Friday – Sunday 4th August 

Having done lots of walking over the last few days and with a couple of blisters, I figured I’d have a more chilled day and head round the Island to Batu Ferringhi, a nice beach resort. 

I contemplated getting  a bus, but felt a little lazy so went for a Grab. 

My lovely female driver, Wendy, was great and we had a good chat. 

Our chat certainly put my very narrow view points into perspective. I had assumed that Penang was a big tourist spot, and it is, but I thought that tourism was the biggest economic source. This is not the case, Penang is a massive IT hub and has huge business from Dell & Intel. It was also interesting to see that Penang is very modern, once you leave the old Georgetown area. I need to make sure I am checking my assumptions going forward! 

Wendy dropped me off by the beach. It was still relatively early so the beach wasn’t busy. I reminded me of Phucket and Bang Tao. With this in mind I thought I’d have a short stroll along the beach, find a nice beach bar then sit and relax. Mmm…I did find a Beach Bar, eventually, having walked pretty much to the end of the beach! 😂 Not that it was an unpleasant walk, the sand between my toes and the sound of the ocean. It was also a very clean beach, very little plastic or rubbish to be seen. 

I ordered a delicious Apple juice, they make it with fresh Granny Smith Apples and it’s amazing! 🍏💚Then sat and watched the world go by for a while. 

I’m not sure I’m yet in the completely relaxed zone, where I don’t feel bad for doing nothing, or sitting still for long! So, I decided to walk back up the beach to another Beach Bar, called ‘Sunset Beach’ 

It was however midday! I found the bar by accident, unlike Bang Tao, which had numerous bars lining the beach Batu Ferringhi doesn’t! I spotted a big hotel and figured I’d stop here to get out of the sun, check my directions and then continue. 

Turns out the bar is actually in the hotel. It was OK, not really on the beach, my Pina Colada tasted weird but I was so hot I drank it anyway! 😂 

I sat for a while and read my book. Then decided to get the bus back, as it stopped right outside the hotel. 

The bus cost 50p for the 50 minute journey. By the time we reached Georgetown it was packed. I wasn’t entirely sure where to get off, but spotted a tall building I knew was somewhere near to my hotel so jumped off and walked the last bit back. 

I treated myself to a delicious iced caramel latte and cooled down with my feet dangling in the pool, then a chill up on the roof terrace. 

Whilst up there I noticed lots of white smoke drifting about, then I saw & heard lots of noise and smoke by the hotel. Turns out this whole area is being treated for mosquitoes, due to a few cases of West Nile Virus being detected! 😬😳 Luckily for me I haven’t been bitten…..Yet! 

The lovely people at reception pointed me in the direction of a nearby food court, I didn’t fancy walking back into town. The food court was huge and obviously very popular. I had some veggie fried rice for the grand total of £1.60 👍

My restful day still ended with me having done 15,000 steps! 

I think Malaysia makes a fabulous holiday destination, it’s not really any further than Thailand but it’s cheaper, has great weather, culture and delicious food! Win win! 

I definitely spoke too soon! I’ve woken up this morning with 2 bites on my face 😳 1 on my cheek and 1 on my forehead! Attractive 😂

Not sure when they happened, I’m super alert to mossie noise at night and I check the room religiously, so perhaps it was in the food court, or the walk there & back, or it may be some other biting creature. 

Today I am going to relax, not rush around, chill and read my book. 

I did this most of the morning. After a good breakfast of poached eggs on toast I took myself up to the roof terrace, where, once again I was all by myself! 😍 I’m not sure everyone knows it’s here, which is great! 

After a couple of hours I started getting twitchy, so took myself off for a stroll (obviously it was midday again! Seriously, mad dogs and all that! 😂) 

My walk took me towards the water and I remembered there was a very beautiful old hotel nearby. 

The Eastern & Oriental Hotel was opened in 1884 by 2 Armenian brothers, Martin & Tiguan Sarkies, who also opened Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1887.

It is a beautiful building, right on the waterfront and very fancy! 

I decided to stop for a bit of lunch and having walked there, tried not to look too sweaty in its gorgeous interior. Cue vigorous face fanning. 😂

Lunch of homemade samosas and an apple juice was delicious. They had Whispering Angel on the menu but I was good and opted for the apple juice, it was a difficult decision! 😇

On reflection I should have explored a little more, apparently the ballroom is fabulous. 

I walked back to the hotel and continued to chill on my personal roof terrace, patiently waiting for the predicted storms to appear, they didn’t ☹️

I had dinner in the hotel. The menu is surprisingly full of very western dishes, pie, Yorkshire pudding, pasta, burgers. Just not my thing. They do have ‘Chicken Chop’ though, which is apparently a very popular Malay dish, It’s fried chicken on a bed of curry sauce, vegetables & chips. I gave it a go but was sadly underwhelmed. I’d much rather a Nasi Gorang or some Hainanese Chicken rice, but it’s worth trying new things. 

The storms finally arrived and I sat on the terrace and enjoyed the spectacle. 

I’ve woken up this morning (Sunday) with a nice swollen, puffy eye thanks to the swelling from the bites and fluid drawing down from my head! Yeah…..😩 

It’s my last day here in Georgetown. I’m off to another island in Malaysia called Langkawi. It looks beautiful, I’m hoping the hotel pool will be big enough for me to swim in! I haven’t had a proper swim since I left Bunbury. 

My flights not until 17.30 so I’ll head back into Georgetown for a last look around. 

I found myself back in Armenian Street, where the street art is it’s also near the Jetty’s.

I haven’t visited the Jetties yet.

The Clan Jetties form a residential neighbourhood within Georgetown and were built in 1888. They were built by different Chinese Clans, Ong, Lim, Chew, Tan, Lee and mixed Yeoh. 

I visited the Chew Jetty. It’s a fascinating place. Lots of shops, food stalls, restaurants then in the background people simply living their lives. I’m so glad I got to visit. 

I then had another wander through Armenian Street, which felt much busier than during the week. 

I had a a conversation with a Grab driver the other day who told me that Durian Fruit tastes like ice cream!! It most certainly does not smell like ice cream, it smells minging. It is however extremely popular, so, I thought I ought to give it a shot! 

The lady put a small bit in a cup, told me not to smell just eat, which I did 😳 It was actually not as bad as I was expecting, but it is weird. It’s not sweet or savoury but rather somewhere in between, a little fibrous and very unfamiliar. I worry about the sort of ice cream my drivers been eating! 😂 I don’t think I’ll be rushing to try it again! The taste also lingers….😬

Well that’s it for Penang.

I’m just finishing writing this back at the hotel before I head to the airport. 

Langkawi here I come!

I’ve actually arrived in Langkawi and it’s beautiful 😍 💚❤️

Have a great week!

🩵💙💚🩷❤️

Books read.

Perfect Silence. Helen Field part of a series featuring DI Callanach. Good. 

The 6.20 Man. David Baldacci. This was a re-read. It was OK. I’ve got book 2, hence the re read.