Penang, Malaysia

I took an exhausting 15-hour trip by ferry and mini-bus ride to Penang. The reason was to get a visa for Thailand so I could stay beyond 30-days here. Now I have a visa to stay 2-months longer, which I won’t need. I needed more than 30 days but not 60. The travel to/from was awful, except for the ferry ride. But my time in Penang was fabulous, yet expensive for me! I stayed at a cute boutique hotel for 3-nights because I was scheduled to get in very late and all the on-line guest houses were sold out. The first night and second day I was worn out from the trip. I visited the Red Garden Café and Food Court a couple of nights for entertainment and good food. It’s always fun to listen to Asian musicians singing American songs. An older, local gentlemen sat next to me the first night. We visited and he wanted me to return again the next night. Our visit reminded me of my around the world trip in 2005. I spent about 10-days in Penang, but I mostly stayed on the beach area and did not come into town. I made friends with a Malay man. We had a great time together. He took me to the train station and cried when I left. I had thought of trying to find him again, but didn’t. I can’t even remember his name! I came back again to the food court my last night and a young Thai tried to pick me up. He was very aggressive with me and I was starting to get scared. A rarity for me! My warning lights were going up to not go anywhere with him. Another night I went to the famous Eastern & Oriental Hotel to their English Style Pub. Heard great music and had one drink. I like to visit interesting hotels in every city I visit. My last day there I met a delightful lady from Montreal and we went on a private city tour together. We got to see all the sights of Penang! Such as all the British Colonial buildings, Penang Hill, (a cog wheeled train up a mountain) a couple of beautiful and scenic Chinese Temples, the port, and old immigrant village. It is a lovely city of 1.2 million! I could see myself living there. I had some trouble getting home. The travel agent screwed up and consequently screwed me! Gawd, sometime I hate being a tourist and taken advantage of.