Due to Penang’s unique location on the Melaka Straits, the island has always served as a convenient and successful trading post as far back as the 1st century AD. India and China were the first to take advantage of the island’s geographical location and 15 centuries later, the Portuguese, Dutch and British arrived looking for aromatic woods, timber, tin and spices.
Penang, named Pulau Pinang by the Portuguese, was officially settled in 1786 by British traded and captain Sir Francis Light on behalf of the East India Trading Company. Penang became the first British settlement on the Malay Peninsula but also Britain’s first trading post in the Far East. Penang remained under British colonial rule until 1957, when Malaysia gained independence. Source: Princess Cruises Port Guide for Penang
The Sapphire Princess was docked at Georgetown on the Malayan island of Penang
Where in the world are we?
We had decided that, after yesterday’s long tour in a very hot and humid Kuala Lumpur that we would not set an alarm this morning but instead sleep as long as we needed. Apparently, I needed just over 9 hours of sleep (per my Fitbit) and awoke at 8am. We lingered over breakfast in the Horizon Court Buffet. Most people were off the ship and it’s so quiet and enjoyable on port days. I was also getting periodic updates via text and Snapchat about McGuy’s first high school basketball game (they won big).
Finally, though, we decided to walk off the ship and hire a taxi to take us to the funicular to the top of the Penang Hill. That G had zeroed in on this one activity was not a surprise to me. I think his motto is “We will let no funicular go unridden”, because we sure have been on a lot of them over the years. There is a taxi stand inside the cruise terminal, and we hired John for three hours for 50 MR (Malaysian Ringgits), about $12.50 an hour. Things are so cheap in Malaysia! Our first stop, though, had to be an ATM, because I had not passed one yesterday to get Ringgits, and hadn’t needed them then anyway. With the international transaction fee, they were exactly 4 MR to $1 US.
John gave us a bit of an overview of the city of Georgetown on the island of Penang on the way to Penang Hill. Penang Hill is actually comprised of six peaks, with the highest standing 2732 feet above sea level. the 18th century, while under British rule, the earliest more of transportation to the top was by Sumatran long or a sedan chair attached to a pair of bamboo poles hand carried by 4 to 8 people. In 1905, the Penang Bill Funicular Railway was completed but was ineffective due to technical faults. In 1924, a second funicular railway was opened. Today’s railway is the 4th generation, it climbs the 2000 meter track in about five minutes, making it the fastest, steepest and longest funicular in the region and one of the most technologically advanced in the world.
Once we arrived at the Railway Station, we were greeted with long lines that we had been warned about. Kids are on their school break until January, and there were several groups waiting in line to go up. Use er, G had read about the fast track tickets online and they were only $7.50 US more per person. When you’re paying $12.50 an hour for a taxi to wait, that’s a deal. In was also very nice; we bypassed the long queue and walked right on, getting the best seats in the next train.
Well, the track certainly was steel. It was rather like climbing the first hill on a roller coaster while seated backward, looking down the hill. There were a couple of intermediate stops for the residents who live in some of the gorgeous colonial houses on the side of the hill, but we were quickly st the top. I didn’t expect the carnival-like atmosphere up there, with buskers and restaurants in addition to the usual lookout points. We were also lucky to see two of the dusky lead monkeys that fall the top of the hill their home. After walking around the top, we returned via funicular to the bottom where are driver John was waiting.
This was a steep funicular!
Allowing two trains to pass
A bit of a roller coaster
View from the top showing the tunnel at the end
The Sapphire Princess at her berth
View of Georgetown showing bridge to mainland Malaysia
He suggested a store to buy a traditional hat that G wanted to buy, and waited while we bought it, and we returned to the ship shortly after 3:30pm.
We had time for a rest before getting showered for dinner. We had skipped lunch, and were starved. Luckily, it was Italian night, and I ordered the penne arrabiata, but it was way too spicy. Instead, Joffrey brought me a seafood soup. We have regional items on the menu every night, and this was one of those. It was delicious.
The entertainment tonight was Aiden Wu, the world champion harmonica musician, and we sat in the just in case seats but ended up loving his show. He was a wonderful entertainer. Afterward, it was the night for the Tropical Deck party on the open decks, but it had stormed while we were eating dinner, and everything was drenched. Instead it was moved to Club Fusion and we stopped by, but it was poorly attended and we didn’t stay either. I think people are worn out after days in the heat, although Penang was admittedly more comfortable today than Kuala Lumpur was yesterday.
We move clocks back an hour tonight just for Thailand tomorrow, then lose that hour again tomorrow night. Still, our arrival in Phuket isn’t until 9am, and that makes for another nice night of sleep.