A Short Trip to Penang

I have been planning a trip to Penang where I would indulge in the local fare (but no nasi kandar for me, thank you very much) and finally decided to go last weekend. I decided I’d take the coach this time instead of flying. I did consider taking the ETS train but the train going all the way to Butterworth is not that frequent. I also had a meeting which I had to attend on Friday morning which I remembered in time just before I purchased the ticket. As I didn’t fancy taking the coach from either TBS or Jalan Duta, I decided to travel by Plusliner from the old KTM building. I then booked a unit of TheOffice’s penthouse.

I rushed out of the office and made my way to the old KTM building. The coach was already waiting and I decided to seek refuge in the coach company’s office before boarding the bus. The office was quite shabby from age, I was sad to note. Still, it was not bad enough to convince me to travel to TBS or Jalan Duta.

We left at 13:10 and the coach was very empty. A fellow traveller informed that she and a few of her friends boarded the coach from Putrajaya Sentral at 11:45 and thought the coach would depart KL at 12:30. So if you’re from that area, this coach operator is an option for you.

We stopped at Petronas Simpang Pulai rest area two hours later to use the facilities and resumed our journey about half an hour later. There was the occasional crawl along some stretches of the highway, probably because it was almost the weekend. We finally crossed the second bridge to Pinang Island around 17:30 and oh my, it was a long crossing all right. We hit the evening rush hour immediately upon exiting the bridge and crawled along until we reached Terminal Sungai Nibong at 18:15, 45 minutes later than I expected and hoped.

I waited a while until bus 304 came. I took the bus to Jelutong. The fare was RM2.00 and I got down about 30 minutes later. I walked to Laksa Mamu stall next to Hyundai showroom. I've read good reviews and decided to try it out.

Well, I finished my laksa in seven minutes and was disappointed. There was no fish flesh at all and the taste was just average to me. I really don’t know what the fuss is all about. I left and walked to Komtar. It took about 30 minutes before I reached the bus stop for the CAT bus across from Komtar. I was not amused to see the CAT bus flew past by without stopping so I decided to follow it and wait for the next one at the next bus stop. There was a strange character at the next bus stop however, so I continued on to the next bus stop. I asked two teenage boys and they confirmed the CAT bus stopped there so I sat down to wait. Penang is so humid even at night!

The bus finally came and I boarded. It looked different but I thought it was some advertisement. However, the bus soon took some route I was not familiar with. I checked Google Maps and was surprised when I found the bus was heading back to Komtar. I got up and went to the driver and he said the bus was a different bus. Turned out there's another CAT bus in Georgetown. I checked Rapid Penang website and found there were a few other CAT services. The CAT bus which I usually took no longer stopped at the stop across from Komtar. The driver then pointed out the stop for me and after thanking him, I took my bag and got off.

I finally reached TheOffice’s accommodation at close to 22:00. It had been such a long tiring day and after a quick shower, I hit the sack.

I woke up way too early on Saturday and took a walk around the rooftop before changing and heading to the market at Jalan Kuala Kangsar. Once there, I had vegetarian wan tan noodle soup with a glass of lukewarm barley. After my simple breakfast, I browsed the market before walking to Lorong Macalister for some chee cheong fun. It was then when I realised I was there just 12 hours prior, walking from one bus stop to another. Strange how the place looked unfriendly the evening before.

I decided to take the CAT bus back and went to wait near Chowrasta.

Back at the penthouse, I rested before taking a shower. I left at 11:15 and took the CAT bus to Chowrasta. I got down and walked to Jalan Burma and waited for the other CAT bus. It was such a bright hot mid-morning. The bus came after ten minutes and I got down at Hotel Royal. I had bought a coupon for lunch buffet at the hotel earlier.

The buffet spread was limited and did not feature Penang laksa or prawn noodles. The food was alright. I stayed about an hour before going up the stairs to the link to Penang Plaza just next door. After a quick browse, I returned to the hotel and waited for the CAT bus. I then rode the bus to Komtar. The building has had an exterior facelift but didn't look like the interior had any facelift. Some groceries and household were on offer and I bought some crisps before going down to Popular bookstore where I bought five books. Then I exited Komtar and walked in the afternoon heat to the putu mayam stall. They were only setting the stall up so I continued on to Times Square to seek some relief from the intense heat and humidity.

I returned to the putu mayam stall and after buying some, returned to Komtar and waited for the CAT bus. I reached the penthouse at 16:20 and decided to have a nap at 17:00. My dad would disapprove of sleeping after Asar but the heat made me drowsy.

I woke up to a darkened bedroom and after blinking a few times and checking the time, realised it was past 19:00 (!). I dragged myself out of bed and went to Hameed Pata stall to buy some fried noodles. I queued for ‘only’ 30 minutes before I was served. I had a plate of noodles and asked for another order to be packed. That would be my breakfast the following morning.

I returned to the penthouse and along the way, saw a Caucasian woman bent over like she was crying with a man next to her comforting her. Two policemen stood over them so I didn’t stop to ask. I turned on the TV but nothing interesting was showing so I went back to the bedroom and read my book.

I woke up at least twice during the night. The first time, I thought I had overslept and was starting to panic, thinking I’d miss the coach home. I checked the time and was surprised to see it was only past 3 in the morning. I woke again some time after 5 and decided not to sleep again or I'd really miss my coach. I heard people talking and some music and went to investigate. Turned out the noise came from the esplanade. Gosh! I don’t know why they needed to play music that loudly!

