Thursday, October 13, 2016

Tuesday,( Malaysia), 11 Oct., 2015
We had a long bus ride today starting at 8:55 am for a drive to Cameron Highlands.  This area is much higher, some 3000 feet, and much cooler. The first part of the drive was on a modern 4 lane tole highway.  Minor rest stops were available every 15 to 20 minutes and major ones with food available every hour.  We had lunch at one of the biggest that boasted a |KFC, Baskin Robins, and Dunkin Donuts as well as several Malaysian food vendors.  Lunch cost 17 ringgits,  about $6 Canadian and included deep fried chicken, rice, lettuce and a large beverage.
   Leaving the main highway we started uphill on a 2 lane highway and as we neared our destination we stopped at the Lakehouse Hotel for ‘high tea’ which included an assortment of sandwiches, cakes, and fruit.  This was late enough in the afternoon that neither Eva nor I found we wanted supper later.  We stopped for a bit of shopping at a small town in the highlands then on to the Strawberry Park Resort for a 2 night stay.  Our room at Strawberry Park is in building D and is huge, about 24 x 35 ft, including a monster bathroom.  We have a balcony overlooking dense jungle.  Despite not doing a lot we were very tired and went to bed about 9:30 pm.

Wednesday ,( Malaysia), 12 Oct., 2015  - Cameron Heights to Penang
   Leaving our hotel was a bit of a challenge for our bus driver.  A short distance from the hotel was a 180 degree switchback turn that took 2 reverses to get the bus around the corner.

The first stop was at the Sam Poh Tong temple which is inside a natural limestone cave.  Accessed from the back of the temple is an open shaft perhaps 100 ft. deep with an enclosure holding over 100 tortoises up to almost 2 ft. long.

 
 Continuing on to the Ubudiyah Mosque, the largest Mosque in Malaysia, we could not enter as it was a prayer time.  However, the many golden domes and the architecture were very beautiful.


 This town, called Kalua is what the Malay call a “Royal Town”.  In other words, the town in which the Sultan of the state has his palace.  This particular sate actually has 3 royal families, each ruling in turn, for 5 years at a time. 
Malaysia is a kingdom, not a republic.  When is was unified into a nation, the Sultan’s of the various staates realized that armed conflict for power was threatened, and agreed to take turns ruling the entire country for 5 year terms, with the title of “King of Malaysia” but also maintaining their title of “Sultan” of the smaller individual states.  The system has worked very well.  Malaysia is democratic in that they elect a Prime Minister, a senate and a House of Representatives, copying the British system.  The elected politicians serve for 5-year terms.

   The bridge to Penang is 13.5 km and has 2 lanes each way with a lane each way for motorcycles. This is the only area with a toll for motorcycles, 0.5 ringgits for riding in the lanes for larger vehicles.

   After getting settled, at 7 pm we headed out to the Golden Thai Seafood village for dinner. This was a set menu with several large platters on the table from which we helped ourselves.  After dinner we strolled through the ‘Night Market’, but didn’t see anything that caught our eye.

Thursday ,( Malaysia), 13 Oct., 2015  -  Penang
   Penang is mainly an island of 2855 sq. Km with 1200 sq. km. on the mainland.  The capital is George Town.




    Our morning started with a visit to the Kek Lok Si Buddhist temple which was originally scheduled yesterday.  The temple dates from1893 and was supported by the consular representative of China in Penang.
   Next stop was a visit to the Khoo family clan house and temple.  These clan houses were set up to assist immigrants of the particular family when they first arrived and as needs arose. They are supported by successful members of the family clan and are made up of people with the same family name, in this case, Khoo. 
   A visit and tour of Pinang Peranakan Mansion, formerly a private home and now a museum, followed.  A guide showed us through the mansion and pointed out many ancient and historically interesting items and customs. 
   Lunch was obtained at an Asian version of a food court.  Eva and I shared a bowl of  ‘Fish Ball Soup’ and a fruit drink for lunch, 11 ringgits, (about $4 cdn).  Some of the group took a walking tour of ‘Little India’, but we were getting tired and headed to the bus to wait for them.



   Before we returned to the hotel we had a quick visit to St. George Anglican Church.

   After arriving back at the hotel for a short rest we changed into bathing suits and headed to the beach behind the hotel. Unfortunately there were so many shells in the sand as we entered the water, we decided to forgo an ocean swim and went up to the hotel’s outdoor pool.
   We went out of the hotel for dinner and found a restaurant where we chose the items to go into our soup and they then cooked it for us. It was very good.


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