Day 163. Georgetown

We have had a very nice day today. We also learnt a new skill. GRAB. 

First up we walked to the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, a fantastic old house that once belonged to a wealthy local Penanakan family. That name is given to the original Chinese settlers and their descendants in these parts. 
It now houses an amazing collection of artifacts from this period. Porcelain, stunning mother of pearl inlaid furniture, artworks and photographs . A truly world class  exhibition which is listed as a world heritage site. 













Attached to the house was a chapel.







We then wandered to a local art and craft market for a wander through the stalls.


Some local artists hard at work.



By now it was pretty hot so we decided to try out our new skill. Call a cab using the app GRAB. It was reasonably  straightforward but we didn’t check the details properly. A car pulled up right in front of us, we thought that was quick, we opened the door but there were passengers already in it. Doh. 
Our cab soon turned up and we headed to the hotel for a siesta. 

In the afternoon we dialled up another GRAB and went to the Blue Mansion. Another “must see” in Georgetown. It is today a working hotel but with a very interesting past. Built originally by Cheong Fatt Tse, the patriarch of a local clan family. In its heyday it was extremely grand and built as one of the finest examples of Feng Shui anywhere. 
Times of course changed and the building fell into a state of disrepair. In 1992 it came on the market and fortuitously it was bought by a man who decided to restore it instead if knocking it down. 
The result is astonishing, the restoration was carried out to best practice and took 6 years to complete. Artisans from around the world were called in to help. As I said it is a working hotel but everyday at 11 and 2 you can book a tour which lasts 45 minutes. A fascinating display of the history of the place including artefacts  found during the restoration. 











We then decided to walk back to the hotel, we underestimated the intense heat and how far we had to go. So we arrived back at the hotel very hot and ready for a drink. 





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