Sketching George Town II and Ah Beng.

I survived the three days SKETCHING GEORGE TOWN II in Penang from 5 to 7 July in total joy and satisfaction, start an early morning day with a happy stretching-in-bed and skip the often afternoon nap like I was moved back 10 years earlier in life. That was all the Sketching George Town II all about, big thanks to Ch’ng Kiah Kien, Khoo Cheang Jin and his great team of many other sketchers.

Each sketching day start with the 8.30 AM morning briefing, it was no problem after the morning roadside coffee with condense milk, two hearty half-boiled eggs+toast with butter/kaya jam, personally served by Ah Beng, our friendly coffee man right across the hotel.

Penang and Siam (Thailand as known then) had close relationship long into history up to today. And of course, you can count on us, Penang and Bangkok Sketchers too if you like:-) During my younger days, Thais hi-so riches went to Penang for their overseas shopping spree instead of London or Paris. Penang is also known as sister cities to our popular Andaman Sea destination of Phuket sharing many cultures and characteristics.

It is easy to see how Penang is all about culture, community and people. We had an opportunity to record in sketchbook the unique juxtaposition of Indian and Chinese Temple, Malay Mosque and Christian Churches within a single walk.

Sketching George Town II was my second shot of the great and memorable sketching experience after USk Symposium. It is certainly what makes sketching an activity of my choice of learning to catch up with the world and growing (old) with.

Sketching the moods and air of the nightly sharing session was kind of relaxing and as enjoyable as reading bed time story, possibly what brought me those good and sound sleep nights . I still recalled how I, each night, look forward to sitting at Ah Beng’s open-air roadside table holding a cup of his hot, thick local coffee for another sketching day in George Town!!

Till next time then:-)