Tuesday, September 3, 2002

Bangkok, Thailand to Georgetown, Malaysia

ONE NIGHT IN BANGKOK
On our last night in Bangkok Sara was poorly. And this happened right after we had phoned our respective parents to say that all is well. In the two days since then everything has been fine, helped by various drugs including Cipro and Imodium and plenty of water. We both have suffered from upset stomachs at various times during the trip but Sara has been affected more recently, whereas I was ill in week two. My last serious incident in the Philippines could have been precipitated by 3 Pina Coladas and 15 assorted shots - it 'could' have been, I'm not convinced though.

ANOTHER OVERNIGHT TRAIN
At around noon today our train pulled into Butterworth in northern Malaysia, 22 hours after leaving Haulamphong Station in Bangkok. It sounds rough but the train ride was superb. Thai trains have loads of room, especially compared to the Chinese carriages, and we both slept very well after playing endless games of backgammon and playing hide and seek with a little Thai boy in a Spiderman outfit. The border crossing was very smooth and unlike the Eastern European system we had to leave the train with all of our luggage to pass through immigration and then return to our seats once the formalities were complete. Another new country for the both of us and for me an exciting one because my parents lived in Malaysia in the 1960s and both of my brothers have passed through in the last year or so.

Me by the Malaysian flag
 Sara looking poorly in Malaysia

PENANG
Georgetown, on the island of Penang, is just across the channel from Butterworth and that is where we are spending tonight but early tomorrow morning we catch a bus to the other side of the peninsular and a small town called Kota Bharu. It's not that we don't like Penang but we need to keep moving if we are to make our flight out of Bali in a few weeks time.

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