0 to Hero

Seren bouncing down the treetop platform

Do the treetop canopy walk they said. It will be fun they said.. This why I cant do fear factor. It was terrifying. The last time I was this scared was with Jamie at the gold coast amusement parks. How did I get in this position again?

I saw no vegetation or landscape. Just focused my tunnel vision on the platform and not the long fall to the rocks in the stream below. Taking baby steps. Somewhere in the distance I heard Glynis laughing.  "Look how white your face is, I am going to take a video". I was beyond caring.

We survived the treetop episode and were making our way back down the jungle path that meandered around the coast. Seren got her shoe stuck in a tree root and glynis helpfully gave her leg a heave. Suddenly the shoe is dislodged and goes sailing through the air in slow motion. There was so many places it could have landed but no, it tumbles over the side of the cliff  and into the sea.

Seren suddenly started loudly sobbing. Maybe it was thought of having to hop 1000m thought the jungle path on one foot.

I had more serious concerns. Do you know the cost of children's footwear. I had to save this shoe. Quickly as a flash I scrambled down the bank and into the sea. Not that heroic, it was only a little above my knees. I found the shoe floating like a little boat, and being washed in and out of a little cave. Managed to grab it with a big stick. The tension was palpable. I was redeemed.

Fruit

I have no bananas. Glynis was making me store my bunch out on the deck ( She saw an ant on one banana). I was cool with this. Nothing like sitting out on the deck and kicking back a banana or two after a hard day at the office. Of course I was careful to time my consumption. I wanted to enjoy them all week but not have them get to mushy.
Then disaster struck on day 3.  During the night a pack of marauding geckos furiously attacked my bunch. Writing this is helping me come to terms with what happened and I now feel I can finally  let go....also look what is in our fridge.

The red fruit is a dragon fruit. Stains like you would not believe and very juicy. Great favourite with seren as she thinks she is drinking dragon blood.

The big bunch of brown fruit are longan. They are similar to a lychee. I crack the outer with my teeth then peel them open. They have a black stone inside which you do not eat.

Saved the best for last. The mangosteen are the two dark purple fruit. There is quite a bit of husk to them but inside is this great white fruit. I did wonder why at the fruit stalls the vendors seemed to be always eating mangosteen. They just didn't look very nice so I never bothered. But then , without going to Monty Python, just out of curiosity I tried a bit. What a flavour. Things will never be the same.

Gym

 Great view from the gym. The gym is massive and the photos do it no justice. Rows and rows of cardio gear. It also has a purpose built functional training area. This does not show the weights or Studio rooms. The gym has just started so got a years membership for $330 NZD

 

  

Bird

Seren holding a Hornbill. It was heavy ,so she was dropping her arm and the bird was clawing deeper so not to fall off the perch.

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There is a vending machine that gives out little plastic capsules. Open them up and what joy. They are full of live wriggling maggots that you can then feed to the birds.

This little fella was so cute. He sat patiently on a branch making little beep noises.

Odds and Sods

Did you know when we booked our flights it was $150 NZD cheaper for us to fly to KL , have a stop over , then fly to Penang rather than just go to only KL. This still confuses me.

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We did not realise it but when our phone was installed it did not allow international calls. I reported the fault but was told we had not applied for the international calling package. Here we go.

 How much is the international calling package I asked?     It is free.

 So how do I apply for it ?      You ask me now as I am recording this phone call.

 So I clicked my heels 3 times, asked the question and we should be able to make international calls in a few days. Maybe.

 

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 I had a bad case of man flu last week (there is no good case). Yep, that sucker took me low.  The chemists over here are great. They give great advice and can prescribe medicine. I visited one who gave me a   prescription which was cheaper than Glynis's coffee hit. Within two hours I had rebooted and was humming smurf songs.

Now why do we have to go to the Doctor in New Zealand when we too have highly educated pharmacists? Why are we wasting the Docs time with our snivelling runny noses? The Malaysian way seems better. 

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One of the major differences in Penang is the driving. It is just so far from anything you would ever experience in New Zealand. It seems to be an endless procession of close calls. It has taken time but I have now re-calibrated what is considered a close call. I now have a very tiny ruler.

The driving is out of necessity. You have to pull out in front of on coming vehicles if you want to move, you have to just stop and park on the road if you want to pick up a snack as there is little parking, you have to go three abreast on the two lanes to keep the traffic flowing.

The only way to survive the driving is to join in... which I do with a vengeance. Honestly, some days I am so bad I really feel I should turn myself in. Of course I cannot because there does not seem to be any higher authority to enforce road rules. I suppose like New Zealand the police cannot be everywhere. 

But here is the massive difference. Any slight deviation from the road code in NZ would be meet with a barrage of horn honking and arm waving from your fellow motorists. They would be yelling quite horrible remarks and calling you nasty names like " Mr smelly pants". Some would even go so far as to insinuate you got your license from a box of Hubbards lightly toasted apricot and papaya muesli. People can be cruel.

Now,what happens in Penang. Nothing. Zilch. Nada. Zero. You can do what ever you like and no-one is going to be offended, beep a horn or raise a voice. Its almost like the fellow motorists in Penang do not see my driving as a personal insult directed towards them. It is very liberating and I am going to follow their lead.

Glorious (or why Glynis does not cook)

P

Prawn Lam Mee  RM= 4.50   NZD =1.70   GBP=0.90

Asam Laksa  RM=4.50

Milo Roti  RM = 2.00    NZD=0.75   GBP= 0.40

Sweet and sour chicken

Rice and veg

Banana Roti

Laksa with fish balls

Chicken rice meal for three with 3 waters   RM=15   NZD=5.70   GBP=3.00

Muntant ninja sanctuary

Trek to the turtle sanctuary starts at a fishing village. Ignore those posers and check out the cool boats.












It takes 1.5 hours to complete. Seren did well as we were all feeling it due to the heat/humidity

Probably not the best place to sit down and take a break. This line of jumbo size ants stretched forever.

So this is the sweat dripping off a fit young person. Now imagine you are a somewhat portly older gentleman with maybe a slight walking impediment. Not a pretty sight.

Finally made it. Did I mention we were somewhat hot. The water was gone .. even drinking it sparingly.

I was going to put more in the backpack but was worried the extra weight might make me sweat to much. Hang on a minute.

The prize. Cute as baby turtles. There is something about these little creatures.
















                                     

We  saw the turtles who were in containers. There were lots of netting around areas in the sand which I assume is where turtle eggs are buried.                     

                                                       







Why walk home when you can go by speedboat. Great way to dry off your armpits.

Back at port. I have boat envy.
  

Eye contact

Like the start of any great adventure

- there is always someone who wants to block your path.

 So he is doing the "You shall not pass"

So I was like "Dude its cool, we don't mean no harm"

Then he gives me the look like " You want a piece of me. Come on sunshine. I am up for it"

 So I am like "hey bro , just chill , don't be making me do my moves"

Then he gets my vibe. All sweet.

Lots of respect in the jungle that day.

Didn't even hassle my posse. 

( You will not be able to see the relevant video if you are using an ipad)