This is Penang, Malaysia! It's an island off the West coast of Malaysia that's truly charming. It's a mix of colonial Britain and Southeast Asia, offering a flavor that is all its own.

Just about ANYTHING you need to buy is here, in the streets

Looks good, eh?

Well, this isn't exactly the way that I would buy shrimp. But, that's how they do it!

Fish mongers

Ralph and one of our guides

Take THAT!

I think that someone should tell her that chopping and storing raw chicken in direct sunlight isn't the safest thing to be doing.

This doesn't exactly make chicken look very appetizing.

Hot nuts, coming through!

Our car and driver

These rickshaws are called "tri-shaws"

Just some old cannon. We weren't paying attention to the history. It was too hot.

Here I am, on my tri-shaw ride through the streets.

This was a very old Chinese Temple

Insense burns continuously

Red means GOOD LUCK to the Chinese

This is sort of the local way to get around!

Come and step inside a Mansion from long ago, still amazingly-outfitted and preserved. What a nice place!

This mansion sits in the heart of Penang, you'd miss it otherwise. Yet, it offers a huge indoor area. It even featured its own Opium den.

This is how the old Chinese would deliver a wedding Dowry to the new bride. Inside, you would have all sorts of riches...and delcious cake.

Penang shares its city with a Chinese culture, a Malay (Muslim) culture and an Indian Culture, very much like Singapore does.

We visited our first Hindu temple ever. Of course, more temples to come when we visit India.

Penang's neighborhoods are very interesting. A "Clan" or family would occupy a whole neighborhood, and interconnect all the homes. And often, as we see here, they would build a central Clan House, sort of a family community center.

Here's a photo of one clan, dressed in their finest

Each of these represents one clan or family...which can number in the thousands. Think of that joke about Chins in the Chinese phonebook.

Great night shot of the clan house. By the way, this was used in ANNA AND THE KING, the version with Jodie Foster that came out not too long ago.

Each clan has its own lantern, which they display proudly around the property