Penang

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Penang, 23rd to 26th April 2010

Once arriving at the bus station our task was then to get to Batu Feringgi on Penang Island. As luck would have it the bus station was linked to the ferry so within 10 minutes we had paid our 1.20 Ringitts and were pootling over to the island. Penang Island was bigger than we had been expecting but with a few helpful directions from our bus driver we were soon on bus number 101. We were staying on the other side of the island so the bus took about 45 minutes passing through lots of interesting towns as we went. We got off where the hostel directions had indicated, but as we had only written down the address and not the rest of the directions we had a little trouble finding the place. A family eating at a pavement restaurant must have gathered we were a tad lost after the 3rd time we walked past them with backpacks in tow! They offered to help and after a quick phone call to the hostel owners they knew where we needed to be and offered to give us a lift, free of charge in their minivan. It turned out to be only a minute’s drive away but we were glad of the lift all the same.

We arrived at the hostel which actually turned out to be a home stay owned by Annie and her partner Raj. We hadn’t been expecting a home stay but it was great. They had a 5 bed roomed house that they let out and we were the only ones staying there at the time. We felt immediately refreshed as we chatted to Annie, Raj and their 2 children. After being shown around we popped out to get some much needed dinner. Just as we set off we felt a few large raindrops so picked up the pace and ran the rest of the way and good job we did as just as we arrived at the restaurant it absolutely chucked it down and we weren’t looking forward to the walk home. However, we needn’t have worried as 5 minutes later Raj had turned up at the restaurant and brought us a big golfing umbrella, how nice! After dinner we walked back keeping nice and dry then retired to bed after a very busy day of traveling.

The following morning we got up and enjoyed a breakfast of fresh fruit and toast that Annie had prepared. Unaware of what the area had to offer we asked Annie for some local advice. She said there were some nice treks in a nearby national park that lead to beaches so that’s what we decided to do. Annie dropped us off at the national park entrance and after registering at the parks entrance we set out on our walk. It was beautiful thick dense jungle on one side and water lapping at the shores edge on the other side. We walked along listening to all the different jungle noises that we could hear and wondering how far away we were from a poisonous snake.

We also discussed what our plans should be for the next few weeks. We had been planning to spend a week in Bangkok to get our Indian visas. However with all the Red Shirt protester in Bangkok we were being advised not to go there and with time getting on we knew we had to make a decision regarding India. After much discussion we decided that it wasn’t really going to be feasible so we decided to re-route our flights to come home from Bangkok in 6 weeks and instead go to Laos which many people had recommended. With the decision made we felt a lot better and carried on with the rest of our trekking.

We went through the canopy walk, a tree top walk along suspension type bridges. It was great to be at tree top level looking down at the jungle below. From there we carried on with the last mile towards Monkey Beach. This final part of the trek became a lot denser, the paved path disappeared and we had to climb over branches and under vines to make our way through. We really felt like we were in the jungle, especially as we only passed a couple of other trekkers on our way.

An hour or so later we reached our final destination Monkey Beach. As the trees thinned out and the beach became clear we realized all the sweat and toil had been worth it. We were greeted by a 400m stretch of white sand, palm trees and turquoise waters lapping at the shore. With swim stuff on we were straight in the water to cool off. It really was lovely but the water was almost too warm to be refreshing! We got out and wandered up the beach some more where we were greeted by some Malaysian guys who told us they had been living on this part of the beach for 16 years. We sat and chatted with them and ate the BBQ’d chicken and fresh coconuts that they offered. We were soon joined by some curious monkeys as about 10 of them came scampering down from the trees and it became apparent why the beach was called Monkey Beach. With a little encouragement from the Malaysian guys we hand fed the monkeys small pieces of coconut. The monkeys came up and gently took it with their hands; it was great to be so up close and personal with a wild animal.

We then cooled off yet again, this time in a big tub, a bit like a large bath which they’d connected a hose to so fresh water was constantly flowing through. After a bit more of a walk along the beach we decided it was time to leave this lovely secluded spot and head back to the town. We were trying to muster up the energy to walk back but one of the Malaysian guys offered to give us a lift back on his jet ski for just 30 Ringitts. It sounded great fun so on we jumped. And great fun it was, flying across the water with the wind in our hair, it’s definitely the best way to get about. I think the guy enjoyed taking us back too, giving us a little tour of the area.

Once back in Batu Feringgi we headed for some much needed lunch. It was 4pm and I was starving! But my new found favourite food Roti bread soon filled me up. We the chilled out back at Annie’s home stay, enjoying all the space we had to ourselves and catching up on all the world news on their big, widescreen telly!

Just as the sun was about to set we headed down to the beach in time to catch a beautiful sunset. I then suggested to Doddy we go for a bit of therapy tp ease our weary feet. Therapy given by fish, yes fish! In Korea I had experienced ‘Dr Fish’ and wanted Doddy to experience it too. We washed our feet then sat with them in a pool. The pool had around 60 small fish in it and when we put our feet in they swim over and nibble at the hard skin on your feet. It tickles like crazy and it was hard to keep our feet in the water for laughing so much. Although it is apparently supposed to be good for your feet and ours did feel a little smoother afterwards, however Doddy did say it was the weirdest thing he’d ever done!

We then caught a bit of a Man Utd football game before heading to a popular local food court for dinner. There were loads top choose from and it all looked delicious. On the way back we wandered through the night market where I had to pull Doddy away from the many ‘bargains’ he had spotted, he’s worse than me, I swear! One thing really did catch his eye though and he is now the proud new owner of a Taghuer watch to which we were told ‘everything about it is real except the price!’

The following morning was spent doing odd jobs including STA to change our flights to come home from Bangkok instead of India. We felt it was a bit of a shame to be missing out on India this time but we have already started making plans to go soon!

After lunch we headed to the beach where our attempts at swimming were soon halted when we both got stung by some jelly fish, that’s the thing with these climates, the nasty stingers!

That afternoon, whilst back at the house we watched a very impressive storm come in. As the skies got blacker we knew something was on its way and sure enough 10 minutes later it started bucketing it down. Then the thunder and lightening came. I think it must have been the loudest thunder I have ever heard and the lightening lit up the whole sky and even causing the trip switch in the house to blow, plunging us into darkness, but not for too long as we soon found the fuse box.

The evening was spent with Annie and Raj at one of their favourite bars right on the beach. They are a really friendly and genuine couple with big plans for their home stay in the future. If anyone’s heading to Penang we’d definitely recommend you stay with them.

Monday morning started early as we were getting a minivan to Krabi in Thailand. With farewells to Annie and Raj we climbed in the van for what was around a 10 hour journey.

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Comments

[Steve]

Annie and Raj
Liked reading your post, Monkey Island sounds like a trip. Dindn´t catch the name of Annie and Raj´s place, could you post it along with a price and address? Thanks