Penang!

Today we rode via very small and beautiful roads, and via busy, congested national road 1 - with annoying traffic lights, sometimes a good shoulder to ride on, sometimes not, lorries, cars and smelly motorbikes. We have had a good share of exhaust fumes today. Fortunately, most of the trip was very nice, and I'd prefer to share some images from the nice part 😁
Leaving Kuala Kurau via the small coastal road I found on the map, a splendid way to start the day!!! Sea on one side, rice paddies on the other.
One of the many beautiful views of this morning, rice paddies, misty hills.
Unsealed roads through the rice paddies, on a "cool" clouded day
Mid-morning break with a million dollar view
An experience I really liked, was to take the ferry from Butterworth to Georgetown, Penang. I had taken that ferry 23 years ago, as a backpacker, travelling from Thailand to Penang. It was nice to be there again (not sure if the boats have changed since then?), this time on a bicycle - and that by itself was interesting as well! We had to cross Butterworth entirely to get to the ferry however, which was again a lesser part of the experience... Luckily the traffic was very light today!
Interesting Google Maps instruction!
Spot the cyclist! (Hint: almost the only person not watching the smartphone)
We walked around in Georgetown this afternoon and I must say, it is even much nicer than I remembered even though I have been here a few times. There are so many beautiful, and impressive old houses, and many of them have been well restored. Every street has some surprises and often the nicest surprises happen when you don't expect it. I didn't take my camera into town today, so no pictures of Georgetown yet - probably one of the next days - except for the one below...
Georgetown has bicycle racks! And they are very useful!
     

Latest Tour Map