lucky number three

i'm in penang-nang. (i don't know why, but i've added the extra "nang" for kicks, i like the way it sounds...penang-nang!) and on the bus ride here, i leafed through the lonely planet guide and marked down the accommodations that seemed quirky, quaint, cute and the least sketchy of the bunch.

the first one was called vintage coral in little india and despite my walking up and down the street 3 or 4 times, i couldn't find it! i wondered if all the exotic (DELICIOUS!) smells and the intense humidity (i was SWEATING!) suddenly made me lose my previously prized sense of intuition and direction. on the last attempt, i paid very specific attention to the numbers and the building that should have been standing at 99 lebuh king, the hostel that i was so drawn to on paper, was a burned out mess. oh great. strike out number 1.

the second hostel, was called 100 cintra and was named for the exact street address on which it stood. after a sweaty 10 minute walk from little india to 100 cintra, i realized to my extreme disappointment, that 100 cintra, was also another closed non-option. HUH? what in the hell is going on? i actually laughed out out loud on the street, this was getting absurd and COMICAL. of course, the second hostel i wanted to stay at would also be closed. i thought that the heat was making me delirious, but the building with all the closed shutters and padlocked doors had a sign directly in front of it that said, "100 cintra." there was no mistaking it, strike out number 2. i was in desperate need of a cold, refreshing shower.

thankfully, my third option was a winner. a humongous room all to myself at a very interesting place called cathay hotel. it's a bit of a splurge, but, i figured, heyyyyyyyyyyy! i'm on vacation! i'm going to live a little. and now, i'm going to eat a lot!