11/4/18 - Day 74

Today we decide to head up to Penang Hill. I get up and do a yoga class, then breakfast before we go and take a look at The Edison hotel, we have to check out of our hotel tomorrow so we’re undecided about whether to stay in GT or head elsewhere...

Anyway, we decide to sort that dilemma later and we catch a Grab car to Penang Hill, we then queue up with the masses and catch the funicular to the top (it reminds me of travelling in Greece with Wendy & Stu last year). Anyway, we get to the top and our plan is to walk around the various pathways, admiring the old British colonial houses which are on ‘the Hill’. Apparently the Brits used to use this place as a Sanctuary from the baking heat. There are still residents living in some of the properties though now but more likely wealthy Malays than Brits these days (we fled GT in 1941 after the Japanese took occupation). We set off like intrepid explorers, although as it turns out extremely ill-prepared, no water and no mosquito repellent.... BIG MISTAKE. I quickly realise that we’ve wandered into a mosquito feeding ground and I’m subsequently bitten to pieces. J doesn’t fare much better but he fortunately doesn’t react to them like I do. We carry on walking as fast as we can, stopping to pause only for monkeys, the large black tree squirrel and a giant millipede. We finally make it back to civilisation and then decide to catch the funicular back down, by then the damage is done. We then make our way to the Hotel, J needs a kip as he didn’t sleep all that well last night, so I catch up on some emails and do a yin yoga session while he’s busy zzzz’ing. Then we head out to D’lovies for drinks, J read about it but I think I would have preferred going to Keybaya (at Seven Terraces), I’m turning into a discerning traveller I’ve decided! We discuss what we might do whether we leave GT or stay (moving to the Edison). Whilst J had been asleep I found something on Langkawi so I mention it to J, we decide to go for it so we book a flight from Penang to Langkawi (only takes 25 mins and costs about £20 each). Decision made... we’re off tomorrow.

12/4/18 - Day 75

Leisurely, lazy start, then I do a yoga session before breakfast. Then repack and checkout of the lovely Muntri Grove, sad to be leaving. The temperatures have soared, it’s about 35 today and baking. We wander up to one of the cafes and grab a salad and then catch a grab car to the airport (approx £4 for a 25 min journey). Check in for our mid afternoon flight to Langkawi and off we go...