01.04 - Day 4 - Kuala Lumpur to George Town, Malaysia
Wednesday 1st April
Kuala Lumpur to George Town, Penang, Malaysia
Temperature Min 24 Max 33, Penang Min 24 Max 31
11,252 steps
One of the things we learnt travelling in 2024 is how staying somewhere for a third (plus) night makes things easier - by now you know the local surroundings, the local noises and of course the breakfast set up.
So it's a leisurely morning feed - very light touch for Sienna who's not feeling well and then she naps while Kate, Seb and I have a short walk on the nearby narrow streets to seek out some of the colourful street art in and around Jalan Alor.
Packed up and it's time for our first move and several modes of transport today to get to Penang.
First the raised monorail from Bukit Bintang to KL Sentral where we meet up with Mema and Pawpaw. Our 11:40am train to the very British sounding Butterworth leaves bang on time and by 11:41 Seb is looking to play Pontoon at our table as we weave through the high rises of Kuala Lumpur. Settling at 140 kilometers an hour we zip past plantations of palm oil stumpy trees.
Sienna rises from her sick induced slumber to also play cards with Mema and Pawpaw; 7’s, Chase The Ace firm favorites, whilst outside the train is occasionally lashed with short, sharp bursts of rain.
But stepping out at Butterworth there's no drop in the heat. The train passengers decamp, most walking the few hundred metres under covered walkways to the ferry terminal. After stumping up the two ringgits (80 cents) fare we board the flatbed ferry, half for foot passengers, half for motorbikes.
The 20-minute journey brings us across to Penang Island and the main centre of George Town. The historic, protected, old town is surrounded by a surprising swathe of high rises stretching along the coast. Two quick taxes whisk us to our Citadines Connect Bertram Hotel - a courtyard surrounded by two storey crisp white stretches of rooms.
By now its 6pmish and after no lunch to speak of we’re in need of a quick dinner - Tong Song Roasted House two doors down obliges. Sienna is still under the weather so rests in our room while the five us enjoy barbecue pork, chicken, duck with rice, bean sprouts and soup broth, washed down with three mango smoothies. It's a triumph for 90 ringgits.
Kate returns to Sienna whilst Seb, Mema, Pawpaw and I walk a little towards the old town; Katherine Street coming to life with street hawkers in front of cafes and restaurants. Seb and I introduce Mema and Pawpaw to Mixue for vanilla and purple tarot ice-creams. We saunter back to discover Sienna ready to play cards - at the same time Mema, Pawpaw and I having gin & tonics. Three hands each as banker and we call it a night.
