DEAR Penang residents and visitors, Happy George Town Heritage Day today!
It is hard to believe that it has been 12 years since our inner city was inscribed on the world map as a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) world heritage site.
The hard work and sweat in nailing this spot did not start 12 years ago, but way before that.
Today, let us pay tribute to all heritage activists, town planners, architects and the state and federal authorities for pushing for this prize and not giving up.
The people of Penang and residents of George Town also deserve applause for keeping our heritage flag flying high.
The landmark celebration for George Town today is one which must be shared with Melaka.
It was on July 7, 2008, that a joint inscription of Melaka and George Town was announced, as historic cities by Unesco, based on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV).
OUV is a set of ideas or values, universally recognised as important or as having influenced the evolution of mankind as a whole at one time or another.
The joint inscription is officially tagged as "Melaka and George Town, historic cities of the Straits of Malacca", owing to the development of over 500 years of trading and cultural exchanges between East and West in the Straits of Malacca.
Melaka celebrates this milestone on April 15 each year.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and gradual loosening of restrictions in Penang and the rest of Malaysia, the celebrations in George Town today are "muted."
While celebrations like the annual George Town Festival have gone digital in the name of safety and public health, we can still celebrate in other ways.
In the name of social distancing, taking care of our own safety and being considerate towards others, please consider several facts.
The Historic City of George Town covers a 109.38ha site on the northeast of Penang Island, and is regarded as the core zone.
Surrounding the core zone is a 150.04ha band called the buffer zone (only land in this area, and not the sea, makes up the buffer zone).
Both zones are home to thousands of historic buildings, hundreds of street art displays, old-school-type food offerings and endless retail opportunities.
There is plenty to see and do, if we are careful.
How about taking a walk or renting a bicycle to ride in George Town today?
Remember to wear your face mask if you are around people.
Soak up the living culture that resonates in the city and rediscover its charm and architecture.
Food outlets and street hawkers have reopened while bookshops and other retail outlets have plenty of tastes and "slices" of George Town to savour.
Let's enjoy the day and continue to find joy in celebrating George Town either from our couches or in its culturally-vibrant streets.
The writer is a former NST journalist