Even rarer than great museum art is great municipal art. The Guillemard Reservoir, also known as the Penang Reservoir, is one of the loveliest examples I've seen. It's simple and striking, beautifully white and pristine and sits atop a hill overlooking Penang and the sea. This is one of the two pumping stations (seen below), overlooked by a command post of similar design.

	When Leela was growing up in Penang, it was open to the public and families were drawn this oasis on weekends to picnic, take photos and enjoy the greenery. Today, you need a special permit. To get yours, you'll need to go to the tallest building in Georgetown known as Komtar. Everyone knows Komtar --- simply ask the next person you meet on the street if you can't find it, and once you're inside this warren of offices and small shops, ask at the information desk for directions to the right office. Be sure to go a day or so before you want to visit the reservoir. It took us several hours to get ours simply because the man who signs the passes was in a meeting.
You can arrive at sunrise or sunset or anytime in between but you should decide beforehand, for the men who guard the reservoir will take your pass when you enter. As you can see, their command post looks very much like the two pumping stations in the reservoir itself. Whitewashed stairs lead up and through and down the other side. It's bright and airy, the dome is hollow inside and blue-silled windows give you views in all directions.
	This is my Mediterranean shot.
A photo from the far side of the reservoir that shows one of the pumping stations and the command post in the distance.
	And from the other direction, both pumping stations.
What makes this architectural marvel all the more surprising is that it was built in 1929.

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