The fact that I did not documented my lugage in Helsinki made things extremely easier, I was able to walk directly from the plane to my end destination without the hassle of wating hours for my, yet to arrive, luggage. (which is not always certain that it will happen, specially if making a stop over in CDG)
I boarded the plane, and in 45 min I was already landing at Penang airport, it took 35 min to get to my 4 star hotel, which costed 22 euro/night pp in a double room (Bayview Hotel Georgetown). Exhausted after a 24 hrs trip, I checked in, went for a walk in the old town, went eating, went for a feet manage (reflexology), went eating again, went back to the hotel, and relaxed in the lobby while enjoying the performance of a Philipine band, formed by "4 ladies" singers and one man keyboard player. After few songs and some observation I realized that one of these ladies was a ladyboy! That was so much fun to realize!! LOL!! I think that (better she) didn't like my suspicious smile, specially after singing a girly song with a manly voice!
Alex, alias Chili, was expected to arrive that night at 2.00 hrs. He flew from Jakarta to Penang via Yogjakarta and Kuala Lumpur. His trip was somehow long, it took 10 hours due to the huge loop, this was the last opportunity though, given the situation that all other flights, with a human pocket reach, were sold out.
I went sleeping at 23:00 and at 3:00 am he was at the hotel. His flight was adventurous, first of all, his flight from Jakarta to Yogjakarta was delyed 1.5 hrs, so the flight from Yogja to KUL. So only 15 min before the flight was taking off, we was able to check in.
Today morning, at 9.30 our tour was starting, fortunately waking up at 9.00 am helped to catch the tour, almost on time, with the fashionable 10 min delay.
We went to the Fort Cornwallis, where the British East India Company Headquarters in Penang were located in 1786. Then to Weld Quay Clan Piers, where different Chinese clans live, where the oldest was founded in 1870s. These piers are houses built above the sea, literally supported by wood pylons. Most of them have been covered with concrete.
After a while we went to little India, founded in the beginning of the 19th century. This consisted on an area full of narrow streets selling all kind of south asian products. Inside there we visited the Sri Mariamman Temple, dedicated to the Great Powerful Mother, the carving and the painting was superb.
The next stop belonged to the Kuan Yin Temple or the goddess of mercy dating to the beginning of 1800s.
After spending some half an hour in the museum we went directly to the botanical gardens, where we had a close encounter with the local inhabitants, thousands of hungry, and sometimes agry, monkies begging for peanuts. These small creatures were so sweet when they got what they wanted in an easy way, i.e. taking the peanut from my hand without making any effort. However, when I gave the peanut and didn't let go, the got extremelyt angry, showing their immense teeth and doing atacking movements, sometimes even shouting or making horrible, guttural noises, scary indeed!
After spending some time having fun there, we decided not to go to Penang hill, where the cable car was not working. Instead we went for a nice and plentiful Indian meal. Then for a reflexology body massage, which was so intense, but so good, that the initial hour was extended to a 2 hours session. Luckily this was a great experience, and brought me back to life after an intese week. Unluckily there was no time to make the visit to the biggest Buddhist temple in Malasya, the Kek Lok Si temple. Instead, on our way to the airport, we visited the snake temple, where snakes are worshiped, and considered as holy with curative powers.
The way to Jakarta should be smooth, with only one stopover in KUL. Tomorrow Sunday morning, starting at 6.00 my flight leaves to Semarang, where I should meet my colleges and start preparing for the beginning of my assignment.
