Part 3: John Doan’s Southeast Asia Tour – Penang, Malaysia, Where Nature Grows Out of Buildings, People Dine From the Trunk of Their Cars and He Perform On the Top of a Birthday Cake!


1. Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

 

Although Penang is an island just off to the north east of peninsular Malaysia it seems like a world apart.  Unlike Malaysia’s capitol of Kuala Lumpur, there are many streets that have been left just as they were over a century ago.

 

 

2. Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

Back then carts were pulled by strong men.

 

 

 

3.  Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

 

It is almost the same today except it is bicycles that are peddled by strong men.

4. Graffiti Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

 

Graffiti has been raised to a fine art of iron working as local artisans weld their messages and place them before blank walls.

5. Painted Wall Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

 

 

 

Down an alley way I was surprised to see a life like painting on the side of a building.

 

5.5 Deirdra Painted Wall Penang, Malaysia John Doan

 

 

 

My artist wife Deirdra couldn’t resist getting into the picture herself.

 

 

 

6. Penang, Malaysia Stones John Doan

 

 

In Penang it also seemed as if the natural world will not be denied as it can be seen to break through the side walks ….

 

 

7. Penang, Malaysia building plants John Doan

 

 

 

…. and even grow out of tall buildings.

8. Penang, Malaysia tail gate food John Doan

 

 

 

Where in the US we have “drive up to a fast food window service” the locals here have drive up in your car, pop the trunk, and yell that you have food for sell service.”

9. Penang, Malaysia tail gate food John Doan

 

 

 

 

Within moments there was a line up of hungry passersby being served up lunch out of the back end of a car.

9. Penang, Malaysia hair transplant John Doan

 

 

Medical tourism is big business in Malaysia.  This shop promised to within minutes restore my balding head with hair ….

10. Penang, Malaysia hair transplant John Doan

 

 

 

… but I was discouraged by the entrance to the doctor’s office.

11. Penang, Malaysia Tinh Mahoney John Doan

Back at the hotel I met up with my good friend Vietnamese guitarist Tinh Mahoney who was going to join me in concert that evening. What he could do on six strings sounded like he was playing on 20!  That was especially true when he picked up my harp guitar.

13. Penang, Malaysia Food Leaf Tinh Mahoney John Doan

After our practice, Deirdra, Tinh’s friend Tam, our concert promoter and up-and-coming harp guitarist Brain Gan, Tinh and I went to lunch.  The restaurant served our food on a palm leaf. After the meal they had their palm out when we left.

Later that evening there was a great turn out for the concert.  Most were hearing the harp guitar for the first time.  Tinh and I played a few improvised duets and surprised ourselves that we ended in the same key!

17. Penang, Malaysia Concert John Doan

The next day we played a concert in a high scale shopping mall that was celebrating it’s first year birthday.  The stage was made in the shape of a Birthday cake.  I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to be asked to jump out of the top of the cake and burst onto the stage with my harp guitar cranked up to lead everyone in a verse of Happy Birthday.

 

 

 

But they asked Tinh to come out first.   He stunned the crowd with his intensity, physical posturing and facial grimaces.  His guitar playing was nothing short of amazing as well.  By the time I played, hundreds of people had gathered round and were wondering where Tinh went!

21. Penang, Malaysia Concert John Doan

I wasn’t sure if anyone was actually listening as they didn’t come to the mall to hear live music.  But they did come to shop and shop they did at the CD table where I almost ran out of product to sale.

 

22. Penang, Malaysia Concert John Doan

 

 

It was fun to pose for pictures with so many new fans.

23. Penang, Malaysia Concert Tinh Mahoney John Doan

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tinh and I packed out after the gig, I with my little travel harp guitar on my back, while Tinh wrestled with all his gear.

 

 

 

24. Penang, Malaysia Tinh Load John Doan

 

 

 

He went back to stuff the rest of his gear into a huge duffle bag. I recommended that he think about traveling lighter.

25. Penang, Malaysia Concert Tinh and Tam John Doan

 

 

 

 

The next day we left the instruments in the hotel and just went out and had fun.

 

 

 

 

 

We went to a Butterfly reserve.  I had never seen anything like it in my life.  Butterflies in every imaginable color and shape were flying all about and in every direction!

One landed on my arm and I was instantly a little boy full of wonder again.

25.5 Penang, Malaysia Deirdra Butterfly Park John Doan

 

 

 

 

It then saw Deirdra and  landed on her face!  How could that face get more beautiful? Penang was literally one surprise after another.

 

 

 

 

On our final night in Penang we met at a restaurant at ocean’s edge.  Carolyn Khor interviewed me for the local newspaper, Tinh and Brian became close, and a local guitarist and entrepreneur Leon Thum joined us.  Deirdra and I were humbled to have meet such a wonderful group of people.

29. Penang, Malaysia Sunset John Doan

 

 

 

Although Penang was beautiful, the time we spent with our new friends was unforgettable.

30. Penang, Malaysia Tinh Mahoney John Doan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The next day Tinh and I, along with Deirdra and Tam, left for Vietnam on the last leg of our South East Asia adventure.

 

 

 

 

 

Look next to Part 4: John Doan’s Southeast Asia Tour – Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam – From Mopeds to life in City Parks, to Posing with a Model, to Resourceful Street Vendors, from the former President’s Palace to a Rooster on the Street.

7 thoughts on “Part 3: John Doan’s Southeast Asia Tour – Penang, Malaysia, Where Nature Grows Out of Buildings, People Dine From the Trunk of Their Cars and He Perform On the Top of a Birthday Cake!

  1. Wonders of wonders around the world! Great photos, great stories – what an experience!

  2. Nice trip ! nice pictures ! nice comments ! But, how to hear some extracts of the concert you gave with Tinh ?
    Best wishes from France !

  3. I really enjoyed reading this, John! Thanks for sharing about your travels and adventures.

  4. Hello John!
    What fun you are having! Thank you for all the posting,
    helps your friends back home travel along with you.
    Love it!
    One day soon another conversation.
    Thank you!
    love.
    Chris

  5. While the pictures make the mouth drop open in amazement, it is the comments which make the corners of the same mouth turn upward in amusement.

    May the Grace and Peace of God keep you all in one piece(each) on your travels and transportations.

    wdt

  6. Thanks for sharing great pictures. I am sure you captivated everyone with your magical harp guitar.

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