I never promised you a spice garden
My lovely new friends T2 (sorry T2, there’s already a T) and HH (Chinese Malaysians get two initials) picked me up at lunchtime today. We drove along the coast to Batu Ferringhi, where we had lunch, and then on to Penang’s Tropical Spice Garden.
A sort of botanical garden-cum-jungle, the spice garden contained, among other things: herbs and spices in their wild habitat, rather like a zoo; the world’s largest leaves (possibly); the world’s coolest swing (definitely); a sign warning us not to shelter under trees, and to remain seated in the tractor; a cafe up on the hill which served massala tea; and a cat called Molly.
T2 and I sat on the huge swing and talked about our home towns, and school, and it was lovely. A truly calming, peaceful spot, where the breeze hit us and the swing swung with such smoothness.
And yet I felt a little lost.
I had an invitation to dinner tonight, too… But when I got back home (funny, I think that’s the first time I’ve called the hotel “home”), I showered off the day’s humidity (and anti-mosquito spray), called my parents on Skype - and was hit by a huge wave of home/friendsickness, and a desire for solitude and quiet. So I cancelled tonight’s dinner date (sorry, guys).
I’m sure that the vague sense of feeling ‘lost’, and the need for quiet tonight, are a hangover from last week’s events.
And thus, I suppose, it will go. Until it doesn’t go like this anymore.
And as the song says: along with the sunshine, there’s gotta be a little rain sometimes. 
Here are a few pictures from the afternoon (with more here):
(Oh, and Tracy: you were right).
March 3rd, 2008 at 1.52am
Hi A1
Sometimes Sundays are also just for relaaaaxing. Remember that you are on the go so much, mind and/or body.
So hope that you put your feet up, turned the air conditioning on high so that you could snuggle deep in duvet and then had a nice slumber.
R xxx
March 3rd, 2008 at 1.53am
Rachel - I’m about do just that. :-). thank you. x
March 3rd, 2008 at 6.49am
Molly the cat looks pretty cool. ‘The Young Tess’ of Malaysia perhaps.
March 3rd, 2008 at 12.58pm
yes, I thought just the same when I met her. she was very friendly and Tess-like :-).