had crabs steamed, salted, and with black pepper.  And the music in the background:  Louis Armstrong's It's A Wonderful World.  The place was crowded and almost no tourists.  Fun.

Alas no pictures -- the rains, well, they are sort of like floods.  So the camera is packed away for awhile.