Sunday 23rd August 2009

After a long day of travelling to Penang we eventually got here at 5pm, the bus dropped us off in George town which was good as we knew our way to Hutton Lodge from here which is where we had stayed last time. It was like staying in a five star hotel after we had spent 8 days in a wooden shack we were so excited that we could have a hot shower again and the air con was bliss after not even having a fan in the last place.

After we had checked in we went out in search of a ATM as we had 2 pounds to our name between us (there had been no ATM on the island) so our plan was to go to the bank have some dinner before being back in time to ring Dad and Mel at 7pm. As usual in Malaysia we couldn't use any bank we had to find a HSBC after a long walk we eventually found it but it rejected both our cards. So we then had to walk back to find a internet cafe to Skype them so our cards could be unblocked after being put on hold for 20 minutes (Bloody call centres do they not realise we are ringing from Malaysia) this was eventually done and a quick phonecall made to Dad to say we would be late ringing we walked back to the bank. We eventually got some money but it was dark by this time and as we don't feel safe walking around Penang in the dark anyway and we'd been followed by a man on the way to the bank we definately didn't feel safe with two hundred pounds in our purses it was a bit scary.

We then walked to find something to eat at a indian restaurant it was a very quick shared curry and nan bread as we needed to get back to ring Dad. From the restaurant we walked back to the guesthouse but both there computers were in use so we put our bags in the room and went back out to find a internet cafe. After speaking to Dad we went back had a few drinks before getting into bed reading our books and loving the comfy beds and aircon it was lovely.

Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th August 2009

We have had two very relaxing days while waiting until Wednesday to get the boat over to Indonesia for a week. When we decided to come back to Penang we were under the impression that the boat to Malaysia went every day but it actually only goes on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. We arrived too late on Sunday to get tickets for Monday and we wanted a day to do the blogs as we were twelve days behind so that meant waiting until Wednesday. As we hadn't been overally impressed by Penang on our first visit we were not really interested in doing anymore sight seeing here.

So our last two days have basically involved getting up at 9.50am just in time for breakfast before it finishes, going to breakfast in our PJ and then getting back into bed to read our books for a while before eventually getting in the shower and getting ready. We have explored several internet cafe's in Penang while getting the blog done and making Skype phone calls to Mum and Rachel and eaten in between this. Very lazy I know but it has actually been really nice to not do alot as we have usually been so active.

Last night after we went back to the guesthouse we decided to play Draughts which turned out to be a bad idea I lost 7 games in a row and I discovered I really am turning into Dad, Suzie threatened to lock me outside the guesthouse like Granny used to do to Dad if I didn't behave (We don't like losing much do we Dad!!).

We are back to being active again tomorrow as we are catching the boat at 8.30am to Samarta in Indonesia to see the wild Orangutans and we have only got a week there so we want to cram as much into that week as possible. So it will be lots of early mornings to try and see as much as we can so if there is no updates in the next week you know why!!!

Hope you are all well and still enjoying the blog

Lots of Love

Caroline and Suziexxxxx

P.S Suzie is very excited that her blog entry for the Cameron Highlands got blog of the day on the STA travel blogs website well done Suziexx