Today was our first full day in Penang. The view from our hotel this morning was not as exciting as the city view we had in Kuching. Even though the view is of the mall, it is convenient to have shopping and food so close to the hotel. This morning, we attended church in the mall next to our hotel. The Adventist church in Penang has a building of their own, but this Sabbath was their special hospital employee Sabbath. The rented space for church was very nice and spacious. Sabbath school and church were very similar to conservative church services in the U.S. The worship songs were a mixture of both English and Malay. It was very interesting to worship with fellow believers and experience how other people worship.
After church, we left for Kek Lok Si temple. This is a Buddhist temple and the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. Not only are there statues and temples, but it is also a monastery. Before heading up the lift to the top, we went to the turtle pond. We were able to purchase some leafy greens to feed the turtles. I have never seen so many turtles in one place. The architecture of the bridges was very peaceful. With the ascending stairs to the top and the flowing bridges across the water, it was definitely a beautiful view. Next, we used a series of gondolas and golf carts to transport us to the top of the hill. At the top, there were multiple temples and a 100 foot statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. This bronze statue is very impressive in person. We were able to go into the various temples, but could not take photos and had to remove our shoes. At the top of this hill there was also a sweeping view of Penang below us.
Once we left Kek Lok Si temple, we drove five minutes to Penang Hill. Penang Hill contains food shops, temples, nature trails, and views of Penang. To get to the top of Penang Hill, we had to take a funicular train. The ride to the top took about three and a half minutes. When we got to the top, we decided to just walk around and see what the hill contained. After looking at the outside of a temple and mosque, my friends and I decided to sit on the grass and rest for a while. We were able to sit and talk about everything we had experienced so far. We eventually met up with the whole group again and went to the viewing area to look out at the city and take pictures. We decided to stay a bit longer and wait for the sun to go down. It was fun to watch all the lights in the city turn on. After returning to the hotel, we decided to eat dinner in the hotel restaurant. It was another tiring day, but we were able to experience a variety of different activities.
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