Don’t Tell My Mother.. I Went To Penang: A Tale of Diversity and Adversity

Note: This article dives into the perspectives and perceptions attained from conversations with both locals and non-locals alike, at locations previously visited by the author.

After spending the last two years continuously hustling with little to no rest, I finally had some free time for myself. And thus, a weekend trip to Penang was put in order, with places such as the historical Georgetown as well as the mainland ready to be explored. Without notifying anyone of my planned vacation, I packed the essentials into my bags and went.

Initially, the purpose of the trip was just to provide myself with a little mental relaxation, but it ended up being one that opened my mind. Not to mention, the trip was also made lively having coincided with the Chinese New Year celebrations and festivities.

As usual, it is customary that the trip is accompanied by taking tons of photographs, catching up with old friends, and of course, gorging on food as if there’s no tomorrow! It’s hard to resist, especially since the state of Penang offers some of the best delicacies there is to offer. Good times were to be had.

The aesthetically pleasing views offered at some of the locations in Penang made it nothing short of Instagram-worthy. Penang is a highly modern city, with vast malls, tall buildings, and wide roads that are congested with vehicles. Even then, it is still rich with cultural heritage brought by the Chinese traders who settled on the island. Penang has a number of temples, historical ruins, museums, jungle reserves, and beautiful beaches that will make a trip here worthwhile. Adding to the fact that Penang has been esteemed as the nation’s unofficial food capital, it is no wonder that the local economy is bolstered heavily by the tourism industry.

From the edge of the water at the Clan Jetties to the brilliant blue hue of the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, Penang is simply wonderful. Let’s not forget the impressive vistas from the top of Penang Hill, the breathtaking man made wonder that is the cable-stayed bridge when viewed at night, and the beautiful sunsets and sunrises from the sandy shores of the island.

Despite it’s heavy Chinese migrant roots, it is not to say that Penang isn’t rife with diversity. The first thing you will notice about Penang is the sheer variety of food, languages and religions that are present and have helped shape Penang as we know it today. Walking into Little India will have you feeling like you’re at a crowded market in Chennai. A stroll around Georgetown will transport you into the glory of the British colonial era, and visit to Batu Ferringhi will have you thinking you’re at a beach in Thailand!

In a nutshell, Penang is a place where you can spend days just exploring the myriad of cultures and traditions it has on display, but if you are seeking the hustle and bustle of the city, it may fall short of your expectations.

Being high on the list of suggested places to visit, Penang Hill is one of the first attractions one will make their way to. Once at the peak, you can see not just the rest of the island, but even the mountains on the mainland and as far as Kedah, clear weather permitting. But the real treat comes once the sun sets, where one can see Georgetown all lit up. During the daytime, you can walk under 30 meter high trees along the nature trails while breathing in the cool, crisp air. A moment of peace befalls you as you meander through the habitat where hundreds of species of birds, flora and fauna call home.

The hill also offers a train ride for those who would rather sit back and enjoy a rush of breeze while taking in the sights. For those who seek a little adventure, a 4x4 ride or even a hike uphill can be arranged. Don’t forget to go to The Habitat, which is a natural rainforest that offers beautiful sights and a 360-degree view of the island and mainland. And don’t forget to take a few snapshots at the benches and swings!

As for the local cuisine, Penang is a host to a variety of signature dishes! Obviously, similar food can be found marketed elsewhere around the country but for those who demand nothing but the most authentic of flavours, it has to be in Penang. In the accompanying pictures, I share with you, my readers, some of what Penangite cuisine has to offer. The taste and textures brought by the trifecta of naan, chicken tandoori and biryani rice is simply delectable.

Cultural influences from the diverse ethnicities that make up Penang’s population is also reflected in the local cuisine. Some of these include cendol, ais kacang or more popularly known as ABC, mi goreng, nasi kandar, pasembur, rojak, pan mee, and more. Of course, my trip to Penang wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t admit to having enjoyed some if not all of the aforementioned dishes!

Throughout the entire trip, I was fortunate enough to cross paths with a number of people of whom I will be sharing stories about shortly. From an overworked public servant, to a person escaping the cold fronts of the north, and a person who is simply visiting his hometown during his holidays, each of these individuals had a story behind them. We talked at length about life and its mysteries - from their career aspirations, national issues, and diversities in life and culture. As we were so engrossed in our deep conversations, I did not manage to take selfies with them as a token of our meeting. Oh well, I guess we were just enjoying the moment on its own!

The first person I came across was an unnamed individual, an expatriate who worked at a foreign embassy in Kuala Lumpur. The unnamed individual bit wasn’t an attempt to add an element of mystery in my writing, but rather, I simply forgot to ask for his name! Having spent a lot of time in Malaysia, he noted that this country is a melting pot of cultures and diversity. He found it interesting how diversity can be found everywhere, from neighbourhoods, schools, universities, and public spaces. Of how Malaysian children grew up mingling and playing with children of various backgrounds. Additionally, he found it intriguing that Malaysians are always open to eating any kind of food (eating is our national sport!), wear Western-style clothing, and have the ability to converse in multiple languages.

The expat then shared about his experiences of being invited to and attending “open houses” during periods of festivities in Malaysia. Such opportunities allowed him to sample a variety of dishes from every culture. He found it interesting that despite the cultural differences, Malaysians had no quips about sharing or eating each other’s food. And generally, Malaysians were also respectful about each other’s dietary requirements. For example, Muslims do not eat pork and the food served must be certified halal, and the Hindus do not consume beef. Malaysian food has been made unique due to our interpretation of flavours, by manipulating the ingredients and recipes from the time it arrived to our shores. For example, the expatriate found that Malaysian-Indian curries are not as spicy compared to the ones in their ancestral homeland of India. Similarly, he complained that the Malaysian-Chinese cuisine is spicier than the ones he’s had in China and Hong Kong!

