Georgetown

The machine at the ferry terminal wouldn’t accept the man's credit card, so I decided to help out. He offers 2 MR (about 50 cents), which I decline. Some French tourists in front of me are boarding the ferry along with me, as crowds gather to cross the short stretch. Despite the brief distance, some passengers are still resting. A woman gestures to me when I place my backpack too close to the doors. Others are filming the arrival. I’m not tempted to, as all I see are high rises and water. The exit takes forever, and when I finally reach the bus stop, I wonder about taking a bus, but I don't know where to purchase a ticket. While I’m walking around, a taxi driver offers to take me to my hotel for 20 MR, and I accept. He is quite chatty. Considering the number of taxis I've used so far, there has been a surprisingly low number of talkative drivers; in fact, he’s only the second one to engage me in conversation, and he keeps highlighting various sights. I am genuinely impressed, though at the same time struck by the sheer volume of cars. I had hoped things would be different from Kuala Lumpur, but they are worse, actually. Sidewalks are not consistently available, nor are traffic lights, making it quite challenging to cross the road.

The noise never ceases. Well into the night, people are driving around. Come morning, they must be heading to work. However, this is the first city where I actually see bicycles, although I can't comprehend why people take such risks.

I followed AI's advice and did some HIT exercises yesterday, which gave me a tremendous headache this morning, or perhaps I caught a virus somewhere. That’s why I decide to get a massage first, and then, on a whim, I enter one of the Durian Places to try that fruit, which is banned in all hotels. Personally, I would say it’s a scent I wouldn’t choose as a perfume, but it’s reasonably tolerable. The flesh of the fruit is said to taste like custard, but it doesn’t, and I find it difficult to describe its flavor. Only that I don’t think I want to eat it again.

Afterward, I head to the Bean Factory that I noticed earlier. It has a fantastic aroma of food, making it a truly delightful scent. I order something called 'Falling for You.' It’s a dish with red beans, but I don't remember the rest. I’m surprised to discover that it’s cold. It turns out to be a dessert, and they only serve desserts. So I eat the beans and skip everything else. My next stop is the Blue Mansion, which supposedly is 2 kilometers away, though I end up getting lost. All I can do is admire it from the outside since the tours are fully booked. To preserve the house for future generations, they allow only a limited number of visitors. So I catch a ride back to the hotel, take a rest and have a swim before heading out to my next destination.