NektaR in the World Wild Web: From Penang (Malaysia) to Singapore

After few days in Bangkok, my permit to the country was expiring. At the land crossing back to Thailand from Lao we had been given only 15 days when at airports they provide visitors with 30. I didn't want to extend it further, already spent quite a lot of days in Bangkok, and arriving here for the second time it felt as I have known Bangkok for ages. I had some rest at Dita's, revised my presentation, cooked my Bangkok version of moussaka for her and her friend Richy, and departed for Malaysia. I got myself into a sleeper train to Butterworth, just opposite the Malaysian island of Penang. The train was slow, it took 23 hours to arrive. Luckily, I had a bed, just about my size to rest during the night. On the way, its engine changed at the border, then some wagons were removed, it stopped for about an hour just before the last station and finally I arrived to my destination. I left the train station and walked towards the ferrie boat to get to the island. At 3pm the heat was immense, loaded with my stuff, I was so sweaty as never before. The ferry was quick, 15-20' and I was in Georgetown, Penang.

Leaving Thailand behind

On the way to Malaysia

Sleeper train

Ferry boat to Penang island

Georgetown_Heritage meets modern

Penang island was a unique experience. The blend of cultures under one place is the most distinctive thing a visitor gets when arrives here. From the first few hours I spent walking around Georgetown, I could sense this multicultural environment. I took a ride with a free tourist bus and discovered more in shorter time. The city's old quarter was filled with temples and markets and food courts. I saw a mosque, close to a Hindu temple next to a Buddhist temple. I saw muslims, hindus and chinese buddhists all living happily together, respecting one another, talking and interacting to each other and not living parallel lives as in the big cities. The food at the food courts was a mixture of all these three worlds. I did try some delicious dishes and there were so many others I would like to taste but didn't have the time (and appetite) to do it.

Georgetown_Buddhist temple

Georgetown_Hindu temple

Georgetown_Mosque

Georgetown_Komtar tower, the taller building in Penang

Georgetown_Malaysian production...

Georgetown_Local delicacies

The day after I hired a scooter in order to discover a bit more of the island. The weather was nice and I drove all around the island, in a circle. The road was a pleasure to drive. At the north, Batu Ferringi is more cosmopolitan with big multi-storey hotel resorts and enclosed beaches and lots of water sports activity. The beach was nice, white sand with palm trees adding up to the scenery.

I drove up in the mountainous Penang to discover a lush green landscape, with waterfalls, exotic fruit farms and butterfly sanctuaries. I went to the south coast and gazed at the Malacca(!) strait. What a funny name.. Haha. Driving around I also discovered Malaysia's 'silicon valley'. I saw manufacturing sites for major electronics hardware companies such as Intel, Seagate etc. When I went back I checked my Seagate hard disc and found out it is made localy!

Penang_Batu Feringgi beach

Penang_Radical muslim

Penang_Lush greenery

Penang_Driving pleasures

Penang_School children

Penang_South coast overlooking the Malacca strait

Penang_Malaysian silicon valley(1)

Penang_Malaysian silicon valley(2)

Penang_Housing for the masses

Penang_Cool (plastic) deco

Penang_Water reptile

Malaysia is a 50 years old nation and aims to be a fully industrialised country by 2020, which means major infrastructure works such as bridges, train tracks, ports, telecommunications are all in the making. I experienced a lot of train delays because of the upgrades. I wonder however if people will be more happy with their lives when the time for industrialisation is here, when capitalism will start having an impact, would they be happy or they will be reminiscing the old good days? The Malaysian F1 Grand Prix was taking place these days and some locals I spoke with they seemed pretty excited about it.

I left Penang with another train going to the capital, Kuala Lumpur (KL). I spent only few hours there before taking the train to Singapore but had just enough time to visit Malaysia's national pride, the Petronas towers. I went there early morning and I was lucky enough to get a ticket for that day to go up to the towers and see KL from above.

Penang_To Kuala Lumpur

Penang_Sleeper to KL

The twin skyscrapers of Petronas were something special. And considering I have worked extensively with energy in buildings back in London, it was a very interesting visit. The Petronas were the tallest building in the world for 6 years, between 1998 to 2004. At the moment is the tallest twin tower in the world. The towers feature a skybridge at floors 41 and 42 that connect the two towers together. Visitors wanting to go to higher floors must change lifts here. The views from the skybridge were amazing but shortly after we went up to the 86th floor (88 are in total) and from there the scenery was breathtaking! It was definitely something special. The highest building I ever been to! I also heard that several scenes for Bollywood movies were filmed in the towers and the skybridge.

KL_View from ground level

KL_Autofocus between the Petronas

KL_Entering the Skybridge

KL_Views from the Skybridge(1)

KL_Views from the Skybridge(2)

KL_At Level 86!

KL_Top of the Petronas

KL_Views of the city

KL_Muslim developments

Few hours later (and more delays) I was already in the city-state of Singapore. I arrived late night on train, standing at the opened door while crossing into this island. Here are some interesting facts about Singapore: the nation was created in 1965, 40% of the population are foreign workers, world´s highest percentage of millionaires households, 16% own at least 1m USD, the lowest drug use rates in the world, the only Asian country with AAA rating from all three major credit rating agecies etc etc. For a strange reason I liked Singapore. Even if consumerism is at its highest, even shopping malls are the places for people to get entertained, the city seems peaceful and its people quite cool. The streets and parks are spotless and at least all the shops are of good quality, high-end shops not crap. There are lot of nice high rise buildings, offices and residential, due to the lack of space; hence heritage buildings becoming scarce. Nightlife is active and one night we went out at a party on a helipad(!) at the 76th floor of a building! Dramatic night views of Singapore. We also visited a lighting installations festival at the Marina Bay, very interesting stuff there.

Singapore_High rise

Singapore_Malacca Street(!)

Singapore_Remaining heritage architecture(1)

Singapore_Remaining heritage architecture(2)

Singapore_At the Botanic Gardens(1)

Singapore_At the Botanic Gardens(2)

Singapore_Marina Bay Sand building and ships on the background

In Singapore, I was happy and lucky to be invited to stay at Veronice's, a friend of my good friend Spyros back in London, which she is also a good friend of mine now too! :) She has been a great host, along with her little boy Neo and maid Elenor, I felt very comfortable and welcomed. I had the best possible revision for my CEng interview. I also visited Environ´s office and couple of days after I did the CEng interview for the IET. I was interviewed by three Asian guys, it went well and I want to believe I will have a positive outcome soon. Fingers crossed! My co-traveller friend Loufos arrived from Malaysia, went out for another nice (and expensive) night out on Saturday and Monday we flew to Australia.