Tag 23: The Traveler's Elixir of Life

July 22, 2016

The bus arrives at its final stop in George Town much earlier than expected. Instead of 6:00, we suddenly have to get off at 5:00 from our moving refrigerator and somehow - since we slept very deeply - we have no idea what is happening to us. Somehow, we manage to get into a taxi with two Scandinavians and continue driving to the tourist district. This area is completely deserted, of course, because it's only half past five. With our luggage and in high spirits, we set off without really knowing what we are looking for (it's difficult to convey sarcasm in texts - the "high spirits" were definitely meant sarcastically - I am still half asleep and have to make an effort to reconstruct the morning events). As far as I can remember, we wander around the empty streets for quite a while and consider getting a room to sleep for another 2 or 3 hours. But in this moment, our stinginess takes over again - because being stingy is cool and getting a room for 2 hours of sleep is definitely not stingy. So we stroll back and forth, visit a 24/7 laundromat, and finally end up at a green roundabout. There we make some friends with some locals. But when I decide that I need to use a restroom, Gudi doesn't want to stay with the nice homeless people, which I still can't understand - after all, we travel to make friends. So we both end up in a 24h fast-food restaurant. Since Gudi can't sleep in public - a fact she has proven in the last years of our relationship - I sleep there all the more peacefully and know that a hellhound is watching over our luggage.

As it becomes light outside, we actually manage to find an internet connection and start our search for accommodation. Here is a nice example of Asian inflexibility: So we go to an information office and the guy there briefly explains the hard facts about the town - nothing important as usual. When we ask about WIFI - the lifeblood of every traveler - or if he knows where we could find it, he is completely clueless. We even explain that we need it for finding hotels... No chance, the wonderfully competent man (SARCASM!!) says that there is no WIFI at this time. Frustrated, we turn around and want to leave, when we suddenly stand right in front of a PC that obviously offers internet access - and at a ridiculous price. AHHHHH - it seems that this man's thinking is not connected.

In general, people here seem a bit inflexible and very focused on their one task. Unfortunately, it is quite clear that they apparently do not want to look beyond the horizon.

Miraculously, finding accommodation is now no longer a big problem. In the district of Little India, we feel almost nostalgic about our previous travel destination. The room is very cheap, but now I know why I have two ears. With one ear, I can absorb the noise from the street, while the other perceives the discussions at the reception as if I were standing right next to them.

We take a city tour and are quite impressed by the old colonial buildings. Europe was once again involved here. Otherwise, Georgetown - at least its tourist and historical core - is really beautiful to look at. There are small museums everywhere, such as the UpSide - Down (where everything is upside down) or the Wonderfood Museum (which has huge plastic food - to each his own). In addition, there are numerous graffiti sprayed on the walls that invite interactive photography. What this means is, for example, that two boards sticking out of the wall have been turned into a swing that tourists love to have themselves photographed on - including us, of course, if 100 Asians have to do it, then I have to do it too.

After a long nap in the afternoon, we meet up with Gudi's friend Nynke, who happens to be in the city as well. I quickly find myself in a world full of university stories, girlie gossip, and a shopping tour in the mall. Basically, this doesn't bother me much, as the mall is at least air-conditioned and I have plenty of time to compare the largest selection of smartphones that has ever been presented to me. Really, there are probably 50 shops right next to each other offering exactly the same thing. The Asian salespeople also look funny - like clones - well, maybe that's due to my lack of differentiation.

We end the day in a vibrant area of the city - the Red Food Market. You can imagine it like the square in front of City Hall in Vienna: numerous different stalls, all filled with different foods and local specialties. I give up on my raw food intentions and treat myself - to Gudi's skepticism, who has to sleep next to me tonight - to Mexican burritos (with extra beans, of course).

Finally, a few general remarks: As you can see from my choice of food, I am a bit fed up with typical Asian cuisine at the moment. It may be due to the fact that I didn't tolerate something a few days ago and I now feel sick quite often. Unfortunately, nausea is a feeling that is difficult to get rid of in an Asian city due to the open drains, constant coughing/burping, and the smell of fried chicken on every corner. I also have to honestly say that in this city, I get to know the Malaysians unvarnished (i.e., not in a great resort by the beach). I probably won't fall in love with them anymore. Somehow, I find them quite introverted and almost unfriendly compared to the Indians and especially the Nepalese. Well, let's see if it gets better in Kuala Lumpur.