Week 12.5: Around town

This last week I've really enjoyed looking out the window of our apartment - we've had some impressive thunderstorms blow through followed by some of the clearest blue skies since we arrived. Here's a little evidence

Weatherwise, it can rain almost any time, but traditionally the heat and humidity build throughout the day and culminate in a storm around 5-6pm, not always right on top of us, but we can see it on the horizon if not. 

Which means the key to having an enjoyable urban hike is to start early. This last Saturday I went in search of the perfect croissant. There's a ton of both french and japanese deluxe bakeries in Georgetown, just a couple of miles away. Which let to my discovery of Emily Darling. And some very fine pastries. It was the second day of December and Emily hadn't wasted any time getting into the Christmas spirit

 Also, underneath the pastry display was another display. Of carnivorous pitcher plants. Which are super cool and native to Penang, but also, a kind of random place to set up your bug eating plants. Although I suppose they could come in handy keeping the housefly population under control

The rest of my walk took me past a couple of cool temples I hadn't see before with some beautiful artwork

Also, I'm struck with the large number of turn of the 20th century estates on/near the water that are in a fixer-upper state. The property must be worth a ton, but so many of them sit slowly being reclaimed by moss and the jungle. Here's a couple of examples

Same with this scooter, which was abandoned long enough ago that the vines have set their sights on it 

Finally, there was a birthday this week. I enjoyed meals with friends from work and church to celebrate being 53. Its such a blessing to be surrounded with good people