This is yet another momentous event in my life – blood donation. Many do not know that one of my many biggest fear in life are needle and blood. I am afraid even of doing blood test but of course that is mandatory since health is at stake and it seems to be only a small quantity of blood (incase the quantity = amount of pain). Nevertheless I had my blood test on Tuesday and on Wednesday I embrace myself for blood donation – the first time EVER. Telling myself that … what is greater than a gift of life! Another form of donation. Since fear is the only deterrent … I’ve decided to overcome it. Hence with a company of another friend … filled up a form, had my finger pricked (for hemoglobin test I think), took blood pressure, got my little red book and lastly the moment I most feared off … filling up the bag with blood!

I was pretty tense … but thankfully it lasted probably 5 minute or less. Feeling as if the floor move a little, I lie down to take a short rest before getting up. Hot milo and yummy muffin was served … I guess it’s all a really worthy cause.

Despite the fact that I am still coughing … I eagerly accepted a Durian Feast invitation. I am sure some of you know how much I love durians – durian cake, durian ‘kueh’, durian ice cream … well you name it!

Anyway it was my first time going to a Durian Farm and taste it freshly out of the shell (minus the hassle of opening it, as I tend to injure myself in that process). In the recent years most of my durians come from supermarket – Jusco! HAHAHAHA

I took some pictures along the way, around the farm and of course the durians …

In case you are wondering, the durian buffet cost us RM 20 each. I had so much that my stomach feel bloated and I was burping durian gasses – euwww nasty!!! I also bought home some durian ‘kueh’ (no preservatives) at RM 7 each, haven’t give it a try yet thou.

There is a lookout point along the way as you travel up Batu Maung. Please do take note of a lamp post as it is not earthed and may electrocute you!

Check out another related Durian stories

After the Penang Longest Trail challenge, I was down with running nose, sore throat, fever and cough (in that order). In a nut shell I was MIA (missing in action) for at least a week and sleeping most of my time away, I got up mostly to eat and to the toilet only. Sleeping sounds relaxing but I actually had a hard time snoozing. I tossed around frequently and quite often I was drenched in sweats, sounds really uncomfortable but with the fatigue around, sleeping was all I could do. Visited the clinic 3 times with 2 types of antibiotic prescribe, during my 3rd visit to the clinic my fever was still at a high of 38 degrees. If this still does not go down anytime soon, I may be suspected with dengue although I have yet display any obvious symptoms (as a precaution).

What could be worst when you have to travel with all that? Unfortunately over the last weekend I had to travel, it is something I couldn’t miss, so off I go flying with a slight fever and coughing profusely. Thankfully the super-strong-antibiotic works and my fever went away, what’s left is my annoying cough and the feeling of lethargic. Even my chest and abdominal aches now from coughing too much … sigh … when will this go away?!?!?

An interesting quote that I must really share (taken from http://www.forestexplorers.com/)

Only after the last tree has been cut down;
Only after the last fish has been caught;
Only after the last river has been poisoned;
Only then will you realize that money cannot be eaten.
- Cree Indian Prophecy

How many of us take in consideration of how we are treating the environment?

Spread the idea …

Looking at my current fitness level, conquering anything bigger then Penang Hill may be a problem for me. Hence as a preparation for my trip to conquer Mount Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), I’ve organized a trip to challenge the Penang Longest Trail. This trail span from Teluk Bahang all the way to Penang Hill, possibly one of the hardest and most time consuming trail in Penang. It sure feel like hiking at least half of Penang. Generally it will take approximately 6-7 hours of hike but because of the different fitness level in my team of 39 people (yeah you read it right), the duration ranges between 4 hours up to 8 hours. I was almost one of the last few, as I either busy taking pictures or yacking along the way – why rush when you can enjoy the nature right? An excuse of being slow. Well I was slow probably because I was carrying a load of almost 8 kg, I think I over pack (heavy traveler) – too much water, too much food, too much junk food, loads of medicine ~ HAHAHA.

