An early start today, we were leaving the shining hotel and making our way to George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Left the hotel, and drove a couple of hours before we had had a happy house stop. Then back in the minivans to the lunch place. I wasn't feeling that hungry after a 7eleven toastie I'd eaten a couple of hours before. It was then time to cross the boarder into Malaysia. We had to swap minivans, it was pretty quick getting thought the boarder crossing. Got a new stamp in my passport! We were in limbo for about 10 minutes, as officially we had left Thailand, and hadn't yet crossed into Malaysia.

********** MALAYSIA **********

Just crossing the boarder, I could start to see differences, the first being that the roads seemed more organised, and they had different number plates. Even the cars are different, they seem to love the proton car! Some even look quite new didn't know the we're still making them. We then had another 4 hours travelling before we would be in Penang. I read, listened to music, slept, and looked out the window!!

Arriving at the hotel, it was ok, I had problems with my air conditioning, but I got it sorted. (I hadn't actually turned it on!). Had a short walk around the area before meeting up for dinner. We headed to a place that was called the red garden, and was a food court where you can order lots off different dishes, including the frog porridge! Of course, I didn't have that. I went for half a duck, it was amazing, only down side was eating it off the bone, but so tasty, could have had quarter but shared it out! Then it was time for desert, I went for the Banana cake it, was so good! However a couple of the others when for the durian cream cake. I don't think I have talked about durian yet, it's a spikey fruit, that when opened smells like garbage. Really it's sick, I have tried a piece of the younger fruit a few months back, and it didn't smell, and it was the start of the season. Anyway, I thought I would give it a go. I even smelt it before I put it in my mouth, which was a really bad move. I then put it in my mouth. Yuk, I had trouble swallowing it, but the beer helps to wash it down. Apparently my face was a picture. Then only way I can describe it, is it tastes like soggy gone off raw onion, that mixed with the sponge cake and cream, was disgusting.. For the rest of the night every time I burped... I had the flavour repeat in my mouth. Once we had all eaten, and was full, we headed to uptown, where there were a few bars. I'd already had a few drinks, and was up for a good night. Everyone ordered and I was last... I went for the bucket of tiger beer, everyone's else's drink were coming to the table, each having a cocktail.. However drunk G-Harp with the bucket of beer! It was 5 bottles of tiger in a bucket full of ice. I didn't think I would manage it, but I drank them all- however by the end I was pretty smashed.