Penang

There was a lot of traffic on the roads, especially around the bigger towns.

The excursion first visited the Batik factory, where the method of production was demonstrated. The design is outlined in wax before painting, with the process repeated (from lightest to darkest) for a maximum of 3 or 4 times.

The snake temple contains many pit vipers, (poisonous but defanged and/or tranquilised) twisted around branches above head level. Despite telling tourist not to touch the snakes the guide demonstrated that they were alive by prodding one into action.

The fruit market consisted of a small stall on the hillside. Some unfamiliar fruits but not as much variety as Sainsbury’s.

Good views of the island were had as the bus climbed twisty roads up through the forest. On one occasion the bus driver was guided by two locals in turning a very sharp corner onto a bridge.

During the journey, white frangipani flowers could be seen on the trees. Other trees included mango, durian, tamarin and tapioca, guava.

There was great excitement at one stop when the bus grounded. (I’ve said before that on a cruise you have to make your own excitement) This was caused when some steps (ones used for getting on and off) were run over and many fruitless forward and backward attempts by the driver were followed by someone removing it with a stick.

Facts learned from guide:

·         The King of Malaysia, from a rota of sultans, stays in office for five years.

·         The bridge linking Penang to the mainland is the longest in Asia.

·         Penang has a fort marking the spot where the British colonialists first landed.

·         Many people are chasing few jobs, and mostly the pay is low. There is no state support for the unemployed.

·         3 or 4 generations of a family live in the same house.

·         A few years ago, 68 people were killed in a tsunami.

·         Chinese from Singapore are buying up property which locals cannot afford.

·         Children start school aged 7

·         ‘Genuine’ copies are available from some of the stalls.

·         Durian fruit is banned in hotels because of its bad smell.  People seem to think that the advantages of this fruit outweigh the disadvantages but both the smell and the taste stay with you for very long time.

·         Young Indian women change the colour of their ‘bindl’ dots on their foreheads to match the clothes they are wearing that day.

·         There is a lot of inter marriage between different ethnic groups in Malaysia.

·         All state schools have the same uniform.

·         Georgetown – named after George IV – kept its name despite other names changing on independence.

The departure was enlivened with a dramatic thunderstorm, strange light effects and a full rainbow.