Butterworth
Wed 17th Sept
I didn’t sleep very well; I presume because of travel nerves. I got up at 07:30…washed and packed…and was out of the hotel before 08:30, remembering to have my 50RM deposit returned to me.
I stoppped at a restaurant and ordered a teh tarik ; I got it right this time !! Its still got that hint of chocolate about it. When it came to paying for it, the cashier said the man who had been sitting at my table had already paid for my tea. How kind…we’d only exchanged a few words…people are so friendly/generous.
I strolled over to the railway station. Have got to grips…well, almost…with the ticket machine. I paid with Monzo the 7.50RM fare..less than £1.50..to Butterworth. The train left exactly on schedule, at 09:47.
Just over an hour journey. After Taiping it was standing room only. I did my usual and took the wrong turning out of the station, so it took a little while to get to the area of hotels. The first one was full. The second had no wifi. The third didn’t have a room with a window. I settled on New Ferry for 101RM…or £18…even though their wifi was broken. I was tired of walking around.
The room was okay. I had to make do with a single bed. I immediately went out to explore the area. I aimed for the river Perai, which you could hardly see because of dense vegetation , and the water was filthy anyway. I stopped for a rest and to buy a bottle of water. The walk lasted 2 and a half hours, and my right knee was feeling it towards the end.
After I finished the bottle of water in my room I went looking for food. At 15:30 restaurants were already closing; I keep forgetting this. A street vendor was selling delicious snacks; I had a selection of 3 for 2.40RM…less than 50 pence…and they tasted great and filled me up.
I found a shop selling alcohol and alliwed me to sit in the shop and drink a can of Tiger. I chatted of course. A lady came in and I heard her use the word.. sabun. I asked what that meant and told it was soap. Interesting, because soap in Swahili is sabuni..!!
After all that walking I needed a shower. I checked on the price of a haircut just around the corner…15RM..or £2.70…okay I suppose. I bought some crispy snack things, a bottle of fanta, and 4 pack of Tiger. And from another shop I bought a small bottle of cheap spirit so I could just relax in my room.
The end of my first day in Butterworth. I met the rudest people so far on my travels. Maybe not rude but forthright..I don’t know. But something to bear in mind.
Thurs 18th Sept
I slept well; I needed it. I slowly got going, and before 08:30 I was in reception paying for the day.
My mission was to walk all the way to see the Taoist Temple…Tow Boo Kong Temple. Well, I managed it and it was only an hour and 10 mins; I thought it would be in the region of 2 hours. Interesting…lots of gold plating…not that big. A touristy thing ticked off the list. I had to take my shoes off, but not a big hardship considering it was a free entrance.
10 minutes away was a big covered market and I had a tea there. So, teh tarik is pronounced teh taree/tareh…!! I waljed towards the sea shore and stopped for another tea. It was a straight walk in the direction of the central Station and I managed to find a gap in the buildings to get a pic of George Town across the water.
I passed a barbershop and called in as I knew I needed a haircut. How much? 15. Same price as the guy yesterday. How much? 15RM. Would you take 10 ?? Yes he would. Had a great haircut for 10RM or £1.75.
It still took a while to walk back to the hotel; my knees were hurting towards the end. I picked up my little bottle of water for the room. Out I went looking for food as it was already 15:00. I didn’t want snacks, and there was a restaurant nearby where I ordered bihun sup. I got a vermicelli noodle soup with an egg, chicken, vegs, chillies…so tasty and very filling.
I bought a large bottle of water then went to the shop that allowed me to buy a Tiger and drink it in the shop. Then back to my room. It was a bit early, but I had some writing up to do and I had a chat with Alan. That was it for the day…a lot of walking…I feel as though I’ve seen all of Butterworth. Next day George Town.