DAY 4
It was our last day in the beautiful island of Penang. Of course, we had to start our day with a hearty breakfast and our choice was in another Mamak (Indian Muslim) restaurant known as "Ramzan".
Chapati.
Sardines gravy, Fried Mee Hoon and the dark-colored stuffs are Fried Chicken Livers.
Done with our breakfast, we called a Grab to bring us to "Fort Cornwallis", 1 of the main historical landmarks in Georgetown. While waiting for the Grab car to arrive, we spent our time by taking some photos with these unique arts on the walls of Ramzan Restaurant's building.
Not long after, our Grab arrived and we headed to Fort Cornwallis.
The Fort Cornwallis is actually located in Padang Kota Lama or "Esplanade", the same place where we had our dinner on the first night. The view was so much better during the daytime as we managed to get a clearer view of the beach and the sea.
Our Grab driver was not able to drop us near the main entrance as the road was closed, so he dropped us at this spot where we had to walk to reach the Fort Cornwallis' main entrance.
While walking, we found this food court that serves some local Penangite cuisines. We decided to look into it and order some light meal.
We ordered a plate of Char Koey Teow to be shared by the 4 of us.
Then, we continued our walk towards Fort Cornwallis. Along the way, we saw many beautiful colonial buildings that surrounded the Esplanade area such as the Penang City Hall Building that we have seen in the first night.
The Penang Town Hall Building.
Located across the street from the field is this Penang State Legislative Assembly Building.
Another prime historical landmarks which located close to Fort Cornwallis is this Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower.
Also known as "Jubilee Clock Tower", it was commissioned by local Penangite millionaire, Mr Cheah Chen Eok in year 1897 to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee or 60-year reign of Queen Victoria.
Located next to Fort Cornwallis is the Swettenham Pier that attracts many leisure cruises from all the world. A huge Marella Cruise was docked at the terminal when we were there.
Reaching the Fort Cornwallis. Named after the then Governor-General of Bengal, Charles Marquis Cornwallis, Fort Cornwallis is 1 of the earliest European structures in Penang. It was built in 1786 by Captain Francis Light, the founder of British settlement in the island as a defend from the attacks of the pirates and other enemies even though it was used more as an administrative center than for a military purpose.
Initially, the fort was just only a simple stockade made up of Nibong (a type of local tree) palms. Few years years later, Captain Francis Light rebuilt the Fort Cornwallis with bricks and stones in a star-shaped layout.
1 of the 2 main entrances for Fort Cornwallis. Visitors are required to purchase the ticket first before they can enter the ancient fort. The ticket fee for an adult (Malaysian citizen) is RM10.
Entering the Fort Cornwallis. There were some conservation works by a group of local volunteers going on.
Among the prominent structures that can be found within the Fort Cornwallis is a chapel, prison cells, skeletal steel lighthouse and this gunpowder magazine.
The gunpowder magazine which resembles a pillbox was built in 1814 and was used to store the explosives.
Entering the gunpowder magazine.
Looking to the outside view from the inside of the magazine. The funnel of the Marella Cruise can be seen.
The fort also features many ancient cannons that can be found in almost every corner.
And the most famous one is this "Seri Rambai Cannon". It is a 17th-century Dutch cannon given to the Sultan of the state of Johor by the Dutch East India Company as a gift. In the past, local folks believed that the beautifully-decorated cannon could treat infertile women by placing a flower in the cannon barrel.
I guess this is how they aimed and shot their enemies' ships in the past.
The skeletal steel lighthouse.
This lighthouse was built to give the direction to any ships that passing and approaching the Fort Cornwallis in the past. It was formerly known as "Fort Point Lighthouse" and later renamed to "Penang Harbour Lighthouse" in 1914 after underwent some renovation works.
Located close to the other entrance of Fort Cornwallis is a bronze statue of Captain Francis Light.
In 1786, Light leased the Penang Island on behalf of British East India Company from Sultan Mukarram Shah of the state of Kedah as their new naval and military base to rival the French movement in South-East Asian Region.
After we took several photos with the statue, we decided to leave the Fort Cornwallis area and it was the final attraction that we visited in our 4-day trip to Penang. The details of our return flight from Penang back to KL will be published in the next trip report.
In the meantime, feel free to check out my previous trip reports:
To The Paradise With Malindo Air
Discover Port Dickson: The Army Town of Malaysia