We arrived in Penang on Satarday bright and early (6.30!) having got the overnight train from KL and ferry from the mainland (Penang is an Island). We met a Canadian girl on the ferry who was traveling alone at a mear 19 years of age (bless!) We had roti for breakfast which was a sort of puffed up pancake with a choice of fillings (yum). Our hostel here is fairly basic with no toilet paper, soap, air con or internet but its a hostel/cafe/artefacts museum so has alot of character. We have been to see the local poducts such as Batick matirials and a Pewter industry and we have sampled some Malay food (coconut biscuits and rice cake type biscuits with sesame seeds, cashews and honey on top (yummy!) As with every other place we have been to so far the town seems to have a \'china town\' and \'Little India\' section. But here we have been to visit some Buddist temples. We have also been to the botanic gardens and seen yet more cheeky monkeys (don\'t fret we have plenty of footage of those- thanks to Beccy!) My sister seems to be on some sort of secret mission to feed all the scrawney looking cats in Asia at the moment (of which there are many!). Every time we go to a restaurant she insists on taking some chicken or fish away in a wee napkin..i keep telling her that its likely the cats look so anorexic becuase they are riddled with infection but what can you do!? We leave for Krabi tommorow so were off now to visit fort Cornwalis and go up the Penang hill (according to the book dusk is beautiful up there! Love Ruthie. xxx