April

Well actually it wasn't really a blunderbuss, but rather a giant lighter (but lacking parts to function). I thought my brother might like it. I found it in a showcase filled with expensive Facom tools and large ornamental swords. Just another day in another visit to Malaysia. The reason for the visit to the tool shop was to pick up some tools so that Nizam could work on his Alfa 155. It's actually heartening to see these tool shops spring up, as they didn't exist just a few years ago. Labour is so cheap that everybody just hires somebody else to do whatever they don't specialize in themselves. In fact it's possible to go get some tires installed on your car, and when asking the shop owner where to buy some goldfish, he'll use his connections to have them delivered to the shop before you leave. The term most often used is, "bolle", which means "can do."

This is the preeminent Alfa repair shop in the central portion of the country. No lifts. No walls. The car owners come there and chew the fat with other Alfa nuts while their cars get worked on. You'd never know that some of these guys are millionaires. Of course given the bolle attitude, you can find all sorts of other cars getting turbo engine conversions, and a variety of other upgrades.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/alfashop.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/skyline.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/sunset.jpg">

Ipoh (our headquarters), is set in the Klang valley, edged by old limestone hills. It was once both a mining and agricultural center, but has stagnated with the drop in tin prices.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/ipoh.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/town.jpg">

The problem with the location is that it is plagued by lightening. Grounding devices can only be so effective when dealing with direct strikes. The rain can come down in buckets.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/rain.jpg">

Of course sooner or later the power goes out. It's actually kind of nice and quiet, until the humidity starts getting to me and of course the a/c isn't working. Power did come on after a few hours.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/candles.jpg">

Typical sign at shopping complex. Malling is a popular pastime and the malls are packed on weekends.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/mall.jpg">

Amusing sign.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/rott-pet.jpg">

Seen in the mall parking lot. Special headrest covers.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/winnie.jpg">

Off we went to Penang for a little visit. This is heading across the bridge over the Straits of Malacca.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/bridge.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/penang-1.jpg">

Nizam's parents keep an old Peugeot 405 in the city, just to deal with the suicidal traffic, so we hopped out of the Alfa 164 and into the Pug. Note the quality interior after years in the tropics. However, it runs, shifts, and the a/c is ice cold all day at idle. The curbs with deep drains will keep you on your toes, no matter what method of transportation you use.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/curb.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/pug-1.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/pug-2.jpg">

On the road, you need to watch out for everything from rickshaws, to old men on bikes, to scooters, to massive trucks (lorries). For the most part, road signs and lanes are ignored. Traffic is dictated by how many cars can fit into an area, not by how much space is alloted by traffic planners with painted lines on the road. It's like watching those medical movies about blood cells getting pumped around the body. Amazingly, you rarely hear horns or notice any other displays of anger. Everybody just squeezes in or makes room as needed.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/bike.jpg">

What is really cool about Penang is that it is an old colonial trading town, and it is chock full of old mansions and shophouses (business on the bottom floor, and apartment on the top floors).

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/shophouses.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/shophouses-2.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/shophouses-3.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/mansion.jpg">

There are still plenty of old buildings left in Penang, but new buildings are encroaching.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/oldandnew.jpg">

Malaysia still tends to use the old British club system a lot. We went to lunch at the Penang club, and the parking lot attendant wasn't sure about our ratty car until he recognized the occupants. Here are one of the old holdovers.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/hotel.jpg">

A lonely C4 A6. All A6 are 2.4 Front Trak automatics. B5 A4s tend to be 1.8 non-T or T. Actually, I saw more Audis this time around than I have before. Still not a dent when compared to Mercedes and BMW though. In fact Peugeots outnumber Audis by a good margin.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/c4-A6.jpg">

We saw this really cool looking Proton.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/proton.jpg">

A beautiful restored Austin found on the back streets of Penang.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia/austin.jpg">


Having acquired the tools at the tool shop, Nizam decided to do a little work on the 155. After a while, he got thirsty. We had fresh coconut milk from the tree next to the parking area.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/coco-tree.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/drink-break.jpg">

We had a visitor in the back yard. A large Monitor lizard had come in through a large drain pipe, and couldn't remember how to get out. He managed to get out by the following day.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/lizard.jpg">

Then it was off to the New Century club for lunch. Eating is a huge deal, and you'll notice that many Asian family photos are taken over the dinner table. This club had a large golf course. It was built on reclaimed mining land and quite picturesque.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/new-century.jpg">

Driving to this club from Ipoh takes about an hour. Along the way you'll encounter the aforementioned scooter, bikes, lorries, etc. In addition, you'll find cars that can only exist in places where engine displacement it taxed. Hence this undoubtedly slow Mercedes.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/slow-merc.jpg">

We decided to visit one of the dredges that had powered Malaysia's economy for so long. This dredge is no longer in operation, but it stands testament to large scale mining.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/dredge-1.jpg">

Apparently the dredge did not have of its own power, but rather a power plant was built some distance away, and lines were run out to the mining areas to provide electricity to the huge buckets, sluices, and motors that winched the dredge along sell made ponds.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/dredge-2.jpg">

This thing is huge!

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/dredge-3.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/dredge-buckets.jpg">

The family BMW in a dramatic setting.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/bm.jpg">

With rain on the way, we climbed back into the car and did a quick tour around the town of Batu Gaja. This was a lively tin mining town at one time. Now it is a very sleepy place indeed!

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/rain-hills.jpg">

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/mining-town.jpg">

Finally it was time to attend to the reason we made this trip - Maz and Sha's wedding. It was a grand affair held in a local Ipoh hotel. Around 400 guests showed up to celebrate.

The new couple along with the groom's family.

<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/the-couple.jpg">

The entertainment was quite good, consisting of a male and female singer, and 6 dancers who performed traditional dances.


<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/verdegrrl/.Pictures/Malaysia2/dancers-singer.jpg">

It was a rare opportunity for the entire family to get together, so everybody was in a picture taking mood. Whenever we stopped for a small group picture, it inevitably turned into a large group photo! Six courses and countless pictures later, we all retired.

The newlyweds have a nice flat in KL, and are settling into married life.

A few days later we were on a plane heading back to California.

LMGotts

Great post April, very interesting to read. That red Austin is too cool!

TXurS6

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

Gerry

Well done, I feel like I've done some traveling.

schnellmb

Good stuff April....teh blunderbuss....lol

Stoney

Thanks for the slide show. Gives a good feeling of the different world.

Egil A64.2s - S6

Merry Christmas.

Press

Didn't know that they tax engine displacement.. wonder what my 4.2 would cost me there?

Happy holidays!!

ESN

Great travelogue, April, as always. Happy Holidays!

Eric 2.7

Excellent post! Top of my list to visit, and that was a nice little journey through your pics.