Georgetown on Penang Island

Should you visit the Highlands? Definitely, if you are interested in hiking of various difficulty levels and incredibly impressive landscapes. But: humans leave their (plastic) traces, the amounts of tourists should find shelter in hotel towers and somehow the relaxation is missing.

Today, on the 21st of July, we are leaving the Highlands early in the morning. And since the internet in the entire mountain area has not been working since yesterday evening, our hostel owner Troji is helping us find the way to the next stage using a map. Where are we going? We are traveling to Georgetown on Penang Island (from photo 10). At the island's airport, we are saying goodbye to our faithful Honda companions, hard to believe, but the journey from Kuala Lumpur to the National Park, to the Highlands, and finally to Penang has cost a total of 22 euros for fuel (about 104 ringgit) for 784 km. Overall, the rides on the Malaysian roads were surprisingly pleasant. And it felt like there was not as much hustle and bustle as in Indonesia.

Thumbs up for that. Overall, we think that left-hand traffic felt right very quickly!

Our hotel in Georgetown is a dream - it's in the name: Ledream (http://ledreamhotel.com/). We have to wait a bit for check-in, thank God our stomachs are growling and we go to "Kow Low Wan Tan Mee" and Michi finally gets her long-awaited soup. Since she has been in Asia, she has been craving liquid gold.

Finally, it's hot outside again (we remember, in the mountains it's between 18 and 23 degrees) and we can say sentences like: "How can you drool while sitting?" Or: "My boobs are sweating"! Due to the heat and the late hour of the day, we decide to go to Batu Ferrenghi Beach (by Teksi - you write as you speak - about 40 minutes for 18€) and we are delighted: finally, after 2 weeks of mountains, rainforest, and city, we see water and women wearing burkas with life jackets. Preparation is everything.

The waves are high, the water is super warm, and the beach is very well maintained and wide - "Wow, it's so beautiful."

Dania decides to have a one-hour massage for 13€ on the beach. The masseur is perfect: he doesn't speak. Michi and I go for a walk on the beach and have a warm black tea: pure indulgence!

We enjoy the peace and sun and look forward to the highly praised sunset at this beach.

But, as it should happen - before the sun sets, it becomes threateningly dark on the other side, and we prefer to get out of there... and eat (https://www.tripadvisor.com.my/Restaurant_Review-g660694-d4259802-Reviews-Power_up_restaurant-Penang_Island_Penang.html) - even if the waiter is only 12 years old 🧐. But for a change, there are no plastic chairs. And: "Hmm, it's delicious" is said at least as often as: "Wow, it's so beautiful!"

We end the evening at the rooftop bar. Unfortunately, the Jacuzzi is closed due to rain, but the scale in the gym is very forgiving thanks to the rubber floor 😁.