I am instantly enamored with the clan jetties in George Town, Malaysia because a jetty will always remind me of home.
Far away in Astoria, OR, USA there is a very different kind of jetty jutting out into the Pacific ocean as a surf break. My grandmother loved to drive out to the jetty on stormy days and watch the waves crash over the rocks
UNESCO World Heritage
The jetties in George Town aren’t surf breaks, however; they are water villages—rows of houses built on piles connected by wooden walkways—built by Chinese immigrants who moved to the region over a hundred years ago.
Once at risk for succumbing to development, the jetties are now part of the UNESCO world heritage site of George Town. They are beautiful, some times incredibly calm and other times a little chaotic.
Today, the gentle breeze is drawing me out to the Tan jetty. It is quieter than normal and the sky promises a beautiful sunset. The uninterrupted view of the horizon at the end of the jetty is a stark contrast to the close quarters of the houses lining the plank walkway. The only thing between me and the clouds are a few rows of unlit lanterns arcing along the path. It’s breathtaking.
I came for the sunset but this is the east part of the island. Instead of watching the sun dip below the horizon, I came to watch the blues mix with a pastel palette pinks, golds, and purples. It is a perfect day for relaxing on the planks and staring into the distance. I am not alone, a mother and son quickly join me at the end of the jetty. The son poses for photos and our laughter mixes with the laughter echoing out from somewhere on the mainland.
Just across the water is the Hean Boo Thean Temple, sometimes called the floating temple. The bright yellow and red paint are vivid against the sky. If I stay a little longer, I might see the temple lights shine over the dark water. But I don’t stay today. I take a final deep breath, get up, and wander a little longer.
From Another day at the Jetty
