HIKING IN THE JUNGLE TO THE BEACH IN PENANG!

Out of sequence, but our boat ride back to the start, after our hike out towards Monkey Beach at the National Park!

At 7:30 Br. Kai Li showed up with 4 women, his students!! Two were nurses, PC (who works in London- here on holiday visiting family; and Yahweh (don't think spelling is correct!) who works with mental disabled patients. She left us after lunch as she had to be to work at 3. She had spent a year in India volunteering at a primary Buddhist school. Someone said she hopes to become a nun - not sure if it's in Thay's tradition. She has spent a week in PV. Her friends said she is a saint!!

Fern seemed the youngest - worked in an office and we think her company recently downsized so she's looking for what to do next. Jessica was the Malay free spirit!! She's 43 and worked several places around the world! She's deciding what she will do next. She really likes being single; has a boyfriend and her friends say "This may be your last chance!" But she thinks she's really happy being free, no obligations, not lonely!! Very vibrant, enthusiastic, talkative!! Lots of fun!

Breakfast was a stop at one of the local, crowded breakfast spots. Yahweh, I think it was, went off and brought 6 or7 dishes to the table. I ordered Lime Juice - delicious!! I was already sweating and it was only 8 a.m.!  AFter breakfast (they won't let us pay for ANYTHING) we had to select things for Take Away for our picnic lunch at the beach.

Then off we went to the north side of the island, maybe a 45 minute drive. It was Penang National Park where there were several options for various beaches. After a bathroom break, we headed off! It was about an hour and a half, all totaled hiking. Br. Kai Li was so helpful to me. Many of the steps were steep, and some of the paths covered with tree roots. He was always there with a hand or shoulder for me to grab!! He treated me just like a "mom."  Very sweet and thoughtful!!

Breakfast! from left to right, Yahweh, Jessica, Fern and PC, our driver for the day. 

Passed a fish farm.

One of the bridges along the way. This was the EASY part!

Another wooden walkway. 

At a landing, the beach we were headed to.

So we arrived at the beach but it was too difficult to swim. Nowhere to change. There were some kind of biting ants on the beach so they had to find another spot further back to spread our blankets. I waded a bit and sat on some rocks, but no swim. I was pretty sweaty and exhausted from the hike. But there were nice big trees to sit in the shade. Shortly after 11 they brought out the food!! Unbelievable how much they can eat!! and how often!! Even the Malaysian ants came to lunch!

Beautiful!

A swing before we left!

Amazing column of ants we passed on the trail.

Another view of the beach.

Yahweh, a nurse, had to be to work at 3. So she called some relative and out he came with a lovely  motorboat to give us a quick ride back to the car!! And I thought we had to hike all the way back! Heavenly!! On our way, we passed the Entopia park with butterflies and insects in a huge enclosure. We didn't go in. We stopped at a dam, designed by a woman architect, and tried to walk the spillway but was closed for repairs. Then we headed into town for ais kacheng, which I thought was an ice cream dish. There was a huge line waiting to be served. They ordered each kind; I said we'd only do it if they let US pay! We were refused!! Fern insisted it was HER honor to pay!! Doug had mentioned this was a not-to-be-missed treat in Penang! 

This SORT OF looked like the picture Doug WhatsApped to me! But the yellow is corn and the reddish-brown are kidney beans!!! Quite an experience!

Very popular treat!

The other kind that Betty got; with green noodle-looking things.

Inside the shop it was SO crowded we had to eat outside standing up!

The long line at 3 in the afternoon! People seem to eat ALL DAY LONG!

Guy wheeling by his construction materials!

Back in town, Jessica wanted to show us one of the Clan Associations! Down by the pier. I couldn't quite figure out what they were. When the Chinese began immigrating here, they built houses connected on stilts in the water. They would come here for celebrations, there is always a temple, now filled with tourist shops, but they have family names - clans. And people actually live in back of the shops, too. We visited the Chew Clan Association!

Showing the 7 clan associations that were built on the pier.

From the Chew Clan looking at the back of one of the others.

Plants and tattoos out near the end.

A peak into one of the houses. Very basic!

The Chew temple. People were making offerings of money to support!

A dragon boat in dry dock. Jessie has seen them racing out at the lake formed by the dam.

Jessica, free spirit!

PC - a nurse in London, on a home visit.

Must be Chew family members making offerings.

Another temple we passed. 

Betty was puzzled why they flip their wipers up (in MN it's because of snow and ice! Here it's so the wiper doesn't melt onto windshield!