This hike is definitely not for beginners, I would seriously advice that you have a little bit of training – maybe going up to Bukit Jambul Hill a couple times or Penang Hill. Nobody is going to carry you out of the trail if you are stuck half way! Having said that, I do not mean that it is overly tough. It is a series of up hill and down hill, and it’s a long trail – a good stamina goes a long way for you to at least to enjoy the trail.

This trip took roughly two weeks to plan. I needed at least a decent group of 15 people to minimize the bus fare, plus its safer that way. However in the first week, all I have was 7 or 8 people. I was quite worry it won’t work out and I do really need the training. Hence I launch a ‘marketing campaign’ to market this event. I used Facebook, Multiply, Emails, Instant Messaging, Skype and SMS to spread the news, I am quite sure some of you got the invitation one way or another. The campaign was quite a success and the participation level has grown steadily. Up to two days before the hike, my list is at a healthy level of 26 hikes. What was most surprising was … 10 hours before the hike my team grew up to 39 people. There was some reshuffling in the list but the amount of people join outnumbered the number of people who pulled out.

If you are interested in organizing a trip to challenge this trail and need to charter a bus, try Ah Chye at 016-4229318. He charged me RM 80 for the whole bus (44 capacity). For those non-Penangnites, you must be wondering why you need a bus. Basically Teluk Bahang is on the other side of the island from the end of the trail, it would take an hour just for you to go back to Teluk Bahang to get your car. So most of us park near the Tram station and took the bus over to Teluk Bahang.

Tip: There is a fantastic and must try homemade chicken pie at Southview Bangalow in Penang Hill. However to get them, you need to pre-order at least 1 week ahead (just to be safe). To order them, try calling 04-8299474 (the aunty speaks mostly hokkien I think).

You may also use my list to plan your trip.

———-

Summary of ‘planned’ attendees – 26 hikers, 35 chicken pies (more pies then hikers hehehe).

Activity:

• Penang Longest Trail Hike

Trail:

• Teluk Bahang to Penang Hill Trail (Laksamana Trail)

Duration:

• Approx 6 – 7 hours (depends on the overall group performance)

Date:

• 7 June 2008 (Saturday / Public Holiday)

Time:

• Meet up at before 7.00 am sharp (bus leaves at 7.00 am) at Penang Hill foothill station - Please have your breakfast prior to that, we will not stop for breakfast
• Adjourn at 2 pm (depending on the progress of the journey)

Transportation:

• Charter a bus from bus stop at the temple near Asia Café to Teluk Bahang (near to Penang Hill Station)
• Upon reaching Penang Hill at the end of the trail, we will take the tram down

Cost:

• Bus fair (RM 80 per bus to be divided) + Tram fair (RM3) – Those who have confirmed their attendance, needs to pay for their share of the bus fair despite absent (fair right!)

Misc:

• Chicken Pie order (RM 1.90 / pie) – upon arrival of the destination (this is your light at the end of the tunnel J)

Suggested attire:

• Wear at least knee-level pants (pants that covers DOWN to the knee) and also hiking (or sport) shoes and thick stockings.

What to bring: VERY IMPORTANT

• Water – bring plenty of this, especially if you’re the type that perspires a lot. 3 liters would be a reasonable amount although you can carry less if you are not a ‘drinker’ or more if you are a ‘heavy drinker’
• Food – No food stalls along the way. Bring 2 meals with you, breakfast and lunch at least. You are also encouraged to also bring some energy bars in case you get hungry during the hike. Try not to bring any dry food (eg. Biscuits) as our body is not suitable taking in these during fatigue and exhausted condition. Sandwiches or bread will be good.
• Raincoat or umbrella – since this is a rather long hike in which we cannot turn back at any time that we want to, we need to be prepared for the weather. A light raincoat would be preferable as it would allow you use of both your hands when hiking.
• Extra change of clothes – to change after the long hike.
• Hiking pole – if you have one. It will help ease your hike a little.
• Bring along insect repellents.
• First aid stuff – not everyone needs to carry this. Volunteers anyone?
• CAMERA! - Does anyone have a wide angel lens? we have a really big group here.

What you will take back:

• your own rubbish (don’t litter … glitter!)
• your self
• pictures
• loads of fun + memories

What you can leave behind:

• your footprints

Please arrange your own transport to the meeting place, car pool if possible. SAVE THE EARTH, SAVE PETROL!.

