Penang and bits found between your teeth

*** Gong Xi Fa Cai ***

A sobering moment came as I traipsed the air conditioned corridors connecting shopping malls and gazed lovingly at the McClaren sports cars whistling by on the streets of Kuala Lumpur. It was yet another humbling moment as I began to realise what a colossal economic power Malaysia has become.

Thinking it a sleepy kissing cousin of Bangkok -- it is indeed much more like the mistress of Dubai dripping in the excesses that can only come from the accumulation of massive amounts of wealth. It is awe inspiring and spectacular in every respect.

My recent theft aside (by the way he/she photographed my credit cards and emptied both the next day - fucker - may he/she suffer from diarrhoea for all eternity with never a bathroom in sight) -- people are very friendly, helpful, engaging and honest. The streets are clean  -- even the back alleyways are regularly attended to by some committed angelic soul.





All that said it was time to catch a bus to Penang, some 4 hours north by bus. The bus station is squeaky clean and well organised -- and even though my ticket was "not in the system" it was solved quickly and more pleasantly than Justin Trudeau on a perfect hair day.


The bus was near new with extra leg room - a great view and perfect air conditioning. I do love bus travel. Mosty, cause it was $10 but I always say it's because I want to see the bits in between. Who am I kidding - I love travelling cheap 😋
The land in between is like Ghana - green and lush with glimpses and the lure of deserted beaches now and again.




So once again - the Island of Penang turned out to not be as expected. It is a modern city with substantial infrastructure in terms of bridges  -- cable cars -- ferries and beautiful tall sparkling buildings. Also too and remaining after centuries, is the original colonial area known as George town. Cute and quaint it is a hodge podge of Chinese Indian and Malay  businesses all set within colonial architecture. Look up as you walk and enjoy the attention to detail craftsmen from centuries ago put into the fabrication of exquisite window frames and store fronts.

As luck would have it - I arrived the day prior to Chinese New Year and my hostel was only a couple blocks from the largest Chinese Temple in Penang.









Ahhh the sites and sounds of celebration!!! I was caught up in the excitement and in a rare gesture of extravagance I bought a bird in a cage at midnight and released it to fly free and with it bring luck for the new year. Later I saw the bird guy capturing a bird that had flow back to the stack of cages.

What a racket!! The bird and the cage guy are in cahoots!!! I'm pretty sure that was my bird going back for another round ... likely paid in premium bird seed for his sneaky and despicable behaviour. I guess I should have read the fine print... which would have said ... 'birds released to freedom may not appreciate the gesture and return to captivity' ... just like people. :)

It was a night of wandering the streets and exchanging broad smiles with strangers from all over the world. Malaysia is roughly 10% Indian - 20% Chinese - and 65% Malay and 5% other. The other would be tourists in this case.

Food with flavor!!!!

I love (x infinity + 1 million) the food in the region. Vietnamese - Thai etc - love it!!!! So why not a cooking class? A new friend and really lovely soul Ashley agreed to join and together we met with Chef Lisa for a lesson in making Chicken Curry with fresh Roti Jala. Pandan leaves and lemon grass while a bit new to me are an exciting addition to my cooking ingredients knowledge reservoir and the lesson was well worth the $25 particularly as we gorged on the fresh curry and Roti once done.

The flavors are wonderful and in part explain the Europeans quest for spices from the East and the exotic smells and tastes that only come from this part of the world. Sometimes hours after you'll find something lodged in your teeth only to be dislodged crunched tasted and that pleasant sensation of taste that is like a little bonus for exploring foreign foods in a foreign land.
















Thanks for reading .....Layno !!!