I left at 08:15 and waited a bit to check out. Took the CAT bus to Komtar and waited at least twenty minutes before bus 304 arrived. It took about 40 minutes before we reached Terminal Sungai Nibong. The coach came just before 10:00 and only then did I realise it was a double decker (didn’t realise it when I bought the ticket and chose my seat). My seat was on the upper deck but when the bus left, I went down to check and there were two empty seats next to each other so I moved down.

We stopped at Petronas Simpang Pulai to use the facilities and arrived at the old KTM station at 14:45. I reached home at 16:05 and immediately unpacked.

I was not well after the trip. Penang has always felt hot to me but it felt even hotter and more humid this time. But I suppose that’s the case with tropical islands and they remain the same throughout the year. In any case, I don’t think my next visit will take place anytime soon.

Earth Day 2019

Warning: disturbing images below

‘It’s just one straw, it’s just one disposable cup, it’s just one plastic bag.’ - 7.4 billion people. WRONG. It’s NOT just one straw, it’s NOT just one disposable cup, it’s NOT just one plastic bag.

This Earth Day, can we please change our mindset, behaviour and attitude already?

Butterfly

My dad has told me not to take any more trips several times now. The first time he said that he reasoned that he didn’t want the neighbours to be talking about me going off gallivanting somewhere seemingly without caring that he’s at home. When he first told me of this, I retorted back and asked if he meant that I should no longer utilise my annual leave but just work and work (unless he meant for me to utilise my leave by just staying home). I added it’s not as if I left him all alone but I made efforts to find him a male nurse and pay mega bucks for their service (I’ve had three male nurses come to look after him so far).

He repeated his request/advice just before I went for my trip to Africa in December and again after I went to Bangladesh. He said that I can consider resuming my travels when he is no longer around. I didn’t say a word either time but fumed silently. Yes, I know I should heed his advice but in my defence, it’s not as if I left him all alone. And I think it’s unfair and unreasonable to expect me to put my life and my travels on hold because of him or anyone else. Never mind that it’s unfair to expect just me alone to take care of him. I’m not and should not be the only person responsible for him. My other siblings especially my brothers should play their role too. Sure, of course I can travel after he is no longer around but does this mean that I’m to just stay put until then? What if he’s blessed with a long life, what if he lives up to 90 or beyond? Am I expected not to live my life until then? Am I expected to put my life on hold? Is it fair to prohibit or prevent or forbid me like this? And what do I care about what the neighbours say anyway? It’s not them who accompany him to the hospital and clinic appointments anyway. They can say what they want. They will say what they want anyway no matter what I do or don’t. Anyway, I should think they have other better things to worry and think about than to care about where I go and what I do or don’t do.

Dad seems to forget that unlike him, I will be all alone when he goes. That all his fears will be my fears except that I don’t have anyone who’ll keep watch on me. He forgets that I have my own life to live. As it is, I rush home almost daily to run errands and tend to him. I don’t stay out, I don’t even have dinner with mates or anything. I take care of everything from outside to inside, from sweeping the porch and leaves to cleaning up after the incompetent Indo cleaning lady WTF, from getting dinner ready to ensuring dad doesn’t choke on some fish bone, even getting his medication ready and putting in his eye drops) and my annual leave is something I look forward to utilising. He overlooks that it’s unfair of anyone to ask another person to put his or her life on hold. If you love someone especially your own children, you should let them live their own lives and let them make their own mistakes. You can dispense advice and make requests but don’t blackmail them by saying if they don’t do something you want, the neighbours will talk and think badly of them. Doesn’t dad realise I need a break occasionally - from work, from household chores, from all the worries, from the constant demand on my time, energy and attention? Sometimes he asks if I don’t get tired from travelling and he would say that he gets tired from watching me travel. Well, surely that is the whole point of it all: to travel while I still have the energy, passion and time to do it all and not wait until I’m weak and helpless and dependent on cane or walking stick and on others to only start travelling then.

I try to do my best, I try hard to be a good daughter. But sometimes, with requests like this, I just get angry at the demand and the unfairness of it all. So I have to be a good child, a good daughter, but my brothers can neglect their filial duty? Is that fair? Of course it isn’t and yes, before you say it, I do know that life is never fair anyway. Why can’t he stop and think about the unfairness of the situation? Why doesnt he demand the same from my other siblings? Does having a family absolve them of their responsibility to dad? I won’t stop doing my part of course; if I’m around, I have no problem taking care of dad. But do understand that I want to have an occasional break too. Surely that’s not to much to ask for or expect or understand? It’s hardly unreasonable after all.

Life is too short to be holding grudges and to be putting your life on hold. Life is too short to spend it waiting for someone to do you any favours, to expect anything from others. And life can just be easily be snuffed out, be taken away, be cut short, so it’s stupid and senseless not to seize the day and live each moment to the full. And travelling is part of my life. It is unfair, unreasonable, inconsiderate and selfish to ask me to stop doing it altogether; it’s too much to say it’ll be like cutting off my oxygen supply but yea, it’ll be like cutting off a limb. More precisely, it’ll be like clipping off the wings of a bird or a butterfly.

‘The only time you really live fully  is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits.’ -Theodore Roosevelt