George Town, Penang, Malaysia - PART III

Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Yesterday was a Malaysian holiday so we were fortunate to spend most of the day with both Jun and Ivan.  We went on a most spectacular funicular ride at Penang Hill.  The funicular is like a cable car but it rides on a track up the steep grade.  It looked more like a train with compartments that held @ 10 passengers each.  We love going in Funiculars and Cable Cars, so this was a highlight. 

Once on top we got to have a panoramic view of Penang as well as got to see the Owl and Camera Museum.  

Of course, after 'sightseeing', it's time for food.  We tried someone new (for us) called Lok-Lok.   Similar to hot pot but much better. 

You sit down at a table with dozens of different items on skewers with a pot of boiling water in the middle of the table. You take what you wish (1 or 2 or more skewers at a time), put them in the water to cook, remove when ready, dip in amazing sauces and enjoy eating. Keep repeating until you can’t move any more. They keep replacing the chosen items as you ‘graze’ and bring out more choices. At the end they count the skewers (which have different colors on them) and tell you what you owe. 

Then on to a Buddhist temple with a huge statue 

and smaller cute concrete statues (Disney, animals) as well as all the animals of the Chinese zodiac.  Jeff is the Year of the Rat; I'm the Year of the Snake; Jun and Ivan are  Year of the Rabbit

THIS ONE IS FOR MY DEAR MORGAN

 

Finally, back to the hotel for a little rest and then, just down the block, street food for dinner.  Noodle soup with chicken; Jeff added a few chicken wings.  Totally delicious and not too much after the Lok-Lok feast.

Today we've been 'on our own' and visited the Chocolate Museum and the Glass Museum.  No photos from the Chocolate Museum, but the Glass Museum was amazing.

Went to a local mall (also across a major street from our hotel) and shopped around.  Cheated on eating only local food by stopping at Subway for a sandwich.  

Tonight it's more Dim Sum from across the street - - loving the local food!

Life Is Good!

George Town, Penang, Malaysia - PART II

Sunday, September 16, 2018

Friday night we went across the street from our hotel for dinner at a little Dim Sum (and more) restaurant.

Jeff enjoyed two orders of chicken feet (one of his favorites). Also har kau (shrimp in glass noodle wrap), more prawns, spring roll, and pork dim sum (topped off with a pot of delicious tea). The most amazing part? All this (and a conversation with a lovely family at the next table) for less than $12. Glad we only had a very short distance to ‘roll’ home. We will be returning!

Saturday morning, our friend, Ivan, and his wife, Jun picked us up at our hotel for a weekend away.  Please note - We stop and eat approximately every 3 hours and one meal is better than the next.  Ivan brings us to places that only the locals go to and we have noodles, seafood, the most yummy chicken, more dim sum and delicious teas.

We shopped - malls and other shops - ate some more - stayed at their home over night and then started all over again.

Sunday - We visited an amazing Catholic church - it was originally built in the 1800's and then a second building was constructed more recently.  We're told that Pilgrims come to this church from all over the world.

We 'tried' to visit a park that has large cartoon characters all over it, but it was raining so hard, we couldn't even get out of the car.  

We're back at the hotel - watching 7 Days At Entebbe on DVD and relaxing. 


Life Is Good

George Town, Penang, Malaysia - PART I

Friday, September 14, 2018

We left home late Monday night for the airport.  After 19 hours in the air, 5 hour layover in Hong Kong - we arrived in the lovely state of Penang, Malaysia.  Since Jeff is assisted by a wheelchair in airports, we zip through all the lines, got our luggage and looked for our 'driver' from the hotel.  All kinds of people holding signs - not one of them say Grossman.  The wheelchair assistant is kind enough to ask if I have the drivers' number (which, of course I have - always in Executive Assistant mode) and he proceeds to call him and finds out he's waiting in a car outside the terminal.  Finally, success.

We're staying at the Kimberley Hotel which is very centrally located in the Capital City of George Town.  Our room may be a little small, it doesn't have any real drawers to put clothes (other than small night stands), but I was inventive enough to unpack what we need.  The staff are more than professional and friendly - I think the 'security' man (very young) is in love with us because he's originally from Nepal and Jeff had on a Mount Everest/Nepal tee shirt yesterday and the man thought we were so wonderful to have visited his home country.  We live in such a small world, right?

Our main reason for this adventure is to visit (as much a possible) with our friends Ivan and Jun who are from and live in Penang.  Jun is only available to spend time with us on weekends, but Ivan has been making sure we've been enjoying the best of local food and getting us organized to travel around the city to see all there is to see.  We so appreciate all their efforts to get us on the right track.  We feel comfortable enough walking to most destinations and food stalls/restaurants are everywhere.  The people here are so kind and accepting - they make us feel so at home!

Today we did stop at one Buddhist Temple - Jun is Catholic - Ivan is Buddhist - and it's always so much more enriching when someone can tell you about their own traditions in person.

Life is Good!