For my first full day in Penang I decided (for reasons that still escape me) that a trip to the Botanical Gardens was in order so that I could tackle the climb up to the Penang Hill Station. I read up on it and it mentioned that the first 1+km was steep. Ha, I laugh in the face of steep, I bet it's not as steep as they say!
It's not, to be fair, it's considerably steeper than steep. I should have been alerted to this from the very beginning as each 100 meters warranted a distance check. I cannot remember ever in my whole life having to stop several times in each 100 metres and I'm not going to justify this by telling you that the heat was unbelievable even though it was.
I'm not sure at which stage I made the decision that being intrepid was all very well but my heart rate seemed to be climbing even more alarmingly than I was and I was rapidly running out of water. Enough I thought, I'll turn back at 2.5km. Turning a sharp corner at 2.35km put paid to that idea as in the middle of the road ahead, glaring at me menacingly, was a large group of macaque, so I turned tail and immediately started my descent. I had not seen 1 on the way up but they were everywhere on the way down, so I armed myself with a big stick, stared fixedly ahead, and got the hell out of there!
David tells me that the 1400 feet of elevation I managed is impressive especially in that heat. I'm not disappointed with myself that I gave up, I'm pleased that I was sensible, not always the case with me.
On the way down I saw a couple RUNNING up!
I was so shattered by the time I got down that I'm afraid the Botanical Gardens didn't get a look in, especially as I saw a group of tourists being virtually ambushed by a large group of macaque in the first garden by the entrance. I made my escape - rapidly.
Today could not have been more of a contrast. I spent the day at Batu Ferringi, which was a beautiful empty long stretch of fine sand last time I was here. Well it's not like that now, it's a bit like parts of the Spanish coastline, but fortunately the sand is still fine and there's lots of it. It's not hard to find a quiet spot where you can sit in the sun and read your book and thank your lucky stars that you're not staggering up that ridiculously steep path to the Penang Hill Station!
Photos:
Various views and impressions of Penang, including the dinosaur sitting on the roof above a block and a whizzy ride on at a mall, that looked such fun but I was told I was too old to have a go! Typical scooter/motorbike parking, and relaxing beach views.
The road sign, I need to explain: I kept seeing this road sign as I was trying to navigate my way around both here and in KL, but could never locate it on any of the maps I had even though it had to be a major road as it appeared so many times. I know that Jalan means road or street but it wasn't until last night that I worked out that Sehala means One Way!
wonder I could never find it on a map!
It's not, to be fair, it's considerably steeper than steep. I should have been alerted to this from the very beginning as each 100 meters warranted a distance check. I cannot remember ever in my whole life having to stop several times in each 100 metres and I'm not going to justify this by telling you that the heat was unbelievable even though it was.
I'm not sure at which stage I made the decision that being intrepid was all very well but my heart rate seemed to be climbing even more alarmingly than I was and I was rapidly running out of water. Enough I thought, I'll turn back at 2.5km. Turning a sharp corner at 2.35km put paid to that idea as in the middle of the road ahead, glaring at me menacingly, was a large group of macaque, so I turned tail and immediately started my descent. I had not seen 1 on the way up but they were everywhere on the way down, so I armed myself with a big stick, stared fixedly ahead, and got the hell out of there!
David tells me that the 1400 feet of elevation I managed is impressive especially in that heat. I'm not disappointed with myself that I gave up, I'm pleased that I was sensible, not always the case with me.
On the way down I saw a couple RUNNING up!
I was so shattered by the time I got down that I'm afraid the Botanical Gardens didn't get a look in, especially as I saw a group of tourists being virtually ambushed by a large group of macaque in the first garden by the entrance. I made my escape - rapidly.
Today could not have been more of a contrast. I spent the day at Batu Ferringi, which was a beautiful empty long stretch of fine sand last time I was here. Well it's not like that now, it's a bit like parts of the Spanish coastline, but fortunately the sand is still fine and there's lots of it. It's not hard to find a quiet spot where you can sit in the sun and read your book and thank your lucky stars that you're not staggering up that ridiculously steep path to the Penang Hill Station!
Photos:
Various views and impressions of Penang, including the dinosaur sitting on the roof above a block and a whizzy ride on at a mall, that looked such fun but I was told I was too old to have a go! Typical scooter/motorbike parking, and relaxing beach views.
The road sign, I need to explain: I kept seeing this road sign as I was trying to navigate my way around both here and in KL, but could never locate it on any of the maps I had even though it had to be a major road as it appeared so many times. I know that Jalan means road or street but it wasn't until last night that I worked out that Sehala means One Way!
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