06.12.122N 099.48.724E  Thursday 27^th November  And Happy Thanksgiving to our American friends!  We arrived at  Tajong Inner City Harbour on Monday morning bright and early having spent the night anchored off a very pretty island at the river entrance.  It was almost Jurassic Park in the remaking with huge lizards, monkeys and jungle undergrowth surrounding a sandy beach.  After our previous night of rock and roll it was just great to be calm and to catch up on sleep.

The journey up the river and under the toll bridge connecting Penang to the mainland was an experience – with an optical illusion thrown in – it seemed impossible we could get our mast underneath it, especially with all the wires hanging down due to disrepair.  We finally reached our destination and registered with the Marina Office before visiting immigration, customs and port control – each office a long way from the other – to change the crew list and get everything stamped up officially.  Ed’s wife on Liahona returned from the U.S.A. so Oscar could return and Vic and Clara could leave for home via Thailand.

Then it was off to the chandlers for spares, bundles of washing and the big clean up inside the boat as usual, before venturing into Little India for a ‘hawker’ supper in the teeming monsoon rains with the Glendoras. 

Our friends have bought an apartment in Penang and although we missed Shan who had returned to London, we were thrilled that John happened to be there on business during our short stay; he took us to the historic ‘E and O’ (Eastern and Oriental Hotel) for lunch, a tour of the vicinity in the afternoon and back to his home to admire it and the incredible ocean views before dinner near the night market.  Penang Island has been declared a World National Heritage quite recently and it certainly boasted the most wonderful colonial architecture.  It was pretty much unscathed during the world wars and many buildings are now being restored.  Malaysians drive on the right, have kept to the English legal system since independence, speak English and generally have a deep seated respect for the British;  it felt very safe here and with an international airport supports a lot of ex pats who renew their three month visas by popping over the boarder to Thailand and back!  With Malays, Indians and Chinese there is a lively colourful and friendly ambiance to the island and we really enjoyed our short stay.

Today we sailed (yes sailed for a change) to the Langkawi group of islands and tonight we are in the most beautiful anchorage with other Rally yachts in clear green waters, amazing islets rising high above us – fjord like with overhanging steep cliff faces.  Jungle, white sandy beaches and caves to explore over the next few days……….