Onward to Penang, Malaysia
Sitting on the train for the four hour ride north to Penang, Sonja and I are reflecting on our time in Kuala Lumpur.
We fell in love with KL. The city itself was fascinating but what truly made it special were the people we met. So warm, so welcoming. Muhammad, our driver from the airport with his bright laugh. And this morning he volunteered to come take us to the train station. Paul, the dear man that helped us down from the Batu Caves. And others that we never got to know their names. The bubbly waitress from Indonesia. The young Malaysian man that brought us stools to sit on while we waited for our ride. The older gentleman who was so excited that we visited his small hole-in-the-wall restaurant. He kept bringing us new and delicious things as to eat. The two Malaysian Police Officers that adopted Sonja.
We are sad to be leaving but with memories we will carry forever.
Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia
As the train pulled out of Kuala Lumpur, we settled into our seats, ready for a smooth ride to Penang. Little did I know that the two ladies across from us would become our travel buddies (or more accurately, our travel burdens). One minute into the ride, I'm having to break out my Help Desk skills to show her how to raise the tray table from the armrest. Which I must admit, was more technical then the instructions to her about how to extend the hook in the back of the seat in front of her. More about our new "friends" later.
The train ride itself was very scenic and peaceful. Four hours passing through palm tree jungles with the occasional temple emerging from the green.
We are staying on Penang Island in the UNESCO town of Georgetown. To get there we had a short walk from the train station to the ferry terminal for the 20 minute ride to the island. I say it was a short walk, and it was. Including me having to carry the luggage of our "friends" up stairs and onto the boat. However, I must admit that our ferries in Washington state are a little more modern than the Malaysian ones.
The city of Penang is actually quite large. Almost 2 million people. But the island of Penang is like a snapshot out of history. Older buildings reflecting the British influences, tiny side streets and very uneven walking. The sidewalks have steps up, steps down, slopes and rises seemingly out of nowhere. And 15 minutes into our arrival we learned our number one lesson for Penang. "Look down when you're walking!" I was gazing around and not paying attention. One second I'm admiring a building, the next I'm on my knees in the street. I now have a souvenir from Penang that I was not anticipating... a scraped up knee.
After a quick trip to a pharmacy for antiseptic and bandages we were back at it only to have Sonja take a tumble! Luckily she fell into me and avoided any injury. We both have a newly found appreciation for all those times that we picked up our parents in their senior years.
The Campbell House Hotel
We have to show you the 100+ year old hotel we're at, right in the heart of the old town.
Street Food
Penang's street food scene is like a culinary carnival where every stall is a ride and every bite is a thrill! Imagine this: you're at a lok-lok stand, where skewers of mystery meat and questionable seafood dance in boiling water. In Penang, every meal is an adventure, and every adventure comes with a side of laughter (and possibly some regret).
Your first encounter with Penang street food is like stepping into a culinary episode of "Survivor." Picture this: you stroll up to a hawker stall, eyes wide as you try to decipher the menu, which looks like it was written in a secret code. "What’s ‘Char Koay Teow’?" you wonder, only to be met with a cheeky grin from the vendor, who hands you a paper wrap of noodles that could probably double as a fire hazard. By the end of the meal, you've embraced the chaos of flavors and the joy of street dining, declaring, “Forget burgers; I’m moving here for the food!”
The Streets of Penang
Georgetown, Penang's streets are a lively mix of traffic, street food, and colorful shophouses. Cars, motorcycles, and rickshaws zoom by, while vendors shout out their wares, filling the air with the smells of durian and curry. It's a bustling, vibrant place where the streets are alive with energy and adventure. The street art is epic and the traffic is a symphony of honks and beeps.
Oh, and did I mention that it's hot and humid?
Penang Hill and The Habitat
We spent an extremely enjoyable half day up on Penang Hill and trekking through The Habitat. A biosphere alive with plants and animals. We had gotten there early to avoid the crowds and we're certainly glad we did. By the time we left, the hoardes had arrived.
And now, we're off to Thailand. Riding the local airlines can be an adventure in itself. Today is a relatively simple travel day. We only have one layover, in Bangkok, before arriving in Chiang Mai for a two week stay.
We loved Malaysia and would return in a heartbeat! If we ever do, we're going to be sure and bring family along as we know they would love it too.
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