Jul 26, 2007 - We are currently in Penang at Batu Ferringi Beach.

Hi everyone, we are currently on an island in the north of malaysia. We went to two temples today and ate fantastic food. The hotel buffet is more amazing than a cruise ship buffet. And the food in town is excellent. We are staying at a really nice hotel, all the others were booked. There are lots of arabs here. The women are completely covered except for their eyes. We've seen them parasailing and on ski boats! Quite a site to see. I must be under dressed. I think it is their summer break. We are going to dinner with mohans high school...

Jul 25, 2007 - Penang with the Khoo's and Krishna.

Thanks Kah Hock for taking us all around Penang, and spending so much time with us. It was great seeing your family. And thanks for the fantastic food. That place had the biggest sea food we have ever seen. It was also great to catch up with you too Krishna.

Jun 8, 2007 - Penang!

Country number 4 . . . Malaysia! This part of my tour starts in Georgetown the capital of Penang. (Great name huh!) This is where the tour starts to move pretty quickly we've 2 nights in each place from now on, now i'm really living out of my backpack! After we have dumped our bags in our hotel, which by the way has the grumpiest receptionist I have ever met! Not even Mark could make her laugh which is saying something! We had 10 tuk tuk's lined up waiting outside to take us on a tour of the city! Now I have already been on one of these...

Apr 25, 2007 - Penang: Georgetown

After one last meal at Kumar's kitchen in the Highlands, we bussed and ferried over to Georgetown, on the west coast of Malaysia. One thing that we can't get over in Malaysia is how friendly and kind the people are, and that everyone speaks impeccable English...of all the places we've been, they are the most genuinely helpful...other places we've been we sometimes feel like they are taking advantage of us tourists, but here they just want to help. We think this is due to what a rich and modernized country Malaysia is...local tourists...

Apr 2, 2007 - Malaysia

So far so good, and I'm not even in the country yet. I'm not sure if y'all know, but the Strait of Malacca is known for the number of pirates that lurk in these waters! Some of you know that I was talking about pirates before I left and I wasn't joking, there really are some out there. We were cranking this ship to top speed through out the last three days and last night, the entire crew was out on the deck pirate spotting with big fire hoses! You may laugh now, but what if our ship really did get attacked by pirates!! Boy do I have some...

Jan 1, 2007 - Penang, Malaysia

After a relatively short flight to KL and onward to Penang, we were met at the airport by our hotel driver who took us to the other end of the island. It was quite a contrast to be driving in our lane, along clean streets, free from the signs of poverty that we had become used to. For the first few days we didn't really feel like doing anything as we were both very tired. If we had arrived here at the start of our trip we would have tried to see absolutely everything, but instead we rented a scooter and spent three days driving around and,...

Dec 6, 2006 - Penang, Malaysia

My last stop in Malaysia is the city of Georgetown on Penang Island. Penang, along with Singapore and Malacca made up the Straights Settlements during the colonial times. Even though some parts of Penang are built up or seedy, I really liked Georgetown. I staying in the center of Chinatown, which is close to the Little India neighborhood as well. The Chinatown in Penang seems the most "authentic" of any place I have visited. The old buildings are amazing, and the local Chinese are working, eating, playing ma jong, going to temple, and...

Oct 25, 2006 - Mad Libs Kate and Carla Style

Hey guys, Here is a madlibs for you to fill out about an impromptu trip. For those of you who don't know the joys of madlibs, here are some instructions: Please fill out the blanks below without scrolling down. When you have finished, read the story at the bottom using your answers. Don't scroll down until you fill out the madlib. As an experiment, only those of you who send us your madlib answers get to know what really happened.... Also, it might be easier to paste into word or print it out if you are really committed to the cause. Love,...

Sep 25, 2006 - Penang Malaysia

We got in late last night about 1045 PM....it was a loooong day... we flew out of Penang at 1035 AM Bill tried to make the return from Penang to Chiangmai easier but there were just no way around spending 8 hours at the Bangkok airport.....arrrg that is painful but we found a really comfy spot to hang out in the new airport and played card games, watched episodes of Star Trek Voyager on the laptop and walked and window shopped to make the time pass at the new huge/massive/amazing airport. When we left for Penang, Malaysia we departed from...

Sep 9, 2006 - Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2006. KOH PHA NGAN TO GEORGETOWN, PENANG, MALAYSIA. After travelling for 15 hours today (6 am - 9 pm) by boat and minibus (950 THB; $26), I have arrived in the city of Georgetown on the island of Penang in Malaysia (Half of the travellers on the minibus transfered to a bigger bus and continued on to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore). I was a little concerned in entering Malaysia as my passport expires at the end of this year and Malaysia officially requires six months validity on a passport. The immigration official let me...

May 9, 2006 - Penang

Welcome! Penang. It sounds like some place in Thailand, but it's not. It's a small island in the top west corner of Malaysia. It's very hot even at night it's almost 30-32 degrees.. My body is not made for this!! Here in George Town which is actually the second largest city in Malaysia, there's lots to see. I have visited the largest Buddhist Temple in Malaysia, and I assure you it's big. It took several hours to NOT see it all, very impressive. I really like those smoking sticks they use, it creates such a nice atmosphere. Other things...

May 4, 2006 - Penang

Another day in paradise. Penang is a derivation of Pinang meaning Beetle Nut. That red-staining nut some Malays and Indians like to chew. Anchor was deployed at 10AM as the Captain promised. Starboard anchors at 114 metres of chain each. Plenty of other craft in port, as it is a huge commercial and trade centre for Thailand. Penang is mainly electronics and textile manufacturing. We rose late breakfasted, lounged around, lunched then went ashore at approximately 1:30 PM. We decided the best way to see Penang was bt taxi. Bartered a good...