Melting Pot Malaysia

The hybrid culture and cuisine of Malaysia has always fascinated me. It’s a real melting pot of indigenous Malay, Indian and Chinese philosophy and practice, an early example of the true essence of fusion. Penang is a curious mix of bustling port, heritage city and inviting food frontier. The core of the city, Georgetown is awash with street vendors selling everything from snacks to noodle soups and curries, and is considered Malaysia’s capital for street food. Alongside pockets of Indian and Malay traders, it has a thriving Chinatown. A stroll along any of the twisting streets that run off the main thoroughfare Jalan Penang will take you past Chinese shophouses, the odd temple or mosque, fresh vegetable markets and colourful stalls. The smoke from the charcoal pits and the constant clatter of mahjong tiles only adds to the atmosphere.