From Satun, Thailand to Penang, Malaysia
Anna's entry:SATUN
We arrived in Satun after spending a week on the peaceful Ko Adang. This part of the country sees a lot less tourism these days due to some terrorist acts a few years ago. Satun is a very peaceful place, and genuine hospitality and friendliness were apparent. One day walking around the town and enjoying a sweet creamy Tai tea from 7-11 (a very popular store chain across Thailand), we came across a street parade and were invited to join a traditional dance right on the the street. Another time taking a stroll in the evening, a group of local guys invited us over for a chat and a drink they were having by the curb of the road. Simple things like that make a person feel welcomed, and certainly prevents you feeling like an outsider. Thailand used to be like that many years ago until the hoards of tourists ruined it, which is too bad. Luckily for us, Satun preserved it's genuine nature, which was refreshing to see.
From Satun we headed back to Hat Yai, and from there we would cross over into Malaysia. It took over two hours to cross the border to Malaysia due to the notoriously famous Thai water festival taking place annually (also locally known as "Songkran" which has traditionally been celebrated as the New Year). Basically, the celebration involves getting as many people wet as possible, with unloading water on complete strangers. Let me tell you, some take it pretty seriously - my personal explanation is that for some people, this is a chance to unload all the frustration on strangers (doing it with a smile of course). The entire city got armed with water baloons, water guns, water hoses, and anybody was a fair game. Naturally, it was a big fun for locals, but for us - carrying big backpacks and photo equipment - was a different story. We got completely drenched in water, though once we settled in a familiar by now hotel, we were able to pay back the favour, well, Rob did actually (I comfortably hid in the alley with a couple of local old ladies and enjoyed the entertainment in a sneaky sort of a way). Rob joined a local group of water warriors and got a nice supply of water which he unloaded on the upcoming vehicles and the other "water opposition". Being a relatively big guy and efficient in unloading the water barrels, he quickly secured the reputation of the one to watch out for. Sometimes, it would take three or four locals trying to conquer Rob, but most of the time he won anyway. A couple of times he was even offered "to switch the sides", but he stayed loyal to his own troops. :)
PENANG
A little touristy - yes, however, hop on a local bus and get away from the crowds among the Buddhist temples and hiking around few hills. While making our way from Thailand to Malaysia, we met a very nice guy from Moscow (Russia) named Maxim who joined us for a while in our travels. The three of us would go for walks and sample local specialties, lots of great Malay and Indian food gets cooked up around Penang. My mouth is watering thinking about naans, parathas, curries, tandoori chicken and a few other dishes that would get efficiently cooked up in clay and tandoor ovens and would be served on the tables set up with in the middle of the street. Penang is also a very economical place not only to visit but also to live in, and therefore, quite a few expats make their home here. We stayed in a basic but adequate hotel run by a Chinese family, and a couple of our neighbours were from Australia and UK that came to Penang about ten years ago, and never left. It is a simple living here compared to the West, but it also offers a low key alternative to the perpetual rat race which those two gentlemen wanted to avoid. It certainly makes sense to me. Over all, I find a traditional Asian life style and philosophy towards life very appealing. It gives a sense of simplicity to everyday life, and in many ways it slows the pace of life - which gives you time to think and contemplate. Unfortunately, Asia has been changing, and I am afraid that in the next five years, the traditional wisdom of life would become a thing of the past... But for now, I am grateful to have had an opportunity to observe and explore the "other" outlook. As one Buddhist monk told me - everyone has their own button, and it is up to us when we choose to push it...
posted by Rob and Anna @ 1:42 AM
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