Hanging in Penang

Rain in the evening
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Our journey to Penang began on a boat from Pulau Pangkor, an aft-deck providing us with fresh air on the journey this time. We crossed our fingers that there would be a bus to Butterworth - a short ferry hop to Georgetown (on Penang). Roti Canai for breakfast - a thin flaky doughy bready thing ripped up and covered in curry sauce - yum.

Georgetown is Malaysia's second city - and felt like it too. Skyscrapers littered the place, though perhaps lacking the shine of those in KL. The centre of town feels like one large China town and we soon settled into our hotel a short bus ride from the ferry jetty. Decided to walk to the biggest shopping centre in town, from where supposedly you could get a view from 60 floors up. Apparently not, the whole place was being torn apart, or looked like it anyway. Shops were still open though! It turned out there was a viewing platform, but having sneeked a peek for a couple of minutes before we were accosted by somebody wanting us to pay a pretty unreasonable fee, we made our way back down in the express lift. I didn't fancy being the guy who's job it was to press the lift button all day. Mind you, we've seen worse on this trip.

A view over Penang
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Thought we'd go with the feel of the place and had a good Chinese meal, sizzling beef being the highlight. Next day we really started to like Penang, first getting the bus to the bottom of Penang Hill, where a funicular railway runs 800 meters up to the top. Encouragingly the top half was closed for "urgent repair work", but the view from half way over Georgetown and beyond was breathtaking.

Lunch was a find, barbequed pork chopped on on rice (char siew). The Penang Museum offered some respite from the heat and a taste of Penang's history, like most of this part of the world, involving the British somewhere along the way.

A friendly welcome at the top
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We really started to love Penang that night after visiting the nearby Red Garden night market - all cuisines you could wish for and live entertainment from a mixed selection of local stars (they seemed popular anyway!). We ended up sharing a few drinks with an interesting Danish business man who travels 100 days a year. We told him we were jealous but he said we shouldn't be and just seemed to want to see his kids more often. Were also approached by a couple form Bangkok, very keen to remind us not to forget Mary mother of Jesus in our prayers. They were a bit disappointed when we told them we're not Christian, but nonetheless very excited to talk to us, and when they realised we were from Britain were just as thrilled to mention princess Diana. Even better, Man U beating Hull 5-0 was broadcast live on a large screen overlooking the street. We shared a bench with a local, while drinking tea and (Ben mostly) eating Jammy Dodgers. No chance of missing home comforts here!

Where's Wallen no.2
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The next morning's entertainment was unexpectedly provided by a "meatless" convention, where Becks briefly considered becoming vegie after hearing nasty vegie propaganda. It's ok, we've got her back on the beef now!