hopkinsonfamilytravels

Saturday, 18 July 2015

Jim summarising Saturday

Little to add to Joseph's excellent summary.

Lest it all appears to be about food, a reminder that food is very cheap here and many Malaysians eat out rather than cook.

Breakfast for us today therefore consisted of "street food" - we walked 10 mins down from Nics flat to an Indian run street kitchen where we hat various rotis (bit like chapatis) some with egg, some with cheese and some with banana. It all came with Dahl curry so in effect we all had a bit of curry for breakfast. Kids washed this down with freshly squeezed juice, and Liz and I sampled the local Teh Tariq which is essentially tea with condensed milk - actually quite refreshing.

Then it was a walk (uphill) back to the flat and a trip to a mall to experience a 3d IMAX movie which note of us had done before so was enjoyable.

The next task was to get som lunch (sushi) as stated by Joseph and we were amazed at his bravery in giving new tastes a go. The best thing was the gallons of Chinese green tea we rehydrated on.

Then there were further tasks of getting some flip flops for Joe and Liz ready for Cambodia and getting visa photos as will be needed for our Cambodian visa.

After a swim, we went off and got some street food - a bit pot luck some very nice, some never to be repeated tastes (especially some of the fruits we tasted)

Tomorrow we plan to go for what is likely to be a sweltering walk in the national park about an hours drive away.

Joseph summarising Saturday

Today we had a look around in a mall, which believe it or not.. it was actually cold(ish)!

While me, Nic, Liz and Jim went to the cinema; Ellie and Katherine had there own little wander. When the film had finished, we walked by some massage chairs, we had a massage and went to another mall.

In no time at all it was already 2:00. We were all starting to get a little bit peckish so we tried a sushi restaurant. Unfortunately they were full. We continued with our search for food and we then found another sushi restaurant. Thankfully, there was a place to sit here.

When we finally got home, me, Ellie and Katherine went and had a swim. When we got out of the pool we went to the flat had a drink of water. Then everyone wanted to go down to the pool! We all got ready and headed down to the pool. Eventually, we had to get out, otherwise we won't have eaten tonight! We went to an area where there were lots of kitchens together and you could order from anywhere you want. Liz had an extremely strange flavoured fruit salad. Jim had a noodle sturfry with vegetables, he was annoyed because he thought it came with rice, not noodles. Katherine and Ellie shared a mee suang noodle dish. I had a pizza margarita although here they call it Neopolitan and a coke.

Friday, 17 July 2015

Eid Mubarak in Penang

An early awakening from the mosque but we were so tired we continued to sleep until got 9am.

Then back onto the Grand Prix circuit and a race [drive] to Georgetown, the old colonial settlement.

Penang has expanded by more than 30% in both population and land mass and Georgetown was very much the same. We walked (or more accurately sweltered) through Little India, Chinatown and the commercial areas. Much was shut for Eid.

Nic had the bright idea of taking us to a chocolate museum (Malaysia grows 5% of the world cacao) not because we are that interested in chocolate production but because it was air conditioned and saved us from collapsing.

Lots of free samples of chocolate but we felt a bit bad about not buying any - but who wants Duran flavoured chocolate in 30 degree heat!

Then on for a another steaming stroll and arrival at an artisan restaurant where Joe ate...... spaghetti bologneise! And the rest of us rehydrated with pints and pints of water!

Then back to Nics for a swim in his pool (and a quick nap) before a planned outing to a night market for some more grub....

Photos to follow!

Thursday, 16 July 2015

Arriving in Penang

Arrived safely in Penang and reunited with Ellie and Katherine following a slightly hairy car journey from the airport. Rule of the road appears to be simply about getting from A to B as fast as possible, made more hairy by being undercut and over cut by motor bikes.... Before of course the race stops at the next traffic lights. To help the Grand Prix feel at some traffic lights there is a countdown timer just to help the drivers and motorbikes get ready for a speedy start (to the next lights).

We wondered if Nic would be better off driving in a Mario Cart outfit!

It was great to meet up with the girls in Nics car park as they even volunteered to help carry our bags to Nics super snazzy apartment.

It's a 17th floor all mod cons apartment 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and an American fridge vital for keeping water cold as it's very very warm in Penang 30 degrees and high humidity.

E, K immediately took Joseph off for a swim.

After that we went out to a banana leaf restaurant which we had longed for as one of our best memories of Penang from when we were last here in 1993 was fabulous curries eaten directly off banana leaf instead of a plate. The roti was particularly delicious.

From then we were keen to sleep, and collapsed into bed knowing little else until woken by the mosque at 5am. It's Eid today so a public holiday.

There may be no photos until we return as we are taking photos on a camera and there is no obvious way therefore to upload on to the IPad where I am completing this blog

Sunday, 12 July 2015

Next Stop Malaysia and Cambodia - getting there

Well after 5 months of planning the time for our next adventure is almost upon us.

Ellie and Katherine jumped on their planes and successfully negotiated changes in Dohar and Kuala Lumpar to arrive in Penang on 26 June and we are now packed and ready to join them

Our journey was probably the most relaxed travelling experience we have ever had involving air travel, perhaps because there were just 3 of us not 5 and also because E and K had trail blazed the path and Nic had arranged to meet us at Penang airport.

