How to Gain 5 Kilos in One Day, or: Day 2 in Georgetown

Ratatouille, bread pudding, rice, French toast, spring rolls, pasta with mushrooms... sweeten our morning and provide energy for the day.

Even though I start this Monday dramatically with the statement, 'it's okay, leave me behind, save yourselves,' because my stomach is pinching and bothering me again. Pills down the throat and off we go... by Teksi to Kek Lok Si Temple.

I love the hustle and bustle on the streets and what you can transport with scooters. From at least 500 eggs to a lawn trimmer hanging over your shoulders while driving... everything is possible. The police say nothing about that (and once again: you write as you speak), but heaven help you if you have a durian in the elevator.

We arrive and are fascinated by the well-kept and vast empty area (it is also very early in the morning) of the temple complex. The Kek Lok Si, also known as the 'Temple of Supreme Bliss,' is considered the largest Buddhist temple in Southeast Asia and is certainly one of the most famous in Penang. It is located in Air Itam, a suburb of Penang, whose hill, known as 'He San' (Crane Hill) by the locals, is traditionally considered geomantically significant and advantageous in terms of feng shui. In fact, they are very popular as a retreat for monks and Taoists striving for immortality. And the scent of familiar incense sticks fills my nose again... ah... in memory of Bali.

We continue on foot in the scorching heat to Penang Station. From there, we ride up Penang Hill. However, before that, we are informed by the Chinese press - to improve tourism in Penang.

Penang Hill, also known as Bukit Bendera in Malay, is located about 6 kilometers from George Town and is the highest mountain on the island at 830 meters. Actually, Penang Hill is a combination of several hills but is often viewed as one mountain. However, Penang Hill has much more to offer than just a great view of Penang and the mainland of Malaysia. There is also the Hindu temple Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan to discover, as well as a mosque that was also built on the summit.

And I'm having a flashback here on the hill: in front of us, a mother and child are walking (with a leash), and the child has a hole in their pants. Why? Did they rip? No! In 2009, I learned in China that many kids do not wear diapers and the hole is for them to do their business anywhere.

Michi and I decide to visit the Penang Hill Habitat - a rainforest habitat - and can enjoy the rainforest again, but without the stuffy heat like in Teman Negara. We walk along the Canopywalk, swing, enjoy the view of Penang and other islands, and admire the flora and fauna.

We are shocked when we stand in line to come down the mountain. On the TV at the waiting station, scenes of running away, screaming people during an earthquake and tsunami - real footage - are shown. We quickly realize that this is advertising for an earthquake-typhoon simulator up here on the hill. What a sick...!

And then the time has come: we meet Jesse and Baptist for the Penang Food Street Tour. Jesse... such a good, open, and humorous soul. She is 60 years old, Malaysian Indian, speaks at least 4 languages fluently, used to work for a German company, and now does food street tours on the side.

Four hours of culinary, authentic cuisine, learning a lot about Penang and its (culinary) history, strolling through the streets, laughing, and groaning, 'oh my God, I'm bursting.' There are only four stops in total to try the food... and don't worry, the portions are always just tasting portions... We believe Jesse when she gives us the promise at the beginning of the tour. And now we know that terms like 'small,' 'just a taste,' 'little' have a completely different meaning in Indian. We could have guessed that from the start because she tells us about the number of fixed meals Malaysians have. There are at least six a day, and the dishes can be eaten at different times. Which means you hardly eat anything different during tea time compared to breakfast, for example.

We graze through the various hawker stalls (for your information: hawkers are family businesses that sell food on the street for a small amount of money. They don't reveal their recipes and have to renew their license and undergo a full-body check once a year), eat our way through the city (forget about just tasting), and get a laugh from Baptist when I told him we were hoping to lose weight during our vacation. Lose weight in Penang? No way! Georgetown - a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is legendary, and people come from all over the world to enjoy the street food here.

In a hawker district of the locals - again, no tourists in sight - we park in the second row and park two cars right next to each other. As we leave, I ask what happens when the one parked in gets out. Well, it's obvious: as the one who parked in, you leave your handbrake down, and the other person who wants to get out simply pushes the parked car a little to the side or forward. Of course, silly me, I should have figured that out.

Our stomachs are getting fuller and we quickly - too quickly for Indian standards - reach the moment when we would have to say the unspeakable F-word for the evening: FULL! (but don't worry... we keep eating)

But we're having the best time. Thank you, Jesse and Baptist (http://www.foodtourpenang.com/).