Thursday, January 24, 2008

The 'toughest' trail in Southern Penang...

Today is Thaipusam day and we made our first hiking trip to Pantai Pasir Panjang, Balik Pulau from Gertak Sanggul. There are 16 of us in total.

To depart, drive onto Gertak Sanggul road and you will reach an end. The departure point is just at the end of the road, as pointed by the arrow.

Almost half of the trail is cement-paved. The width is about the size of a single motorcycle-lane, although the beginning of the path allows a car to drive through.

There are few junctions where we need to make decision if to go left or right. Anyway, our guide CH and AS made the decision with the help from map and information from URLs below:

http://trails.forestexplorers.com/trail18gertaksanggultopasirpanjang.shtml
http://my.pagenation.com/pen/Gertak%20Sanggulp.%20Betung%20Trail_100.1847_5.2936.map
http://www.worldisround.com/articles/40935/index.html

I am regret of not bringing pen and paper to mark down the trail we had followed for future reference. Based on my memory, for the first junction, the left road is gated. Thus we have no difficulties making the judgment, to follow the right trail :). For second and third junction, we follow the left path. For subsequent junction, we follow right path. There are two useful indicators: sunquick plastic strip and red arrow signboard. If you see any of these indicators, you are on the correct path and you can save your sweat :)

The trail we took is along the coast line. It was sunrise when we first depart and the scenery is nice.

There were birds chirping along the trail and you can feel you are in the heart of the jungle :) There are some fruit plantation e.g. banana, nutmeg and durian. And cannot be left out is the rubber tree, you might see rubber tappers along your hike :). Some nutmeg tree is tide with a long ladder and FS called it The Ladder to The Heaven.

Keep walking, and you will see the Kem Bina Negara and Pantai Pasir Panjang. It is so near but yet so far. It is right in front of my eyes, but it took us another 2 hours to reach there.

After around 1.5 hours hike, we reach an important junction, which flip today hiking experience to the most exciting page. Looking at the photo below (you might notice sunquick plastic strip and red arrow signboard in the middle), as according to the map, both trail lead you to the same destination, with the left trail is solely jungle trekking, passing by some bushes; while the right trail is possibly longer, which lead you to the banana farm, then tar road to Pantai Pasir Panjang. For the sake of saving time, we have chosen to use the left trail and the unexpected adventurous hike began :)

Apparently, this trail has not been used for quite some time. The bushes and erosion blocked our journey.

Luckily there were few heroes e.g. FS, BH and WH to pioneer a new route for us. The new route is tough, as the heroes need to create a path in the bushes, and it was slippery with thorny plants around. We need to watch our steps very carefully and we were proceeding terribly slowly, although it is less than one kilometer, but it took us around 1.5 hours to complete it. Holly cow! I called that the toughest trail I have had so far. We have to pioneer new trail and believe we are in correct direction. The guide CH tried convinced us with ‘We are ALMOST there’ and positively, everyone was able to continue the journey. Thanks to the heroes and we finally reached the destination, Pantai Pasir Panjang :)

The beach is nice and we have had relaxing rest at the beach. We decided to take another trail for our return trip, as we wish to stay away from the bushy newly pioneered route. We walked towards the tar road and then we reached Hai Ching restaurant for lunch.

On our return journey, we passed by a temple. Can you see the banana farm behind the temple? We need to climb to almost hill top in order to get back to the trail. It was hot and the road is a bit steep.

No pain no gain, the nice scenery from top of the hill is the reward we got :)

The return journey took shorter time, around 2.5 hours including the tar road from Pantai Pasir Panjang to Hai Ching restaurant. This was an interesting hiking trail and we will come back one day later if we manage to come in big group! But definitely not pioneering another new bushy path :)

Oh, if you have not seen fresh nutmeg on the tree, here you go.

Monday, January 21, 2008

鼠年来咯

‘鼠’年吉庆千家福
光‘曙’永照你家门
开心‘数’家财万贯
过街老‘鼠’不是你
儿孙满堂‘数’星星
服装打扮不‘俗’气
身体健康不中‘暑’

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Taiping lake











Yesterday we went to Taiping for a wp's wedding ceremony and wedding lunch. During the breaktime, we went to Taiping Lake for a short walk. It was hot weather with blue sky, and the reflection looks so nice.

