Penang, Malaysia - April 5-8, 2012

This is my final stop on the first half of my 2012 around the world adventure.  I picked Penang since my friend Jeane said the capital, Kuala Lumpar was just a big city.

The resort I picked, The Golden Sands, was about 40 minutes from the airport on a private beach.  I planned on another three days of sun and relaxation.

The Golden Sands resort

The beach was beautiful, but no swimming because of the jelly fish

One of the high rises in Georgetown 

The typical market

Chinatown in Georgetown

No, I did not get bread at this bakery.  Just an interesting building.

I found these flower necklaces in many of the countries I visited.

The clock tower and sculpture in Georgetown.

I was very tempted, but I will leave this thrill to my nieces.

The first night I had dinner at one of the outside food courts.  It was cheap, but some of the food was questionable.  I stuck to the chicken satay.  I was tired and decided to do the night market tomorrow.

The next day was overcast in the morning and sunny all afternoon.  I read a Stephen King short story and will probably have nightmares.  This is my first Stephen King in over ten years.

That evening I hit the night market.  Everything was a knock off and most were poor imitations.  So I returned empty handed.  I told my friend Julie she almost got a fake, fake Prada bag.

The following day I took the hotel shuttle to Georgetown - not in DC.  It was hotter then hell but the sights were interesting.  There was another Little India and a Chinatown - like in Singapore.  There were plenty of shops but nothing said "buy me".  I ended the afternoon in an air conditioned mall.

Well after reading my second Stephen King short story, scary but not as scary as the first, I went back to the food court for dinner.  For less then $10 I had 10 chicken satays, chicken with cashews, rice and a jumbo beer.  One of the best dinners of the trip.

The following day was my last in Penang.  I caught a few more rays in the morning, packed and headed for the airport and my four flights home.

I can't say how much I love the service on Cathay Pacific.  If you every get a chance to take them across the Pacific - do it.


I'm almost over my jet lag, which as usual takes at least three days.

Bali, Indonesia - March 30 - April 5, 2012

This is a return trip to Bali and I plan on spending five days relaxing and sunning.  Last time I did the tourist sights and temples.

So, I got my books and suntan lotion and hit the pool.

Sunset on the Beach

Anyone for fishing?

Goddesses protecting the hotel 

Taxi?

You find these colorful offerings to the gods everywhere.

Protecting the fleet

The arrangement in the hotel lobby changed every day.

The money is so strange in Indonesia.  I got 1,000,000 of their rupees - about $100 US.  Most items are fairly inexpensive - even the food.  The most I spent for dinner was $20 or 200,000.

On the third day I over did it with the sun and my back was sore and itching.  Luckily the next day was cloudy.

I wanted a massage from the guy I met here last time, but he couldn't get off work.

In total it was a very relaxing five days.  Next and final stop Penang, Malaysia.