Penang National Park

Tuesday, 17 February 2015

We are staying a 70 minute taxi ride away from the Penang airport, which felt like the absolute last straw after all our flights from Oslo, but in fact it's turned out to be really good as we're at the quieter part of the island (of course it's all relative - it's still fairly bustling, especially at night), but we're also just a few kilometres away from Penang National Park.  Of course you couldn't walk there, as there's no pavement, and you couldn't ride there on the hotels bikes (as you'd be killed by the busses/mopeds/taxis & cars), but you can catch a local bus there for roughly 65c for us and 30c for the kids. nice!

So that's what we did today.   The main attraction on in the park is a beach called Monkey Beach, and most people take a boat from the park gates to the beach and back - about 15 minutes each way . We chose to get a boat to the beach and then walk back (about 4k), as after a few days of sitting by the pool I was really keen to do some exercise (much to the kids horror). 

 

So we organised a boat (which looked much like the one in the photo above) and set off.  On the way we passed a small floating fishing village as well as  lots of other fishing and transport boats.  The sea was quite choppy which was quite fun.

 

Once we arrived at Monkey Beach we set off to walk up the hill towards the lighthouse - much to Zali's horror this was actually in the opposite direction to the park entrance and in her opinion completely unnecessary and torturous.  Thus, only Jett, Jon and I made it to there and she waited half way up.  To be fair it was a pretty hot and sweaty walk (each day the weather is 32 degrees & 66% humidity).   Apparently (according to the park brochure), on a clear day you can see all the way to Sumatra in Indonesia.  I'm thinking that doesn't happen all that often as today was typical of each day we have been here and you can see maybe 5k before everything looks a bit hazy.

 

Back together on Monkey Beach we stopped for a cool drink and a coconut (thus fulfilling one of Zali's and my wish list items - drinking from a freshly cut coconut). 

 

 

Then we continued down the beach and started the trek back to the park entrance.

It was hot and sweaty work. The jungle headland sections of the walk provided some shade which was nice although the going was often slow and steep. Zali and Jon swam at one of the beaches but Jett and I didn't bother as the sea is so warm it wasn't very refreshing. Here's Jett sitting in the shade waiting for them.

 

 

After about an hour of sweaty walking, we were just about back at the park entrance. Here we are looking across at the floating village from the land this time. In the far distance (just out of sight actually) is a 15 storey abandoned hotel - apparently it was a 5 star resort which closed in 2006.  As you get closer you can see that there are just weeds and trees growing out of all levels. Pretty eerie. Would probably make for some good photos of Nature vs Human if you could get inside.

 

Are you wondering about the Monkeys at monkey beach? Well yes there were monkeys, lots of them. We saw them there and also as we got close to the entrance of the park where there were also metre long monitor lizards as well. We only took one or two photos of them..

 

And the reason? Well the great big elephant in the room - these photos all look lovely and tropical and everything, and the park brochure advertises unspoilt beaches and the park rules are very strict about disallowing all forms of pollution including noise -so you are not even allowed to take in a musical instrument, but in reality, every bit of coastline, including monkey beach although in hindsight that wasn't as bad as the rest of it (due to local businesses cleaning it up I guess although it still really bad by our standards), was covered in rubbish. Tonnes and tonnes and tonnes of rubbish.  Empty bottles, drums, plastic, fishing gear,  washing baskets,  thousands of halved oranges (very strange - perhaps a cruise serves fresh orange juice and just tosses the oranges overboard afterwards) etc etc. The coastline was a disgrace. A sickening, depressing disgrace. So we couldn't bring ourselves to take too many photos of lizards and monkeys crawling over rubbish on the 'unspoilt' beaches. ugg.  It's not all washed up either, a lot of it is around the trails, bottles, nappies, everything. Gross. 

I remember this in Thailand too on our honeymoon - the beaches near the resorts were lovely but if you walked five minutes further away than a typical guest would, you just hit piles and piles of rubbish.  And again when we went hiking in Hong Kong, where you would have to use a rake to sweep away the rubbish left by other campers if you wanted to put up your tent. I just don't get it.  I really don't get it.

