Anchored off Penang had  to complete formalities before going in. First sight this morning was the silhouette of a Junk against the silver sunrise. And now Malaya, had as much trouble getting bits of paper to get LD out of the hold, Port charges $20 and third party insurance $15. It’s fantastic here after India. It’s so clean and orderly and you can buy anything the same as England. Diesel is 1/10 a gallon. We ate the most fantastic mixed grill brought in on a sizzling hot plate. Lots of lovely girls in mini’s. It’s a ridiculous change but a good one. The temp is 73° f and in our room its really cool , Penang is an Island off the mainland of Malaya.

First sight of land after 1 week at sea, Malaya, picture taken through the porthole at sunrise, Junk sailing on the horizon.

Had more trouble with LD since we left India than we’ve had the whole of the journey. All the electrics were off this morning bonnet had shorted across the regulator then bonnet stay shorted across the battery so that’sflat now stayed the night on Miami Beach Penang

Had good food in George Town. On the way back to the beach in the afternoon met some hippies went back to their room for a smoke. Real weirdos I was glad to get out, Candles lit and all talking really weird. They had LSD and all different kinds of drugs. I think after seeing them that will do me now, I have had the experience and now finish, there’s something defiantly sick about it.

Woke to the sound of ‘Happy Birthday to you’ Baz and Bett singing to Syl, had bought her a birthday card and a packet of cig’s,  good of them.

Managed to get the bonnet straightened out easily enough, they just beat it out and a quick spray coat of paint, ready in 2 hours, $20. Sent telegram up to the monk Nagasena in Bangkok enquiring price to sell Landover, £1 to send it. Spent the rest of the day looking around. Snake Temple was good, Adders all over the place, but they don’t bite because the incense dopes them. Had photo taken holding one. The houses in the town are really oriental, houses on stilts surrounded by coconut palms and Banana trees. In the town  been eating Chinese food. Prices of watches and  cameras  ridiculously cheap.

Snake Temple Penang ( had prof photo taken holding snake! never arrived) might have known.

Half day cleaning up LD it looks well again. Drive around the Island its only 14 miles long, swam in a mountain stream it was great, then right down to the other side of the Islands covered in dense jungle, with flat stretches in between covered in palms and every kind of tropical tree. Becoming quite good at eating with chop sticks too, its easier to eat some foods with them instead of a knife and fork. Visit to the Aquarium the best I have ever seen anywhere, Sharks, Turtles such a variety from the tropical waters around Malaya. There’s a state of emergency here but you would never think so. Last year there was big riots between the Chinese and the Malays.

Meeting up at the beach Penang Malaya

Amazing the ease you can get things done after being in India picked up a packing case put all our clothes into it and nailed it up, the next time we see it should be in Fremantle Australia. The cost for a 3 ½ x2x2 was $77 Malay complete. It’ll save us no end of trouble, all we have left is a bag each and a blanket. No telegram from Bangkok today but were prepared to go to Thailand anyway regardless of the result. Surprised everything fitted into the box even my work tools. Been eating mainly Chinese food here its cheap and good, meats and rice getting a dab hand with the chopsticks.

Hashed up last night on piece we got in Kabul it was fantastic really strong stuff.

Freight all finished with. Telegram arrived from Bangkok £500 a rough guide for LD. Collected our visas from Embassy $10 each, all set now to go to Thailand. Had good cheap meal, steak $2.60, amazing the ease we got things done here and at such speed. Got Baz’s pipe mended ( Bev broke it while hashed up) a chance in a million we stopped outside the only pipe makers in Penang, and his own pipe end was fitted back to it amazing, all completed and back to base, would have taken a week in India. The sea here is really warm and just under the road we have a fresh water pool for washin.

Reckon to leave about Friday. Weighed ourselves today, Syl 7st 9lbs  Bev 9st 12 lbs  Ken 10st 10lbs, lost approx 2 stone each.

Bev and Ken dressed like proper tourists outside the Temple of the reclining Buddha Penang

Baz Bett John and Sandra left today for Singapore, They seemed quite choked at leaving us all. Though I don’t know why these last few days relationships seem to be a bit strained for some reason or other. Now that leaves Brian  Alan and Margo. Brian wants to come to Bangkok with us, he and Alan aren’t getting on too well. Luckily us 3 are still getting on well enough. After eating in a cheap but excellent restaurant that was like a night club we spent a pleasant couple of hours watching Carry on Camping in the  air conditioned pictures, then back to base, hashed up again.

Wrote letter to L, M

Spent the day on the beach, cooling off every now and again in the water trough under the road, the local bathroom and washing room for the Indians. Managed to cook up some grub on the old primus stove, so we don’t go hungry. Syl and Bev are down to there last £5. Brian sold his landrover for $1800 Malay dollars, now he’s coming up to Thailand with us. Margo and Alan are staying here in Penang. We’ve made a provisional booking for July 20th to Perth Australia. Night time hashed up to the eyeballs, Indian brought some marijuana and rolled it with leaves for ciggie papers. Wow it nearly blew my head off. Last night on beach and now on to Bangkok.