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A Year of Living Awesomely
  • Lynne Schroeder
  • Richard Schroeder
  • Lynne Schroeder
  • Richard Schroeder

A Year of Living Awesomely

In which we take our last big trip. SE Asia and Europe Leggi altro
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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Onward to Penang

    26 febbraio 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 35 °C

    Another big travel day but less challenging than the last one. I start the day by delivering a tour before we head out for breakfast. Our train departs at 10:30 and we get a Grab giving us plenty of time to have a leisurely coffee at the station.

    The train trip is just under two hours in a train that is a little more comfortable than the last one. Fabric seats rather than vinyl for instance. On arrival in Butterworth we have a bit of a walk to reach the ferry wharf. But what we were expecting to be arduous and frankly non-sensical turned out to be level, straightforward and under cover the whole way.

    Following a short ferry ride we land in Georgetown. We still have two hours before check in and decide to have lunch first before getting a Grab to Tanjung Tokong to where our apartment is situated.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Figuring Out the Bus

    27 febbraio 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 34 °C

    We had heard that buses don’t really run to a schedule and that you need the exact fare so we pulled together as much small denominations as we could and went to find a bus stop. Google maps is pretty good, not perfect but pretty good, at tracking the buses live and predicting the next arrival.

    We were headed for the nearest beach to where we are staying. We decide to walk the beach towards the floating mosque. I want to see what it will be like at sunrise. It’s a lovely site but it’s getting horribly hot so we only stay a short time. Enough to make a call for another time.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Amazing Temple with CNY Illumination

    28 febbraio 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Today we navigated our way to the beautiful Kek Lok Si Temple, an imposing site occupying a large area on Penang Hill.

    Our Grab driver on Monday tipped us off to the fact that the temple’s illuminations would be extended a few days beyond the end of Chinese New Year so we decided to take the opportunity to go.

    This would involve two buses and somewhere along the way we need to get small change. This was accomplished by purchasing two cans of coffee in two separate transactions to maximise our small change.

    We have no idea what to expect as we approach the temple which appears deserted. We attempt what we think is an entrance and are headed off, told “closed”. Unperturbed, we attempt another ingress and a parking attendant in an empty car park again says, “closed”. But by now we have seen people. Higher up but within the walls, these people don’t appear to be leaving.

    We find a set of stairs and head up. And then a ramp, and more stairs. Higher and higher and all I’m thinking is how we need to get back down these again in the dark.

    We reach a point beneath the main pagoda, behind a locked gate but again we see people. I elect to wait on a seat while Richard goes off to explore.

    It was a waiting game with lots of milling around before the lights came on to the egg collective gasp of the crowd.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    A Michelin Experience - Ooh La La!

    2 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    While out and about the other day we stumbled on a place that piqued our curiosity. For the past two years this intriguing spot has been nominated as a Michelin Guide Selected establishment. Following some quick research into menu and price we decide a lunch here is in order.

    Fatty Loh Chicken Rice is celebrating 55 years in business this year. Their menu is mostly chicken and pork, and is absolutely delicious. And although we were prepared for a moderate bill, we were actually pleasantly surprised. As we were leaving we were also given a free t-shirt each, so $11 for two for three dishes and two drinks plus freebies.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Bus Excursion to a Waterfall

    4 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Conscious of school holidays we venture by bus to Batu Ferringhi. I have located a waterfall on the map so it’s time for a bit of exploring.

    The waterfall is only a short 10 minute walk along a rough, muddy in parts, track, in complete contrast to the plush and sterile hotels and accommodation nearby.

    The waterfall is only small but pleasant. Disappointing to see litter in places.

    We return to the main road; our stop is out front of the Hard Rock Hotel. We find a simple cafe to get cool drinks and take our time before taking the return trip.

    We break our trip at a seaside Hindu temple. A very pretty spot with only three other people inside.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 6

    6 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    We opted for a western style breakfast today. The scrambled eggs were so good! It made a nice change.

    We also treated ourselves to a trip to the local pub. This is an occasional treat as prices are not far short of western prices but it’s a nice breezy bar and welcome relief to long afternoons spent doing little.Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 8 Komtar

    8 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Another trip into Georgetown, this time to scope a sculpture trail with a view to giving a live tour. The Marking Georgetown art trail is so interesting. It depicts aspects of daily life in a fun series of more than 50 caricatures made from steel bars mounted against walls around the town.Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Two Stunning Golden Temples

    9 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Just a short bus trip from where we are staying are two incredible temples. Both Buddhist, one is Thai, the other Burmese. The land was handed over to the Siamese and Burmese communities at the end of the 18th century and over time two amazing places of worship evolved.

    The centrepiece of the Thai temple is an enormous reclining Buddha while the Burmese have adopted one in a standing position but both have copious use of gold leaf in common.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 10

    10 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    A quiet day, taking it easy

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    Walking Out Over the City

    11 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 34 °C

    Today I took the bus into Georgetown to ride the elevator to the 65th floor and experience walking out onto the glass walkway.

