Caught our bus here from the station in KL at 8 (after much deliberation about which bus to get on!!), took 5 hours , seats were like arm chairs which reclined an poppy out foot rests. Then caught ferry from Butterworth across to the island of Penang. We are stoppin in the capital called Georgetown which is the old colonial british trading post. When we got off the ferry I was desperate to have a ride on a trishaw ( 3 wheeled transport powered by pedal power). we walked straight past all the taxis and upto this old trishaw man, i told him where we wanted to go but he didnt understand so a taxi driver came upto us and said thats too far for the trishaw guy to take us as it was 4 km, but trishaw man wasn't having any of it, asked the taxi guy for directions , and in 35 deg heat with me , manda and 25 kg of rucksacks proceeded to pedal us all the way thru georgetown (thru red lights) at a speed of about 3mph, the guy seemed very reluctant to stop even for oncoming traffic or red lights, i think he thought if he'd have stopped he would'nt get started again!!!! we got there in 20 mins and he earned every penny of that 3 pound fair. The area isn't too nice but hotel is good and only 20 pound a night . Got up early first day and went for a routed walk we found in the lonely planet guide, starting off at victoria memorial clock tower to Fort Cornwallis - This is where captain Francis Light established settlement here in 1786 as a britsh traing post, had a look round Georgetown museum then after a few more colonial architechtural sights sat back and relaxed with a cocktail at the Eastern and Orient Hotel, a grand old hotel with loads of history opened by the sarkies (who founded the raffles hotel in singapore). Only seen a handful of other tourists the whole time we've been here so we get alot of funny looks :)

Tmoro we're going to penang hill then , back to pack our bags once more as wednesday we catch our 10 hour night coach for the final part of our asian adventure in Singapore, hope your all well and check out the new piccys........