Georgetown: the perfect fusion between vintage and modern

One of the reasons why we love Georgetown, the capital of Penang’s island, is because of its very special and unique vibe, that like in no other cities gives you the exciting chance to experience the vintage and the modern at the same time and in the same place. In fact, while wandering the streets of the UNESCO heritage zone, we got impressed by the distinctive architecture reflecting a fusion of Chinese, Indian, Islamic and British elements, and we got even more fascinated to see how those magnificent vintage buildings can cohabit with a great collection of modern street art.

In 2012, the Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevich was commissioned to paint “Mirrors of Georgetown” in conjunction with the Georgetown Festival celebrations. Since then, both the artist and the city have gained fame and glory, so has the annual Georgetown Festival, which has been recently described by the International New York’s Time as “growing into a major Asian art events

Certainly, the main interest in Zacharevich’s outdoor art is the interaction between murals and the urban landscape. As a result, he always pays a special attention to the cultural relevance of his compositions. Beside Zacharevich, different other artists have contributed to reshape the streetscape of Georgetown.  By clicking here you can take a better look at the street art map of the city.

What makes him unique is his ability to use clippers to cut as close as a razor and he also uses straight razors, which are not normally used by ordinary hair salons. He got very popular in such a short time, that he needed extra help soon. As a matter of fact, he trained a young and talented Fazil and his cousin Fazal, who work with him every day.

Elyas’ dream is to open a branch of SON and DAD barber shops in every state of Malaysia and considering the popularity he has already conquered, we have no doubts that he will reach his goal soon.

Another great example of the fusion of vintage and modern concepts is the Rainforest bakery in Chulia Street. Probably, this is the most trendy shop in the area, with a special attention to healthy and organic breads and pastries, all prepared with love and according to the traditional recipes. Surely, we are sweet breakfast treats lovers, and if they can be accompanied by a good morning cup of coffee, we cannot ask for anything more to start the day!

At the very end of the same Chulia street, close to the Penang ferry terminal, another very peculiar area and part of the Heritage trail is formed by the Clan Jetties, the water villages over a century old, home of several Chinese clans and where we could also find a vibrant combination of vintage and modern in the same place.

They represent the perfect example of a traditional lifestyle within an urban environment, and even though the local authorities consider them as an urban slum and threat to demolish them, the conservationists have fought to have them preserved, and they finally obtained to include them as part of Georgetown’s heritage legacy.

Getting lost in Georgetown was definitely an exciting way to discover the city and its unique corners, however, if you are short in time and prefer to plan everything in advance, you may check by clicking here all the events going on in the city and organize your agenda prior your arrival

Our Thai visa guru in Penang is Jim’s Place, a small cafe/travel agency where you can leave your passport in the morning and for a small honest extra charge for their service, you may pick it up the next day at 1.30 pm at the same place, without even going to the embassy. Jim is a very professional agent, and he’s always very helpful with all the information one might need. In addition, buying our bus tickets to Thailand here also turned out to be cheaper than in other agencies or guesthouses.