 

So although this was disheartening  it certainly didn't ruin our day,  it was really  great to get out and move and nice to see the jungle as well. I'm keen to go back early tomorrow morning just to get a fast walk or something in before our buffet breakfast.  Then there will be plenty of time for the pool afterwards..

 


 

 

2015summary
Bringing back the Caprice Wednesday, 30 December 2015
and now for somewhere completely different.. Monday, 28 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 5 Sunday, 27 December 2015
End of primary school Thursday, 24 December 2015
Suitcase Cat Thursday, 24 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 4 Thursday, 24 December 2015
Simplicity Saturday, 12 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge - Week 3 Tuesday, 8 December 2015
PIzza by the Book Challenge - Week 2 Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Mt Rufus Circuit Tuesday, 8 December 2015
December Flowers Tuesday, 8 December 2015
Pizza by the Book Challenge Monday, 30 November 2015
South Cape Rivulet Sunday, 22 November 2015
Meanest mum in the world.. Sunday, 15 November 2015
Before and After #34 - Green Room Take 2 Wednesday, 11 November 2015
Why Jon is not allowed a credit card - Part 2 Monday, 9 November 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #27 & #28 Sunday, 8 November 2015
To Do.. Saturday, 7 November 2015
Cathedral Rock Monday, 2 November 2015
Silver Linings Part 2 Monday, 2 November 2015
Silver Linings Part 1 Monday, 2 November 2015
Hey Pinto.. Monday, 2 November 2015
Derby River Derby Saturday, 24 October 2015
Cake Saturday, 24 October 2015
What goes around comes around.. Friday, 23 October 2015
cake teaser Tuesday, 20 October 2015
Tarn Shelf Monday, 12 October 2015
Tasman Island Tuesday, 29 September 2015
60 Great Walks Challenge - Walk 26 & Before and After #33 Monday, 28 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Fail Monday, 28 September 2015
Before and After #32 Wednesday, 16 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #26 Monday, 14 September 2015
Pennicot Wilderness Cruise Monday, 14 September 2015
Glamping Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #25 Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #24 Sunday, 13 September 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #23 Sunday, 13 September 2015
Jett is 10! Sunday, 6 September 2015
Patriotic Chocolate Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Snowday! Tuesday, 4 August 2015
Before and After #31 Saturday, 1 August 2015
Before and After #30 Monday, 13 July 2015
How to improve the Tour De France Sunday, 12 July 2015
Unjustness-ness. Saturday, 11 July 2015
Everyone Loves Onesie & Device Day Sunday, 5 July 2015
Homework Wednesday, 1 July 2015
Mt Amos Monday, 29 June 2015
Snow Day Monday, 29 June 2015
Less complaining, More Watching.. Sunday, 28 June 2015
Amazing India Friday, 12 June 2015
Indian Food.. Thursday, 11 June 2015
More Bikes Thursday, 11 June 2015
Routines Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Bicycles Wednesday, 10 June 2015
Goa Day 3 Monday, 8 June 2015
Goa Day 2 Sunday, 7 June 2015
Is this India? Friday, 5 June 2015
Chennai Day #5 Thursday, 4 June 2015
Chennai Day #4 Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Chennai Day #3 Wednesday, 3 June 2015
Chennai Day #2 Tuesday, 2 June 2015
Contrasts Sunday, 31 May 2015
Landing in Chennai Sunday, 31 May 2015
Sparkling Singapore Saturday, 30 May 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #22 Sunday, 24 May 2015
Hollybank! Saturday, 23 May 2015
Stitched Rock Tuesday, 19 May 2015
Literal Translations Monday, 18 May 2015
Two Mountains Sunday, 17 May 2015
It pays to be alert.. Saturday, 16 May 2015
Sick Day Friday, 15 May 2015
Public vs Private - Part 2 Thursday, 14 May 2015
Public vs Private - Part 1 Wednesday, 13 May 2015
Desperate Times.. Tuesday, 12 May 2015
Setting a price.. Monday, 11 May 2015
American Grammar Sunday, 10 May 2015
Happiness Saturday, 9 May 2015
Cat Tree Update Monday, 20 April 2015
