For heritage, for charity

Over the course of the last two months, I have participated in two walkabouts around the heritage zone of George Town, all in the name of helping to raise funds for charity. In March, my wife and I took part in the three-kilometer D'Home charity walk while more recently, about a week ago, it was in a slightly longer five-kilometer FMM heritage green walk. On this latter occasion, I walked by myself as my wife was caught up with the organisation of this event.

Starting from the OCBC Bank, the route took us past several prominent landmark heritage sites in the city:

• the Peranakan Museum in Church Street, 
• the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in Queen Street, 
• the Han Jiang Temple in Chulia Street, 
• the Kew Leong Tong Lim Temple in Ah Quee Street, 
• the Fire Brigade building in Beach Street, 
• the Seh Tek Tong Cheah Kongsi, the Poh Hock Seah and the Choo Chay Keong Yap Temple in Armenian Street, 
• the Leong San Tong Khoo Kongsi in Cannon Street, 
• the Malay Mosque in Acheen Street, 
• the Syed Al-Atas Mansion and the Sun Yat Sen Centre in Armenian Street, 
• the Kapitan Kling Mosque and the Kuan Imm Temple in Pitt Street, 
• the Thean Hou Kong Hainan Temple in Muntri Street, 
• the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion in Leith Street, 
• the Protestant Cemetery in Northam Road, 
• the Farquhar Mansion, the Eastern & Oriental Hotel, the Garage, the St Xavier's Institution and the Cathedral of the Assumption in Farquhar Street, 
• the Convent Light Street, Supreme Court building, the Logan Memorial, Esplanade, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce building, the Foo Tye Sin Mansion, the Fort Cornwallis and the Cheah Chen Eok Clock Tower in Light Street, and
• the old Government Office, Standard Chartered Bank, Hongkong & Shanghai Bank Corporation, Logan's Building, the Whiteaways Arcade, India House and back to the Overseas Chinese Banking Corporation in Beach Street. 

Beach Street at five o'clock in the morning.

The same Beach Street at seven o'clock in the morning before the flag-off

The flag-off by Penang Chief Minster Lim Guan Eng and FMM Penang Branch chairman Dr Ooi Eng Hock 

Light spot of nasi lemak breakfast for Dr Ooi Eng Hock, Lim Guan Eng and OCBC Bank CEO Ong Eng Bin after the flag-off

Large crowd of participants walking down Church Street

Family fun, including this participant being pushed along the route

Volunteers from OCBC Bank helping out with the checking of the participants

Walk's over and it's time for some fun on the stage...

...and on the street, crowds join the lively zumba craze...

...including ExCo member Chow Kon Yeow, Ong Eng Bin, Dr Ooi Eng Hock and ExCo member Chong Eng

The Chief Minister's back and it's time to commence with the closing ceremony

But first, the obligatory speeches

The Penang Chief Minister's inspirational speech. I failed to record the beginning of his speech and only managed to capture the second half. But what a message he delivered to the people of Penang! Certainly worth a viewing or two.

The donors and representatives of the 10 charitable organisations, each receiving RM20,000

Such was the mood at the closing ceremony that even the OCBC Bank CEO was unable to resist a bit of fun

The organisers and main sponsors of the FMM heritage green walk with the Penang Chief Minister