Asia – Page 7 – Travels with Ali

The Perils and Pitfalls of Penang Food – Days 3 and 4

After our very delicious dinner the night before my dear husband awoke in the early hours in incredible pain. He had succumbed to severe food poisoning, I suspect from a noodle stall on the quay when he walked back from Gurney Plaza.

As soon as possible the next day I went in search of a chemist. It was a blistering hot day unlike the day before. Well I searched in vain as I remembered it was a public holiday so had to make do with some gatorade I found in a mini mart. Of course we had to revise all plans and just stay close to the hotel.

Anyway to cut a long story short, the next day we found a chemist and bought appropriate medication. Around lunchtime he rallied and we went for lunch.

**My lunch which I managed to eat half of before the drama unfolded**

My crazy husband decided to eat a laksa for lunch, thinking he’s iron man. He then got up and said he felt dizzy and walked to the door where he promptly collapsed in the alley outside. I went slightly hysterical at that point and yelled for help. He was so unresponsive that I thought he had had a stroke. I can’t say enough good things about the people who rushed to our aid. An ambulance was called and off he went with me to find my own way.

Thankfully he was admitted straightaway to Penang General Hospital and was soon hooked up to fluids. I went back to the hotel where I called my son, his girlfriend and my daughter. Maddy, Laurence’s girlfriend was the first to answer and got the full brunt of my hysteria. Finally I spoke to Laurence who calmed me down. I decided to go back to the hospital and not wait for their phone call.

The Doctor said she wanted to keep him overnight but Anthony said no, it was quite a basic hospital with what he calls “starter block” toilets. So we went off armed with a prescription which we tried to fill at the hospital pharmacy, but his arm started spurting blood so we had to walk all the way back to ED to get this bandaged up.

We were supposed to be leaving the next day for Langkawi but I made the executive decision to stay another day in Penang, which in hindsight was a good decision.

Thanks for reading and hopefully I will be posting more positive stories in the next few days!

Searching for Street Art in Penang – Day Two

One of the things I wanted to do whilst in Penang was to look at all the street art that Penang is famous for. Although I had downloaded a map of all the places, my sim card was not activated properly! So we went back to the 7-11 where we had bought them and the very kind assistant sorted this out for me. I do exasperate Anthony with my constant stopping and starting and looking at my phone as to where to go! He tends to just walk randomly.

The streets were busy today as it Sunday and it seemed like everyone had the same idea.

We did find lots of murals and metal artwork along the way. The weather was cloudy and a nice breeze blowing, not at all what we expected.

Trombone Player by Gabriel Pitcher. An English born artist who has painted murals around the World.

Above are various street scenes from our walk

Humorous 3D artwork found on street walls depicting the life of long ago.

It was almost impossible to walk on any sidewalk or the covered archways that lined the road. Walking on the road was the easier option, but with cars driving very close by you had better watch out for your hands and feet!

If I hadn’t glanced sideways I would have missed these cute kittens peeking out from these windows.

Enough street art for one day, I have a few more and I know I’ve missed many. It was getting on for lunchtime and time to go shopping!

We took a “Grab Cab” to Gurney Plaza where there is a huge shopping mall. Grab is the equivalent of Uber in Malaysia and seems to be the only taxi service in Penang. Once you have the App it’s pretty straightforward and the good thing about it is that you can use cash to pay and no need for credit card details.

Lunch was just a quick snack in a European Beer cafe, pretty lousy to be honest! Then off to the shops to look for walking shoes for me as mine had now given me a blister and shorts and a backpack for Anthony to climb Penang Hill. Well we were successful in everything and mine were called “the most comfortable shoes in the world” and I have to say this is 100% true, I felt like I was walking on pillows.

Back to the hotel for a quick swim and rest before heading out for dinner.

Dinner at Kebaya Restaurant

I had seen a place nearby called Kebaya Fusion Restaurant. The chefs were Swiss trained so we were expecting some gastronomic extravaganza. The restaurant is in a heritage listed building called Seven Terraces and owned by Christopher Ong. The building has been lovingly restored with the most beautiful decorations and furniture. The tiles on the floors were imported from Vietnam. I didn’t realise it was also a hotel until I asked if I could look around.

The waiter explained it was a set two or three course menu and it would be good to choose different dishes so we could share. Everything was mouth wateringly delicious.

Inside the hotel

The photos below show what an opium lord’s house would look like back in the day. Complete with opium pipes and snuff boxes.

After dinner Anthony suggested a nightcap in the bar, as we sat down I recognised the owner Christopher in the corner with a lady friend. When we left I went up to him and complimented him on his beautiful hotel. We stood and had a chat with him for a while about the renovations he had made.

Off to bed for a good night’s sleep after a very busy day.

Four Glorious Days in Penang – Day one

Flying from Kuala Lumpur to Penang on Malaysian Airlines took just one hour. Our flight was at 2 pm and we arrived in plenty of time for a change! We printed our own boarding passes and luggage tags and while I attached the tags I asked Anthony to hold the boarding passes along with the peeled off labels. When all was done I asked him for the passes back but he had just promptly walked over to the security desk and handed everything over to be thrown away. Back he went to retrieve them. Just one job was all I said.

