Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia

[Still working on the temple post, sorry] 

PHOTO TAGS [view of Georgetown from Kek Lok Si] [The Blue Hair Buddha from KLS] [The main statue at KLS] [NYE fireworks]

Dec 30th -> Visa expired so took ferry/minivan to Malaysia! Thai time made it interesting, but the ferry was smooth, MUCH better, and I made friends on the minivan! Now traveling with Emma and Chris from Holland.

We got a 3 bed room in Penang, very basic but clean and the rooms look like they have cubical walls (they sway when pushed). Wandered to have some street food, tasty noodle dish. Finally went to bed around midnight, it's an hour later here, so now 16hrs ahead of home. Makes it interesting for calling home for sure!

Next day explored the buddhist temple of Kek Lok Si, the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia, pretty but VERY commercialized and we saw NO monks!! Lots of stairs  and a blue haired Buddha though. :) Snagged some fried things on sticks on the way back to catch the public bus for the return trip. A really nice lady randomly stopped us and showed us how to make oragami hearts out of 1RM(ringit) notes. Was a bit odd but she was nice. [3 ringit=1USD]

Wandered a bit through little India, then met up with random friends for cheap beer and dinner. More noodles and Starfruit juice. (I am in LOVE with the starfruit juice, had about 4 glasses today, though they are small) Then beer, a Jungle Speed (holland card game like UNO) game or two (it's a drinking game). Eventually headed to the Esplanade for bands and eventually FIREWORKS!! :D 

Bed at 2am and so ends 2011 for me. 

Hope you all had a fantastic NYE!