This morning I would be leaving Penang Island, taking a ferry back to the mainland to take a bus north to Alor Setar, to eventually take another ferry to Langkawi Island on the Thai border (see map next entry). I left the hostel at 8am and walked to the portThe ferry across was only 20 mins and was free. The people coming the opposite way were paying. From the ferry you could see Penangs small floating village as we left the portAcross the river crossing was a cl...

Now that I was done with the three big temples for today I had the rest of the time to wander around the old town. I had to rush a bit as it was now 3.30pm but fortunately places were to remain open except for a couple of museums.I planned my route and first started in the colonial quarter by the waterfront. There were a couple of Churches along with colonial style administrative buildings used as law courts and for the state governmentMoving closer to the waterf...

Back downtown I boarded another bus going to the Kek Lok Si Temple at another part of the island. Bus fare was 2Rm (.60 cents) but was moving very slow and was packed completely full.I wanted to visit the State Mosque as well and wasnt sure if they were near enough for me to walk to each other. As we passed the State Mosque the traffic came to a total standstill and what would have been a 30 min drive was taking more than an hour in holiday traffic.It seems every...

I was surprised to learn that not only is there a Thai Buddhist Temple but also a Burmese one just outside the city centre. I was told I would have to take a bus as its not possible to walk.The hostel provided a breakfast buffet of toast, noodle, fried rice, and sliced fruit to start the day. It had been raining the night before as seems to be the norm and there was light drizzle as the weather cleared.I waited for a bus at the end of the hostel street which went...

Having arrived in a new destination again it was time go exploring for the evening and find some food. The town had a very historic feel and was bustling with more tourists than any of the other places I had visited.Opposite the hostel was a Tibetan style Buddhist Temple with spinning wheels. There was a monk who was welcoming tourists inside.A few blocks away in what would be the town centre on the map I came to the large Keeling Mosque. There was a tourist info...