    This is an amazing three part experience. For 58RM (foreigner senior rate) I will experience the top of the tallest building in Penang in three different ways. On emerging from the lift at level 65 of the Komtar tower we are firstly directed to a screening room. Thinking this is all a bit underwhelming while looking for the exit, all of a sudden the screens part and the expansive view across the north east corner of Georgetown is revealed.

    A few minutes are allowed before the screens close and we exit to the full observation level. This level has an indoor glass floor section, possibly intended to get you accustomed to the idea before heading upstairs for the real thing.

    On reaching level 68 I make my way through the restaurant and outside to the topmost floor outdoor deck. The unimpeded views from here are magnificent. There is a section for sunset and evening drinks as well as several novelty photo props. A trail of misting points strung between potted palms leads to the rainbow skywalk.

    I am instructed to cover my shoes with paper slipcovers before I can walk out and over the streets beneath. What an experience!

    Finally I return to level 65 to get rigged up for the outside walk. This involves being fitted up with a harness which is then hooked up to the guide who will lead. He is tethered to the cable that runs along the outside wall of the building    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 12 Penang Hill

    12 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Of all the things we had earmarked to do while in Penang, taking the funicular to the top of Penang Hill was firmly at the top of the list. At roughly 2km apparently it’s the longest in Asia and has the steepest tunnel section in the world. We have waited until now so that school holidays would be over and planned our day to arrive fairly early.

    It’s two buses to get to the bottom station and then a queue to board. Even with all that planning and foresight the carriages are still full to capacity.

    Four and a half minutes later we reach the top station at an elevation of 712m. Our first stop is breakfast at the top station cafe, out on the terrace overlooking the forest with occasional glimpses of the very cute Dusky Langurs scampering in the treetops and over the cafe roof.

    And the we are off. Firstly we climb a roadway that leads to a large open space with an information kiosk on one side. I head there in search of a map, and leave with entry tickets to the Nature Trail and elevated walkway.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 14 Sculpture Trail & Fatty Loh

    14 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    We headed in to Georgetown early to arrive in time for sunrise. I am delivering my first fully live tour since the technical issues I encountered in Singapore. My plan is to be in time for the sunrise call to prayer at the large mosque near Little India and then deliver the sculpture trail we scoped the other day as the tour.

    The tour was fun, the trail is delightful. We stop by a street vendor for roti breakfast.

    We returned to Fatty Loh’s Chicken Rice for lunch. Even with an extra serve of chicken the meal was still under $10. And this time we sat indoors in the air conditioning.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 15 Little India Scouting

    15 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    I am on a mission today to track down an item by special request. So I am heading to Little India. This is a colourful and vibrant district full of saree shops, jewellery boutiques and spice stores and covering around 4 intersecting streets.

    There are street vendors and juice stalls interspersed with sellers of brightly coloured flower garlands. After asking several shopkeepers I eventually locate the store and the item. I take photos for approval.

    After a little more browsing I get ahead of the full heat of the day and head back to the apartment.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 16 Botanic Gardens

    16 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ 🌩️ 33 °C

    My mission today is to scope the Botanic Gardens with a view to streaming live from there. A bus trip then a Grab takes me to the front gate. It’s a lovely site, very different to what I am familiar with, focusing more on trees than flowers.

    There is no signal so I will return and video.

    For dinner we take a short bus trip to a place billing itself as a banana leaf venue. The food was nice but we had to insist on the banana leaves.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    March 19

    19 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    One place I’ve had on the periphery of my radar for days now is the Butterfly Farm. From everything I have read it looks like it will be a delightful experience. We take the bus to Teluk Bahang where we grab a breakfast of rotis and tea.

    Richard heads back to the apartment while I continue on to the Entopia. What a delightful experience. Although the site is dominated by the expansive enclosed dome of the butterfly enclosure, this is but one aspect of the experience.

    There are also frogs, snakes, spiders, scorpions, lizards, and other insects. I spent three hours there and found it enthralling.

    Dinner was at a place we had walked past many times assuming it would fall outside our budget and were pleasantly surprised.    Leggi altro

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  • A Year of Living Awesomely

    A Michelin Star Experience

    20 marzo 2024, Malaysia ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    We are headed in to Georgetown today to purchase an item by request for a friend. This requires a trip to Little India to pick up a dancing Shiva. Mission accomplished and we are on to our next stop. Lunch at a Michelin Star restaurant. Apparently this is the world’s cheapest Michelin Star and will likely be the only one we’ll ever visit.

    Auntie Gaik Lean’s Traditional Restaurant is located right next door to the tourist information centre and we must have walked right past it the other day. It’s a traditional nonya restaurant and the menu looks amazing. We are seated at a large table with three other couples who all look suspiciously like fellow travelers.

    We choose the beef rendang and the lemongrass chicken. Both meals are sensational and with drinks the entire bill comes to about $50    Leggi altro

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