PENANG, MALAYSIA

Saturday, April 6th

     We are docked today in Georgetown the capital for the state of Penang on northwest side of the Malaysian peninsula just south of Thailand.  Hopefully you can see that on the maps above.  Penang is one of the 13 states in Malaysia and as you see part is on Penang Island.  You can either take a ferry or the 8.5 mile long bridge to get to the island and Georgetown, where we are today.  Penang is one of the most developed and economically important states in the country and has a thriving tourist industry.  Because of its shape and location on the strategic trading route of the Strait of Malacca, it is often referred to as the "Pearl of the Orient".  Manufacturing leads the economy here but tourism, shipping, finance, and other services are also important.  As far a agriculture, palm oil, rice, rubber, fruits, coconut, vegetables, cocoa, and spices are harvested.  1.5 million people live in the state, half of which live on the island.  Georgetown, where we are docked, is named after Britian's King George III and has deep British roots and customs.  
     Woke up to a monsoon rain that has lasted all morning.  Now noon and has quit raining but still very hazy, overcast and threatening more rain.  Temperature is 88 degrees and very humid.  Done with our workout and going to lunch now. Our tour is at 1:25 and is scheduled for 3 hours.  It is pouring rain again so have decided not to go.  Basically just ride in back of a bike (covered however) with stop at Chinese clan house, museum, and restaurant for refreshments.  Just does not sound too interesting.  I have some photos from our stop here 3 years ago.  As you see, the weather was much nicer then.

                           Fake smile as who could genuinely smile with snakes around there neck?

                                              Coconuts and yellow one is a jack fruit

                                                               Nutmeg trees

                     Older house built on stilts as snakes could not climb poles-how comforting!

                            Lemon grass is grown around house as it is good mosquito repellent.

Batik

Design is drawn with pencil then traced over with hot wax.  Ink will not penetrate the wax. 

                                              Then the paint the cloth.  This is cotton.

                                                                Nice beaches

      This is the trishaw we were suppose to be riding in today.  Still monsooning outside however.  We will be sailing at 5pm for our next port, Phuket, Thailand, where we will be arriving at 8am.  Tonight is "Le Cirque Voyager" production show.  We saw all the production shows on the first segment but love them so will probably be seeing them all 4 more times.
     Got an email today from our Aussie friend, Peter.  Really miss Maureen & Peter who were on our South America cruise last year.  He was my bar buddy and lots of fun.