We are finally taking a break from our travels and from running around very large, very crowded and very noisy cities (which I'll write about later), and have spent the better part of the day enjoying the pool in our hotel in Penang, Malaysia. We both have the sunburns to prove it!
Although Penang is another large city - just under 2 million people with close to 750,000 occupying the island where we are currently residing, it is possible to get away from the hustle and bustle and just chill out at the beach.
Although I say we're getting away from the noise and commotion, I should mention that it's the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated in a big way here. The first night we stood on our balcony to watch the fireworks, which went on for about 2 hours. The next night, same thing. After being woken up by crashes and booms the 3rd night, we asked if there were fireworks every night here. Turns out the Chinese holiday lasts all week, so we're getting lots of relaxation but very little sleep.
At this point in our travels, we've discovered 2 new things about ourselves (and one new thing in general). First, in general this part of the world is surprising in its modernity and fascinating in its mix of cultures, but is way too hot and has way too many people - so not the retirement spot we are looking for. Second, big cities are fun to visit for a day or two, but the noise and constant press of people gets tiring after a week. Third, we are not hotel people and don't like packing up every few days and searching for a new place to live. We do much better when we establish a home base and then use it to explore, as we did in Ecuador and Costa Rica.
We're leaving Malaysia tomorrow and flying back to the Phuket area of Thailand, where we've rented a studio apartment for the remainder of our stay. Lots of pictures and stories of our experiences to come once we're settled.
Although Penang is another large city - just under 2 million people with close to 750,000 occupying the island where we are currently residing, it is possible to get away from the hustle and bustle and just chill out at the beach.
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| Our private beach |
At this point in our travels, we've discovered 2 new things about ourselves (and one new thing in general). First, in general this part of the world is surprising in its modernity and fascinating in its mix of cultures, but is way too hot and has way too many people - so not the retirement spot we are looking for. Second, big cities are fun to visit for a day or two, but the noise and constant press of people gets tiring after a week. Third, we are not hotel people and don't like packing up every few days and searching for a new place to live. We do much better when we establish a home base and then use it to explore, as we did in Ecuador and Costa Rica.
We're leaving Malaysia tomorrow and flying back to the Phuket area of Thailand, where we've rented a studio apartment for the remainder of our stay. Lots of pictures and stories of our experiences to come once we're settled.
Can't wait to hear about your impressions of Malaysia and Thailand and to meet up with you in Spain. Have fun and watch the sun (or remember your sunscreen!)
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