The ark of consequence by Marge Piercy

15October2025: Forget That Martini and Gourmet Dinner: I Have the Queasies! Back on the Eastern & Oriental Express hot and steamy. It has been in and out of stultifying heat on Penang Island and then thrust into the chill of air conditioning. It has been plaguing me the entire trip. Why on earth did I have a Cappuccino in the Bar Car upon my return?

15October2025: Penang Island in Malaysia Travelled on a bus from the Eastern & Oriental Express train to the Butterworth ferry terminal for the twenty-minute trip to Georgetown on Penang Island. Arrived at the Penang Island ferry terminal for a Vespa tour of Georgetown. Met Jimmy my driver and off we went to the “first stop” to a puppet show. One look at all the gringo Ozempic crowd milling about the entrance I surmised a break from the planned itinerary and I said to Jimmy, “Let’s get outta here.