In Penang after exploring the Fort, and learning about Francis LIght (and, as Americans, realizing the extent of the power and influence of the British East Indies Trading Company) we walked around seeing some of the buildings and updated colonial style architecture. Discovering the local musuem we saw exhibits featuring not just local history since the colonial period but background and customs of the Malay, Chinese and India peoples who make up the majority of the population I enjoyed not just the history but examples of the textiles.
BTW – did you know that there was a Brit named Mr Halliburton was the Sherif of Penang. The painting is of the location where he took land here and built a huge mansion on one of the bluffs. Perhaps the reputation that modern day firm of the same name has been garnered over centuries, not just decades….
