Penang is friendly and beautiful. But maybe a little too friendly. An old man started to talk to us as we were wandering around today. He perched on his plastic chair and told us stories of his life, and english language riddles (can you form a sentence with 3 instances of because in a row? how about 5 and’s?) all the while dealing drugs to various vagabonds that wandered up.

People here seem more accepting and open than in Vietnam. Or maybe they just aren’t shocked as easily. Felix and I have spent the last few weeks being stared at, which can get a bit confronting. The customs official that stamped me into Malaysia blushed into her hijab and smiled ‘I like your hair!’. An older Indian woman behind a hotel desk gave me a big smile and said ‘You are so cute!’, even after we passed up her expensive room with a funny smell.

Felix was right when he said that people here are friendly. In a hawker market last night a cook stepped aside and took the time to explain his Bak Kut Teh stall to me (which i presently bought and was slightly disappointed by). But the food here. Oh! In search of coffee we stopped into a traveller’s cafe this morning, and had a very mediocre breakfast. Less than an hour later we were sitting in an Indian restaurant eating the most delicious roti canai I have ever tasted (for 0.80 Ringitts, $0.30AU).

The weather is cooling down now, so it is time to venture out again. If I come back the size of a house, Penang is to blame.

This entry was posted on Friday, January 16th, 2009 at 12:30 am and is filed under Uncategorized.