Penang Island: Malaysia

While I was wallowing in self pity over my infections on Phi Phi Island, the rest of mainland Thailand had an actual tragedy on their hands. Due to heavy rainfall and overflowing rivers, much of Thailand was underwater from Bangkok through Chiang Mai in the North. The floods were a popular topic of converstaion amongst travelers and most had to detour their routes because of them. Ryan and Natalie had been working for weeks to try to talk me into going back to Laos to go Tubing with them for a second time. Had it been possible to get there by the usual overland route I probably would have gone. But it seemed like the only way to get there was by flight, which were expensive due to higher demand! Another problem, the main airport serving as the hub of South East Asia was in Bangkok, a city threatened to be under water within days. After much deliberation, we all decided to head South, away from the floods and into Peninsular Malaysia...

After another 12 hour day of transportation hopping, we arrived in the city of Georgetown on Penang Island. None of us really had any idea of what to expect from Malaysia, but I don't think any of us expected the huge city and tall skyline that greeted us when we came over the bridge onto the island. We quickly found a cheap, acceptable place to sleep for the night and headed out to do what one always has to do first thing in a new country...get a taste of the local beer!

The next day we headed out to see the "sights" of Georgetown.

Natalie's shoes had been stolen our last night on Phi Phi. She wasn't too concerned with getting a new pair at first because it is perfectly normal to see backpackers roaming the streets wearing a tank top with various beer logos and barefeet. We realized quickly that we weren't in Thailand anymore. Not only was she getting stared at by very suspicious looking men, her feet were on fire! We failed at finding shoes, but on our mission managed to find a reprieve from the heat in the Penang Island History Museum. Needless to say the A/C kept us in the museum much more than its contents!

Ryan carrying Natalie through the streets of Georgetown

We decided to head out of the city and try to enjoy some sun and beach, now that Ryan and I were healed enough to go back into the water! We took a 40 min bus out to Batu Ferringhi. A beach town that looked like it was happening sometime in the past, but now resembled a ghost town. We spent the next couple of days soaking in some sun, taking walks on the beach (denying women dressed in Burkas their requests that we take a picture with their creepy husbands in our bathing suits), and saddling up to the hotel bar during the daily 3pm monsoons!

Not your average walk on the beach

Ryan and I really enjoying Malaysian Public Transport

After a few relaxing days we continued on our way South and hopped on a five hour bus to Malyasia's capital...Kuala Lumpur!