After discussion via message with Fatima, I decided that today's task would be to go and visit Kek Lok Si, as well as Penang hill. I hailed a grab, and made it to the temple for around lunch time.
It took a few attempts to find the entrance to the temple, as it involved going along a narrow covered alley way and up stairs, with warung shops all the way along trying to sell tourist suvenirs to all passers by!
The temple itself was huge, and I spent a good 3 or so hours walking around it. At around 2.30 I made it to the top of the site, where a huge buddha statue was overlooking the island, with great views all the way back to the coast line.
It was a beautiful sunny day but the clouds around the hills had a feel of thunder about them anyway, and as it was getting so late on in the day already, added to the fact that I hadn't eaten, I decided that the view from the top of the temple was all I needed, so I didn't have to go to the top of Penang Hill, which looked to be in cloud anyway!
I made my way back down the vernacular rail and through the temple complex and weaved my way back through the streets.
At one point I happened to spot a warung that was selling chinese chess sets, so I had a look and decided that I didn't want one. The person in the shop though had noticed me looking and so I asked how much the set was. She quoted 30 RM to me, and I checked and noticed it was quite light which made me think the board would not be very strong.
I explained that I didn't have a lot of money and o she lowered it to 15RM, which I was still unwilling to pay. I indicated that the money I had was just for food as I hadn't eaten, and she lowered the price down to 10RM. At this price I was willing to buy it, so handed over the money, and received the set, which I then tried to work out how to carry back to the hostel!
I finally made it back to street level, and headed to the nearest food court to look for some hokkien mee, though I discovered that I was too late, given that it was almost 4pm.
I alked towards the junction that led to the Penang Hill tram, and found a food court there where I grabbed some basic nasi goreng and a tiger beer to wash it down, before hailing a grab taxi back to the hostel.
As I hailed the grab the threats of the clouds came to fruition and it started to rain, so I was glad I had decided not to go up the hill!
I chatted with the driver about how I'd been unable to find hokkien mee in the area, and he recommended the best place to get it as being a food court about 2km from the hostel, so I marked it on the map, and decided that's where I would have dinner!
After srtinstuff out at the hostel and working out my itinerary for the next while, I walked to Sih Jing San and found one place open that was selling the fabled hokkien mee. At last, I found the meal I had been looking for since over a week ago - it wasn't a myth! I honestly don't know if it tasted good because of the search or because it was so good, but either way I enjoyed it!