We arrived in the mid afternoon in Penang at our hostel called Red In Court, a stones throw away from Little India and china town which is on the outskirts of Georgetown. A heritage part of the island of Penang hoping to experience "some of the best food we will have on this trip" or so we've been told. We ventured off into town, to get some late lunch and look at some very old and beautiful mosques, Chinese, Hindu and buddhist temples. I ended up loosing another game of Malay checkers.. However it did last longer then my previous game in Melaka. We returned to our hostel to shower away the sweat from the day. Which At our hostel, had some of the best showers we have had on this trip. 1 rain style shower head, 1 pivoting nozzles at around chest height. And two pivoting nozzles a foot part, in a very...interesting location, just below waist height. A convenient location if you are a backpacker.
Our hostel, is an old heritage building, designed by the same people who designed the backhome hostel, our last place. Since they are limited to what they can do to a heritage building, the walls and floors ate thin, but all in all it was a great place to stay.
That night we took a walk down to the street markets in china town to take our chances at the food stalls. Limited on the selection, it was pretty good food. They also had century eggs, which I still have not mustered up the courage to try one yet. We packed it in early and decided to hang low and watch a movie from a good selection of titles in the tv room back at our hostel.
The next day we we're going to explore the island when we ran into a friend from Melaka, on the street, and decided to join her across town to visit a couple Buddhist temples and the Penang hill.
A few blocks away from the temples were we we're dropped off from the bus, we are all a little hungry and decided to grab some BBQ and plain pork buns from a Resteraunt. A block away from the temples they had a Buddhist, shop, where tourists can get free water, cold or warm. And candy. As much or as little as you want for free. All they ask is if you feel the need to, donate what ever you feel like donating. Naturally we each through in some money. Right before we left, one of the buddhist monks wanted to get a picture with all of us.
The Buddhist temples were remarkable, beautifully lined with art work depicting the life and history of Buddha, Buddhist statues rising over 20' high. Buddhist monks waiting to bless the worshipers or eager tourists such as Alyssa and myself. On our way to catch the bus to Penang hill, I decided to grab two more pork buns because they were that good. Downing one and saving the other for after the bus ride.I didn't realize at the time, but that turned out to be a fetal mistake of my stomach. We embark to the "Penang Hill" with apparently the best view on the island.
Penang hill, was naturally another tourist trap. $35Rm to take the train to the top. Or you could walk for free. People actually live on the hill! Chomping the last pork bun ( there was half an egg in there?? Why!!!? ) in the ticket line. We naturally took the lazy approach. Despite being crammed into a little train that was built on an angle so you could stand up straight. Was a better and faster option. We get to the top, and I feel like I'm going to throw up. We continue on to another buddhist and Islamic temple at the top of the hill. Feeling even worse now. I let the girls go and explore the other view points on the top. While I laid down in the centre court trying not to vomit on small annoying children running around. The report from the girls were; to go see the view point at the actual spot cost you another entrance fee. Where you could see the exact same view point a few hundred yards back. So the 45 min walk wasn't wasted. Alyssa decided to drag my ass back to the hostel, so she could take care of me.
That night Alyssa too wasn't feeling well, but that was due to too much sun that day. And I was feeling much better. Kaitlin ( our friend from Melaka ) went to go try another Indian Resteraunt as Alyssa wasn't up to eating.
The next day.. I couldn't stray far from the hostel.. Afraid of using a squat toilet, and the mess it may cause in my... Condition! So we had a relaxing day. And researched the next few weeks of our trip.
The few times we did venture for, we came across a political rally not for from our hostel. With the sound of over 100 scooters roaring past our hostel, revving their little engines about a block up the street. Teenagers and 20 something's were all lined up, by their bikes, wearing blue and seemed to be having a good time. It was a scene out of an early 80's biker film except with scooters. Some of them were interested in us just as much as we were interested in them. Some taking pictures of two white tourists, others giving us horrible glares when we were talking to some of them. It wasn't until later did we actually find out it was a political rally for the current government. Most of the men we talked to, had no clue as to why they were rallying. Or what their party stood for. Most were there just to go for a ride an get a free t-shirt out of it. After a little while, we both started getting a strong impression that we weren't welcomed there. And decided to go talk to a few more locals not involved and see what the deal was.
There are thee main parties, Blue, Red and yellow. Blue party is The current government and for the general consensus of the few people we did ask, seemed to be more corrupt and not wanting to change. The Red party and the yellow party were formed because they were tired of the country not improving and the government taking advantage of its power. Their was a major movement among the people of Malaysia during the last election to scare the current ( blue ) government into change. It seemed to have shift the power, and allow for the yellow and red parties to finally have a voice in the government. Not sure exactly if the government now is a minority government or not. Regardless it also seems that a lot of people are fed up with the rallies for the blue party do to their recruitment of young hooligans on scooters to honk their horns crazy through town.