I did not yet get to tell you, how I got from the bus terminal in Penang to my hostel…
It went like this: I didn’t exchange any cash before coming to Malaysia, so I stood pretty much penniless in the heat of the day and too far from my stay for a brisk walk by foot.
An exchange office was too far from the bus terminal against my calculations, which made me choose to give in to some bargaining with the taxi drivers. Well, actually one of the drivers chose to give in to accept my leftover Australian and Singaporean dollars as payment…
That money I couldn’t get exchanged at the exchange offices, so didn’t only ‘pay’ for the taxi ride, but also got rid of the heavy metal. Australian coins are the most ridiculous, big as a plate and not sized proportionally to their value…
Thus, I sat in that Proton and was driven to my accommodation. In my street there is a market every morning and at night many food stalls serve all kinds of delicacy. I dug in with pleasure, many times!
The first night I spent laid back and didn’t go for much. Getting money worked, getting food as well and getting into town on top. It was rather late, though and dark, so I didn’t spent too much time in the centre of Georgetown.
But in the next morning I girded up my loins as I often did before, to spend a day in the capital of Penang.
Some impressions:
The other hostel guests you usually meet in the kitchen…
Hokkien Mee.
Some abstract art during the bus ride.
This is the bus driver I had for 3 consecutive bus rides.
Fish market.
Wonton Mee.
A somewhat modified Proton.
I had a coconut milkshake for refreshment.
3 generations of the Proton in one picture. 🙂
Whoever shakes his head just now and asks himself, why I would post so many pictures of some certain car make, will soon nod and be in the know.
The Proton is Malaysia’s car make. That is special in itself, as I didn’t travel many countries which had their ‘own’ car…
Further, I am a nostalgic and quite fond of all Protons, as I drove one myself back with my family at home. The funny point back in Germany was that NOBODY knew the brand. ‘A whaaaat?’ 😀
The thing was something freaky at home and I didn’t ever dream of traveling the place where it’s from.
Penang Laksa, a specialty!
The ONLY way to have pasta with milk, is Cendol. It is coconut milk, beans, sugar and these green noodles. Very much welcome on a hot day!
This is some kind of spring roll, named Popiah and some Iced Chai on the side…
Georgetown is a historic masterpiece and made the UNESCO World Heritage list. I didn’t have enough time to look at every facette up close, but around some corners I did lurk.
Some remarkable display of architectural styles, I thought…
Climate change.
The people in Malaysia are very nice and quick to help out, I learned in these two days. I will surely come back to all the places, given time.
Now, it is just a quick run through the stations. But I want to arrive at the end, in the end… 🙂
To see in several places: A group of men watches a movie in front of a video store.
I thought I’d treat myself and spend the rest of the money…
Of unexpected nature was the last encounter I had in Malaysia. At the bus stop back to my hostel an elderly gentleman started the conversation. The usual questions, where to and where from. Apparently he lived pretty close to my stay and we had a very engaging talk over the bus ride. He invited me for some food and showed me his home. It felt a little dodgy in the beginning, but I had nothing to worry about as he proved thoroughly friendly.
He accompanied me to the hostel and we talked about each having made one more friend this quickly.
So, the last day in Malaysia ended and I entered the bus towards Thailand.
But more on that with the next entry. For now, I have to go on an island tour… 🙂
