The Jubilee Clock Tower in Georgetown, Penang

Well, folks, there was a time not long ago that this was the reality.  Life before smart phones, not everybody could afford a watch, a clock tower was a convenient way for the town folks to know what time is it.

The clock towers have different sizes and shapes, some are rather modest while others were built to impress and demonstrate authority.  Numerous clock towers are freestanding structures but they can also adjoin or be located on top of another building.

Many of these clock towers were built during colonial times and to commemorate and mark the special occasion like coronations. Others were paid for by wealthy contributor  wanting to leave their mark on their town.The mechanism inside the tower is known as a turret clock. It often marks the hour (and sometimes segments of an hour) by sounding large bells or chimes, sometimes playing simple musical phrases or tunes.

I can't remember how many times I went up there as a kid, it was free until it was in 1991, the local government had privatised the management of the Fort in an effort to enhance its position as one of the prime tourist attractions in Penang. 

If you're in the vicinity of Fort Cornwallis, you can't really miss this clock tower dedicated to Queen Victoria and commemorating her diamond jubilee.

Mom and I used to stayed at the third floor of the police quarter (in the background). Back then there were no fence built at the Penang State Assembly Building. 

The clock tower has special meaning to me because of its furnishings, atmosphere and memories. When I was a young kid growing up in the police quarter, I love watching the clock and hearing the chimes of clock tower. It plays the same chimes of  London's iconic Big Ben, Clock Tower. It's beautiful but I think the Jubilee Clock Tower has stopped playing the chime for some time now.

The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is a testament to Penang’s royal connections.

The Jubilee Clock Tower, also known as the Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower, is the most famous icon clock tower on Penang Island. Located at the western end of King Edward's Place within the heart of George Town's UNESCO World Heritage Site.

One, two, three o'clock, four o'clock rock
Five, six, seven o'clock, eight o'clock rock.
Nine, ten, eleven o'clock, twelve o'clock rock
We're gonna rock around the clock tonight.

Built in 1897 and was completed in 1902 with the funds from a generous Penang Chinese millionaire benefactor, Cheah Chen Eok. This impressive sight was built to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.  It stands 60ft-high, with each foot representing a year of the Queen's 60-year reign and and the stairs leading up to the main entrance are six steps to denote the number of decades of Queen Victoria's reign with 10 years for every steps.

Interesting fact:

Although it is hardly noticeable, if you take a good look from a distance the clock tower is slightly leaning but that is hardly apparent. It was due to tremendous explosion and tremendous shaking of the clock tower suffered from the impact from the Allied or Japanese bombs being dropped around it during World War II. The Clock Tower leans to one side, much like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Really? Not noticeable to my eye.

Heritage Building within the vicinity of Jubilee Clock Tower.

 The Penang state City Hall, Town Hall and State Assembly Building at Jalan Padang Kota Lama are some of the prominent heritage buildings of multi ethnic architectural design.

City Hall- There was a Chingay Parade and Lion Dance festival on 10th December 2017. The giant flag poles of Chingay measures about 30 feet long at average and the entire item tends to weight over 60 pounds, making the balancing act an impressive feat. 

Unfortunately the real shows only started at 11:00 pm. A real disappointment for visitors and tourists as an opening act before the main event would be more appropriate. Most people would be bored watching someone practicing as the Chingay parade participants takes time to reach when they are parading on certain streets of Penang.

The Penang Island City Hall or Dewan Bandaraya Pulau Pinang is a British-built administrative Victorian-style building along Jalan Padang Kota Lama. Completed in 1903, the two-storey building combines Edwardian Baroque and Palladian architectural styles

The Penang State Assembly Building, or Dewan Undangan Negeri Pulau Pinang, is a public building dates back to the early 19th century. Built in the Anglo-Indian classical style along Light Street.The building once served  as Recorder's Courts and Magistrate's Courts, and formed part of the Central Police Station.

 It contains elements of classical Greek and Palladian architectures. For example, the massive white colonnades supporting a large pediment were inspired by ancient Greek temples. In the same manner with many other buildings of that particular period, this building was constructed by  convict sent from India for use as labour for the construction of public works.

The main attraction of Wisma Kastam is its clock tower, which was built for the then Malayan Railway Building. No bell in this tower was there any back then?

 In the late 60s, the state Customs Office occupied the building which was once as formerly the Malayan Railway Building, there's a imposing clock tower on top of the building and still ticking.

Sis what's with the open arm pose? It should be higher. Before KOMTAR ( state government administration office complex and shopping mall),  Wisma Kastam was the tallest building on the island. 

It was built at the turn of the 20th century following land reclamation that extended the shoreline outward. Back when it was called the Malayan Railway Building, the station is believed to be the only one in the world without a rail. Instead of platforms or trains, it had administrative offices, a ticketing booth and a first-class Railways Restaurant with Bar and Grill.

Passengers buying train tickets are ushered onto the railway ferry to cross the channel, where they board the train in Butterworth.

Once upon a time trams and trolleybuses were part of colonial Penang public transport system.

Will Tram making a come back in Penang? I don't think so. Trams are going to obstruct traffic when moves too slow.

