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Georgetown Penang started off life as a quaint Victorian port, now it is more like Miami. This is a small island with a 4 mile bridge to the Malaysian mainland and the appearance of a very affluent western city. There are 1.5 million residents and whilst the majority are Chinese and Malay but there is a sizeable British population and the local government encourage us to come. There is very little in the way of protocol just turn up with your own money and get vetted every 5 years to make sure you are fit and proper. For this you get decent beaches and a very modern city.
There are skyscrapers all along the seafront and they look really smart adding to the mix of old colonial and new.
The weather is max 35 min 24 (in the night during wet season). There is a year round sea breeze that is pleasant and plenty of 5* accommodation. Prices are the same as Thailand so very cheap. Looking promising for a retirement location at least for a while.
We started in Georgetown where we took in a iced coffee - which we all agreed was the best coffee we had ever tasted. In the same restaurant meal
Of the day was 5 ringits (4.7 for 1 pound) and that was a splendid chicken satay stir fry. I think you could live here like a lord on our, about to be reduced, pension.
After the welcome coffee and a bit of sightseeing in the old town we ventured to the beach in the north of the island. This is where all the posh hotels are situated. The beach itself is known as foreigners beach - the locals don't like sitting In the sun and think we are mad. In fact their chemist shops are full of skin whitening serums! The beach itself is white sand and palm trees there are water sports and all the usual bar facilities. No masseurs this time.
So there we lounged peacefully for the rest of the day before returning glowing from the heat to the MV Aurora.
The evening saw Barbara Dan Josie and myself entering 'family fortunes' just to take the Mickey really,we were set up against the theatre group dancers so expected to be well beaten. Despite the clear distraction we amazingly won to rapturous applause. Flushed by our success and a not insignificant amount of alcohol I was informed this morning that I had been seen dancing. The night away with Wendy in the nightclub. So ended another exhausting day by the Indian ocean.
Look out for a guest editorial tomorrow following requests from Dan and Josie!
- comments
Antz dont get any ideas for a watford on a monday night. just because drinks are £1 a pint doesnt mean dad has to come.