Celebrate Heritage! Hidden Retreat The Road ... - The Expat Group

exploring penang
Off the Beaten Path
Don’t just stick to the well-worn routes of George Town when exploring Penang: Kat Fatland
discovers the treats to be enjoyed on the less-visited southern half of the island.
UNLIKE THE FAIR MAJORITY of expats
in Penang, who choose to live near George
Town or Batu Ferringhi, my partner and I
reside on the south side of the island, in
Bayan Lepas. The location was chosen for
work reasons but, over the last year or so,
we’ve both found ourselves charmed by the
experiences unique to our area.
Away from the more touristy areas of
Penang, the south has much to offer those
willing to look. From unconventional
temples and village views to delicious
local and international fare, a trip off the
beaten path to the island’s south makes for
a wonderful weekend outing, and may just
leave you coming back for more.
Sam Poh Footprint Temple
On the southeastern corner of Penang
island, rather obscured from view behind
one of the island’s most ambitious new
housing development projects, there rests
a very special rock. Surrounded by a small
Chinese temple, the rock bears an almost
1m-long imprint that Chinese locals believe
is an ancient footprint of Captain
Zheng He, a legendary 15thcentury
explorer and adventurer
from China’s Yunnan province.
With his fleet of ships, Zheng He
(whose local name is Sam Poh)
is said to have conquered pirates,
waged wars, and made China’s
presence known all over Asia,
as far as the holy city of Mecca.
As the footprint would suggest,
the man was said to be of giant
proportions. Although he covered
much ground during his seven
expeditions, the question of
whether he was ever actually in
Penang remains unanswered: the footprint
seems to be symbolic proof enough for
some.
However, Indian Penangites believe this
to be the footprint of Hanuman, an
Indian deity legendary for his role in
the Ramayana, one of India’s great epic
stories. In the tale, King Rama’s wife Sita
is abducted by the demon king, Ravana.
During his search, he enlists the help of
Hanuman, but their journey is seemingly
put to an end upon encountering the
uncrossable sea until Hanuman remembers
that, long ago, the god Shiva gave him the
power to jump over the ocean. Upon his
recollection, Hanuman leaps over the sea
and eventually saves the queen, and the
footprint is a mark of Hanuman’s great leap.
Malay Penangites believe yet another story:
that this is the footprint of the terrible
Gedembai, a giant who walked the forests
of Penang hundreds of years ago, wreaking
havoc on the local population. One day, as
a villager was chopping timber, a piece of
wood hit his blade the wrong way and went
flying into the air. Thinking it was another
giant, Gedembai ran away terrified, leaving
only his giant footprints.
16 Penang International