Hello Malaysia

Saturday February 23rd

Today was the transfer from Ao Nang to Penang. The bus journey was OK, a bit slow, due to the fact that the driver seemed to be running a side line in package deliveries. There were 4 stunning Swedish girls on the trip, but they all slept the whole way. They must have been out partying at that venue I never found. Seriously, I wondered did they all have medical conditions because it was fairly bumpy and I don't know how anyone would sleep through it.

Crossing the border here was a lot easier than in Cambodia, mainly because our bus is allowed cross with us, so there is no transfer hassle at that point. And then it is onto the expressway, the main road that runs from the Thia border to Singapore through Malaysia. Its a pretty good road. So we made very good time at that point. When we got to Penang we crossed by ferry, even though there is a bridge, which is a bit strange, but apparently the tolls are excessive on the bridge.

When we got to Penang (the main town is Georgetown) the first thing to do was find an ATM. This was easier said than done, there weren't many. Which is odd compared to Thailand where they were on every corner. I eventually found one, and a hotel, and checked in for the night. As it was getting dark I did a quick run around town to take a few snaps. And I discovered that you could do this in about 30 minutes. There really wasn't much to see. The Rough Guide calls this the 'most interesting town in Malaysia' which is overstating it a bit. I was glad I had decided to only stay one night.

The only saving grace was that it had a fairly decent nightlife, and I was able to watch a fair amount of sport. I had given up on seeing the Ireland rugby though, but just as I was leaving the pub, on it came. So I had to stay and watch. I was the only person in the pub watching it, I think everyone else though I was mad when I was cheering the Irish tries. Man U was also on, so I got to see their goals when the cheers went up there.

Still it was a much later night than I planned, delayed futher by meeting a drunk English bloke on the street as I was going back to the hotel, and having to help him remember where he was staying.