Shortly
after last month’s Penang trip, I discovered there would be yet another
Interlull weekend and toyed with another return trip to Penang. And why not. I
enjoyed Georgetown, I love old buildings and I love the way the Penangites
restore their old buildings. So after much thought, I bought another return
ticket – departing on Saturday morning this time instead of Friday evening - but
as much as I wanted to return to my boutique guesthouse where I stayed at
previously, I couldn’t as it was full. Well, the Penang Bridge International
Marathon would also take place on the same weekend. So I had to search for
another hotel, one in Georgetown but not too far away from the bus terminal at
KOMTAR. After my previous guesthouse, I was keen to explore another boutique
hotel and finally I decided to book Hotel Penaga. It’s quite pricey but as I
would only be in Penang for one night, it wasn’t too painful.
So
I flew out last Saturday morning (16 November 2013). It was a long taxi along
the runway before we lifted off for take-off due to the long take-off queue at
KLIA that morning. We landed at 1015 and although I rushed off, I still had to
endure a wait at the bus stop as bus no. 102 would only depart at 1100. I had
to pick up something at One-Stop Midlands Park Centre so I had to take the bus
bound for Pulau Tikus. The fare from the airport was RM3.40.
It
was a long bus ride but I didn’t quite mind it as I had a thick novel to
immerse myself in. I was, however, getting increasingly irritated with a girl
who was talking non-stop to her poor boyfriend in her high-pitched squeaky
irritating voice. She didn’t stop yakking the whole journey and I sympathised
with the poor young man for having to put up with her. We finally reached
Gurney Paragon Mall about 70 minutes later. I got down and walked through the
mall and as nothing particularly caught my fancy, hurried on to Gurney Plaza.
As I was already hungry by then, I went to look for lunch first.
I
left after lunch and after checking the directory (I was surprised to note
there was no Swatch store at Gurney Plaza) and walked over to One Stop Midlands
Park Centre. Having concluded my business, I took the bus back to KOMTAR and
from there, walked to Hutton Street where my hotel was. I reached the hotel at
1440 and after checking in and the obligatory photo taking, rushed off to
Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion. There’s a guided tour at 3 pm and I was determined not
to miss it. I reached the mansion less than ten minutes later and joined the
crowd after purchasing the ticket (it cost RM12).
The
tour lasted an hour and we went to a few sections of the house. I know Cheong
Fatt Tze wasn’t a baba and therefore I shouldn’t be comparing his mansion to
Pinang Peranakan Mansion but of the two, I enjoyed the latter so much more. To
me, Pinang Peranakan Mansion has a richer cultural element and because
practically the whole mansion is opened to visitors, I have a deeper sense of
understanding and appreciation of the baba and nyonya culture and life back
then. There are also more furniture and more things to see, appreciate and
value at the Pinang Peranakan Mansion, giving me a richer fuller and more
colourful experience. Oh well, at least I’ve done both now.
I
walked back to the hotel to perform prayers and have a brief rest. After a
cuppa and a bun, I set off again, determined to hunt down the cat murals. I
managed to find them all save for two cat figures (not murals). I then walked
along Lebuh Chulia and even ventured to Love Lane (all the time wondering at
the name). After that, I went to find dinner and in the end, had it at Ee Beng
Vegetarian Food Restaurant. The day’s specials were Mee Jawa and Bak Kut Teh.
Hey, it’s not as if I could have Bak Kut Teh on any normal circumstances so I
ordered that, a plate of rojak (the peanut sauce was so spicy!) and kiwi juice.
After that, I returned to the hotel to rest. I tried out the Jacuzzi (bliss!)
and then settled down for the night, curled up in the cosy bed with my novel.
Unfortunately, the guests above my room had different ideas. I didn’t know what
they were attempting to do but whatever it was, it sounded like a mini stampede
and a mini earthquake rolled together. I couldn’t stand it and even called up
the reception to complain. Hey, it cost seriously good money to stay there and
as a paying guest, I was entitled to enjoy a peaceful and quiet stay.
Otherwise, I might as well stay at a backpackers’ hostel. And I stay at hostels
a lot so no, it’s not as if I’m being snobbish about it all. But seriously, if
you can’t behave, then either stay home or stay elsewhere. Just because you pay
good money to stay somewhere doesn’t give you the right to thrash the room and
create public disturbance.
I
woke up on Sunday morning to perform morning prayers to continued thumping from
the room above. I tried to sleep back after prayers but sleep was elusive so I finally
got up to shower and get ready. I only went down for breakfast after 0915 as I didn’t
want to get hungry too soon. The hotel’s long rectangle pool is right next to
the table I sat at in the restaurant and it was probably because of this that no
one was swimming. After breakfast, I went up to the third floor to check out
the room above mine but when I saw the hotel staff there, I knew the
inconsiderate imbeciles had already checked out.
I
checked out at 1030 and just before leaving, reiterated my complaint about the
guests above my room to the reception. They checked and said the guests had
checked (which I already knew anyway). Then I left and walked to KOMTAR bus
terminal, taking a different route. The route turned out to be better that way so
I was glad I took the risk. The bus to the airport was already waiting so I hurried
over to board it.
We
reached the airport less than 45 minutes later and I immediately went in. I got
a little confused when the flight before ours was called as the numbers were
close (MH1143 while mine was MH1145). A former colleague whom I met at the
boarding gate said the earlier flight was probably delayed to allow those
affected by road closures due to the Penang Bridge International Marathon to
reach the airport and make their flight. He himself crossed over from the
mainland and did so immediately after the bridge was reopened. MH1143 finally took
off at 12 noon (it was actually scheduled to depart at 1045) so I was glad I didn’t
choose that flight back this time (I chose that flight on my return trip last
month) only to have it pushed to a different departure time. Ours took off at
1245 and we landed at KLIA an hour later. It took me five minutes of walking
like a possessed girl to get from our gate to the KLIA Express platform; I was possessed
and determined alright to get the 2 pm train back to KL Sentral. Heh.
I’m
looking forward to my next short trip to Penang. Hope to cover the Interactive
Museum and finally murder the long overdue bowl of prawn noodles then!
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