Malaysians are a food-loving people. And we love eating out! Dishes from every culture and background are celebrated here.

The next person I met was Shahmim, a native Penangite working in another state who returned for the holidays. While discussing the topic of cultural diversity, he opined that cultural strife is unfortunately tearing apart Malaysians as a result of the political divides and issues plaguing the nation as of late. However, he also noted that it does not reflect the strength and harmony of the people who live in Malaysia. It just appears so due to the politicians who insist on bringing up divisive topics instead of uniting the population.

Shahmim also remarked on the perception that the government schools have shifted towards a more Islamic, and thus single-sided track that could make it less accommodating to children of other faiths and backgrounds. Conversely, there are also vernacular schools catering to each of the major ethnicities in Malaysia. Malay Muslim students may opt to attend religious schools that also teach Arabic. Indian students could go to Tamil-language schools, and the Chinese students may attend Chinese-language schools as well as independent Chinese schools. This divisive upbringing, a British colonial legacy, is reflected by the sheer amount of non-Malays who are not proficient in the Malay language as well as refusing to work with the civil service and armed forces.

All this means that there are an increasing number of Malaysians who grew up with little to no interaction with people of other backgrounds and cultures. This will in turn lead to a lack of understanding and tolerance towards each other. Agreeing with Shahmim, I concur that there is a need for a streamlined education system where integration plays a central role in order embrace diversity and promote racial harmony.

The last and most interesting encounter that I had was with an individual that I will call by the pseudonym Faizal, who requests that his name be changed due to privacy reasons. And fittingly so, as he is a senior ranking official working with the state’s civil service.

Faizal was keen on sharing his life experiences with me, discussing various topics such as career goals, seeking contentment, and even love! Having spent the last 23 years as a public servant, he had recently separated from his wife and currently dedicates his time to his career. We discussed losing our loved ones, failure in achieving our goals, and about adversities in life and how to tackle it head-on. Despite his saddening tale, Faizal remained positive and never gave up.

Throughout our conversations, Faizal maintained a calm and collected demeanor. Having to handle his separation and the thought of losing custody to own his children was a stormy sea he had to sail through. Initially, he felt like his world had come crashing down and contemplated taking his own life. However, his mental state eventually got better when he started attending a weekly religious sermon at his workplace.

This is what he often asks himself whenever he found himself facing adversity:

What are you made of? What are you really made of? When pushed against the wall, when things come to an end, what lies at the core of your character?

A key takeaway point that I learned from my interaction with Faizal is that an individual will truly learn about oneself when faced with trials and tribulations. The kind that hits you hard enough to where you find it hard to even stand back up. How you react in this situation, your behavior is what really exemplifies your character and who you are as an individual.

Life is a continuous cycle of both small and large problems.

The moment you take control of one situation, another one is ready to hit you in the face. Brian Tracy once said, “Life is a process of two steps forward, and one step back”. When you overcome adversities and steer yourself back onto the path of success, you are really only moving from one problem to the next. Only by tackling the smaller problems first will one figure out how to eventually work their way to solving the bigger problems at hand. You can streamline the process, but you will never end it! No matter how smart or experienced you are, you will continue to face adversities - so make the best of it!

That conversation hit me hard and forced me to rethink my current situation. Finding myself sitting by the edge of a rice paddy field, it took me a while to digest the information that Faizal tried to convey to me. It was then that I realized that I often viewed adversities from a negative point of view, blaming others for my predicament without actually holding myself accountable.

My inability to properly assess a situation and keep up a positive demeanor that definitely set me back over the years. As a mere human, it is natural for us to sometimes to feel negatively. But I quickly realized that this had kept me from growing as I never tried to look for the metaphorical light at the end of the tunnel.

I told myself I need to change how I think if I want to change my world.

When we overcome hurdles, it builds resilience within our heart and mind. It keeps you going stronger, and this was something I respect famous individuals such as Nelson Mandela, Malcolm X, Lee Kuan Yew and Martin Luther King Jr. They fought the good fight and believed in themselves even if they found themselves going against the grain. While we sometimes faced struggles, they faced prolonged adversities daily, and some even their whole lives. Truly, there is something to be learned from them.

As for me, I have discovered several characteristics about myself that helped in tackling hardships. Sometimes, we have to learn to take a step back. Being forgiving of others, holding a strong determination and will, keeping faith, and having persistence are some of what keeps me going. And above all, resilience is what will truly make or break and individual in such situations.

Key Takeaways

The diversities we observe and experience in the places we visit gives us a picture on how others can flourish and adapt despite their differences. However, these differences can also bring forth cultural privileges and imbalances can cause strife among members of the public.

On a personal note, it is not possible for one to grow as a person if you are not content with dealing with adversities as you walk through the path of life. Only by contending with the issues at bay will one discover their true potential. One of the rules in dealing with adversities in life is that you are only as free as the options that you have and that you choose to take. If you don’t surround yourself with alternatives, you may become overwhelmed and cave in when faced with a sudden loss or reversal in life.

One of the rules in dealing with adversity in life is that you are only as free as your options. If you don't have an option or an alternative, you will become anxious and cave in when you are threatened with a sudden loss or reversal in your life.

Always remember, to overcome adversities and be successful; remember these 3P's:

• Persistence
• Patience
• Positive

By holding dear to these 3P’s, you will surely find yourself back on track and on the path to success in no time.

"People can grow from adversity as much as they do from prosperity." - Andrew Yang

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