Recently, I returned to Penang with my spouse to rediscover the island. It had been 40 years since my last visit. Penang was a favourite of my parents; they honeymooned here and, later, brought my sister and me to Batu Ferringhi on family holidays.
Penang today is an intriguing pastiche of new and old. On the cab ride from the airport to George Town, we saw spanking new high rise condominiums sparkling like stalagmites in the sunlight. There are the ubiquitous shopping malls populated with well-known fashion brands. Ah, we thought, Penang has not escaped the blight of modern real estate development. We were a little disappointed.
