Penang: Occupy Beach Street

Beach Street, or Lebuh Pantai is one of the oldest streets in Penang. Renownedly, it is a vibrant banking district with numerous heritage buildings standing side by side.

It was built as early as 1786 or 1787, subsequent to Light Street, to be the main commercial street of the newly established George Town. Beach Street is older and has been around longer than many of the towns on the Malayan Peninsula including Singapore, Taiping, Ipoh and Kuala Lumpur. Unlike arrow-straight Light Street, Beach Street was built to follow the curve of the beach, which was then right beside it. The result, as can be seen to this day, is a meandering street as it makes its way towards the southern hinterland. Today both streets meet at the Light Street Roundabout. - source

I used to came for classes at the British Council, Pengkalan Weld, in the evening and drove through Beach Road after class. Besides admiring the charming old-world facade, I enjoyed the peace and smooth traffic home. It was a buzzing commercial area of Georgetown in the daytime. It is still.

On the Sunday that we were visiting Penang, SC's cousin brought us here, for the Project Occupy Beach Street. It is an initiative by the local government to bring life into Beach Street on Sundays. This project coincides with Car-Free Day which is implemented every Sunday from 7am to 1pm on the stretch of Beach Street from Downing Street to Church Street.

This is a weekend arts and cultural market.

At the same time, this is a safe platform to for the public to view the heritage area.

Not crowded though as it was drizzling.

Some of the cutest merchandises...

Public are invited to take part into the street performance too.

It is very happening here in Beach Street every Sunday. It is also buzzling at their Facebook: Occupy Beach Street.