Cameron Highlands - Penang, House of Journey

Fri 5th Sept '14

The journey from Tanah Rata is disrupted by much traffic so another 5 1/2 journey means we arrive in George Town Penang at 6.30pm, I sleep through the last few hours in turn missing the final part of journey across the bridge joining the mainland the island Penang! The mini bus drops me at the hostel I have booked an initial two nights in 'House of Journey', Bianca has not booked anywhere yet and also joins me.

House of Journey

On arrival I find that the hostel is run by a young couple (Rayson & Cheryl) from Penang who have travelled across much of Europe after living and studying in Manchester for 4 years. In my dorm I meet a Dutch couple (Jenna & Rob) and their friend (Rebecca), who moved to Holland during her teenage years but was born in Germany and is half Chinese, she speaks Dutch, German and English fluently, Rob and Jenna also speak English fluently.

We all go for local food recommended by Rayson. To begin with we walk too far, not looking closer at the street stores but the main buildings, eventually we find the first of Rayson's recommendations wan ton mee at price of 3.30RM! Next we eat at Curry mee, close by. Here we meet Alex, another German! He is working in Malaysia and visiting Penang.

Street Food Penang

After two very cheap meals we head for drinks and again find costly beer in comparison and no chance for bartering.. despite our best events. It's good to get to know some new travel companions and find about each others travel/study plans. Rob and Jenna will be travelling through South East Asia for the next couple of months and visiting Rebecca again who is heading back to KL on Monday before flying to China where she will be taking a course there linked to her university studies of Law.

At 10.30pm we all return to the hostel to meet up with Rayson, Cheryl and Jeff, an American traveller also in our dorm, in preparation to head to bars with Rayson and his local friends. We travel far from the hostel in cars driven by Rayson and his friends to get to a set of bars they recommend which have ljve music. Again no really cheap deals on beers but we split the cost between us on a set of buckets. A another fun night in Malaysia.

Bianca, Rob, Jenna, Rebecca, Jeff, Alex and me. 

Rayson and me.