One of the great joys I had whilst giving training in Istanbul, is to cross the Bosphorus, the stretch of water that separates Europe from Asia, West Istanbul from East Istanbul, and the water that joins the Black Sea to the Marmara Sea. Sitting on the ferry, or crossing one of the two Bosphorus Bridges, watching the worlds shipping slide past.

See video of dolphins. Dolphins in the Bosphorus, Istanbul, Turkey

Crossing from mainland Malaysia to the Island of Penang is not as glamorous as crossing the Bosphorus, although the stretch of water is much wider, with the existing bridge being just over 8 miles (13.5 km), and the first Bosphorus Bridge being 1175 yards (1074 meters) long between its' two pillars.

     
Penang Bridge 13.5km                                 Bosphorus Bridge 1074 meters

The ferry are different with the Penang Ferry sails to and from George Town (Penang Island) and Butterworth, and takes about 10 minutes to make the crossing, so no time for a cup of tea, which you can take on the Bosphorus ferries as the have various crossings taking about 20 minutes.

            
Penang Ferry                                                                        Bosphorus Ferry

The sea trade in Penang is now it seems very small, compared to the forever movement of ships up and down the waters of the Bosphorus.