Dying Trades of Penang | Pulau Pinang : journeymalaysia.com

Pulau Pinang (Penang)

Manufacturer of Preserved Nutmegs

Goh Eng Huat, 87 Magazine Road, Georgetown

Just down the road from the Red Lantern maker is this little shop where fresh nutmegs are brought in for further processing into preserved nutmegs (snack), balms and other products made from nutmegs. There are other local scnack sold at Goh Eng Huat such as the local biscuits called tambun biscuits. However, the strong flavoured preserved nutmeg is a speciality snack more frequently found in the Northern states such as Penang and Perak. As historically, nutmeg plantations were aplenty in Penang during the early stages of the Spice Trade, this spice has been a favourite with locals for cooking, medicinal properties and also has been made into snacks.

Hand Made Paper Effigies

Ah Bin and Sons Paper Products, 115, magazine road, Georgetown

beautiful paper effigies

Mr Ooi Beng Teik, the owner, proudly displays the fine work of his staff at the back of the shop. 3m tall paper effigies that they have been working on for months. These large effigies have a purpose. The Hungry Ghost Festival (also known as Phor Thor festival). This month long celebration begins on the last day of the 6th lunar month,(sometime in August) when the gates of hell are opened for that short period and wandering spirits are set free to roam the earth. These large paper effigies are of the Tai Su Yeah ie the King of Hades. Devotees would offer fruits, rice and cakes to Tai Su Yeah to reduce the sufferings of their dearly departed ones and also protect the living from angry roaming spirits. The King of Hades would have a large altar made for him and Taoists would offer food, joss sticks and candles to Him.

Apart from making such effigies for festivals, Mr Ooi spends his time making houses, and other paraphernalia used in Chinese funerals. With such traditions and beliefs still strong in the Taoist communities, Mr Ooi's business is still thriving and hopefully

for many years to come, his staff and younger generation will be able to continue his trade.

Mahjong Tiles & Dice Manufacturer

Lim Tan Tin, Love Lane, Georgetown

Located in a seedier part of town, this shop has a wonderful handpainted advertising board right out in front. Can't miss it. They manufacture mahjong tiles and dice and customers can request made-to-order as well. Since mahjong is still a favourite pastime with the local Chinese community, this business may just have it's niche cut out.

Curry Mee Seller

corner of a church, Jalan Paya Terubong, near Air Itam wet market. Mornings.

Lim sisters busy at work

Already in their 70's, the Lim sisters continue to serve their customers as they have since the 1950's, when they started their business after having learnt the secrets to their delicious curry mee from their parents. The sisters now have their grandchildren to help them sometimes and even though they still use their rattan carriers to carry the pots, they have a friend who is kind enough to drop them off at their trading spot. In their younger days, the sisters had to transport their pots and wares in the rattan carriers. Imagine the weight!

The delicious curry mee flavour is further enhanced with the addition of coagulated pigs blood. But customers can always omit that in the order. The curry mee here is very popular with the local community. If curry mee is not your cup of tea, they also serve fried mee and fried meehoon...

Boat Maker & the Koay Clan

Koay Jetty area

The Koay clan are are the descendants of Arabian and Middle Eastern people and were successful seafarers and traders. When they arrived in Penang having escaped from the oppressive Chinese Government in China, they settled in comfortably as they found that the many chinese immigrants in this new land were also from the Fujian province hence speaking the same language and had similar culture. The Koay immigrants found work as as traders, port coolies and boatmen. The Koay jetty is the last clan jetty to be built in Penang.

datuk awang temple

At the T- junction of Peasgrave Street, the street leading to Peng Aun jetty and Koay jetty is a small temple called the Datuk Awang Temple. It's strange to see a deity that is dressed distinctively Muslim being worshiped in a temple, where joss sticks are offered at the altar. This may have something to do with the history of the Koay clan. The 5th generation Koay descendants were faced with attacks from the Han Chinese extremists. This was due to a retaliation when it was found that a group of Hui muslims had supported the Ming dynasty government to put down a rebellion in Fujian. To protect their village and people, the Koays downplayed their Hui identity. They intermarried with Han women and allowed these women to rear pigs, so that they blended into their surroundings.

'In 1975, the Koay community in Penang published a notice which was to be framed and hung on the wall by every clansmen. The notice provides the generational names to be followed by the Koay clan for forty generations. The present generation of Koays can trace their geneology back to between 17-22 generations.

peng aun jetty - down the road from koay jetty

The notice stated that since early times, the Koays have been Muslims. They have been steadfast in their prayer, and have not changed for generations. . After China became a Republic, many of their clan came to Southeast Asia and were scattered all over Singapore and Malaysia. However, due to the great differences in human relations and environment, they gradually departed from the Islamic teaching. However in the practice of remembering their ancestors, they will strictly observe halal food (no pork). This shows that they are following the fatwa of the past, and that they have not forgotten their origins' - excerpt courtesy of www.penangstory.net

Lau Woon Chwee, the boatmaker who has his workshop not far from the Koay jetty is known for his skills at making boats for the dragon boat races that are held every year on the fifth day of the fifth moon of the lunar calendar. The mast head of the dragon pierces through sprays of water, gnarling at competitors as the long, slender body powered by 26 able bodied men push the boat to maximum speed. The race itself has drawn a great many contestants not only from Asia but internationally. So grab your bak chang (meat dumplings) and head off to Teluk Bahang dam for some great fun.

Further down from the boatmaker's is the mangrove area. Mangroves used to line the length of the beach here. Unfortunately due to development, much has been removed. The recent Tsunami that hit Penang's shores has now prompted the government to restore the mangrove swamps and to protect those existing. We hope this includes the mangrove areas along the jetty areas. (the mangrove at koay jetty is in serious need of some cleaning up though).

next page, more on Penang...

Accommodation and Holiday Packages to Penang