In the northwest corner of Penang island, Malaysia is a fishing hamlet called Teluk Bahang—roughly translated “Heatwave Bay.”  Because this small town is majority Malay Muslim, it comes as a surprise that here is located a Hindu temple that’s fairly important to local devotees—Kuil Sri Singamuga Kaliamman. 

It’s not important because it was featured on “The Amazing Race” (Season 16, Episode 8), but because it’s the venue for an occasional annual Hindu events.

No visit to Brunei Darussalam’s capital—Bandar Seri Begawan—is complete without a visit to the Kampung Ayer—reputably the world’s largest water village with over 30,000 inhabitants. 

Looks & first descriptions can be deceiving.  Don’t look here for clapboard shanties over the water as seen in smaller water gypsy settlements in this part of the world.  At first these houses standing on stilts over the water may appear like a water gypsy settlement.  But you need to look closer.

The Hindu Thaipusam festival is an astonishing event to witness in Penang, Malaysia.  In honor of their god Murugan, Hindus create huge & colorful kavadi or burdens that devotees then carry several kilometers to Murugan's temple.  Many of the pilgrims allow themselves to have many body piercings--even with large skewers piercing their cheeks and the tips of their tongues.  A few weeks ago I had opportunity to participate in Matt Brandon & Gavin Gough's Thaipusam Workshop.