Georgetown, Penang

Came to Penang for Chinese New Year, braving the travel rush in some slightly last minute plans to meet our friend Ash in Georgetown. We had to fly in the end as every bus and train was sold out(!)

We rented a little flat for a few days and ended up staying for a week, enjoying a bit of wandering around and quite a lot of learning to somersault in the swimming pool, drinking lychee Soju and trying to visit Hawker centres after they had closed for the day.

We also underestimated the challenge of climbing Penang Hill with no lunch (a 700m ascent), had a surprise meeting at the top with a good friend of the Norwegian traveller Thor Pedersen (whose book Elli has been reading), and an evening visit to the amazing Kek Lok Si temple all lit up for Chinese New Year.Read more