24th July Penang to Ipoh

We left the guesthouse about seven thirty am as we were on the 8am bus to Ipoh so we would haave time to do something there, but as usual it took longer than expected and it was 11am before we got to Ipoh. At the bus station we enquired about buying a bus ticket to KL the next day, but the timings of the bus werent great so we decided to take a punt and try the trains even though the internet said they were booked. We took the local Perak bus the last 8km to Ipoh and it took forever, we even had at least a 15 minute wait at a station only to find out the train station was the next stop aaround the corner and we could have walked it in 5 mins. When the bus driver dropped us off we couldnt believe this beautiful huge white colonial building was the train station(there were no signs) We also got distracted by a car knocking 2 people off a moped, it was a heart dropping moment but luckily only one of the guys had a few nasty grazes but nothing else. Going in to the train station it was very busy and we had to get a ticket for a queing system. It was very slow and the woman at the front counter had said the 12:15 electric train was full but there was one train left the 10.50 slow train, but we decided that was better than going back to the bus station. Whilst waiting we were all starving but there was a fruit stall with juicy papaya and pineapple and.... Chocolate waffles, so that filled us up nicely.

Eventually our number came up and I was in there for about 2 minutes as I bought tickets for the ETS train I wanted, she said it wasn't full,. No one talks to anyone!!

We got a taxi to our splash out hotel, not before Dominic trying to get close to a poisonous centipede and an indian chaap quickly pushed him away and stamped on it,

When we arrived at the Ritz Garden Hotel both my cards got declined, I havent used either of them over here yet and even though I haad told my bank I was getting a bit anxious, What if neither Finlay and I could get cash out!

They tried another machine and luckily that worked. We were in room 405 with a kingsize bed and they brought an extra bed in. It was luxurios compared to the last GH, just what we needed. And a window - I made a coffee and chilled whilst the boys explored and found the swimming pool. The boys got their costumes and I went off to get some drinks and snacks and cash out before joining them. The pool was actually not that warm, but it doesn't matter as the outside temp is so warm. After I had been swimming a bit, a thunderstorm started and it rained, the first rain during the day for us so far. We have to get out of the pool as it is dangerous in a thunderstorm. We went to our room and watched a fantastic thunderstorm with fork lightening from our window. It all stopped in about 1 hour and we went on a walk. We set off for the TI. Ipoh is much calmer than the other places we have been and only saw 2 western tourists. The TI was closed but we still had a great time walking around, looking at all the funny shops, admiring the beautiful colonial buildings etc.

We decided to eat dinner on the way back and after looking for a restaurant mentioned in the LP , which was shut we ended up at this street restaurant where yet again there was no choice apart from noodle or rice and soup or dry. Then we got a large plate of beansprouts and another huge plate of chopped up chicken breast. You add these to your noodles. I had opted for noodles in soup. It was so delicious, I think my favourite meal so far. The only thing that took the edge of it was the slight whiff of drains!! We didnt even know how much it would cost! After we had a wander around some of the sweet shops and tried a few odd things. Dominic loves to try everything. You never know how long its all been there!

We got some drinks and went back to the hotel for another swim and then back up to our room where the boys got an internet fix and I read my book "The girl on a train" Finally we went to sleep about midnight.