———-

My special thanks to the Anak Hutan gang! Without them I think most of the people in my group would have probably gotten lost! Frankly speaking, I don’t know the trail and most of the people don’t know either.

I came upon a very interesting site during one of my web site research (I research very interesting stuff, don’t ya know!). Also added with my curiosity over how things works and knowing stuff like what makes a thunder, what is the highest waterfall etc. They are just general knowledge but aren’t you curious over what is happening around us? What we know is probably the smallest subset of the term knowledge, most of the time we don’t even know what we don’t know! Hahaha what a confusing statement. Nevertheless knowledge is endless …

Back to my ‘interesting’ subject, someone once asked me “do you have 48 hours a day?”. Well basically, those around me perceived that I am doing lots of stuff concurrently (sort of like the quad core processor). However in my defense … nope I only have 24 hours and I am not doing a lot of multitasking – I am just good at elaborating what I do (isn’t this such a nice skill to have??? ~ go figure). So … what do you think about 960 hours a day???

http://www.livescience.com/php/trivia/earthfacts/index.php?qnum=20

Let’s do a bit of math. If we work 8 hours a day (some work much longer) that equals 33.33% of our day. If a day is 960 hours long, that would mean we need to work for 319 hours. That is 13 days of work! YIKESSSSSSS.

I went up to Penang Hill hike 2 weeks back with a group of almost 70% whom are strangers to me. Strangely when it comes to hobbies and outdoor activities, I tend to get acquainted pretty fast. Well basically the folks that I went with are pretty friendly people, sharing their experiences from ‘Ocean to Peak’, that is their group name by the way. Two of the hikers in the group did weight training on that trail, carrying over 10 kg (I forgot to ask what was in it) up in the 3 hour hike to the top of Penang Hill. Honestly, I’ve only hike up to Penang Hill twice, the first one was relatively shorter - approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, this was 3 hours! We started off almost at the same location, the previous place was near the train station and the other was near the trail up the Air Itam Dam. Didn’t expect that it would be such a vast difference, oh well … I didn’t ask anyway, I just joined the group when a colleague of mine invited. Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining … it was fun! Tiring … but fun! I need the training anyway … Although it is tough there is always a good motivation factor , sort of like ‘the light at the end of the tunnel’ (the trail in this case) … it was the chicken pie. A piping hot and straight from the oven, homemade chicken pie. I didn’t order any (thanks to my colleague’s coordination!) but one of the hiker was kind enough to spare me half a pie, you could imagine how grateful I was holding that half a pie! I was either very hungry or it was just too good! So if you are organizing a trip up to Penang Hill, by foot or tram – do check it out but please order in advance (call them at 048299474), as they don’t entertain walk in customer.

Perhaps I was too tired or I didn’t see anything exciting, the overal group are moving pretty fast hence I don’t really have much time to compose and re-compose pictures. We took some hilarious group pictures in the mid way of the train station, while waiting for our malay train operators to complete their daily prayer routine, if not mistaken it was an hour wait or so. You see, we were sweaty and stinky hence soaking in them and waiting around is no fun! I am not posting the group picture up in my blog though since I don’t have their consent, nonetheless you’ll see some none human related images hehehe.

One interesting sighting to note, we saw a couple of bottle-brush-like-worms in the mid way. They look really cute, munching at the leaves in high speed mode. Of course none of us touch it, in case there was any chemical / allergic reaction. Speaking of worms … this reminds me of leeches … yes the trail up to Penang Hill do have leeches and yes, once I knew about that (as one of the hiker was almost bitten by that nasty little thing) … I was speeding away to reach to the top, prior to that I was at the taking-a-stroll-speed.

I am organizing a bus load of hikers to take up the Penang Longest Trail challenge this coming Saturday 7th June 2008, in conjunction with our King’s birthday (public holiday). For now, that would be my longest hiking experience in terms of the hours and the most difficult trail. So if you are interested do let me know! Don’t worry about being shy, I’ve not met at least half of the folks that I’ve invited. It would be a good experience!