Tuesday, 9 September 2014

A weekend in Penang with new friends

Sat 6th - Mon 8th Sept '14


This weekend I have again been lucky to cross paths with a great group of travelers. After the fun night on Friday with Rob, Jenna, Rebecca, Bianca and Jeff (+Rayson, Cherly and their local friends), we awake late and plan the days trip. Today we will be heading to the National Park approx 1 hr by bus from Georgetown.




On arrival to the park we have to sign in but the entrance is free. We locate a beach to trek too through the jungle from the entrance. Before heading off we decide to get some lunch at a nearby food stall, instead of the expected (and hoped) fast food pick up, our chosen takeaway meal takes a lot longer and having been told the park closes at 6pm, we now need to cut down the 1hr 30min trekking time to the beach! Jenna and Rob set off and soon are further ahead of me, Rebecca, Jeff and Bianca. It is hot and sweaty trekking through the jungle but the path is easy to follow and we are determined to get to the beach for a swim.











We make it to the beach in an hour.. but unfortunately we soon see signs warning of jellyfish/deaths and therefore do not swim.. this is a big disappointment! Instead we eat, relax and soon have to turn back due to the time.





When we arrive back at the entrance to the park we grab a quick drink and wait for the bus to Batu Feringghi. At Batu Feringghi we walk through some of the street markets on route to the beach. Here we find a long sandy beach with horse riding and water sports taking place.







The beach side restaurants are pricey in comparison with what we can find on the main street and we soon locate a cheap food market for dinner. My meal is very spicy.. and I suspect might be the cause of my first holiday illness I begin to feel later in the evening and the throughtout next day.




In the evening we initially plan to go out for drinks but end up chilling in the hostel, playing Jenga which very quickly gets competitive between us.. especially Jenna..!! By the time we head to bed my stomach is unsettled and I am feeling hot/cold.. this leads to a unsettled nights sleep.




The next morning I am still feeling unwell, with a fragile stomach and low energy, I decide to stay in and rest during the day whilst the rest of the group head to the biggest temple on the island. In the evening we head out for food in Little India.. nothing spicy for me! It is Jeff's final evening as he is taking the night bus back to Kuala Lumpur. Jeff has recently started his own company selling skin care products,however at the moment his products are only available in America (http://jeffen.com/).

Before leaving we all create artwork/thankyou messages on one of the few blank walls left in the hostel.



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