Another Temple???

We arrived safely in Malaysia yesterday. I have to admit we were a bit skeptical before we got to the border. In Kho Samui, the travel agent explained only 1 bus company was still serving the route we wanted to go because Southern Thailand has some small terrorist factions or something. We didn't have any trouble and didn't hear anything about it during our LOOONG day from Kho Samui to Phanag, Malaysia. We had our travel agent lady drive us to a mini-bus, got on a ferry, back on the mini-bus, switched mini-buses and then drove all the way down here. It took us all day ~ roughly 13 hours to travel this distance. It seems like it should have gone quicker, but what else can you do but be a good sport about it?

After crossing into Malaysia, instantly you notice their infrastructure. Their highways are very modern and extremely good -- they remind me of home. The roads through the rest of southeast Asia are a bit patchy, particularly in Cambodia & Vietnam. We certainly survived them, but its nice to be a bit closer to civilization. We spent today cruising around Georgetown, Malaysia's second largest city but still very small when compared to home. We climbed up Kek Lok Si Temple which has a fantastic view out over the city. The temple is very different from the ones we've seen already. The color scheme is all bold colors in contrast with one another and I think it looks a bit tacky. It's also no where near as ornate as the Temple of the Jade Buddha which is covered in gold back in Bangkok. Its so funny ~ I never pictured myself to be one who'd be comparing the decorations of Buddhist temples. We also walked down by the waterfront, which is a bit scuzzy and polluted (think Atlantic City) and then crossed by Little India. We'll go back that way for dinner, I hope the Indian food is yummy! :)