Georgetown Day 86 13/12/2014

After a leisurely start to the day we packed and checked out of the hotel.  It's been an OK place to stay, clean and functional and the pool has been a bonus but it's big and sterile.  We had breakfast in a small cafe just round the corner from the Skyline and then headed off to visit Jim Thompson's house near Siam Square.  The house is a well maintained example of traditional Thai architecture although adapted to suit Western needs.  Jim Thompson was an American entrepreneur who successfully promoted Thai silk to Western markets.  He disappeared on a visit to Cameron Highlands and the house has since been run by a private trust.  From here we went to Siam Square.  Diane was slightly concerned that despite adding cycling and beach holidays to his list of likes, adding shopping was a bit extreme.  Anyway we didn't last long before we headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags, stopping on route for a pizza, before going back to the Skyline to get the metro and train out to the main international airport.  We celebrated with our last Chang beer before boarding and taking off on time to head for Penang.   Despite the extortionate price of the tickets we didn't get a hot meal or any alcohol!  We landed just after 10.30pm Malaysian time (1 hour ahead of Thailand) and got a taxi to Georgetown.  We're staying at the Old Penang Guest House in the heart of the old town.  Luckily they were able to put us up for an extra night (we arrived one day early with travelling by plane and not the overnight train as originally planned) although we are in a room with shared bathroom that we'll be moving from tomorrow.