NCL Cruise from Dubai UAE to Singapore
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Day 22 Langkawi Malaysia Cave & Mangrove Adventure December 7, 2016
Our adventure today was a cruise through a nature park of winding rivers, dense mangroves, isolated islands and limestone rock formations, bats in a cave, eagles feeding, and several species of Malaysian fish being farmed in the river. To reach our destination we had to drive across the ruggedly mountainous archipelago of rainforests, lakes and waterfalls of Langkawi before arriving at Kilim Jetty we boarded a boat and cruised through an ecosystem of winding rivers, past dense mangroves, isolated islands and limestone rock formations before reaching the Bat Cave.
A wooden platform led through the heart of this underworld where many fruit bats were hanging from the cave ceiling upside down among stalagmites and stalactites. At the fish farm, floating on a wooden platform, a Malaysian lad gave us a “touch and feel” tour of the farm’s species including silver-colored shooting fish, black stingrays and horseshoe crabs. On the river we saw some of the park’s raptors, White-bellied Fish Eagles and Brahminy Kites, catching fish for their dinner.
►Langkawi Port Highlights ►Kilim Geoforest Park Cruise 1 ►Kilim Geoforest Park Cruise 2
►Langkawi to Kilim Geoforest Park ►Fish Farm ►Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness)
Day 23 Penang Malaysia Heritage Jewels of Georgetown December 8, 2016
We drove through Georgetown, a former trading post under British colonial rule until 1957. Georgetown has become a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Georgetown, named for King George III, is a showcase of Malaysian history. Colonial buildings, Chinese shop-houses and Little India make the inner city of Georgetown one of the most interesting and charming cities in Asia—a jewel of Asian heritage.
For an enlightening look into its religious heritage our first stop was a visit to the Reclining Buddha Temple, known locally as the Sleeping Buddha Temple. Built in 1845, the temple houses an enormous, gold-plated statue of Buddha in a reclining position that symbolizes complete peace. Across the street is an even older Dharmikarama Burmese Temple Burmese Buddhist temple, the only one outside of Myanmar. Small statues of serene-faced Buddha left by devotees and beautiful murals depicting Buddha’s journey adorn the inside.
Then it was on to Chung Keng Kooi Mansion, also known as Baba Nyonya Mansion. Beautifully ornate and full of antiques, it was once the home of a Chinese Kapitan that was the head of the Hai San secret society. For a different perspective of Chinese family life we visited Khoo Kongsi, a 650-year-old clan house built to celebrate the success of the Khoo family.
In 2012 Penang’s municipal council hired Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic who created an open-air museum of street art. On the way back to the pier we stopped at Chew Clan Jetty, a settlement of wooden houses on stilts that Chinese immigrants [with the same name] built in the 19th century. A walk across narrow wooden platform gave an appreciation to the
►Penang Malaysia Port Highlights ►Reclining Buddha Temple ►Chew Jetty ►Cheah Kongsi Temple Clan House
►Georgetown ►Khoo Kongsi Clan House ►Penang Street Art
►Pinang Peranakan Mansion ►Burmese Buddhist Temple ►Rumah Agam Peranakan Pulau Museum