So how many of you have accepted a job, worked for three weeks, and then taken a three day vacation? On Tuesday I left for Penang Malaysia. After an easy morning, an hour and a half flight, and a taxi drive, I was in my hotel room relaxing and unpacking. Oh and my room was in a smoking area so I got upgraded to the the only non-smoking room available, the top floor. I've always wanted to get in an elevator with other people and push that top button, as if to say "hey look at me, I'm on the top floor". After some calls to the concierge and figuring out the combination to the safe etc. I headed out for some wonderful Indian cuisine with five lovely ladies. The meal was great but the others where party poopers, so I walked them back to the hotel and headed out to the Soho pub. They had a foosball table that was in great shape. Those of you that know me well know that I couldn't resist. Luckily after 20 years of not touching a table I had a chance to warm up on a few lackeys before the real competition showed up. By then there was quite a crowed watching. It went to the final ball of best two out of three but I lost. Anyway, I met some chaps that where great to drink with and had a good time. I met two younger guys from Liberia. They were soldiers at the age of 12, escaped to Morocco, and then with the help of extended family made it to Penang. You may have read the book ":A long way gone". These two young men haven't haven't read the book but I have. I highly recommend it, but it will tare your heart out.
Early the next morning the six of us went to the embassy to apply for visas. This took about an hour and then we had until 2:00pm the next day to enjoy. I choose a 45 minute taxi ride to a national park. There I choose a 5 mile hike along the beach and adjacent hillsides. I saw two different species of monkeys, several lizards, including a relative of the comodo dragon, and lots of cool plants and insects. Halfway back on my hike I stopped on a beach that had a small oceanography college. I had brought my swimsuit so I asked the guard at the beach gate (no roads to this place) if I could swim on the beach and leave my bag there by the gate. He said "no". Before I could figure out what to do next he said "the monkeys will take it". So he offered to take my bag into his guard house. So here in a national park with only a guard at the gate, a few college people out on the dock and an occasional hiker passing by I went for about a mile long swim on the beach. I made it back in time to meet the ladies and do a little shopping on the streets as we looked for dinner and then a place for some drinks. The next day I got in a good work out in the hotel and then headed out for more shopping before we had to depart for the airport.
Oh, and the free hotel breakfast in the morning was fabulous.
Attached are two pictures from my hike
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