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Route Map 
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia »
September 07, 2010
There are many things to see in Georgetown, but the whole island has even more to offer. Buses are not expensive. It can take up to an hour to get to the other side of the island, which is not a very long time if you are going to see something exciting. Just sit back and enjoy the scenery in the meantime.
My first sightseeing trip was a visit to the War Museum. It is located at a historical site where the British soldiers stationed at first and then they became POW's when the Japanese invaded and took over Penang. There were some gruesome things going on there - we all know how bad Japanese were during the World War II. They raped women in Penang, killed people, tortured the POW's and killed many. The museum documents all this. There are many original buildings still standing there, places of executions, artifacts and photos. It's a great place to spend more time and read about it. Unfortunately, I arrived late in the afternoon and had no time to get to know this history in depth. You will need at least half day for this.
Weirdly enough, or perhaps this is done on purpose, part of the compound on which the museum is located became a ground for paint-ball shooting games. All these years later, after the war and the horrible things that were happening there, people still run around with guns and the battle goes on. Fortunately, this time the fun does not end with dead people.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The entrance to the War Museum. They close at 6 pm, but they also have night tours. The entrance cost 30 Ringgit.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. You will pass by the fake Malay border post. It's pretty humid and hot during the day there, so before going on exploring a good idea is to buy a cold drink at the souvenir shop on the right, sit down and relax for a short time. The museum is located on na hill and in a park like settings, with steps going up and down to different sites, so I wouldn't miss bringing your own bottle with water for later.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. There is a small concrete pond on the left as you enter, with many small colorful fish and one big snake-head. A very interesting and personable fish. I really enjoyed interacting with her or him. The fishe clearly observed what's going on and would come up to look at you when you moved.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. A closer look at the curious fish, which can also swim backwards!
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. A replica (unfortunately, but I guess all original weaponry was destroyed) of the gun used for protecting the hill.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The original place where it was installed.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. This is what the soldiers could had seen at the time. It's 2010, but looking at this small boat, through the leaves and from this place felt like a I am having a look through a window in time...
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. Another gun post.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The replica of the gallows of General Tomoyuki Yamashita who was the commander of the 25th army in Malaya and Singapore, who became a national hero in Japan after the fall of Malaya. He was found guilty of war crimes and sentenced to hang on 23 of January 1945.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The place of executions.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. I am not sure if this axe is real or a replica, but I imagine this is real. If not - what difference would it really make? The spirits of the people, if you want to believe in them, still linger around here. It's the same place, just a different time. Fake or real, the axe plays on our emotions because we can see it, but what really happened still plays like a silent movie in the shadow of the trees.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. Mortuary building for new dead.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. Some images do not need any comments. Except maybe for a loss of faith in humanity, since the same things still happen. Some just as graphic as this one, some carefully crafted by the governments of the 'good' countries. Millions of people stuck in modern slavery systems, victims of taxes caught up in a crazy race for better life, a carefully crafted illusion with the carrot in front of your nose not too far so you can see it and smell it, but not too close so you don't get a bite. The privileged in the 'democratic' places, like Vancouver in Canada where the rich and in power enjoy luxury lifestyles while the rest gets years of their lives taken away by cuts in health care, social services, with minimum wages for a decade on the same level while everything else goes up in price. It's a slow murder, in disguise. Is there really a difference between those who do it and those who rape and stab with a bayonet? A slow or a fast death - which criminal should get a lesser sentence?
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. There are many buildings where the POW's lived on the compound. Lavatories, kitchens, offices. Many of them hold right now exhibits with artifacts and photos of the war era, explenation what happen before and beyond.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The Japanese imperial war flag.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. Place for the sick.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. An exhibit themed for the victims of sexual slavery by the Japanese troops during the invasion of Malaya Dec. 1941 - 1945.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. There are temple vipers living at some of the exhibits.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The War Museum.
Photo: Georgetown, Malaysia. The War Museum.
As the water flows over the rocks, and a tree embraces a stone, I wouldn't know a better comment. Take no prisoners, dead or alive, and the truth shall set you free.
My life has always been about freedom and I shall continue to walk this path.
Safe travels ! ........... Stan
Check out my Photography Portfolio
stan@ancientnomad.com
My Photography Page
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