Friday, September 26, 2003
Day 5 in Malaysia, Day 5 in Penang
Today we had "Nasi Kandar" (in this case a combination of curry rice, sultanas, spices, meat, curry gravy and cabbage) for lunch. In the old days this was served on a banana leaf from a street seller but nowadays some have set up shop in permanent premises. Very delicious.
In the afternoon we made the pilgrimage by bus to Penang Hill. The bus is very cheap but not as convenient as taxis. We needed to catch a bus to "Air Itam" (a town outside of Georgetown) and then a number 8 mini bus to the foot of Penang Hill. Well we got as far as Air Itam and then waited ages for the number 8. This guy in an illegal taxi (one that doesn't have a permit) kept hassling us saying that the number 8 bus has broken down. We thought he was full of s*** and Joseph was staunch in his desire to use the cheap public transport so we said a polite but firm "No thank you" and stubbornly waited for the elusive number 8 bus. It turned out that it had broken down! We managed to get to Penang Hill on another bus but by the time we got to the foot of the hill I was tired, hot and grumpy!
Well, it was all worthwhile! The ride in the train up to the top of the hill took 30 minutes and took you in amongst the tropical rainforest. Once we got to the top we had a nice cool ice cream and proceeded to walk 2 kms to the Canopy walk, a series of swing bridges in amongst the rain forest. Before the days of the train people got up the hill by pony, foot or where carried up in a seat thingee by labourers. We then had Tom Yam soup and Mee goreng for dinner before going back down the hill. On our way down we saw some cute little monkeys...probably scavanging for food. Maybe we'll see more of these in the National Parks on the Borneo side of Malaysia. We successfully caught the bus back to the Komtar. I'm all for the convenience of taxis, especially when it is cheap for us in relative to NZ, but I must admit I did enjoy travelling on the buses. It's like a mini tour taking you to places you can't reach by foot and providing a better view than a taxi.
As promised in the guide religious buildings are plentiful in Penang. Within two blocks you can have Chinese, Burmese and Siamese Buddhist temples, a South Indian temple, and a Muslim Mosque! I enjoy walking down the street near a mosque at prayer time and hearing the singing. Sorry, but my knowledge of religious rituals is poor so I'm describing it very simply. Which reminds me....
Did you know that:
> Malaysians have to register their religion with the Government. If they decide to change religions they have to let the govt know.
> There is a nightclub in Georgetown called "Ouch, I wanna party" (we have photographic evidence!).
> Sir Frances Light encouraged quick clearing of the land in the early 1800s by firing silver dollars into the wilderness from his ships cannons.
> In Singapore you have to pay $30,000 just for a certificate that entitles you to buy and drive a car which has to be renewed every 5 years!
> Security guards outside jewellery stores in Campbell St have pump-action shotguns.
> Half of the vehicles here are motorbikes (100 CC Hondas) and the most of the cars are Protons, Malaysia's own brand of car. In the 1950's there were 3,000 trishaws around but now they are superceded by buses and taxis and are mostly a touristy thing to do.
> In Penang foreign companies don't have to pay tax for the first 5 years of operation, so after 5 years they change their name to keep avoiding paying tax!
It's now time to split this joint and head for the Borneo side of Malaysia. Mt Kinabalu here we come!
Today we had "Nasi Kandar" (in this case a combination of curry rice, sultanas, spices, meat, curry gravy and cabbage) for lunch. In the old days this was served on a banana leaf from a street seller but nowadays some have set up shop in permanent premises. Very delicious.
In the afternoon we made the pilgrimage by bus to Penang Hill. The bus is very cheap but not as convenient as taxis. We needed to catch a bus to "Air Itam" (a town outside of Georgetown) and then a number 8 mini bus to the foot of Penang Hill. Well we got as far as Air Itam and then waited ages for the number 8. This guy in an illegal taxi (one that doesn't have a permit) kept hassling us saying that the number 8 bus has broken down. We thought he was full of s*** and Joseph was staunch in his desire to use the cheap public transport so we said a polite but firm "No thank you" and stubbornly waited for the elusive number 8 bus. It turned out that it had broken down! We managed to get to Penang Hill on another bus but by the time we got to the foot of the hill I was tired, hot and grumpy!
Well, it was all worthwhile! The ride in the train up to the top of the hill took 30 minutes and took you in amongst the tropical rainforest. Once we got to the top we had a nice cool ice cream and proceeded to walk 2 kms to the Canopy walk, a series of swing bridges in amongst the rain forest. Before the days of the train people got up the hill by pony, foot or where carried up in a seat thingee by labourers. We then had Tom Yam soup and Mee goreng for dinner before going back down the hill. On our way down we saw some cute little monkeys...probably scavanging for food. Maybe we'll see more of these in the National Parks on the Borneo side of Malaysia. We successfully caught the bus back to the Komtar. I'm all for the convenience of taxis, especially when it is cheap for us in relative to NZ, but I must admit I did enjoy travelling on the buses. It's like a mini tour taking you to places you can't reach by foot and providing a better view than a taxi.
As promised in the guide religious buildings are plentiful in Penang. Within two blocks you can have Chinese, Burmese and Siamese Buddhist temples, a South Indian temple, and a Muslim Mosque! I enjoy walking down the street near a mosque at prayer time and hearing the singing. Sorry, but my knowledge of religious rituals is poor so I'm describing it very simply. Which reminds me....
Did you know that:
> Malaysians have to register their religion with the Government. If they decide to change religions they have to let the govt know.
> There is a nightclub in Georgetown called "Ouch, I wanna party" (we have photographic evidence!).
> Sir Frances Light encouraged quick clearing of the land in the early 1800s by firing silver dollars into the wilderness from his ships cannons.
> In Singapore you have to pay $30,000 just for a certificate that entitles you to buy and drive a car which has to be renewed every 5 years!
> Security guards outside jewellery stores in Campbell St have pump-action shotguns.
> Half of the vehicles here are motorbikes (100 CC Hondas) and the most of the cars are Protons, Malaysia's own brand of car. In the 1950's there were 3,000 trishaws around but now they are superceded by buses and taxis and are mostly a touristy thing to do.
> In Penang foreign companies don't have to pay tax for the first 5 years of operation, so after 5 years they change their name to keep avoiding paying tax!
It's now time to split this joint and head for the Borneo side of Malaysia. Mt Kinabalu here we come!
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