Georgetown: crossing the Malacca Straight to Sumatera

Catching the bus from Krabi to Hat Yai - a traffic junction close to the Thai-Malaysian border - I had to make a difficult decision during the 3-hours Minivan drive: Taking midnight the train along the east cost to Kota Bharu, the starting point of the "Jungle Railway", which winds through the valleys and round the sandstone hills down to Singapore, or heading west to Butterworth to board upon arrival one of the regular ferries that connect Georgetown (Penang) with the Malaysian peninsular.

Funny, I never thought time might become a constraint on a one-year journey around the world. Eventually I delayed my departure in Vienna for one month, as I did not spend even a month during my previous two trips around the world in Asia, limiting myself to Singapore as hub to visit the than "Top-10-Islands-to-visit" of Tioman, before heading for more familiar terrains like Australia and New Zealand. Hey, meanwhile I am touring some 2 1/2 months through Southeast Asia.

Having my desired and long planned visit to Sumatra in mind, I opted for the way down the west coast for a stop-over at Georgetown, probably Malaysia's most fascinating city. Along with Malakka, Georgetown retains more of its cutural history than virtually anywhere else in the country. Strolling through "Little India" and "Little Penang Street Market" allows to get a taste of spicy fingerfood along the narrow streets, that host temples, mosques, pagodes and churches aside long lanes of old colonial buildings, full of small and busy family-runned businesses, mostly of Chinese origin.

The old town is great place to stay for budget travellers - and coming closer to my first virtual encounter with Katz' chapter on Sumatra - transmitting the "charme" of the 20ies of the last Century. Eventually Katz refers in that chapter about his experiences with hotel managers at that time, which mostly were of British or Dutch nationality.

Accordingly to my "Rough Guide to Southeast Asia" (published August 2005) I made my way down to Georgetown to cross in old-fashioned manner the Malacca Straight by ferry to Medan, Sumatra - only to learn upon arrival that there is no longer any passenger connection by sea. It's a fact, flying with one of the many carriers in Asia is rather cheap. I still discovered a poster at the jetty, advertising in 2010 the 8-hours boat trip to Medan for 220 Ringgit, whereas today the regular fare for a direct flight is 150-200 MR (about 20 USD). However, I felt disappointed, because after some conversations with fellow globetrotters at my fabulous guesthouse - the Red Inn Heritage - I understood that "my Jungle Railway" would have taken me down to the other old city down the cost - Malakka - including a working ferry link to Sumatra.

Never mind, Sumatera Utara is next: a reencounter with scenes and people of my dramatic time in the aftermath of the Tsunami on Christmas eve 2005, my first virtual crossroad encounter with Richard Katz, and off course trekking into the jungle to face the Orang Utah in person.

Links to pictures of Georgetown
The old city of Georgetown
SME in Georgetown