Penang (Georgetown)
Just back from our trip up to Georgetown.
Not quite what we expected, Penang is touted as a hot tourist destination back in NZ and if we'd taken one of those package holidays I would have been sorely disappointed. It was like we had taken a step back into rural Thailand and the beach certainly wasn't fit for swimming.
However, we still enjoyed ourselves, ate a lot of Indian style food, and freaked ourselves out by hiring motor bikes again. After a domestic (ours) in the middle of a crazy one way street we've decided to not to the motorbike thing any more - too many road rules (or not) that we don't understand :-)
We took a cable car ride up Penang Hill, an experience in itself, with 80 people crammed into a train with seating for only 20 - it turned out to be a 30 min ride to the top, where we nearly had to peel ourselves off each other. Although thankfully the temperature was noticeably cooler there and there was plenty to see.
We are also proud to say we found the cheapest accommodation thus far of our travels. 13 USD per night got us 2 double beds (in the same room) air conditioning and not much else... no towels, sheets, hot water, or toilet paper. But it was clean, and well situated and had helpful friendly staff.
The kids have come a long way since the days of Petchaburi where Petra walked around with her fingers clamped over her nose. In Georgetown they were jumping around the open drains (much to my horror) and excited to spot things like a huge rat running along.
Now back in KL where Vietnamse visa and tickets are all organised and we fly out in three days time. Have a nice surprise planned for the kids on Monday, our last day here - are going to take them to the local theme park.
Cheers for now
Not quite what we expected, Penang is touted as a hot tourist destination back in NZ and if we'd taken one of those package holidays I would have been sorely disappointed. It was like we had taken a step back into rural Thailand and the beach certainly wasn't fit for swimming.
However, we still enjoyed ourselves, ate a lot of Indian style food, and freaked ourselves out by hiring motor bikes again. After a domestic (ours) in the middle of a crazy one way street we've decided to not to the motorbike thing any more - too many road rules (or not) that we don't understand :-)
We took a cable car ride up Penang Hill, an experience in itself, with 80 people crammed into a train with seating for only 20 - it turned out to be a 30 min ride to the top, where we nearly had to peel ourselves off each other. Although thankfully the temperature was noticeably cooler there and there was plenty to see.
We are also proud to say we found the cheapest accommodation thus far of our travels. 13 USD per night got us 2 double beds (in the same room) air conditioning and not much else... no towels, sheets, hot water, or toilet paper. But it was clean, and well situated and had helpful friendly staff.
The kids have come a long way since the days of Petchaburi where Petra walked around with her fingers clamped over her nose. In Georgetown they were jumping around the open drains (much to my horror) and excited to spot things like a huge rat running along.
Now back in KL where Vietnamse visa and tickets are all organised and we fly out in three days time. Have a nice surprise planned for the kids on Monday, our last day here - are going to take them to the local theme park.
Cheers for now
