Day 39: Driving home for Christmas

Last night, we enjoyed a wonderful dinner with longtime friends from Switzerland who recently moved back to their home in Penang. They’ve always been incredible hosts, and this time was no exception. A diverse group of friends from various countries across Europe and Asia came together to share delicious food, drinks, stories, and ideas. Hopefully, we won’t have to wait another five years to see them again.  

***

Today, we picked up a rental car from the German company SIXT. The process was slow but smooth, and soon we were behind the wheel of a brand-new Honda. Switching from left-hand to right-hand driving always feels a bit strange. Thankfully, it’s an automatic, so there’s no need to worry about shifting gears. However, adjusting to the swapped positions of the windshield wiper and the turn indicator always trips me up. Every time I want to turn right, the wipers swipe once, and when I attempt to turn left, the wipers switch on permanently—much to the frustration of the driver behind me, who wonders why I’m not using the indicators properly.  

Thean Hou Temple 天后宮 (Buddhist temple)


Congee = Birchler Müsli Asian style:
big and small fish, peanuts and coriander replace berries and fruits

Crossing over the sea from Penang to mainland

We crossed from Penang Island to the mainland via the second bridge. From there, it was another hour south on the motorway until we arrived in Taiping. Our hotel room is on the 12th floor, a lovely corner space offering panoramic views of the Lake Gardens and Maxwell Hill. Unfortunately, it’s typical Taiping weather—gray, low-hanging clouds drape over the mountains, and after a while, we hear the rumble of thunder. Taiping is, after all, known as the rainiest town in Malaysia.  

Views of the Lake Gardens and Maxwell Hill

After a bit of relaxation, we’re ready to dive into the first of many dinners and lunches with friends and family in the coming days.  


Location: Taiping, Perak, Malaysia

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