Penang -- Week 32 -- How I Got My Authentic Malaysian Beer Stein

Week 32

WEEKEND, October 17th - 19th

The big thing this weekend (since we're neither going to Thailand nor Bali) is Oktoberfest, hosted by the Malaysian German Society. Who knew so many people here were excited to eat and drink like Germans for a few hours?  We've been told in the past that we need to watch our volumes and try not to be too boisterous as Americans, but Oktoberfest is PACKED with Asian faces and there is dancing on tables and shirts-on women's beer-drinking contests and shirts-off men's beer-drinking contests.  The noise level is very high and none of these Asian faces seems to mind.

 
There are also some authentic German faces that come with bodies clad in dirndls and lederhosen.  Too bad I can't eat the sauerkraut, the lebkuchen, or drink the beer.  Hypoglycemia sure is a bummer illness to have at a big party like this. But I am able to dance around with Regin while the authentic Oompah band, flown in direct from Germany, plays "Der Fröliche Wanderer " (valderi, valdera, valderi, valdera ha ha ha ha ha...). 

Above, a picture from our Japanese friend, Mariko.

I got a beer stein from the event.  I was really hoping it would say Penang on it.  It doesn't.  Just "Oktoberfest" and MGA.  Ah well.  It's still funny to have a beer stein from Penang.

That last photo is by New2Mac, a local photography club member we keep bumping into.

Sunday is nothing special.  We're still sick and we cancel on another day out to Youth Park.  But the day ends better.  After we see a 5 foot monitor lizard walking along Gurney Drive (on the actual street like he had somewhere to go!) we spend the evening at home, and George and I are able to cozy in front of the iTunes-fed TV.  Regin is asleep by 8pm!!  WAHOOOO!!!!  That's a first!