One word…Penang. You can experience all of Asia in only one stop. I consider Malaysia the melting pot of the east. Tori and I had only one plan for this port and that was to relax. Midterms and India left us physically, spiritually, and emotionally exhausted. Our spontaneous agenda featured a variety of temples, the state art gallery, chocolate and coffee boutiques, street markets, the Tropical Spice Garden, hawker stands, spicy food, mass transit, and free internet (which is a big deal when you are living in the middle of the ocean).
This port was inconveniently unique in that we had to tender from the ship to the actual port. “Tendering” in nautical land, is the process of transporting passengers from an anchored vessel to land, via lifeboats. Like anything else new, this process was fun…the first time. Two rotating 100-passenger boats running every hour on the dot teaches flexibility, timeliness, and preparation.
I met Kristina’s parents (from Alaska). Her dad attended boarding school in Penang when he was in intermediate and high school, so twenty years later he and his wife returned to meet up with their daughter. They were very warm and welcoming. Tori and I tagged along with them to a traditional klan house, the snake temple (yes, there were really live snakes just hanging around the shrines), and lunch at a hawker stand (a neighborhood of street vendors that cook cheap, traditional, hot meals on the spot). I broke a rule…I ate the street food…and I liked it!
On our second day of fearless exploration, we mastered the system of public transportation. Taxi drivers hike up their fares whenever they realized I wasn’t a local (I have no idea what gave that one away…) and walking is a frustrating and exhausting option. For only a matter of pennies, we could ride the air-conditioned bus, people watch, see the island, and get to where we wanted to go. The magic of the Malaccan Strait and the Indonesia trade route came to life as we hiked trough the botanical jungle of the Tropical Spice Garden. For dinner, Tori and came across a restaurant that we could simply not pass up…Spicy Girl. Yes, please! This place was made for us Texans. It was a “hot-pot” joint. Boiling pots of flavored broth are set on burners in the center of the table. We dumped noodles, dumplings, bamboo chutes, fish cubes, and tofu into the spicy soup. Mouthwatering. After dinner, we had coffee at a neighboring locally owned shop. Not only was the Malaysian coffee good, but the company was absolutely exceptional. The owner, Tigun, had spent the last 25 years doing light designs for Broadway. He recently retired to Penang so that he and his expecting wife could be close to their families while creating their own. They welcomed us with open arms, shared travel stories, and helped us find our way around the island. In fact, the shop became our “home base” throughout the rest of our stay…not to mention, their free internet was a blessing!
Penang has quite the collection of religious sites….Chinese ancestral shrines, Hindu temples, Buddhist temples, mosques, churches, and Taoist temples. The Kek Lok Si Temple was hands down the most impressive. In fac,t it is one of the largest Buddhist temple complexes in Southeast Asia and is reputed to be one of the most beautiful too. There seems to be no fine lines separating religions from one another. It is what you make it. Take what you want…religion – a la carte. Personally, I think of it as religious polygamy…How do you fully serve, love, obey, trust, and follow more than one god?
I also had a chance to try my hand at batiking, a technique of printing fabric using wax and colorful dyes. This elaborate art is a prominent symbol of the Malaysian culture. This method of resist dye is easily recognizable and I am sure you have seen it before…and if not, you can check out my handmade handkerchief! This opportunity reminded me of the strands of history, passion and pride and that are woven between the threads of textiles.
Our last night in grand ol’ Malaysia was declared “America Night.” Do not be quick to judge. My motives are creditable…red meat and Troy Bolton. Shelby (who remind me so much of Alyssa “Crunchy” Laurich), Tori and I ate at Chili’s and saw High School Musical 3. Ah! So good. Nothing beats watching a Disney masterpiece in a theater full of Chinese and Malay 10-year-olds. The 3rd one was, hands down, my favorite. (Partially because it was in Malay and Cantonese subtitles!)
Sunday morning, my last day in Malaysia, was very special. After such a refreshing experience at Hilsong in South Africa, I wanted to make it a point to go to church around the world. Tori and I had breakfast overlooking the ocean and then took a taxi to the Wesley Methodist Church of Penang. Excitement, warmth, and love engulfed my every inch within my first step into to the foyer. Sunday school, VBS registration, alter guild, potluck lunch in the family center…it was all the same. We were led to the English contemporary service. We rocked out to Prince of Peace and Here I Am, Lord. The best part of the service was the group of 45 who were signing along with the songs and prayers. We were just in time for the kickoff celebration of the Ministry to the Hearing Impaired. It didn’t matter where we came from, what we looked like, or what we sounded like. We were all children of the same God. I felt as though the deaf congregation could hear God better than I could. Their hope and passion was so encouraging and refreshing.
Here are our prayers:
“Pray for Malaysia. The political situation continues to be in a state of flux and uncertainty. Pray for the Lord to have mercy upon us as a nation, and restrain all those who are bent on violence and turmoil, selfishness and greed. Pray too for the people and all political parties to look beyond their own communal advantages and work for the welfare of all-regardless of race or religion. Pray especially that this country will use our resources to improve the quality of life for all these people.”
“We are still receiving news on the persecution of Christians in different parts of India. Pray for the Indian government to do whatever is necessary to put an end to this kind of persecution and to protect the rights and the lives of their own citizens. Pray especially for the Christians there and that they may remain strong in the face of suffering and remain faithful witnesses to the Gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This prayer request hit home for me. I had been in India only a week earlier. I had read about the Christian persecutions in the newspaper, and now it was obvious just how alive and connected the body of Christ truly is. Christianity exists outside of the Sunday school classrooms and the Friday morning breakfast Bible studies. This is bigger than our comfort zone. This community is worldwide, and just as the Malays pray for the Christians in India, we must remember that the vastness of God’s creation expands beyond the white picked fences of the United States. Please pray for our brothers and sisters around the world, and may the lost be found.
