"The trip was good until I heard about cyclone "Larry" in KL and that was it for me; just wanted to get back home to check out damage. We were very lucky in Tully Heads, no homes were damaged apart from an odd window sucked out by wind. The worst was "Tree" damage, which was very severe! Our yard looked like ground Zero with about 50% of trees uprooted and rest smashed off at half price. Took Jen and I about 6 weeks to get yard back to normal; anyway back to the trip.
I was very disappointed in the condition of Penang in general. The locals have let my second home get into a shabby state. God knows how many live there now! The traffic is frightening; if the road is 3 lanes wide there are 4 lanes of traffic on it; very few push-bikes or trishaws like the old days, all cars, m'bikes , and trucks ; and devil take the weak of heart.
We hired a car & driver for l/2 a day and went via the new bridge (for us) between Island and mainland, to have a look for our old Married Quarters at 944 Robina Park, just passed the base. All new highway passed the base now, did not recognize much until we reached the base itself. Our "Married Quarter" in Robian Park was still there, all jazzed up. The whole suburb looked nice and clean. The houses had been done up; with a new carport/front verandah now attached to the homes; looks like it is now a very up-market area to live in.
We came back via the Base Hospital/Boat Club area; Hospital looked grubby and untidy; rubbish lying around, grounds not looked after! The "Boatie" has been changed into rec area for RAAF personnel still stationed at Butterworth. The old ferry's are still going and very popular, must be cheaper than the toll for using the bridge. One thing that struck us over the 5 days we were there was the amount of smog that hangs over the whole place; a lot was caused from smoke from the forest fires in Indonesia mixed with car exhaust; Not sure it's a good place to live now!. On the best day there we could just see the mainland from our hotel on the Island .
All in all, as I said, a bit sad; not a good place to shop any more KL is better according to Jen; Singapore is my choice The food in Penang is still cheap, Taxi's and Tiger beer, are dear. I must admit to a pang of nostalgia when Jen and I were dining in a sidewalk caf on Gurney Drive one night, and a friendly 'Rat' wandered through the cooking area (the food was good though" Chinese deep fried fish)!"
Regards Hal & Jen

60 Penang Images below are divided into 3 folders of 20 images.
the Kuala Lumpur and Tully Heads images are being held in reserve for a later date