Giorno 5 — Penang → Banding
Breakfast. Early in the morning, I meet the guide at the hotel and we set off to visit the city of Georgetown: its unique historical features have made it a UNESCO site. We start the visit at Kek Lok Si, which consists of 7 temples and a tall Pagoda, all characterized by carved pillars, precious woodwork, vibrant paintings, and an abundance of lanterns that create a visually striking impression. After descending back into the city, we pass by the ruins of Fort Cornwallis, the headquarters of the English military/colonial detachment. From here, we take a walking tour through the typical streets of the old town center with its charming and artistic murals; open-air food and spice markets that allow us to taste the daily life of this city, as well as small artisan shops that produce utensils, incense sticks for use in temples, and local pastries. After passing by the Kapitan Kling Mosque and the beautiful St. George Church, a symbol of the large local Christian community, we walk through narrow streets where old housing complexes of the Chinese/Malay Peranakan community stand. Here, we visit the beautiful Khoo Kongsi clan house: named after a prominent Chinese family who were among the wealthy Chinese merchants of the 17th century. The famous Khoo Kongsi temple was built in 1906, when the Khoo clan was at the height of their wealth and eminence in Penang society. At the end of the tour, overland transfer with the Italian-speaking guide, taking approximately 3 hours, to reach Lake Temenggor and the Belum forest. Check-in at the resort overlooking the lake and free time to relax surrounded by tropical nature. The Belum-Temengor forest complex is the largest on the Malay Peninsula. It lies in the state of Perak, in the Hulu Perak region, not far from the border with southern Thailand. With a history spanning more than 130 million years, this rainforest is considered one of the oldest in the world, older even than the Amazon and the Congo Basin. Within it lies the man-made lake Tasik Temenggor, which extends over 15,200 hectares and is dotted with hundreds of islands. Dinner.