Apologies for the late start to our
blog. No excuse really, other than we
have been enjoying our mid life crises!
Arrived in Singapore stayed at the Zenobia
Hotel in Little India. The building
works which were under construction in the city when we were last here 3 years
ago, have been completed with many more being undertaken. No sign of the GFC here.
Our visit was coincidentally timed with three major events:
Hari Raya (End of Ramadan)
Muslim New Year
Feast of the Hungry Ghost
The first saw great celebrations with
constant calls to prayer from the mosques and the Muslim men dressed in in
their best traditional clothes in all the colours of the rainbow. A beautiful sight to behold.
The start of the Muslim new year was heralded
with fire works and pretty much the whole of Singapore thronging the streets.
The Feast of the Hungry Ghost is a Chinese
celebration where food is laid out for the ghosts of the relatives to feast
on. There were whole pigs and various
other foods laid out on tables which Michael kept eyeing off. The main party is
yet to start so watch out pigs and ghosts.
2 DNF’s so not a good start on the
Geocaching.
We travelled from Singapore to Butterworth
via train number 2, a journey of 13 hours.
Train was comfortable however it was air conditioned to arctic
temperatures because of the heat outside.
I was a rather fetching shade of blue by the time we arrived. I took
about 30 seconds to defrost after alighting into the heat that is Malaysia. A short ferry ride took us to Penang.
We stayed at the Mingood Hotel in
Georgetown, a historic city with many, many old buildings. Unfortunately so many of the buildings are
beyond repair, and as they are UNESCO listed, they must be left there. The result is rather sad although you can
glimpse what life must have been like with an abundance of glorious mansions.
Walking around the city was fine at night, sidewalks were deemed a luxury so
competed with the bikes and cars to work our way through the area and the
occasional trishaw.
Malaysia celebrates a two day public
holiday for Hari Raya and it was school holidays as well, so most places were
not open, but certainly a lot of people around.
Headed up the Penang Hill to escape some of
the heat and noise by funicular. The sanctuary of the hill proved to be a great
respite and a wonderful view of the city.
Then onto the biggest Buddhist Temple in
South East Asia (they all say that though) plenty of stairs, but well worth it.
As usual found plenty to eat and try along
the way even making friends with the fried chicken guy across the road from the
Hotel.
1 DNF
Now in Langkawi , arriving by Ferry from
Penang 3 hours. Staying at the Citin Hotel and getting ready to relax and start
diving.
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