It was now time for us to be on our travels again, we had done a touristy thing in Bangkok the day before by taking a fish tail boat trip round the canals. We're now fully trained as James Bond from the "Man with the Golden Gun".
We decided to let Air Asia take the strain for our outward journey to Penang. Ok, not very backpack style, I know. But... It beats another overnight on the train. (We'd have to do the journey in reverse on the way back anyway). I found a cheap flight on Air Asia from Don Mueang ( Bangkok's second airport) to Penang taking off at 15.40. We would be arriving in Malaysia as it was going dark, no early morning breakfast required this time.
With just over 90 minutes to kill after getting through a very thorough departure system in immigration we broke the habit of a lifetime and went for a MacDonalds. I know, they are evil and should be avoided at all costs, it's just as though we were pulled towards the seating area by some unknown force, and hunger!
It took me ages in the queue, as it was manned by kids, how unusual, as well as errant Chinese arguing over their change after paying in their currency and another one trying to push in front of two of us. He got sent to the back, I don't care, I'm old too!
The flight only took 90 mins to complete ( that saved 13 hours on the train) and we landed in a sultry 30 odd degree heat, welcome to Malaysia. ( 7 hours ahead of UK) The airport was modern and efficient but once again there was a long delay in clearing immigration, they are on the ball here. Woe betide anyone bringing in drugs as well, we were warned on the plane of the concequences.
It didn't take the brains of an archbishop to realise you are in a country with over 60% of its population being practicing Muslims. The scarves worn by the lady immigration officers, the Islam restaurant and the sign for the Prayer Room all gave it away. Later, we would see signs on restaurant walls in Georgetown telling us they don't use lard or serve pork, as well as hearing the ubiquitous call to prayer. Do you know what though? It seemed to both of us that this country is the ultimate melting pot of religions and cultures. En-route to our hotel we saw mosques, temples and churches. In fact as we turned into the road for our hotel there was a great example of a Norman church tower, you could tell the British had been here many years previously.
As we were booking in to the Hotel Royal, Lynn looked at me and whispered that she thought we were in the wrong place. It was quite a grand lobby and reception area and everything about the place smacked of western style opulence, right down to the key cards - we'd not had them at all in any of our other hotels. Our bags were taken up on a trolley and we took our first glimpse out at the water front skyline - thank you so much this time: Booking.com.
Our shoe box in Saigon would have fitted in the bathroom of this room, though I'm not saying it was luxury. For a start off it was the first room we had with a carpet but the real plus was the English plug sockets on the wall, it was though a little tired with old fittings. For what we had paid though, it was great; now it was time to find an ATM and get something to eat.
It was about half eight when we ventured out with the reception manager informing us there was a 7/11 round the corner. They nearly always have a cash machine - this one didn't, the one in the nearby shopping plaza didn't either; looked like we would have to find somewhere that took cards.
We walked around one of the Herritage areas of Georgetown situated away from the centre but lucky for us near our hotel. It's always strange landing in a new location at night and not really knowing where you are going and what is actually open. Our hotel staff are obviously not working on a commission basis for pushing tourists to certain venues. We were flying by the seats of our pants and stumbling into one place we were sure it was a brothel, it wasn't, thankfully.
Eventually, as you do in these situations, we stopped a couple of fellow Brits going into the pub that looked like a brothel. They were so grateful they escorted us to a place they'd eaten at and one we had passed earlier thinking it was a bit risqué - a bar restaurant called Naughty Nuris on Jalan Burma.
As well as doing some great ribs and spicey marinated chicken the waitresses did a mega dance routine in between serving. Lynn got a decent glass of Sauvignon Blanc and I actually got a decent ice cold pint of Carlsberg, result, think we've found our new local?
Thankfully it was only a short walk back to the hotel where after a good nights sleep we prepared for our first walk proper around central Georgetown.
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