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Chinese Houses in Georgetown Multi-Cache

This cache has been archived.

GrünesMonster72: I run out of ideas where to put a replacement in this area. If anybody has an idea, just let me know.

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Hidden : 10/21/2007
Difficulty:
2 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

This is a moderate tour in Georgetown that leads you to some places I like very much. At each stage you'll find some information that you need for calculating the final cache location. Walking time is maybe min. 45min, but I would recommend to reserve more time so that you can also take a look into the houses. They are accessible during daytime, the first house only by tour, the other two individually.

All required informations can be obtained anytime and are independent of the buildings' opening hours (=they are outside). You can park your car around the first location, most of the parking sites in Georgetown require a small fee. You can also do the tour with a stroller because it's purely on paved ground, but don't expect nice sidewalks in Georgetown.
In near vicinity of the beginning and end of this cache tour you'll find some nice places where you'll get refreshments .

1st Stage - Blue
N 05° 25.280, E 100° 20.090
This is one of the most beautiful houses in Penang, and you nearly can't miss it when you are in the area because of its characteristic color. It was built by a rich Chinese man in the 1880s and was beautifully restored in the 1990s. It also serves as a hotel now, and can be entered twice a day (guided tours at 11am and 3pm daily) for a small fee.

The first solution you can get when looking at the low shophouses on the other side of the street (between the gallery and the hotel; they formerly belonged together with the Blue house), the number of houses you can see gives solution A.

Bonus point for those who can email me which French actress starred in a movie that was partly made in this building (but this answer is not necessary for finding out the cache location).

2nd Stage - Green
N 05° 25.070, E 100° 20.472
This house recently changed its color from light-blue to green (thanks to ashotiwoth for pointing this out) . It was built at the end of the 19th century and is today a private museum where you can find lots of antiques and collectibles from the so-called Baba-Nyonya culture.

When you look at the house from the street, you will see windows with paintings behind. On one of them you'll find a girl playing an instrument, the number behind the correct answer gives you solution B:

(a) Guitar (B=4)
(b) Harp (B=6)
(c) Flute (B=8)

3rd Stage - Red
N 05° 24.910, E 100° 20.295
This stage leads you to one of the most beautiful clan house temples in Georgetown built in the 1870s. It is not so frequently mentioned in travel guides, however, it has been very nicely renovated and can be accessed for free during daytime. You will need to find a narrow gateway leading to the house.
Last question: Which animals are shown at the beginning of the narrow gateway on the left and right side? The number behind the correct answer gives you solution C:

(a) Monkey and Snake (C=1)
(b) Tiger and Dragon (C=3)
(c) Lion and Horse (C=4)

Last Stage - Final
N 05° 2(B/2).(B)(B/2+C)(B/2+A), E 100° 2(A-B+C).(A-C)(B/2+A)(A-C)
Each of the calculation results in brackets represents a digit of the coordinate. The final cache location is not far away now. Watch out for muggles when you take and put back the cache, both on the street and at the houses. For finding the cachebox, it's not necessary to enter a building or any private premises. Just look carefully behind a certain object!

BTW, very close to the cache hiding location you'll find a description to even another near clan house that's very worth visiting.

Happy Geocaching!
GruenesMonster72

Initially placed into Cache: logbook, pen, pineapple keychain.

Small note on cache maintenance: I'll stay in Penang for the next two years.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Oruvaq gur cnary.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)