Ok, to all of you who are reading our blogs, we'd love some MORE COMMENTS PLEASE!!! It's great when we go on and have some to read, it makes us feel that we're "connected" to people and that you're "with us"..... excuse the naff expressions but as we're thousands of miles away it's nice to know that we're all in touch, so - take the plunge and start experimenting if you're not already leaving comments. Go on, you know you want to........

Well, here we are 5 days into our time in Penang, which really is a mini Malaysia and it's the longest we've stayed anywhere so far. Although an island, it's connected to the mainland by a humungous great bridge - the biggest in SE Asia, I seem to recall. Penang had beaches, bustling city life (we're staying in Georgetown, which always makes me think of Bob Marley's "No woman no cry"), beaches, and a 2,500ft hill at the centre - Penang Hill - but I'll let Pen tell you more about that.

It also has the most famous temple in all SE Asia: Kek-Lok-Si, but by the time we got there after Penang Hill we couldn't be bothered, and it felt so touristy and tacky at the bit where we arrived that we didn't stay. It certainly was an incredibly impressive site, and looks amazing at night, but we wanted to get home and have showers, so didn't stay until dark - never mind, there are plenty of postcards around that give us an idea what it looks like at night.

Our second night here in Penang was a very special evening in the Chinese New Year celebrations (which go on for 15 days). Literally at the end of our street were the most amazing sights, sounds and smells as the streets were transformed into a mass of food stalls, bizarres, "open house" temples, galleries and so much more. There were demonstrations of ancient practices and trades, lots of dancing, singing, martial arts, dramas, and we were treated to a vast array of "lion dances" in the streets. This is where lots of people from different groups or associations make up one lion (like an elongated pantomime horse) and each time they meet another in the street there are loud drum noises and lots of rearing up/bowing/dancing etc. There was so much it's really hard to describe everything.

We ate a meal from a vendor that was a bit guess work, and according to the sign included "vegetarian roast duck"!! Everyone was so friendly, helpful and joyful. I even tried some iced Chrysanthemum tea, but I won't be having it again!!! We had giant prawn crackers - about the size of a hand, and thoroughly enjoyed soaking up the atmosphere which was right on our doorstep. We wandered around for over 4 hours then went for a nice cup of English Breakfast tea at our favourite backpackers restaurant - how British! No doubt Pen will have some reflections to add in her own blog, as it really was wonderful, and we were so glad to be here at this time (even though it meant accommodation etc is more expensive - a whole 1.50 a night each extra!)

Well, that gives you some idea of life. We're off to the Butterfly Farm, exotic fruit farm and whatever else comes our way tomorrow on the East side of the island - this requires a taxi as there isn't a bus and it's a lot quieter. The day after we head off to the Cameron Highlands, assuming we manage to buy our tickets tomorrow, and thus begins another leg of our exciting adventure.

That's all for now folks.................