Toni Simpson

Added: 9/2/09

Last Sept an old school friend, then Karen Smith, and I went back to Penang with our kids etc. It was like 33 years had not passed.
Yes there were changes but the people and the atmosphere was like coming home. We rode around on the new buses but also loved the old ones, haggled at the markets, ate like kings at the food stalls for ridiculously cheap prices and shopped till we dropped. Lucky for us it wasn't durian season, most places smelt better than last time, the temples were still strong with joss sticks and the odd toilet was to say the least "breath-taking".
We walked around to the school and entered the grounds unannounced to find it is now a Malaysian Air Force training centre for instructors so we were not allowed past the assembly area but were allowed to talk with staff and take photos in that area.
I found it amazing how some things long forgotten suddenly flooded back on seeing a glimpse of it, like the grounds where dad played softball every weekend had a bronze statue of queen somebody facing the intersection, the moment I saw her as we whizzed passed it was instant memories.
The taxi drivers are still very scary with no regard for polite use of road rules. Day 1 on trip from airport to Batu Ferringi was heart stopping to say the least. Do you remember the winding, skinny stretch of road from Tanjong Bungah to Batu Ferringi? Cliff face and dense overhanging forest on one side and steep drop to water on other side. Our driver was driving up the middle of the road, blasting horn at car on our left, that we were overtaking, to get him to move over and the fast closing oncoming car also to move over. Now where were they going to move over to? So close your eyes, hold your breathe and hope your driver knows what he is doing.
The locals are still very friendly and inquisative and if you give them a chance are so hospitable. I was so comfortable there I wish I could have stayed longer than 2 weeks and will definitely go back.
That was Karen's third trip back, once on honeymoon and another with parents and sister Kylie and she said that we revisited some places again but also ventured onto ones missed on last trips. For an island there is so much to do and see. We did it at our own pace using the buses mostly rather than tours where they only show you the "tourist bits" and miss the off the beaten tracks bits where you see the real face of Penang and her people.
I Believe going back with a school friend is better than with parents as our perspective of life when we were kids and our memories are so different from that of our parents.
I recommend a trip back for everyone if you have the opportunity. You will never regret it and will always be grateful of the opportunity given us and the experiences we took away making us the unique people we are.

28/9/04

My father served at Butterworth 73-75 and we lived a 3a Tanjong Bungah. Dad found this site through other links and put me onto it. Going through this has brought memories flooding back and a huge smile to my face. Trying to explain to my kids about life there and the smells of durians and moni drains, rainy seasons (considering we are in drought and all they know are light showers).

Living in Malaysia at that age has given my life so much more substance, knowledge and appreciation of others that only we will understand. Like so many of you we moved on and lost contact with most and this site I hope will do wonders to bring us back together.