For the next four days we were going to be exploring Penang and staying at The Prestige Hotel. Close to all the heritage buildings and many restaurants to indulge in delicious food.

A luxuriously large room with great amenities with robes and slippers! No view to speak of though, oh well can’t have everything. I love the way the toiletries are displayed.

**The Swimming Pool on the 4th floor rooftop – luckily not segregated!**

**Malayan Railway Building from the pool**

After checking in and leaving our bags we had a quick wander around the neighbourhood. As I mentioned before it was a long holiday weekend here and this was in evidence as many places were closed and the streets were empty.

Penang is rich in history and culture and is such a wonderful place to wander around. It is a Unesco Heritage Listed Site. On 11 August 1786, Captain Francis Light of the British East India Company landed in Penang and renamed it Prince of Wales Island in honour of heir to the British throne. Source: Wikipedia. Francis Light is now credited as the founder of Penang.
Many of the buildings are beyond repair now but there are a few that are still resplendent and have been restored and maintained. It seems on looking around that there are buildings under renovation now, even a few with steel girders propping them up.

The buildings below are ones we passed on our walk to dinner.

**Beautifully restored French colonial building**

We decided on a French restaurant that night, I’m not one for spicy foods but I knew tomorrow that it would be Anthony’s turn. The restaurant we chose was called Two Frenchies. Their website states – “Two very good friends who happened to be French . . . and knew nothing about running a restaurant , decided one lazy afternoon that they were going to bring their culture of food to Penang”.

It was all delicious and the service was excellent. The wife of one of the chef’s kept popping by to see if we were enjoying everything.

A fantastic end to our first day in Penang

Laid Back Luang Prabang – PastSquares

These are photos from another post that didn’t attract too much attention, so here they are again.

The original post was also titled Laid Back Luang Prabang and we visited in 2016. I would love to go back again one day, I just loved the atmosphere there and the people. It was all very calm and unhurried, so wonderfully relaxing.

Luang Prabang — Entrance to Pak Ou Caves

Some of the 4,000 tiny buddhas inside the cave

The Pool at The Luang Prabang Hotel where we spent an afternoon

Views from the top of Luang Prabang Hotel

Posted as part of Becky’s PastSquares for October

Lens Artist Photo Challenge #164 – Looking Up and Looking Down

This week for the Lens Artist Photo Challenge – Sofia from Photographias is hosting and the theme is Looking Up/Down.

“Knowledge comes from looking around, Wisdom comes from looking up” – Adrian Rogers

Osmania Women’s College, Hyderabad, India

Outside/Inside Escalators, Hong Kong Bank Building, Hong Kong

✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️✴️

There is something absolutely nerve racking about being inside a cable car in the elements with only the floor between you and the depths below. It is quite eerie sitting there in the deathly quiet except for the clanking of the machinery.

From the cable car on top of Lantau Island, Hong Kong

The lego style apartment blocks, Tung Chung, Hong Kong

Looking out over Da Nang, Vietnam
Bana Hills Cable Car

Riding in a cable car is definitely the best way to see the world below.

Disconnect to Reconnect

Wise words in today’s busy world when everyone is connected to some type of device. For One Word Sunday Debbie has chosen the word Rest.

The photos below are from a few years back when we were in Hoi An, Vietnam.

I’ve never been in a rickshaw as I’ve always felt sorry for the “driver’s” legs. This man has probably earned a good rest after pulling tourists around all day.

These beach workers are taking a break during a quiet time. Look how close the beds are, we met quite a few people lying next to us! You can’t but help overhear the conversations. I don’t think anyone would like to lie so closely together in future.

🎄 Christmas Trees in July 🎄

Many Australians celebrate Christmas in July as it is our coldest month. Here is a gallery of past Christmas Trees for Becky’s Squares

All from Hong Kong except one! Nowhere does Christmas trees like Hong Kong. So opulent and many of them real.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

URBAN

Some cities from around the world for Debbie’s OWS – Urban.

These are all cities we have visited over the last few years or so. It’s nice to spend a few days in a city but that’s about it for me. I much prefer a beach holiday, relaxing under an umbrella, a swim in the sea and watching the sunset. Da Nang in Vietnam is perfect for both which suits hubby and me down to the ground! He loves a good shop and browse and to tramp along streets unknown, letting his feet take him wherever! We rendezvous later after his explorations are over and to see if he’s found anything interesting worth visiting.

It’s All Water Over the Falls

Isn’t it odd that waterfalls are white when water is colourless!

Click on the links to see my travels to these places

My Six Word Saturday Challenge, Water Water Everywhere and White for Jude.

Challenge your Camera – Steps ‘n Stairs

This week’s challenge from Dr. B’s Challenge your Camera is Steps and Stairs. We are in a five day lockdown here in Perth, so this is keeping me busy.