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:

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.

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.

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… 🙂

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… 🙂

Singapore is a city, at the same time a country and on top of that its capital.

Singapore is very close to the equator, so that the almost vertical sun exposure in combination with the tropical climate (the palm house at the zoo has that temperature for a reason) create some kind of gigantic sauna.
From the pleasant flight, where I got to know a very lovely family, I stepped into this sauna.

The bus got me to a ‘close’ place in the city, from where I started walking towards the hostel. Giant skyscrapers, magnificent buildings and even a McLaren P1 (I think my jaw dropped) got me an impression I would verify later: Singapore is filthy rich!!

But back to me an the weather. So, in this gigantic sauna I walk for 2,7 kilometres my way in full clothing and with all my luggage.
I must add that this luggage is not some you would pack for a 10-day-Southeast-Asia-Stroll, but the one for more than a year abroad…

Finally, I arrive at the hostel and have to be told I have booked the wrong period. I am one day early. If it was the change of the month or the changes in my life, I can’t say for sure. So I get the room for one of two night to myself…
Now I finally realise, what air conditioning is actually worth!

Originally, I wanted to spend only one day in Singapore, as it is said to be expensive there. Now I had one more, which made for some ease at planning my route though the big city.

I went discovering on both days then, as I wanted to know what Singapore is about and to get a taste for the Asian food.

Come along!

In Singapore, you can always spot the ever-present difference between huge, modern and down-to-earth/ historic buildings. Though shabby none of the areas I visited had looked…

To eat until satisfied for little money is hardly possible in countries like New Zealand and Australia. At small hawker stalls it is quite easy. That way, both, the culinary desires and the wallet get happy.
I mostly visited the many hawker centres, simple food courts featuring diverse cuisines.

And whoever goes for the adventure of the little food stalls, will find oneself far from forks. Here your skills with the chopsticks get challenged.

I once more left the ‘simpler’ districts of Singapore, to walk into riches and pomposity again.
On Sentosa Island you find so much of it, it starts to feel weird. But well, supply and demand…

Singapore is a colourful Asia-Mix. As a ‘westerner’ you are often sole in the masses and you can feel properly a stranger. Just like travels are meant to be. 🙂
Singapore is very rich, so you can’t find as much authentic Asia in this small area.
I have found myself inside countless (perfectly air-conditioned) breathtaking shopping malls. Any individual of distinction can satisfy their materialistic needs there. The more iconic the place in town, the more noble it is.
Thanks to English being an official language among others, communication was not hard at all.

Now I am sitting inside my room in Penang, Malaysia, and ask myself whether the fat cockroach, which just zoomed across the wall, will come out behind the cupboard at night…

The bus ride was a hard case, by the way. The proceedings at the border from Singapore to Malaysia were no big deal, though. You get out of the bus, get your exit stamp and drive across the bridge. Then you carry your luggage past the Malaysian authorities and you are there.
But I hope the 3 hour delay didn’t trouble the others as well. At least the seats inside the bus were comfy. 🙂

I am hungry, but before I can dive into the culinary amusement I need cash. Wish me luck, I will report back in time. 😉