Penang's first trolleybus was launched in 1925. Trolleybuses soon superseded the trams and remained popular until the post-war years. They're kind of the bumper car of buses.

 The cruise ships dock at Port Swettenham right in the middle of George Town.Right beside The Queen Victoria Memorial Clock Tower is a 48m-high Pinang structure (a metal betel nut sculpture), which looks like two halves of the Pinang fruit.

Oh no! I don't like the idea adding the modern look Pinang Fountain betel nut sculpture to  Light Street Roundabout, the picturesque would be spoilt by admitting a fourth.

History has it that when Portuguese traders discovered Pulau Pinang (which was a small uninhabited island back in the 16th century) they named it “Pulo Pinaom” as there were abundance of Arecanut Palm trees found around the island.

Built at a cost of 35,000 Straits dollars and the gleaming whitewashed tower is topped by a Moorish dome.It has four tiers: the base is octagon-shaped and the following two tiers comprise four distinct sections with elaborate windows, balconies and a working clock on each side.

If the dome cupola at the top is also included, the height of the tower is actually 97 feet tall. The clock was imported from Europe and has windows made of opal glass, while the belfry above the clock contained five bells which chimed the Westminster quarters. A clock chime melody used by a set of four bells to chime on each quarter-hour. The number of chime sets matches the number of quarter hours that have passed.

Queen Victoria served as queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1837, and as empress of India from 1877, until her death in 1901.

At the bottom of the clock tower is the full inscription reads 'This clock tower was presented to Penang by Cheah Chen Eok in commemoration of Her Majesty Queen Victoria's".

Unfortunately, she never visited Penang, nor did she ever live long enough to see the completion of her clock tower. By the time it was completed in 1902, the Queen had died on 22 January 1901 (aged 81)

Queen Victoria ruled for 63 years, from 1837 to 1901 but why does the date inscription is different with actual date? Any clue about what's going on here? 

OLDEN DAYS MEMORIES

That's how I remember you. Can someone tell me whether the chime and bong still working?

In my childhood we all relied on the clock to know what time it is.  Most can't fall asleep sleep if they hear the clock ticking but I have no problem. Not even with the clock tower chime.The number of chime sets matches the number of quarter hours that have passed. The full hour chime is followed by one strike for the number of the hour by Jubilee Clock Tower (one strike for one o'clock-Bong, two strikes for two o'clock-Bong x 2, etc.).

I know you're frustrated, you're currently unable to locate some of the colonial building at present site.Most of the colonial architecture were destroyed during World War 2. Sad, Isn't It? The spot now stands was has since housed Penang's General Post Office. 

 A stroll around Georgetown Penang is like been to old London town due to its colonial traditions. Its well-preserved heritage buildings Penang's capital, Georgetown, has been accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site.

 George Town is one of those rare frozen-in-time cities which connects centuries-old history with today's modern lifestyle.  It has retained most of its colonial street names, although they used to be indicated on street signs only in their Malay translations. I like the idea where Penang Heritage Trust placed catchy signboards featuring the origin of street names will be put up along various historical streets.

The spot on which the General Post Office now stands was where colonial buildings like the Treasury Department once stood, while the post office itself was housed inside a U-shaped administrative complex across Downing Street.

The Town Club (partially visible to the left), and the adjacent Education and Treasury Departments along early 20th. century Downing Street. This site is coincidentally where the Penang General Post Office is now located.Sadly, these buildings were destroyed by Japanese and Allied bombers during World War 2. In the case of the Government Offices, only a section along the adjoining Beach Street survived; it now serves as the Penang Islamic Council Building.

Oh, how I miss you, my old hometown of Penang. Known also as the Pearl Of The Orient. I was truly amazed (and somewhat a bit shocked) in the way that my hometown had changed. ... Maybe I have grown old and more emotional but for me, Penang holds always hold a special place in my heart my childhood memories - and those memories are very different from the Penang I see today. 

 There will come a time in adulthood when you make that cherished journey back to the place where you grew up. I feel like a stranger inside of a place I used to know so well. It feels like I’ve stepped inside the memories of another life. Now when I walk through my hometown, where I would feel so safe and at peace but instead I feel lost. I just see memories of another life.

You’re Saddened By What Isn’t There Anymore. My favourite kopi tiam shop has been upgraded to cater middle and upper class society and tourist. It suddenly becomes very apparent your old house, in your old town, is no longer home.

Penang has done well. Lonely Planet had rated George Town the fourth best city in the world to visit in 2016. Besides the many beautiful historical buildings; George Town in Penang has some of the best street food in all of Asia—if not the world.

Packed with sweet and savoury flavor, these dishes will make you crave for more. The island of Penang in Malaysia is world-renowned for its awesome delicious street food;  Mee Goreng, Cendol, Char Kuey Teow, Assam Laksa, Popiah and etc.. too numerous to mention in a sentence.

Penang was an absolute heaven for foodies! 

Penang Assam Laksa has been voted as world’s no.7 most delicious food by CNN travel  in a global poll.

Oh how I miss my home town, missing the smell, missing the food, missing the people, missing everything about this place.

I'll be back again some day. Astalavista, baby!