The following weekend we returned to experience the magnificent New Tow Boo Kong Temple rebuilt in 2000 for RM7 million.  This very classy temple has a remarkable front prayer hall, sacred prayer hall and inner courtyard. Celebrating Nine Emperor God's Festival it was decorated to the hilt complete with thousands of lights, 6 ft tall incense sticks, a fountain to throw coins in for good luck.  They had Chinese opera, a fire ceremony where enormous woks full of medicinal herbs and oil were cooked over fires, and hundreds of food stalls marked with yellow flags proudly stating they were vegetarian only.

Later we heard of a procession or lighted parade with god's descending and putting men into trances.  Not to be missed, we stood with our jaws dropping as lighted musical floats went by followed by the uncanny skewering ritual where men pierced their cheeks with 8 ft long aluminum poles and suspended lights and even boys bikes on them.  At the intersection they would dangle strings of exploding firecrackers from the ends of the poles as they spun around to music.  If that wasn't enough men had 6-8 hooks in the skin of their backs pulling 6 ft high paper mache images on wheels behind them.  Home after midnight we were buzzing from the noise, excitement and cultural festivities.  In over 4 hours we didn't set eyes on another foreigner in the crowds.

For the 9 days of this celebration the Nine Emperor Gods who dwell in the stars, descend to earth and possess the spirit mediums, putting them in a trance.  Supposedly no pain is felt from the piercings or any scarring left.  Nine days of vegetarian food highlighted with opera shows showing respect to the Gods.  Also there is spear skewing, the making of herbal medicine, and a fire walking ceremony.  On the final day there is a procession with a boat carried on the shoulders of the devotees; to the ocean to sail the gods back home. 

Several weeks later was Deepavali, the Hindu "Festival of the Lights".  Amidst blaring music in Little India I bought a Happy New Years sign in Hindi for our door and decorated our place with strings of white lights.  One of the largest celebrations in the Indian culture; lights, fireworks and loud music ring in the New Year.  Oil lamps are lit in the homes for thanking the gods for happiness, knowledge, peace, and wealth.  We were invited along with Clarae and Boon into the home of their Indian friends and were treated royally to a specially prepared vegan Indian feast.  Thinking back over Christmas and New Years and Thanksgiving at home I guess food feasts were the center of activities also. 

We reciprocated by inviting our friends, Clarae, Boon, Ms Goo, Chea and Ooi to visit our luxury condo we had rented at Miami Greens for the month.  Like living in a fancy resort in the sky we swam in the pool, went down the water slides and enjoyed the views of the ocean and monkeys in the forest to the side.  A day in Penang involves Christians, Buddhist, Muslims, and Hindus all interacting and while they maintain their cultures they don't seem to notice the differences.  As the saying is here - side by side, but different.  Maybe it is side by side but really all the same!

Interesting/funny signs reminding us we were in Malaysia: Pest Pecker (Pest Control), Tit Bits Gift Shop, Dum Camera Shop, Visa application asking Number of wives, Malaysia Red Crescent instead of Red Cross,  Wifi line discouraging unlicensed users, "Get-Your-Own-Internet", "Park in our driveway but your car won't look the same when you return!"   Hawker stand offering only deep fried necks, gizzards, buttocks, heads or feet of chicken.  Don't miss the wide array of choices at the Red Garden food stalls:  Roasted frog, gizzard curry, dried squid, eel stew, happy dim dim, deep fried octopus, and on and on.  Exotic food never heard of or imagined is available in Penang and all tasting great.  Thank goodness for all the standard Asian fare for us 'newbies' and especially the vegetarian Thai place in the corner!  A lot can be said of Penang and Malaysia in general, but boring or bland isn't one of them.