George town

Sitting in the cafe of Campbell House, dating from 1903, having a coffee and resting tired shoulders. Left KL at 7am on the bus and arrived at Butterworth at 11am. Saw the aftermath of what looked like a fatal car accident, and a couple of near misses with out bus. This bus was super luxury and i could recline straight back.
At butterworth i had to get the ferry (feri in malay!) across to the island. This was an experience. I was one of two westerners in a sea of frantic malaysians.... It was packed. Qe queued, then got pushed and shoved through turnstiles to another holding area, then i was let through the disabled entrance (a 17kg backpack is a disability) to the ticket booth and then through to an even bigger waiting area. We were packed in like sardines. Then, a green lighy flashed and it was each man for himself - everyone shouted and started scuttling to the ferry. I just got taken with the flow of the crowd. There's no separate car and passenger section so you just stand around with the cars. I finally met up with the other felang (foreigner); an american from oregon, ex-navy and built like a ship. He was very interesting and we discovered a shared passion for kayaking. Once off i walked to my hotel, not too far, although by this time my
shoulders were very sore and i was drenched....
Hotel is great. It's in a heritage building and you enter it through a cafe... Perfect.Read more