Day 55 - Batu Maung was a fishing village on the southern tip of Penang Island. The area is most probably nothing like it used to be. The second bridge from Penang Island to the mainland connects here now. In fact, the work continues on the overpasses and highway connections to the whole southern island. Lots of development has recently taken place.
However, there is still a famous temple in Batu Maung. It's called the Sam Poh Footprint Temple. The structure currently over the footprint is fairly new and looks out at the fishing port and bridge.
There are differing stories about the origin of the 32-inch footprint. The Chinese believe it as having been carved during a visit by a 15-century Ming-dynasty Muslim eunuch called Admiral Zheng, having a local name of Sam Poh. Local Indians, on the other hand, believe the footprint to be that of Hanuman. Malays, however, believe it was left by a giant Gedembai.
Regardless, it was a pleasant morning trip on bus #302. We had to walk just a bit, past a huge new building to the quieter fishing port area. The footprint is at beach level and therefore sort of like a well from inside the building. We spent only about a half hour.
As we were returning a rainstorm hit. However, by the time we waited at the BJ Complex for the local bus back to our apartment, it had completely subsided.