AainaA

I am in transit.

Like “les points de suspension {…}” we’re all in transit unless some of us have made Earth a final destination for eternal life. Albeit many have decided to make Earth a final destination {resting place} without moving a dimension or a mindset ‘higher’ – tis sad when we have other galaxies to venture like the many airlines, cities, towns and villages on planet earth.

I took my first Air Asia trip out of Kuala Lumpur.

I normally fly Malaysian Airlines domestically. It was unfortunately fully booked to Indonesia where my other destination is, so … I decided first to finalize issues at ‘The Pearl, of the Orient‘ this week around. Following the success of the Opposition party at the recent political elections, and for something less than €100 for five nights, I am impressed.

The airbus flying object is ‘new’ {albeit less than ten years}, and the cabin crew minus the perfect English accent, served well. If you wanted fine haute cuisine, you’d likely opt for Malaysian Airlines, and travel first class.

I decided to fly no-class.

Air Asia proved to be in a class of its own, and the 50,000 free seats made available recently proved why one should fly it. Air Asia is bound to be both the next Virgin and Easy-Jet Tour ‘Airways’ of Asia Pacific. Imagine flying from Europe and landing in Malaysia for about €900 on Swiss Air, and then taking a flight out to Australia, Indonesia or Thailand, for something deliriously cheaper than your silk handkerchief is the way to fly in the 21st century.

If you wanted a cheaper, faster and comfier way to travel in Malaysia, fly Air Asia. I’ve yet to try Firefly, the other airline flying for less than €10. Arriving in Penang, and taking the short taxi ride to town which cost about €6, the city looked calm. I wondered what the previous government did with Penang that may have beckoned and insisted tourists to want to come back.

Kes Aduan Malaysia ke-2. {Malaysia complaint list 2}

Everything looked old in Penang – the shop houses, some older than our antiques found in Kuala Lumpur, have not been restored. There should be a law implemented and the government should subsidized that these shop houses, and old homes be re-painted or re-something after a period of about twenty years. If I’d wanted to see something old on any of my trips out of Kuala Lumpur, I’d most likely end up right smack in the jungles amidst orangutan, and tapir.

Gurney drive looks like a frontage for sex, sea, and … where’s the fun? It’s jam-packed during ‘office hours’ but it’s a moving jam, unlike Kuala Lumpur where you spend about three hours crawling every other day out of the insanity for having to work in this god-forsaken city. Hawker stalls rake at least a couple of hundred thousand selling seafood drenched in MSG!! If you don’t want to wake up with a parched throat in the mornings, drink hot Chinese tea, or douse yourself with loads of water.

Penang is hot, but not as oven-hot as Kuala Lumpur.

China town is dirty, and noisy, whilst Little India is clean, proper and finally a dash of music {literally!} in the air. The ‘Pasar Kulit’ {Flea market} is a sore-eye and a disappointment – it looks more like a ‘pasar malam’ {night market} with cheap made in underground China products.

Penang sleeps at 21:30, according to the locals and is closed on Sundays.

The Pearl of the Orient {needs to rethink its tagline!} needs a good transport system – Apart from the trishaws almost disappearing overnight the day I arrived, the taxis are only seen at major hotels. Make it a point to have taxi stations every 15 minute walk…. Ensure there’s a complete light rail transit {LRT} system around the island, or at best tunnel through Jesselton Heights instead of hacking through the beautiful landscape – don’t do away with the ferries – Make it a permanent feature of Penang even when the second link is ready by August this year. Tourist spots towards ‘Balik Pulau’, the ‘Fruit Farm’ etc should also have readily available taxis taking one back to the city. Install more trishaws, or rent out Segway or bicycles to tourists – heck the city would be less congested when the Government thinks ‘intelligently’ once in a while.

If Singapore can do it – why not Penang?

I dislike having to wait more than one hour for a cab to take me to the city, or elsewhere around the island.

GHotel spots a G-Spot and Miraku, a Japanese {fine} cuisine that turned out to be more of a flop where Tempura and Orange juice are concerned though the Matsu Moriawase was a delight, whilst the minimalist design sees enticed children impatiently trying to giant their footsteps and lungs.

{A Sampan, at one of the jetties in Penang}

{Old Street, Penang}

{Matsu Moriawase at Miraku, GHotel, Penang – Yummy!}

{GHotel, Penang}

{Old shophouses, Penang}

{Old Street, Penang}

I should be back in Kuala Lumpur in a couple of days – Bayview Georgetown Hotel is popular with tourists, and business guests. The only thing lacking in my suite, is the mini-bar, and yet they took an imprint of my credit card for whatever reason only you can imagine. If you don’t want to spend €2 per can of Coca Cola {or Sprite} best make sure you buy those outside. Even Darby Park Kuala Lumpur does not charge RM10 for a can though I must say, the patio alongside is making my stay in Penang, a tad less worrisome.