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Published: November 21st 2008
*Note: This is all written/posted much later than when I experienced it so it will not be as good as if I'd written it right away. Also, I'm working on posting my Thailand-trip pics and they should be up soon.*
I rode into this industrial town called Butterworth on the overnight train from Kuala Lumpur. I opted for a nicer class of train this time with only two people sharing a compartment with bunks and a sink. The other person in my compartment was an older Muslim gentleman who was very friendly. I think he was from Malaysia. He was fasting during daylight because of Ramadan (except he called it something else... I think it was the same thing though). He had many questions about the US and politics and was happy to give his impressions of his home country. The thing I remember most is that he feels women are very free in his country (in a good way) compared to other Muslim nations (Islam is the state-religion). He said that more than half of college students were women; that is the example I remember most. Most of the women wear a head-scarf but they are allowed to work
(for example at stores and at the train station) which as I understand it is different from hard-line Islamic countries.
Anyways, we got into Butterworth very early, before dawn and before the first call to prayer even. With not having been able to take a shower in Kuala Lumpur (see previous post) I really needed one today. I got on a ferry (see the pictures of the sunrise from the boat) and went across to the Island of Penang where the city of Georgetown is located. According to my lonely planet guidebook, Penang's harbour was developed by the British East India Company as its first settlement on the Malay peninsula in a move to challenge the Dutch's monopoly on the spice trade.
I then started walking around the city looking for a place that I would be able to shower... I decided I would even pay to rent a room so that I could shower even though I wasn't going to sleep there as I was headed out of town on the night train to Thailand. I found an internet cafe and had a coke to wake up as it was still pretty early. I finally found the
hostel/hotel I was looking for but upon asking for a room I was told they were totally booked! However, they passed me on to the manager/owner? who offered to let me shower for nothing. Score! (This has happened before for me too... several years ago I took a night train from Brussels to Berlin and this hostel/hotel let me shower for free... there's some great people out there...) After my shower I just explored the city some until it was time to meet my train to Thailand in mid-afternoon.
I think if I were to come back to Malaysia I would want to explore the eastern (non-peninsular) part where Sabah and Sarawak are located. Those states would be amazing to see for their natural wonders and diversity of wildlife that is found on the island of Borneo.
Hope everyone is doing well.
Until next time-
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Penang Island
Nice report Jared. Penang is a realy unique place I loved being there. Btw the round tower in your pics is called "Komtar" it's around 60 floors and the view from the 60th floor is amazing. http://www.tour-in-malaysia.blogspot.com