Two bars side by side on a quiet street in the middle of Georgetown, the old colonial settlement on the island of Penang, just off the north-west coast of Peninsular Malaysia.
On the left, Monaliza Café (sic), where the cheapest beer (a big bottle of Skol) is only 12.5 ringgit, and where the affable owner is usually sat out front watching the world go by or shooting the breeze with one or two of his regulars.
On the right, Hong Kong Bar, where the cheapest beers are 18 or 20 ringgit, and the owner skulks inside, grouchily resigned to going out of business.
Yes, Monaliza always has a healthy gaggle of customers in it. Hong Kong Bar not one. Nope, the place appeared to have absolutely zero custom throughout the four days I was there. Go figure.
No prizes for guessing where I spent most of my time.
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