The Penang Bridge, the longest bridge in Asia, sped us across to Penang island then it was on to the old capital, Georgetown. The sat nav took us to the area of our hotel then wanted us to drive down roads that didn't exist. After driving round in ever decreasing circles for nearly 20 minutes and seeing the same landmarks and people we decided that the old ways may be best and got the map out. It was simple, we realised we had driven past the back of the hotel several times.
The hotel is a modern gem. We are on the 35th floor in a suite and, as I sit at the desk in front of the full width window typing this, my sight is drawn to the sea eagle soaring around the tree lined sea front boulevard. (you didn't know my husband could be so poetic did you!)
Georgetown is a town of contrasts, from streets of colonial type two storey buildings to modern high rises. We toured the Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion, a boutique hotel in a renovated Chinese mansion that was built by the last Chinese Mandarin. The tour was led by an elderly Chinese lady, with an excellent grasp of English and innuendo. She was very entertaining, especially when she spoke of the builders seventh concubine, who he wed when he was 74 and she 17. Still managed to produce a son, despite the age difference.
The Eastern and Oriental hotel, a very select establishment, was highlighted as a place worth a visit. Looking very smart in shorts and t shirts, me with my trusty back pack, we decided that we should just walk in with an air of confidence as though we belonged there. We nearly came unstuck when the doormen, dressed in white shirts, white shorts, long white socks and wearing white Pith helmets open the doors. How the other half live!
A trip to the Penang National Park gave us an eventful day, especially when, due to lack of a car park, I went to park the car on a grass verge. I went for the nearest spot that others had avoided due to a rather prominent raised ground. I felt sure that I could safely park the car on it. I was rather surprised to hear the crunch of the front end grounding. When I reversed off there was more clattering and the front nearside of the car was hanging off.
I managed to effect a temporary repair using Elastoplast, and it worked. It kept it in place until I found a small garage later in the day where a smiling young man managed to screw it all back in place.
The park is on the Muka headland and a coastal footpath along the forest edge took us to several idyllic beaches though, after sitting on one and watching something similar to the Loch Ness monster swim ashore to the footpath we were about to walk along, we nearly turned back, but being seasoned forest hikers we carried on and were rewarded with an hour on a perfect tropical beach beach followed by an exhilarating boat ride back.
By James
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