More Penang

Hired a driver for four hours to take us out of the old center to Penang Hill and Batu Feringghi beach - a wonderful plan because it minimized the waste of time needed to see these forgettable sights, kept us mostly air-conditioned, and allowed us to pick up good Samosa on the way back for a simple lunch.

By the way, we reached the conclusion it is easier to travel in extremes of cold than extremes of heat because after you've shed your clothing you have reached a limit to making walking about tolerable but there is no limit to how much you can bundle up and still walk about in the cold.

I will spare you a photograph of the upscale, Miami-Beach style, high-rise strip of the Gurney section of Penang. here is a view of the seaside at low tide.

Penang Hill's alleged great view was unavailable on a hot, hazy day but the $20 funicular trip to the top was  justified by allowing me to take the photo below on the way out. Above is a prototypical snack stall.

On the way up tourists are urged to pose against a blue screen so that this fake photo with an ideal view of Penang can be sold to them on the way out. Fortunately, this fellow did not buy, allowing me to capture his magical moment.

The funicular ride also allowed me to record this fine combination of modesty and sexuality.

The highlight of the morning was a visit to two Buddhist Temples, across the street from one another. Thanks to this considerate sign, I carried my shoes with me.

One temple had a big standing Buddha.

The other had a big reclining Buddha. I find the cartoonish style very enjoyable.

The beach at Batu Feringghi is mediocre and the area is ugly. I thanked my lucky stars we decided to stay in the old section of Georgetown.