Obviously when I found out my friend Amelia was getting married in her home country of Malaysia, I leapt at the chance to go celebrate the nuptials of my little sister from another mister as well as explore the island of Penang where she grew up.
Of course I can never let an itinerary just BE, I always need to add other trips and adventures to it, and accomplish that I did! I figured, I'd fly to Singapore first to look around for two days or so and then take an overnight train to Penang the 2nd night rather than pay for a hotel and hang out on the Island, eat at food stalls, walk around on the beach, get splendidly golden, meet a studly foreigner who would sweep me off my feet and feed me custard apples and mangosteen while gazing into my eyes...what? I was single at the time and it was a nice thought if nothing else!
I am not going to prattle on too much about the lows of the trip - but I will warn you that if you DO decide to take an overnight train from Singapore to Penang, make sure you do not take a shower and not change into anything too comfortable before you pass through border patrol on the Malaysian side - they WILL make you get off the train and march to the building with dripping wet hair and a towel or whatever you are wearing. Also - the temperature in the cabin may not be ideal...so make sure you have enough clothes to keep warm enough to sleep. Truth.
Onto the pictures!!!!!
I don't have a solid opinion on how I feel about Singapore yet because I was only there for a single day. I crammed in what I could and shopped along Orchard Rd, went to little India for food and nik nacks, went to a hawker stall with a good friend, tried to absorb as much as I can and eat things that I didn't recognize, but that still was only a single day. It was nice, clean, the people were interesting, and I would love for a chance to go back and experience what it was really like. It was so hot there in December that I can't imagine going to visit in the summertime...
A late night kitchen serving all sorts of delights like lasi nemak, black glutinous rice pudding with coconut milk...nom nom
The mall by where I was staying around Clarke Quay
Such cute buildings around Clarke Quay - I found out after I leave Singapore that there were clubs all over this area.
Funny sign I saw at the train station - but hey, it calls it like it is right? :)
Shopping in Singapore is late - nothing opens until around noon or 1pm. There goes my go-getter spirit and getting to the shopping street of Orchard road at 9am...
In Singapore you can get fined for anything
Gorgeous Hindi temple
Curry and naan - perfect lunch at little India in Singapore. The curry was some of the spiciest I've ever eaten. That'll teach me for ordering "Extra Spicy" and forgetting I'm not in the US anymore. Different standards...
No really - you can get fined for anything in Singapore. That's why it's such a clean city!
My first hawker food area - it was delicious!!!!
Here is where I skip the overnight nightmare train ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and the 6 hour coach ride. THIS is the view I get from my hotel in Penang...I lucked out. it was gorgeous.
More on Penang, the trip to the tropical fruit farm, the beach, the shopping, in the next post
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