Author Archives: andrew

I think I just burned the soles of my feet!

  By coincidence, we were in Penang during Thaipusam. It’s celebrated in relatively few places in this part of the world, so many people come to the celebration in Penang — reportedly 1 million Malaysians, Burmese, and Thais were visiting … Continue reading →

Now we’re sacked out at a fancy resort on Langkawi island. My standard of living has drastically increased during my parents’ visit.  The resort restaurant we ate at last night was really nice, but it feels strange to spend $30 … Continue reading →

There’s a giant semiconductor industrial park right next to the penang airport.  I took some photos out the airplane window.

We spent a few minutes in Fort Cornwallis, which was the base of operations for British trade.  Except, it wasn’t really the British, it was the EIC.  And, the more I learn about the EIC, the more I think I … Continue reading →

(That’s me posing in the middle of a fig tree.) The fruit farm was another photographic bust.  All the plants and trees look the same… except for this one:   Apparently that’s where dragonfruit comes from.  The cylinder under the … Continue reading →

(Stay tuned — more bug photos coming up.) This morning we hired a car to drive us around to a bunch of roadside attractions outside of town.  The spice garden is a botanical garden that features a bunch of herbs … Continue reading →

Penang island was a free port in the 50’s and 60’s, but then lost its free trade status. (At about the same time, Langkawi was designated a free port.  I don’t understand the politics of this at all.)  That means … Continue reading →