Gong Xi Fatt Chai 2009

Happy Chinese New Year

Penang hill solo hike

Woke up at 9.30am today, was supposed to wake up earlier for my hike up to Penang Hill. Got up and quickly rush out. It took me about 30 minutes walk to reach the starting point, a temple right next to the clinic my aunt brought me for a jab in the bum, thank goodness it doesn't hurts as much now.



I wasn't sure about the trail at first but all I know is that my starting is behind a temple and I must cut through a few farms. Try my luck and took a small trail which I think could be the most likely way.


Only 10 minutes from the starting point I could feel the zen in the place, there were monks walking pass and stuff. After passing the temple path I found myself near a farm house with dogs barking as I go nearer. Not good I thought, time to get a stick.
As I was lookin for my weapon a dog came nearer and nearer, once I manage to find myself a stick. The dog was already next to me, nibbling on the stick I just picked up at the same time it's pulling the stick playfully. Played a little tug-of-war with the fella and for some reason I felt as if it's asking me to follow him, and strangly I did.


For more then an hour I followed the dog, taking every path it took. I was actually asking myself, what the heck is this dalmation doing in this part of the world and where is it leading me to?

It is when we arrive at this rock that I realized where is it taking me. I'm on the right path and there is no question about it. All thanks to this spotted mutt.

We walked on in the sun no shade and it's hot as hell. Since most of the path crosses the farms, the luxury of having tall trees to provide shade is kinda out of the question. The farmers wants the sun for their plants so all trees gotta be out of the way, at least that's the case for the first leg of the trip. The sun really gave me quite a beating, at one point I even considered turning back and try it again another time when it's not that hot but this is Penang, it's always hot here.
The dog lead me all the way to a tree at a split road 2 arrows are nailed on the tree giving directions, and that's where the dog left me, I took the trail and head for Penang Hill as it goes back down.

I continued on and walked for god knows how long, found myself at some bungalows. That when I knew that I'm now very near my destination. The ice kachang stall on Penang hill. Not the best but it will do for a tired hiker like me. (don't try the one at stall number 888, not happening)


My first time hiking up to Penang Hill and I learned an important lesson, the botanical garden have a much shady trail which is nicer and more cooling, don't be a hero and walk across the farms unless you wanna meet the kind spotted mutt.

Have a Great Day,
Dennis

Crazy Bee

Arrived on Penang Island at 1.30am yet decided to follow my aunt and my mom to Air Hitam dam for a morning walk. I knew that it's going to be too easy for me so I decided to hike up to Penang hill right after that.
The people here are quite anti social I think, I could be wrong but if you've been to Kiara hill for a walk you get greeted by some of the joggers. It does makes the walk more pleasing. Or maybe I'm just crazy, I did greet them all anyway.
I decided to use a route not far away from the dam to start my journey to Penang Hill, still I got to accompany my mom and aunt to the car.
On the way there I felt a sharp pain on my neck. Something was sting or citing me, I flick the thing off without knowing what I'm dealing with.
The pain grew to become more annoying, felt like I've been stung by a bee. I got no idea if the sting is still there or not so I got my mom to check it for me while my aunt go 'Quickly go to the clinic! This one cannot play a fool one ar!' there goes my plan for Penang hill the bee choose a perfect time to ruin my plan, right when my kan chong aunt is around.
Well at least I had fun disturbing my aunt while on the way to the clinic, pretending than my hands are numb and kept asking if my head is falling off. At least until when the doctor said that he's giving me a lab.



Have a Great Day
Dennis

An Expensive Sleep

Had an expensive sleep yesterday, was so tired that I forgotten to take off my glasses before I sleep and when I woke up I found it broken...
Brought it in to the shop to have it fixed up before I leave for Penang tomorrow, I basically bought a new pair of frame and have the lenses moved over, even this will take a day because the lenses needed to be trimmed in order to fit the new pair of glasses.

Have a Great Day
Dennis

The City of Cats

Just returned after spending a few days in Kuching, Sarawak. It's my first time visiting that part of the country and I can proudly say that I've visited all thirteen states. A few days before I leave for Kuching I was already warned that it's been raining non stop for days and some parts of the city are already flooding, my mother even told me to forget about the trip but the one thing that my mother know about me is that I hardly listens to her.
I arrive in Kuching at about 11pm, when the plane landed the runway was wet but it wasn't raining however it started to rain when the plane was docking.

3-Days Wet Shoes

On my first day there Linus drove me around town to see stuffs ranging from the Cat monument to Gambir Sarawak (You don't want to know), it was still raining on and off the roads were never dry so my activities were limited to indoor stuff like visiting the Kuching Aquarium and Museum.
Apart from that I did do some souvenir shopping and have a couple of drinks before the end of the day.

Real skulls in the museum exhibit

We started early on the following day, I got dragged to church for morning mass, it's incredible that there are people attending church at 6 A.M. in the morning. The rest of the day was spent shooting Linus' short film, you can read more about it in his blog since he had already written about it and I'm pretty lazy to write more, quite sleepy now actually... Yawn...~!

Sago Grubs washed and ready to be cooked

The highlight of my trip has to be the Sago Worms, I read somewhere that Sarawak is quite well known for these tasty grubs and I personally made it a point that I would try them. Bought a dozen at the Sunday Market to try, thanks to Linus' mom we all had deep fried grubs for dinner that night.

Another highlight of the trip was to see the Orang Utan in Semengoh Wildlife Rehabilitation Sanctuary, even thou I've seen Orang Utans in the zoo before but its another thing to see them roaming freely in the wild, we arrived at the feeding area and saw an Orang Utan already there waiting for food. The guide then lead us to another feeding area hoping that we'll get to see more Orang Utans there however the Orang Utans had different plans. In all I seen about 2 Orang Utans and about 3 more from far away and I mean really really far up in the trees but it was still worth it I say.
I must say that I did enjoy my trip despite the rain, to be able to see new places, meet new friends and gain new experience, there is nothing better then that.

Have A Great Day
Dennis