On my past Raya holiday, I and darling were heading back to Penang for our one week holiday. Nothing much to do during our holiday except enjoying good food and visiting friends and relatives. Since I was in guilt for not bringing him walk around in this beautiful pearl of orient, while darling doesn't like heritage and museum, so I decided to go somewhere which can enjoy the nature, at the same time exercising. Yeah we need exercise seriously, as a result of eating too much, we now have flabby body and big belly! This time I suggest to Penang National Park because parents joined along, so I wanna make it a picnic family trip rather than routinely hiking.
I have actually been to the Penang national park few years ago, but hiking to Pantai Kerachut, not a really challenging one compared to this time. Sorry to mummy for inviting her to come along since she has serious knee pain, but she seemed enjoy with this little family trip. I am actually quite upset for can't accompanying them always, glad that this time they did join us, I really love family outing, too bad brother and sister not joining us.
We waked at 7.30am, after grooming we departed to nearby Dim Sum restaurant to pack some food for picnic. Reached national park located at Teluk Bahang at 9.00am. Today our target was climb to Muka Head light house, the final point of the trail. Usually people start hiking from the starting point (Visitor center) to Muka Head, then travel back by boat. This time I chose an opposite way, which is travel to Monkey Beach by boat, then hike to Muka Head and continue back to the starting point. The reason was trail from visitor center to monkey beach is long and tiring, and trail to Muka Head was even harsh. If we hike from starting point to Monkey beach, I worry that we will get exhausted and give up to go Muka Head. So when we reached the national park, we first sought for boat service to bring us go Monkey beach.
We then walked further in and ask for price again, this time is RM40 per way per boat. We questioned the boss about the overprice of front stalls and he said their boss is not around so they charge more for their own pocket money. Luckily I did some research about the price first, if not really let people "chop". There is another shop which is deeper inside, not sure about the price because we took the boat service from the second shop which offered us RM40.
Contact number for tour and boat services
Registered at visitor center, no admission fees
But canopy walkway do charge, ticket must be purchased at the registration counter, this day canopy walkway was closed~
After registration, we walked to the pier for our boat
In happy mood to go Monkey Beach!
Down to our private speed boat~
Enjoying the breeze and scenic view in the boat~
Passing through Pasir Pandak and Sungai Tukun
The boatman stopped at USM/CEMAC (Pantai Teluk Aling) pier a while to seek for passengers
After 10 minutes boat riding, we reached Monkey beach
The boat journey was really short, luckily didn't pay RM80 per way!
The Monkey beach in early morning was quiet
The only monkey we saw in Monkey beach, probably other monkeys still not wake up yet
Then we started our picnic before the fatigued hike to Muka Head light house, thanks mummy for the yummy mui-choy dumplings~ Thanks Penang for the yummy yet damn cheap dim sum~
Have fun with the rope swing~ Arms got so tired after this~
Big swing spotted! But almost spoiled already!
Why so serious? Afraid of the hiking trail challenge?
We walked towards the left side of beach until the end and finally saw the entrance point to Muka Head~
Information of the lighthouse~
Here we go, 10:24 am
Road was not steep at first and we found it quite easy~
10:29am, became steeper and steeper
10:33am, thought the steepest part had over and now came to smoothing-going path
10:39am, met steep path again and these steps were killing
10:43am, rest for a while and met a couple cheated us that after this rest house no more steep path
10:45am, continue our journey
10:49am, hike with heavy gasp~
10:53am, climbed over rocks
10:56am, still long way to go~
11:01am, they were exhausted!
11:10am, finally we reached the Muka Head lighthouse!
Climbed up the lighthouse for better scene~
Narrow staircase of lighthouse~
Finally, we made it!
Astonishing view from the lighthouse~
It was so windy up above the lighthouse and we actually quite reluctant to get down~
But mum was waiting us downstairs so we left the lighthouse after 10 minutes break
Not to forget a picture with this beautiful lighthouse before we left~
After another 30 minutes of jungle trekking, we reached Monkey beach again at the noon time, and the beach now was bustling~ Many people came here for water sports, camping, picnic, sunbathing and swimming~
Food from BBQ package which can be signed up from the tour and boat services. Looked yummy but actually very dirty as we saw many flies danced above the food
Many foreigners in national park today, the kid did enjoy the swing, luckily we had played it this morning
We were dehydrated and exhausted after 1 hour of jungle trekking to and back from Muka head lighthouse, but this big coconut (RM5) recharged us and helped us to sustain the journey back to the visitor center
Mum suggested us to take boat back to the initial point, but I refuse as I wanna have a different experience and most important is, I wanna exercise!
We strolled towards right side of the beach and come to this trail that brings us back to visitor center, don't worry about missing way, as there is only one route
Finally monkeys in Monkey beach all waked up
12:49pm, after this bridge, our real "jungle" trekking started
1:14pm, still an easy path
Peaceful wave sound accompanied us when trekking along
Challenging trail #1
Challenging trail #2
Challenging trail #3
Saw beautiful red wood!
Reached Pantai Teluk Aling where USM marine research center located at 1:27pm!
Half way to go! At this time I was really regret for not opting my mum's suggestion!
1:59pm, reached a rest house with toilet provided, got ourselves a refreshing face wash before continue the rest of journey!
2:04pm, reached a pavillion at Sungai Tukun
2:18pm, saw a signboard with "visitor center" indicator, remember to turn left if not will head to Pantai Kerachut! Another 480 meter to reach visitor center!
Mini canopy walkway at Pasir Pandak
Many picnic spots at Pasir Pandak, just 10 minutes walk from the entrance point of visitor center
Finally we reached back to the entrance point at 2:28pm!
Back to the boat services shop and bought ourselves a 100 plus, it was like an elixir to us at that time!
This half day trip was a really killing one, but we enjoyed so much! It was quite a shame as on our way back to the visitor center, we had a great chat with a 70 years old foreigner that want to trek from entrance point to monkey beach, salute with his great mind and body! Hope I can still travel around the world at his age! My motto of life: Live to travel!
1 comment:
whenever you're paying a visit to this beautiful monkey beach in penang, don't forget to take a short hike to the muka head lighthouse as well! it's a sweet way to connect with nature! Oh, they also have one of the most beautiful starbucks in whole of malaysia - don't forget to visit the starbucks in batu ferringhi!
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