Old Protestant Cemetery, Penang

The Old Protestant Cemetery is located in an obscure location along Northam Road, at the top of Penang Road. Established in 1789, the cemetery is no longer in use and has been classified as a heritage site and currently maintained by the Penang Heritage Trust. The last known burial at this cemetery was in 1892.

The cemetery is of significant historic interest, as it was the first christian burial ground consecrated in Penang after its founding by Francis Light in 1786. It is notable for  being the final resting places of many of Penang's earliest and influential residents, including three Governors of Penang and the founder of the island himself, Francis Light.

Today, the cemetery is rarely visited by anyone including tourists, giving it an eerie almost forlorn appearance. However despite its state of dilapidation and disrepair, it is still worth a visit to see the old graves amidst a grove of gnarled old frangipani trees.

Strolling through the grounds, you seem a world away from the busy streets of Penang, as you walk amongst the headstones. Looking at the names from generations ago, it seems sad that most of those lying here were very young, mostly below 50 years of age, a testament of the difficult times these Europeans from far far away had in the Orient.

Entrance to the cemetery, off Northam Road.

Founded in 1789.

A green wooded cemetery.

The graves are sadly in a state of disrepair.

Frangipani trees.

An almost eerie experience under the gnarled trees.

One of the graves.

Many graves are now unmarked.

Dilapidated graves in green surroundings.

Surgeon, dead at 30.

Police inspector, dead at 33 years.

Chief Engineer.

Accountant.

Francis Light, the founder of Penang is also buried here.

The grounds are also a known haunt of drug addicts, exercise caution when visiting.

William Petrie, fifth Governor of Penang.

The sixth British Governor of Penang.

The Old Protestant Cemetery is worth a stop to visit, experience and appreciate Penang's colourful history, especially its colonial past as an outpost of Britain in the Far East.

Purrfect Cat Cafe, Penang

The trend of mixing cats and cafes probably started back in Taiwan way back in the 90's; and it also became an extremely popular trend in Japan. So you could say cat cafes are nothing new; but somehow it has only recently set foot in Malaysia.

In the Klang Valley you have places such as the Coffee Cottage in Subang Jaya and the Country Cat Cafe somewhere in Setapak. And of course in Penang you now have the Purrfect Cat Cafe in Muntri Street.

Muntri Street is right in the midst of George Town's UNESCO heritage area and with its narrow streets and straits eclectic style of shophouse architecture, makes for an interesting place to walkabout and see the minor sights and street art.

One of these minor sights is this cat cafe. Located in a converted 2-storey shop house, it is on the same row as the Camera Museum; and is in fact run by the same owner.

Camera Museum on the left and the Purrfect Cat Cafe on the right.

Entering on the ground floor of the Cat Cafe, you will see what is essentially a souvenir shop selling all sorts of cat related merchandise.

Entrance.

Cake counter.

Basically a souvenir shop of the feline kind.

The actual cats and the cat cafe is actually on the top floor of the shophouse. However in order to go upstairs you must order drink or food; or buy some merchandise worth at least RM18 per person before being allowed upstairs.

No entry unless you spend!

Order your coffee on the ground floor before you can go up.

There are house rules to follow when dealing with cats.

Some of the dubious characters you are supposedly going to meet upstairs.

When you've done paying, take off your shoes and go up.

Upstairs the floor is divided into two sections. The front of the shophouse is the enclosure where the cats are kept. The back is where the cafe is, separated from the front by glass for hygienic reasons.

Pass your receipt to the staff on duty upstairs, and he will prepare the food or drinks you ordered. You are not supposed to bring the food or drinks into the front enclosure where the cats are.

The counter at the cafe upstairs.

View of the cat enclosure up front from the cafe.

Seating is on the floor in the cafe area.

After having your drinks you can adjourn into the front enclosure to see the cats. Unfortunately when we were there, the five cats were all sleeping.

Cat sleeping.

Yawn.

Cat sleeping.

Cat sleeping.

Sort of defeats the purpose of a cat cafe, if when you visit the cats are all sleeping and you cannot play with them, right? Perhaps our timing was wrong and anyway, you can't really control animal behaviour.

Perhaps next time, then.

Purrfect Cat Cafe

Address:    53, Lebuh Muntri, George Town, Penang.

Telephone: +604-261 1197