Small Aquarium with big fish~ Batu Maung Aquarium

Never know there is an aquarium in Penang, at Batu Maung. We discover it accidentally when we drove along Jalan Batu Maung towards the end where the airport cargo is. It was a good spot to watch aeroplane take off and landing behind the Penang International Airport. It's small scale with fresh water and salt water 2 sections only, yet it has a very big fish inside the auditorium that looks like a cinema hall. Really out of our surprise. Since the ticket is just RM2 per pax, we didn't put up any expectation, still it is pretty interesting discover and can give a short visit if you happens to be in this area.

Pizza & Wine~ Pizzeria, Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Feringghi

Little celebration of we have been dating for 3 years, with fire wood pizza and red wine at Pizzeria, Hard Rock Hotel, Batu Feringghi.

Trekking ro Penang National Park - via Muka Head / Light House Trail

Photos of lighthouse from one of the trekking to Muka Head Light House at Penang National Park. Today's trip is his first time going up to lighthouse with me. Started our trekking around 9am, we reach the 1st beach - USM CEMACS 30mins later. Continue trekking, we then reach 2nd beach - the Monkey Beach. After a short break, we start to climb up the stairs to the top where the light house is. The Lighthouse starting point is next to an old house. Apparently it is the hostel for the lighthouse keeper. It takes about 30-40 minutes uphill climb from Monkey Beach to Lighthouse. 

It is tougher than the journey from park entrance to Monkey beach. There are 2 gazebos along the way where we can pit to catch our breath! After a tough 30mins climb with 2 pit stops, here we are, standing on top of the lighthouse. On the way up, we met the lighthouse keeper who is also on his way up to lighthouse. We were so impressed with his good stamina. Not only he walk up without making any pit stop, speed is way more faster than us. He told us that he needs to climb up and down at least twice a day on daily basis!! Truly salute to those who taking up a job as lighthouse keeper.

Tips:

1. Muka Head Lighthouse opening hours are from 9am - 1pm. Anyway the gate and door are remain unlocked, you can still access to lighthouse if you arrived later. 
2. Remember to sign the guest book, remove your shoes before enter the lighthouse. 
3. Keep the lighthouse clean, no rubbish should be left behind at the lighthouse (or the national park). Be responsible, bring the rubbish with you as you left! 

Something unexpected happen that day, after we came down from lighthouse, we discover the tide is high and the pathway near giant rocks that connected the beach and trekking path back to USM was submerged. There is no way we could go back via trekking. I never encounter this before. We have no choice but to hire boat to return to National Park's entrance. Depending on boat size and number of pax. Price range normally between RM50 to RM80 (for 8-10 persons). If no one to share, or you don't want to wait, you can pay for the entire boat and depart at the time u want. So far there is always boat available.  

Trekking to Monkey Beach, Penang National Park

A month after the hike up to Penang Hill, his youngest brother follows me trekking to Monkey Beach. It is also my sister first time joining the trekking. Before enter into the National Park, registration with the authority, as well as toilet break is a must! Depart at 9am, we arrived at the first beach at USM CEMACS 30 mins later. After a short break of chasing after the tiny white crabs at the soft sand beach, we further trek to Monkey beach and reach by 10.30am - takes about 1.5 hours with normal pace. Normally we (the usual trekking members) will further up to Lighthouse then walk back for the return trip. Since we have first timers here, our destination is Monkey beach only. Also, in order to let them experience the boat ride, we hire the boat to return to park entrance so they could have a view of open sea at Straits of Malacca. 

Hiking~ Penang Hill via Jeep Trail

One of my hike up to Penang Hill with him and his youngest brother who are here in Penang during winter break. We chose to hike up via Jeep trail - the most common, straight forward also the easiest way among all the trails to the top. As it's a Jeep trail, beware of 4WD vehicles and motorcycle that travel up or down along the way. Usually the vehicle will honk at every winding corner to warn hikers that there is incoming vehicle going to pass by them. Generally, there are 3 major routes to trek up to the hill top starting off from Botanical Garden.

Jeep trail - Winding tar road where only permitted vehicle (of Penang Hill residents) to drive up to hill top. Located on the left of the Botanical Garden's main gate, with a guard post next to it. Easy route for walk up but the path is very steep compare to others.

Heritage trail - Stating point is located inside of the Botanical Garden. After main gate, keep walking on left and as you ascends the slope, look for a unmarked small steep trail on your left (between trees and plants). It will lead you hike up via approx.1000 steps staircase through the forest and eventually link back to the Jeep trail - almost half way towards the hill.

Moon Gate trail - Located outside of the Botanical garden, along Waterfall Road. Look for a Chinese archway with a round moon shape in the middle as entrance, around 100 meters before reaching Botanical Gardens. The path is less tougher compare to 1st and 2nd route, somehow will lead you out to the tar road too halfway up to the hill.

The first 0.7 km is very steep, more like 45 degree elevate. After 0.7 km onwards, the hike will become less steep and much easier. We took a coffee or tea break at the tea kiosk at 2.4km at the tea kiosk run on donation and managed by regular hikers. Every morning, these volunteer hikers will boil hot waters to make hot Chinese tea and local black coffee, serve with biscuit for hikers to enjoy it while take a rest. There is a public toilet not far from the tea kiosk in case hikers need a place to loo. After 2.4 km onwards, we don't pit stop anymore as the road has become easier to hike. Along the way, you might prompt into monkeys, usually in group. Beware the naughty monkeys might snatch away your hat or water bottle.

When you see this old colonial bungalow built by the British with inscription Grace Dieu 1927 at 4.7km, you are not far from the peak. The bungalow has a panorama view of Georgetown, Penang. Don't forget to look back for the magnificent view after pass by the bungalow and ascending a little. At 5.1km, we arrived to the peak. Total journey takes about 2 hours 30 mins including a 15-20 mins pit stop. As a regular hikers in the past, my fastest record hike up to the top is 1.5 hours without pit stop. That record has become a history now. It's been 4 years since I last hike up to Penang Hill. Now I become regularly trekking at Penang National Park. After short rest with view, we went to the food court for ABC Ice Kacang to quench our thirst and fill our hunger with fried rice and Nasi Lemak.

You will feel all your effort (to hike up) is pay off when you finally standing here looking at this beautiful view from hill top. Some years back, life wasn't going very smooth and I was so down and lost. I begin to hike up to hill top on weekends and whenever I feel down. Every time when I begin to hike up, the tough beginning at 0.7 km always makes me regret for coming. I keep thinking of turning back and go home. But, I'm glad that I never give up even once. I force myself make it to the top with tears and sweats. When I finally reached the top, it makes me feel that there is nothing that cannot be solve in our life. Penang hill top heals my heart & soul.