another quickie

Well, Malaysia was wonderful. We landed in Penang on the island of Penang. Penang is a district, and a city and an island. When we first came here, and Tim said we were going to Penang, and I had no idea where it was.
To be met at the airport by the hotel is the easy way to do it. Just look for your name, or the name of the hotel as yu exit baggage area. A long drive through the town and through Georgetown, to our hotel, a small hotel (90 rooms) only three stories, quite private from the road. They remembered me from our visit. (I had inquired about renting an apartment for the 6 of us. That was prohibitively expensive). We had two adjoining rooms, which worked very well. The beach is lovely, filled with tourists, on banana boats, seadoos, and kite flying. Elizabeth and Steve went for a kite ride. They loved it. We swam in the ocean, which was only a few degrees cooler than the warm air. The pool had an infinity pool, surrounded by these "pine" trees. The hotel is misnamed. Some Englishman thought these casaurina trees were pine. Tall, majestic, very long needles. We hired a car, actually a van, for the 6 of us. We toured around all day- spice garden, fascinating, butterfly museum, fabulous, dam for fresh water, historic Georgetown, a great day. We did a cooking class, all 6 of us, at the Spice Garden, and that was fun. Much hanging around, reading in hammocks in the shade of these majestic trees, lolling by the pool, walking the beach. All wonderful. The kids did some snooping around by them selves, sometimes we were 3X2, 4+2, and sometime  all together.
The hotel wants the guests to feel like they are at their second home. I have to say they are successful. We so wanted our kids to see this. Quiet elegance, not a big busy hotel on the beach. Our last night they had a cocktail party for all the guests, full bar, as many drinks as you want, and never ending food. The staff was there, having drinks with us. Irene, head of housekeeping, wanted to know if we were happy with our rooms, and she wanted to know if not. Assistant manager Khoo, was a name on the email correspondence, and a charming man who was very eager to get me a 2nd and 3rd G&T. I met a couple, Scottish, that spend 8 weeks at The Lone Pine, and then 6 more weeks at the E&O Hotel in Georgetown. E&O is a very very fancy hotel. What a way to spend your winter. They think the hotel a second home, but find the dinners very expensive so eat at the food court next door, for $5.
Back to Singapore. Alex and Heidi went to HCMC (Saigon) for the weekend. We had a weekend with Steve and Elizabeth.
This morning we 5 head off to Railay Beach. It is a one hour flight to Krabi (Thailand) and the hotel takes us to a marina and on a long boat, around a point of land, to Railay Beach, which is not accessible for vehicles. We 5 will have 4 days there.
I will have time to attach some photos next time maybe.
Oh ya, when we get back Thursday, Elizabeth and I are flying Friday-Monday to Ubud, Bali. Not the beach, but inland, a city rich in Indonesian culture. I tell you, the fun never stops!