beijing okay

UPDATES: We had a small change of plans since we went yesterday to buy our ferry ticket to Indonesia and found out that the ferry to Sumatra from Penang Island has been canceled permanently.  So what this means is that we must fly, an unnecessary expense and a delay.  The cheapest flight we could find leaves on the 13th, giving us a little less time in Sumatra.  However, we could do worse with our surroundings; tropical weather, crumbling Deco architecture, garish Chinese temples, endless lounging, mountain view beaches and iced drinks in lazy warung shopfronts.  This island has a great feel, a little like a larger Hoi An in Vietnam.  Why, then, am I anxious to leave?

A slower pace is clearly healthier.