只要感恩,礼让,微笑,一切都可以令你快意很多

摘自<李居明改运真言>

Monday, January 14, 2008

Conversation with GOD

Read this from a forwarded email, which I found meaningful to share. No copyright offense as the copyright statement is not written in the email :p

God

Hello. Did you call me?

Me

Called you? No. Who is this?

God

This is GOD. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will chat.

Me

I do pray. Just makes me feel good. I am actually busy now. I am in the midst of something.

God

What are you busy at? Ants are busy too.

Me

Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.

God

Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity frees it.

Me

I understand. But I still can't figure out. By the way, I was not expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging chat.

God

Well I wanted to resolve your fight for time, by giving you some clarity. In this net era, I wanted to reach you through the medium you are comfortable with.

Me

Tell me, why has life become complicated now?

God

Stop analyzing life. Just live it. Analysis is what makes it complicated.

Me

Why are we then constantly unhappy?

God

Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about yesterday. You are worrying because you are analyzing. Worrying has become your habit. That's why you are not happy.

Me

But how can we not worry when there is so much uncertainty?

God

Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.

Me

But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.

God

Pain is inevitable able, but suffering is optional.

Me

If suffering is optional, why do good people always suffer?

God

Diamond cannot be polished without friction. Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people go through trials, but don't suffer. With that experience their life become better not bitter.

Me

You mean to say such experience is useful?

God

Yes. In every term, Experience is a hard teacher. She gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.

Me

But still, why should we go through such tests? Why can't we be free from problems?

God

Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering Beneficial Lessons (to) Enhance Mental Strength. Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance, not when you are free from problems.

Me

Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't know where we are heading.

God

If you look outside you will not know where you are heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream. Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight. Heart provides insight.

Me

Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt more than moving in the right direction. What should I do?

God

Success is a measure as decided by others. Satisfaction is a measure as decided by you. Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than knowing you road ahead. You work with the compass. Let others work with the clock.

Me

In tough times, how do you stay motivated?

God

Always look at how far you have come rather than how far you have to go. Always count your blessing, not what you are missing.

Me

What surprises you about people?

God

When they suffer they ask, "why me?" When they prosper, they never ask "Why me". Everyone wishes to have truth on their side, but few want to be on the side of the truth.

Me

Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here. I can't get the answer.

God

Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who you want to be.
Stop looking for a purpose as to why you are here. Create it. Life is not
a process of discovery but a process of creation.

Me

How can I get the best out of life?

God

Face your past without regret. Handle your present with confidence.
Prepare for the future without fear.

Me

One last question. Sometimes I feel my prayers are not answered.

God

There are no unanswered prayers. At times the answer is NO.

Me

Thank you for this wonderful chat.

God

Well. Keep the faith and drop the fear. Don't believe your doubts and doubt your beliefs. Life is a mystery to solve not a problem to resolve. Trust me. Life is wonderful if you know how to live. "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that took our breath away!

Friday, January 11, 2008

农历新年要来咯

天气转热,也感觉到农历新年就要到咯 :)
这次的新年将会放蛮长的假期,好期待哦。

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Rainbow


最近黄昏时常下雨。上星期六虽然没下雨,但是空气中满是水气,而让彩虹姑娘也出来了。

还记得上次看到彩虹是和kelly 及 sophia 一起晚餐。如今kelly远在日本,希望她事事如意。你想念马来西亚的彩虹吗?日本的彩虹又是怎样的呢?

Friday, January 4, 2008

撞车容易修车难

摘自<李居明改运真言>

而最近我自己本身得领悟是

生病容易痊愈难 :p

Thursday, January 3, 2008

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Happy new year 2008 and song to share today

Happy new year 2008 :)

A song to share, Leona Lewis - Footprints In The Sand

You walked with me
Footprints in the sand
And helped me understand
Where I'm going

You walked with me
When I was all alone
With so much unknown
Along the way

And just when I
I thought I'd lost my way
You gave me strength to carry on
That's when I heard you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sorrow
And despair

And I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand
When I'm weary
Well I know you'll be there
Cause I can feel you
When you say

I promise you
I'm always there
When your heart is filled with sadness and despair
Oh, I'll carry you
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints in the sand

[choir]

When your heart is full of sadness and despair
I'll carry you
When you need a friend

I promise you
I'm always there
When you need a friend
You'll find my footprints
In the sand