Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Longest trail of Penang

On 24 May 2008, we started our 8 hours hike on 7.30a.m. from Chin Farm. The entrance is opposite of City Bayview Hotel Teluk Bahang, which is the same with that of Nan Tien Men (南天门) waterfall.


After staying few years in Penang, I finally know how is Nan Tien Men waterfall

When we reached the waterfall, we took the left path of the waterfall and kept walking.

When we reached a small rock slope, go down, crossed the stream and continued our journey.

With Forest Beng’s direction, we kept walking, crossed another small stream and finally found the hiking route entrance after that.

After we found the entrance, the direction thereafter is pretty straight forward, as there is only one path to follow.Along the route, there are few signs telling us that we were on the right track.

After a while, we saw the first station signboard, which is Station 10.

We need to climb few hills before we reach Penang Hill. One of the highest is Laksamana Hill. During the journey, there were few jokes and one of it is about Laksamana. In Malay, Laksa is a type of local dish, and ‘mana’ means ‘where’. We were imagined if there will stall sell Laksa half the journey, then we can make a short break for yummy Laksa. If that happened, it will be Laksasini from Laksamana. Get it? ;)

Forest Beng motivated us using the Penang Hill ais kacang and it kept us walking, really. We went up and down hills few times. The trail is very natural, with no renovation, equipped with some rope at the steep route to aid hikers, and 6 rain gauges (if not mistaken) before we reach Station 1.

Around 11.30a.m. we reached the small tower where we break for lunch. The view from this tower is very nice. A great sea view, Teluk Bahang dam and green forest relaxed our tiring hike a lot.

After charged-up, we continued our journey. Of course, few other going up and down trails. After around 2 hours, we reached a small stream. Crossed the stream, went up and we finally reach Station 1 :)

At the junction, continue the hike by going right of the tar road. We passed by Canopy Walk, few bungalows, resting hut then finally we reached Penang Hill hawker center. It’s 4pm! Finally, we enjoyed ourselves with the ais kacang and nasi lemak :) We made it!

Before end, some tips to visit this trail:

- Bring salt, some first-aid stuff.
- Wear long breathable pant
- Bring enough water, roughly 2 liters.
- Bring food, as the hike is long, easily 6 – 8 hours, as your office hour :)
- Bring hand glove, to hold the rope.
- Wear non-slippery hiking/sport shoe.
- When crossing stream, if need to step/walk on rock, take off your shoe, to prevent from falling down.
- Bring additional pair of shoe, especially during raining season where the river level is high and very likely your shoe/sock will get wet with your shoe on while crossing the stream.
- If you think hiking pole helps, bring one. I was so thankful it was raining in the morning that I brought my umbrella and used it as a hiking pole. During one of the 30 minutes non-stop climb up, I used the umbrella to save my energy to climb up.
- Be spiritually strong to complete the journey :) Determination is very important for this endurance hike. There is no way back, 勇往直前!

One of the blog posted by Shirley http://www.mywisewife.com/penang-longest-trail-mapping-from-chin-farm-via-laksamana-hill-to-penang-hill.html

Friday, May 23, 2008

请不要闪我大灯

今天我驾车用高速公路回槟城。在半路上当我驾在快车道,正在超越二辆罗里时,有一辆车驾得非常快,暂命名车A,很快就到了我的车后。当时我的时速是110km/h,完全是高速的速度上限。那辆车向我闪了几次大灯。当我超越过了那二辆罗里后,就移去慢车道。当时我觉得车A非常没有礼貌既没有耐性。闪大灯本来是要来做警告用的,它要警告我别挡着它,还是它以为那条马路是它专属的,所以可以横行霸道?

使用公路时,请注意自己的驾车品德与礼貌。公路时属于大家的,不只是你的。

Friday, May 16, 2008

著名的烧面包食店夜市海鲜粥?

你知道槟城飞机场附近所谓著名的烧面包食店夜市的海鲜粥吗?我昨晚和同事去了一次后,我以后不会再去了。

我们点了一碗粥,一碗米粉,而每碗有几片鱿鱼,几片薄薄的鱼片,二粒鱼丸,味道普通,竟然需要马币9元一碗。这实在是有些过分贵了吧。或许你可以说我们在点单的时候没问清楚价钱,但是接下来的事情你应该也会觉得这间店过分。

我们点了四杯饮料,共数马币六元。我的朋友问清楚每杯饮料的价钱时,收银员所说的价钱和价钱表上的多了40仙。她给的理由是每杯冰块20仙,但我们只点了一杯冰块。一杯冰块20仙,稍嫌贵了些吧。而且那个收银阿姨听了我们只点了一杯冰块后,竟然脸黑黑的走开,完全没有要找回20仙给我们。你能接受吗?我不能,以后我再也不会在回去吃这么贵的普通粉粥了,倒不如到对面的小贩中心。

难怪有朋友从不光顾出名的食肆,因为这些店通常都是‘持名生骄’,乱收费。

一人一根蜡烛,这世界将会被点亮

四海之内皆兄弟也,如果你想帮助缅甸和中国的兄弟们,可以到:

http://www.redcross.org.hk/
http://www.tzuchi.org.my/relief/relief_donation.html
http://www.mercy.org.my/main/index.php
http://www.worldvision.org/
http://www.worldvision.com.my/

甚至更多更多的慈善机构.

一人一根蜡烛,这世界将会被点亮