THE long row of out-of-town cars on the streets of George Town heading for the ferry terminal this week tells us one thing... that no one wants to miss a "last" ride on Penang's iconic ferries.
The mind boggles over why some quarters are being so dramatic that come Jan 1, 2021 the ferries will no longer be in service.
Those who have taken the trouble to read and understand the news properly, will know by now that the iconic ferries will still be plying our waters, albeit with a different kind of "passenger."
Motorcyclists and cyclists will still be able to enjoy crossing the Penang Channel with their motocycles and bicycles on one of the iconic ferries for the next two years, before the historic vessels are "retired."
So why the rush to jam our streets and inch your way to the ferry terminal now?
How about returning to the island when Covid-19 numbers are down, rent a bicycle from designated points in our heritage city and take that ferry ride to the mainland as you seek out more Instagramable shots?
Judging from the number of cars waiting to get on the iconic ferries this week, one cannot help but wonder why these same cars did not bother using the loss-making ferry services before when arriving or leaving Penang?
The first cross-strait ferry service began in 1894, making it the oldest ferry service in the country.
The existing fleet of ferries was delivered in May 1957 and repairs are reportedly difficult owing to the lack of spare parts.
Some 1.3 million passengers and 240,000 four-wheel vehicles use the ferry
service annually.
The other question that is also being asked as Penangites are set to lose a piece of cultural heritage is this ... what else do we stand to lose next?
The equally iconic sea-fronting Gurney Drive has been "lost" to land reclamation which was ordered by the state authorities.
More reclamation is also taking place on other spots on the island, as man-made options are poised to come up.
Eyes are also on Malaysia's oldest hill station - Penang Hill - which some quarters have had their eye on for various types of development.
As we await in hope for a gentler and more healthy 2021, we also look forward to more postcard-perfect moments on our iconic and heritage ferries, as we don our safety helmets and reduce our carbon footprint by opting for motorbikes and bicycles for fun rides across the Penang Channel.