Not sure where I left off last time, but I took a super cheap flight to Penang from Kota Bharu. It was a very small airplane, 19rows with 2seats on each side. 20kg of luggage and a snack&drink were all included for about €15!! The flight didn't even take an hour, happy days!
I was picked up by another Grab car and the driver, Lim was very helpful. He gave me lots of good tips and drove me around a bit before dropping me off at the hostel. I went from a 5* hotel to a €5 a night hostel. The staff consisted only of other travelers, who worked there through 'work away'. I arrived kind of late and decided not to do much that night. Another traveler, Sam(ir) from Algeria, came in a bit after me though and took the top bed. He then asked me if I wanted to join him for dinner and so I went out anyway. When we got back, I went to bed and not long after started to feel really itchy, I figured it might have been mosquitos but the bites were very close together and on my arm that was under my pillow... And so I turned on my light, saw a bug on my pillow and killed it...yikes. Not sure if it was bed bugs, but there's a first time for everything I guess. The staff changed my bed and the rest of the night was fine. Although I kept thinking something was in there with me.
The next morning, me and Sam went for a walk through the city. After the places I had been to before, this was such a breath of fresh air (not literally as it was super hot and humid). There was lots of Street Art and (street) food. And also one street with a church, a mosque and a temple, also known as Harmony street. There were buildings that clearly had Brittish influences, and those more Malaysian looking. A very versitile city and very walkable.
Penang is also known for it's food and so at night we went to a food market around the corner in search of satay! We found it and wow, so gooood. It even came with longtong (sticky rice) :)! I of course had more satay during my stay and also cendol, Indian food and much more. Before coming to Penang, I missed having fruit and vegetables, and was so happy to have found watermelon (juice) again! I did find a few apples before but couldn't really eat it because of my braces and my little pocket knife was confiscated so I couldn't cut it into pieces either. Veggies seem to all be fried here, and so I was happy to have a bit of raw cucumber and onion on the side of my satay dish.
I stayed in Penang for a few more days, just to relax for a bit and take my time seeing things. Me and Sam also went to the Spice Garden and National Park together. I don't know what I expected from the National park, but not another jungle hike. So in flipflops and a dress, I again went through the jungle unprepared. We ended up at a beach, which was really nice and then took the boat back. I couldn't and didn't want to walk back. It was soooo hot and humid still. The driver of the boat told us to look to our right, "look crocodile" and so everyone looked in aw, then he said "rock crocodile". A bunch of rocks that looked like a crocodile, he did the same with a turtle. We then turned the corner and I saw something swimming in the water, it kind of looked like sealions but smaller, So I asked the guy what it was and he "oh you want to see"? And all of us went YEAH!! Since he was pointing out rock animals, real ones didn't seem to interesting to him I guess. We went back a bit and it turned out to be otters!!! Me and the other people on the boat didn't know otters swam in salt water and let alone lived in a tropical environment! It reminded me of the first time I saw penguins on the beach in Australia and all I knew was that they liked cold weather.
Although it was fun to do and see stuff with someone else, I went to a temple and Penang hill by myself the next day. I took a local bus and next to me was this older lady with her bag on her lap. It reminded me of my grandmother and when we would take the bus together into the city. I think this trip was also meant to process losing her not too long ago and take some time to myself. I was glad I was by myself that day and in that moment, I squeezed my one hand with my other hand. Something my grandmother always did. I remembered the shared laughter, kisses, hugs and all those times she squeezed my hand. The older lady got out and I did a while after, still with my grandmother in mind. After visiting the temple, I took another public bus (when I finally found it). And there was another older lady that said, she was heading to Penang hill as well but only half way and so we went together. We took the free bus and got off a few stops after and had to walk for about 10min. I held her umbrella (for the sun and heath) and she held my arm to lean on me because of her replaced knees. We walked through a few back streets and talked for a bit. She then showed me where I needed to go and went on her way. I don't think this would have happened if I was with someone else.
When I returned and walked back towards the hostel, I noticed an 'I love Penang' sign and stopped. I got bit/stung by a fire ant under my foot while attempting one of my brilliant self timer shots (which did come out brilliant!). It was painful and burned, I couldn't even walk on it for a few hours. Luckily it didn't swell up or anything and stopped burning and hurting after a few hours. It seemed that Penangs bugs took a special interest to me.
I went on to explore the city the next day and to get my ferry ticket to Langkawi for the next morning. I had heard horror stories of rough sees and people puking on the ferry, but decided to risk it anyway.
It rained quite a bit in the afternoon and evening and so I just read my book at the hostel. I noticed one of the staff, a girl from South America, was practicing henna on paper earlier that week and I told her, she could practice on my if she wanted to. She was a bit hestitant to do so, but after me persistantly telling her she would do fine, she decided to go for it. The rain continued and the streets flooded a bit and the power went out for a few minutes. I had to use a flashlight (phone) so she could see what she was doing, haha. It turned out great and is definitely an experience to remember!
Me and Sam left for Langkawi the next morning and it the water was pretty calm. It took us about 3hours and it's during this trip, that I wrote my previous two posts. I stayed in a different hostel than him and so we would meet up later. I booked two nights, but after seeing the hostel and the short walk to the beach, I instanly knew, I would stay longer. I also knew this would be where my detox would end. I planned on a month without alcohol and for about ten days, I did fine. But seeing the beach & the sun, I knew it would end here. The beach was a 2min walk from the hostel and where the sunset was. It reminded me of Florida, only that's where I would go to see the sunrise (on the beach) but it was so busy, that it also reminded me of the last time I went to Bali with friends and we saw a sunset. I ended my detox that night.
Langkawi was full of socializing, I met some really cool people. I had drinks on the beach and in the ocean, danced barefoot, befriended locals and didn't want to leave. The guy from the hostel, a local named Jeff, was also lots of fun. I got on with him right away and also with another local girl that worked in the ice cream shop in front of the hostel, her name is Auri, and so I was talking to them almost every day. I didn't do or see much else of the island until a guy from my room said he would take me around the island on the bike he rented. When people kept leaving, we extended our stay for another night and another, both couldn't be too bothered to book anything or leave Langkawi. He eventually did and I left the morning after. I was there for 7nights, but could have stayed for another week. Oh and did I mention it's a duty free ISLAND and so everything is super cheap (especially alcohol)!!
It took me forever to decide on where to go next and I eventually decided I would go to Singapore, meet my friend (the same guy I met in BKK on my first night) and then take the bus to Melaka, so I could skip KL on my way to Melaka. I left to go to Singapore in the morning and the entire way there, I wondered why I had left Langkawi. The skies were grey in Singapore, it was a big city, the hostel was empty and it is super expensive (about €15 for a pint or cocktail, spent way too much money)! And after I took a nap, I went to meet my friend at his hotel. I was suppose to stay one night, but stayed two. Lots of drinking and dancing was involved and a few of the hotspots I remembered from my first visit. And without any sleep (went out again and decided to stay up), I am now on my way to Melaka. A 4 hour busride with fantastic seats but having to stop at customs to leave Singapore and again 45min after to enter Malaysia, I couldn't really sleep.
Well, that's it then, almost there and only 4days left...
Just an extra note, the busride took me about 8hours!!! I was exhausted when I got to my hostel in Melaka around 18:30 (I left at 10am).
Cheers,
T.
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