Relaxing in Penang

After the eventful day we had yesterday, the only plan for today was to relax. We woke late and lounged around the guesthouse eating breakfast and drinking coffee until we had the motivation to leave. We threw on our beach clothes and hoped on the same bus we got yesterday.

On the north of the island there are dozens of large hotels and resorts in an area named Batu Ferringi. We had drove through yesterday on the way to the national park. There is a large beach across most of the coast and there are also little coves every so often but most are hard to get to. There is plenty of choice as to where to get off the bus and onto the beach, we chose the area we had seen people going to yesterday behind Golden Sands hotel.

Once off the bus, we walked by the hotel through a narrow row of shanty huts selling all sorts of beach wear, tshirts and drinks onto the beach. Some hotels over look the beach and have pools and private seating, and we walked along the hot sand until we came to some free chairs and an umbrella. The beach was quieter than we expected, the weather was great if a little too hot but there was not many people, so we got a large section pratically to ourselves.

The beach is fun, there are water sports including jet skies, para sailing, and wind surfing. There was also a volleyball court where people were playing and several shaded areas providing massages. However we been on a strict budget lavished £4 for the sun beds and admired the rest from a distance.

We stayed on the beach for a few hours, we rotated between sun and shade when we could not take the equatorial sun anymore, as well as going for a walk along the beach and going for a swim in the sea. The sea was warm but due to the watersports we had to stay in a particular area. The rest of the time we just lounged and read, recovering from yesterday. When we finally could not take the heat anymore we left, and jumped on the bus back to George Town.

Tonight has been equally relaxing, we took a small stroll to a foodcourt, Chelsea had a plate of rice and roast chicken, Liam had another Penang dish of Hokkien Prawn Mee, a dish of yellow noodles in a thick spicy broth, served with prawns, pork and a spoonful of chilli paste. We then made our way back to the guesthouse calling in a little cafe on the way and sat on the veranda with a drink until we were ready to come back to our room.

It has been quite uneventful today and very relaxing, and apart from some slight sunburn ( mostly due to bad cream applying) we are full recharged for our last two days on Penang.