Our next door neighbours are not only kind enough to feed the cat, but alo to give us a lift to Leeds station from where we took a train to Manchester Airport in good time for the flight to Qatar.

Our flight left bang on time at 20.05 arriving in Qatar 8 hours later, by which time J and L had watched The Grand Budapest Hotel (highly recommended and worthy of its BAFTA) and J had caught up with Big Hero 6 and The Hobbit.

We arrived in Qatar at the equivalent of 3am UK time, then had three hours in a semi awake state to wait until our onward fought to KL. Qatar airport is the poshest airport I have ever seen, a huge shopping plaza in the middle of the desert and as a demonstration of how cheap (immigrant) labour is, not a minute goes by without a cleaner passing by, every loo has a cleaner on perpetual duty (etc).

Then it was back on the next plane to KL a further 8 hours. This flight was pretty turbulent in places, especially over monsoon ravaged India , so the seatbelt sign was on for long periods but we were exhausted so slept most of the time, before watching The Theory of Everything about Professor Stephen Hawkins (also highly recommended) and Joseph went back to his old favourite Harry Potter (for the 77th time!)

We arrived in KL feeling pretty awake at 8pm at night (local time) the equivalent of 1pm UK time so we were pretty wide awake. KL is another massive airport, concentrating on shopping so exiting the airport baggage reclaim and immigration is only reached through rows and rows of shops which is a bit frustrating if your plan (like ours) was to get out of there as quickly as possible.

Then it was a simple transfer to a cheap and cheerful airport hotel for the night as we arrived in too late for the last scheduled Penang flight.

A reasonable nights sleep as we were exhausted despite going to bed at the equivalent of 4 pm and slept through till 8am local time (1pm UK time). The good news was that after a basic hotel breakfast there was still time for a refreshing swim in the Concorde Inn pool before catching the hotel shuttle to KLIA2 a separate airport terminal predominately for Air Asia. from there a 45 minute flight to Penang .

In summary a pretty straightforward journey, but just long!

Saturday, 3 September 2011

Lighter and heavier - back to England and home - 1 & 2 September

A very easy night flight - we all slept fairly well, and Joseph elected to sleep rather than watch TV.

Quick transfer between terminals 3 and 5 at Heathrow and our flight to Newcastle was bang on time, arriving at 11.15am when we were pleased to be met by Rosemary and Ben.

Before leaving the UK we all weighted ourselves. The aggregate weight of our family on return home was exactly the same as when we left!. The only thing that is considerably lighter is our bank account, but our life experiences we all agreed are considerably enhanced.

Overall our jet lag was not too bad, although Jim and Joesph had a afternoon nap before a refreshing walk on the beach.

Despite the 6 hour time difference we all slept pretty well, and after breakfast in Newcastle we had an easy run down to Leeds arriving just in time for lunch, and to the wonderful surprise of a full fridge thanks to our neighbours Mollie and Keith.

The family consensus is - no regrets!

Joseph at Heathrow

Leaving Warkworth

Arrival back in Leeds

Last day in Bangkok - 31 August

Our last day!. After a leisurely breakfast, we took the time to pack our bags for the flight home and checked out of the hotel at around 12 noon leaving the bags in the hotel store, including a bag for swimming and travel home clothes. We left a significant number of no longer required clothes and shoes (etc) which the hotel agreed to donate to someone more in need than us. We took left over food and gave it to a beggar by the river boat terminal.

Then it was off in the river bus. We agreed as a family to return to the Ko San Road (backpackers area). Loads of things we could do - if we had the time - lots of lovely food, opportunities for foot massages, market shopping etc.

It was very hot on the last day, so we wandered through the markets, and the kids picked up a few last minute items - some "stock" birthday presents for their friends, Eleanor some badges representing countries she had visited to sew onto a blanket, Katherine a mobile phone cover and Liz some cushion covers.

Then it was time for our last meal - Jim had a lovely snapper, Liz her last Thai green curry.

By the time we had eaten time had started to evaporate , so the idea of massages etc disintegrated. Joseph of course was mad keen to return to the hotel for his last swim, and the girls for a fish spa experience. In the event we split up. Liz (plus camera) took Joseph back on the river bus back to the hotel. Jim (minus camera) took the kids for a 20 minute fish spa. Basically this involves putting your feet into a tank of small fish who nibble away and give a fish pedicure. They enjoyed it so much that Jim regretted he did not try it too - but he was keen to preserve cash in case it was needed later.

Then it was back to the hotel for us too by river boat. We arrived in at 6.05pm, and postponed the taxi that we had booked to get us to the airport by an hour.

We all had a lovely swim in the fantastic hotel swimming pool, a shower, got changed and then took a taxi to the airport. Economies of scale means that for 5 people its cheaper to take a taxi than the airport bus.

At the airport we checked in, send a couple of pounds on snacks, brought a few bits and bobs with our last £5 or so.

The plane was bang on time, boarding at 11.30pm for a 12.10am departure - this time the carrier was British Airways.

We were sat to be leaving, but excited to be retuning home. We reflected what a hassle free holiday we had had!