Rehab - Penang

OK no more feeling sorry for myself! Actually, I don't think I have been too bad but it's easier to see the bright side now that I'm on the road to recovery and 3 days in Penang has done me no end of good (except the over eating of course).

We left early Thursday morning with Shilpa driving - she didn't want the stress of me speeding or getting lost on the way.

Anyway, having got stopped at two road blocks - you guessed it, for speeding and having gotten lost in Penang once we eventually got to the Parkroyal hotel relatively unscathed and on talking terms.











We spent a happy two days there in the pool, on the beach and took the boys horse riding and on a boat ride.

The horse riding was awesome, they went on together to start with and then one at a time by themselves. They both balanced brilliantly and although Sid was a bit apprehensive to start with neither of them were fazed by it. By the end they were both saying "horse riding, yeah, whatever!" - in their expressions at least.

Sid hates the beach because he finds it a bit too icky (or chee chee as we call anything that is dirty or they shouldn't touch).











The boys love the pool (not sure I'm dressed for the part though with my sunnies on!).


Seb can happily swim with just his floatie suit now, no more arm bands (water wings). He hasn't learned to use his arms yet but he makes great progress kicking his feet, he's got his balance all worked out and can go in any direction he wants - almost better than his dad.

The pool was a big success although at one point Sid ran into the lobby and stood there for about 10 minutes. It only struck me once a cleaning lady came along with a mop that he was actually standing there people watching (one of his favourite pastimes) and peeing on the lobby floor. Oops, 3 big puddles and one pissed off cleaning lady later we whisked him out of sight.

The boys seemed very excited about the passing boats. Every time they heard or saw one they'd point and make excited and favourable sounds. Being a bit of an old seaman myself it didn't take much persuasion by Shilpa to rent a boat and go for a cruise.
Sadly that's where the boys interest and enthusiasm stopped. No sooner had we stepped aboard their expressions changed and they couldn't wait to get off. They weren't scared mind you, they just were bored, disinterested and positively unhappy about the apparent waste of time.

Of course there was lots of eating out which gave Shilpa and the gorgeous models a chance to dress up, go out and practise their best Bollywood dance moves.

Now I know that some of you are thinking that this is Seb drinking very unhealthy Coke. Well you'd be wrong - it's actually Coke Light!

I can reliably tell you that this is Sid and Shilpa doing a rendition of "The Wheels on The Buss Go Round and Round". This particular verse relates to the horn going "pap, pap, pap" and for some reason we all get our noses pressed with each "pap". Well there you have it, no doubt you'll sleep better knowing that.

Please note that it may be my Coke Light but I have photographic evidence of the "Coke pusher's" identity as she was caught red handed!

On the way back to the hotel one night Shilpa got very excited about a trishaw ride, purely for "the boys education" she tried to convince us. So off they went, Shilpa, Sid, Seb and Rohana. I was left to walk the 5km back to the hotel carrying the shopping. (500m actually and I wasn't going to be seen dead in one of those trishaw things - not sober at any rate!).






For our last night we had to move to the Lone Pine hotel 500m away as the Parkroyal was fully booked. This is a very old hotel (the first on Batu Ferringhi Beach I think) - it is not as glam as the Parkroyal but has a certain old world charm about it that I liked.

Upon checking out we were a bit short of cash, so Shilpa kept the hotel staff talking and the boys set to work on the hotel safe.










We came home on Sunday afternoon and now I'm looking forward to starting work again after a two week absence that I could have well done without.