Kota Bharu to Georgetown (Penang Island)

Thursday, April 17, 08
9:00, bus 006, heading to Penang (also spelled Pinang) on the west coast of Malaysia. Large mango trees line the road as we pass through Pasir Mas, 30 minutes gone by. An elderly lady, obviously known to the driver and others, boards as we stop a few km later. Not far from the boarding, shaking hands with many, she takes a swipe at the driver who has made a comment, laughs and exits.
In Tenah Merah - 1 1/2 hours on the way - we stop for diesel. I would have thought the bus would have been filled prior to leaving. Not so!
Out of the flatlands, we again enter the forested hills. Next destination, Jeli. Here is a beautiful hill town. It being 11:30, I am hoping we will stop for something to eat, fruit would be good. Won't happen. The highest hills are 5400 ft, these are the Highlands. White and lavender flowers dot the green of the forest, along with red hibiscus, ferns, and vines. Billowy white clouds leave shadow cartoons in the distance. As we climb the curves, vistas open to deep valleys and we cross a gorge where a river rushes on far below. Sheets of rain hide what's behind. Logging trucks pass with trees of 4 ft. diameter. We motor on, our two lane road cresting the summit and descending to the West. Fingers of a massive lake are crossed and recrossed. No marina in sight. Where do I dock my ski boat? If the driver keeps up this craziness, driving like a madman, some passengers will get sick.
Lunch is a 30 minute stop at a road side restaurant. Captive group, we eat what there is - rice, some other things and a piece of chicken - 3.5 ringgit ($1). The "other things" are vegables of unknown origin. Although, I do recognize cabbage in a sauce. I sit with a Dutch man and "his friend" as he introduces her. She is most likely Filipino. He lives in Holland for one month, then 5 months abroad, anywhere. This 5 months he takes to Kuala Lumpur. There seem to be a fair number of Westerners who have friends here. John unwittingly walks into one of the women's stalls looking for the toilet. Men's stalls are to the left in the yard. Behind a short wall, is the women's stalls. It's hard to tell the difference. Look for the sign, Lelaki=Men, Perenpuan=Women.
2:00, onward! A French couple, seasoned tavellers, are going to Penang. Georgetown is the major city on Penang Island. They will de-bus in Butterworth and take a ferry. We are to join them.
Past Gerik, it's back into rolling hills of palm oil, rubber, and banana plantations. We pass a newly built housing development, still empty, in nowhere. An industrial area with factories on both sides of the road, in nowhere. Plantations. Kulim passes by with no stop. We enter a 4 lane toll highway and pick up speed. The plantations have moved aside as the population grows - industrial parks, housing developments, and cities. High rises appear periodically. Still, mosts of the housing is third world. 3rd world is such a broad range from squalor to quite well managed. There is controlled and uncontrolled squalor.
Butterworth - We de-bus and walk 200 ft to a set of steps to a booth which only makes change. Exact change is required at the turnwheel - 1.2 ringgits for the ferry. On to a seating area and wait for the ferry which runs every 10 minutes to Georgetown. 15 minutes later we are put ashore on Penang and now to find lodging. Star Hotel is a newly renovated, paint smell still strong, for 46 ringgit (23 apiece). It has AC and bathroom in the room. We've hit the mother lode, again.