This is why Jon isn't allowed his own credit card Thursday, 16 April 2015
KittyCam Sunday, 12 April 2015
Commuter Girl Saturday, 11 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #5 Thursday, 9 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #21 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #4 - Part 2 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #4 - Part 1 Monday, 6 April 2015
Flinders Island Day 3 Sunday, 5 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #20 Saturday, 4 April 2015
60 Walks Challenge - Walk #19 Friday, 3 April 2015
Flinders Island Day #1 Friday, 3 April 2015
More Questions Thursday, 26 March 2015
What's the story.. Thursday, 26 March 2015
Quick Quiz Monday, 23 March 2015
This is an unspoilt beach.. Monday, 9 March 2015
Binalong Bay & Scamander Sunday, 8 March 2015
Old times.. Sunday, 1 March 2015
1 week back Friday, 27 February 2015
Packing Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Goodbye Malaysia Wednesday, 18 February 2015
Penang National Park Tuesday, 17 February 2015
I'm not afraid of parasailing horses.. Sunday, 15 February 2015
Random Photos Friday, 13 February 2015
Goodbye Drammen & Norway Friday, 13 February 2015
Putin the Norwegian Forest Cat Thursday, 12 February 2015
Goodbye Geilo Thursday, 12 February 2015
Ice Fishing - what's not to love.. Wednesday, 11 February 2015
Remains of the day Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Mountain Views Monday, 9 February 2015
uvær Monday, 9 February 2015
Melting.. Monday, 9 February 2015
Lessons Saturday, 7 February 2015
Ice Music Festival Day 2 Saturday, 7 February 2015
Wait for Meeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Saturday, 7 February 2015
Drammen to Geilo Friday, 6 February 2015
I can't believe it's come to this.. Thursday, 5 February 2015
We've come a long way.. Thursday, 5 February 2015
Mesnaelva Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Postcard Perfect Wednesday, 4 February 2015
Free days Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Point to Point Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Norwegian Forest Cat - Update 2 Monday, 2 February 2015
Ski-Every-Day team Monday, 2 February 2015
Kjelke Kjøring and Butt Racers Monday, 2 February 2015
Norwegian Forest Cat - update Sunday, 1 February 2015
Getting through the list.. Sunday, 1 February 2015
Forest Cats and Snow Dogs Sunday, 1 February 2015
Yes. We should all move to Lillehammer. Sunday, 1 February 2015
Lillehammer Day 2 Saturday, 31 January 2015
Hmmph Friday, 30 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 7 & goodbye Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hearts and minds Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Shiplife Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 6 Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 5 Monday, 26 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 4 - part 2 Sunday, 25 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 4 - part 1 Sunday, 25 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 3 Friday, 23 January 2015
in our hearts and minds Friday, 23 January 2015
Hurtigruten: Day 1 & 2 Friday, 23 January 2015
Goodbye Bergen, hello Hurtigruten Thursday, 22 January 2015
Going Undercover.. Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Beautiful Bergen Wednesday, 21 January 2015
Norwegian Breakfasts Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Over the hills and far away Tuesday, 20 January 2015
Quick Update Monday, 19 January 2015
Ice Hockey! Monday, 19 January 2015
Ski trip #2 Monday, 19 January 2015
Handsome Norwegian Boys Monday, 19 January 2015
This is why.. Sunday, 18 January 2015
Ski Audit Saturday, 17 January 2015
Tourist Day Saturday, 17 January 2015
Snow Day Saturday, 17 January 2015
Thank you Oslo. Saturday, 17 January 2015
Plugged Wednesday, 14 January 2015
I think it's Friday. Friday, 9 January 2015
Happy Birthday Zali!! Friday, 9 January 2015
The Nook Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Fluted Cape Wednesday, 31 December 2014
Kicking goals together Wednesday, 31 December 2014