In most of my previous trips, I tend to stress myself out by exploring as many corners of my chosen destinations. It could be a simple market or a quiet museum, as long as it has its own ambience and taste, I would not mind cycling or walking for hours just to experience it. This year, I just set aside 10 days for myself and travelled to Langkawi and Penang.
This is a very special trip because I have two agenda in addition to the "usual" explorations. First is to spend some time on the training materials on communication skills; second to run Half Marathon on Penang Bridge. My exploration started flying from Singapore to Langkawi by Air Asia, a low-cost carrier. In Langkawi, I stayed three nights at Box Chalet, one night at Kumpung Guest House and two nights at Melati Tunjung in Langkawi. Since I need to spend some time indoor, selection of guest house was important.
The other two places I stayed in Langkawi are nothing special. But the Box Chalet earned my attention. There are two small buildings really look like two shoe boxes put side by side. It was situated at the foot of a hill 15-min drive from the busy Cenang Beach. Since location is not a favourable factor Mas, the owner, has to find the niche of its own. As she had twenty over years’ experience as catering manager at hotels, she knows how to make her small box clean and unique. Having two box-like buildings and naming them as Box Chalet is already an attraction. She has tastefully painted the interior in very bright and contrasting colours which were pulled together by a line at about chest height. It looks like two different colours wrapped together with a ribbon of another colour. The cleaning standard was comparable with the hotels. She also made the rooms daily. The saying goes "think out of box" but I gained some insights while sitting in the box. It seems like everyone or everything has its own niche. Just need to uncover and make use of it.
While staying at Box Chalet, I met a Spanish lady and a Dutch man. As I have been awareness of communication, I observed myself and the process of communicating each other. I learned that the genuine interest is critical in a successful in any conversation. I was not rushing for time and I had no hidden motive. I think that made so much fun talking to both of them. I learned a lot about Spanish and Dutch cultures. Take home message from this experience was that I can initiate a genuine conversation and hold it as long as we wish. It was an evening well-spent. I hope they had a good time as much as I did.
I explored the island for the first three days, and I did but reading and writing on communication skills in the last two days. I felt like I am in a writing camp. I love the continuity of thoughts. While sketching the structure of the "book" the ideas flew non-stop like the water flowing from the falls around Seven-well Mountains. When I put the ideas into words, my fingers hopped all over the keyboard like the busy bees fetching honey from the flowers. Off course the thinking process got slowed down at times, but switching from the boring hotel room to a beach cafe would dechoke my brain.
I stayed at the beach in the early morning either running or floating in the sea, had Ombak (wave) breakfast, read/wrote while sitting in Rasa Breakfast place, had lunch and then read/wrote again with a mug of coffee. For my leisure, I went to Babylon Bar in the evenings - the most dynamic one on the beach - for a drink and watching people. I saw a performer who danced with fire balls attached on the ends of the metal chains. She swang the fire balls and danced with the Reggae music. She did stance that made me "hot". The fire could get so close to her face or at times she could hold the fire ball between her toes. I think I saw her a little disturbed and jealous of an "Ang Moh" girl. Not only because she IS a girl, but she also danced, apparently making the she-man insecure for her rice bowl. Oh but that was just how I perceived. I saw couples and friends sitting on the mats placed on the sands. I saw the DJ with Bob Marley hair style of a longer version. I sat on the tall stool at one corner, I soaked in the ambience and I sipped Sam Miguel.
When I have given myself so much space, I also noticed how my brain works. This predictability somehow works for me, at least for those two days. I think better when sitting properly at a station (of a table and a chair). I need to stay in the middle of people whom I do not need to know. As long as there are people around, I sit still and concentrate well. I know it sounds funny but that is how it works. It gives me the space and freedom which were crucial for creativity. I get to love the sun, the sand and the sea.
On the sixth day, I took a ferry from Langkawi to Penang. It was from 5:30pm to 8:30pm so just like taking a cruise. I love the three hours in the sea. I could see nothing but the sea, I could hear nothing but the engine and I could feel the sea water splashed on my face and body. After a while my skin got sandy with salt deposition. I felt a little nostalgic and sad but couldn't find the reason. "O God, thy sea is so great and my boat is so small" I have read before. But I felt unafraid because the sea was really calm and kind in that evening.
Once I arrived Penang jetty, I took a taxi to Cintra Heritage House which turned out to be a decent place for the three nights' stay. It is a Baba-Nonya house owned by some rich Paranakan family in the past. Now it was converted to a 13-room hotel without damaging the original structure of the house. My purpose of visiting Penang this time is to run on the old bridge. Penang Bridge International Marathon 2012 is the last time running on the 13 Km-long bridge connecting Butterworth and Penang. The Marathon 2013 will be organized on the newly-built second link bridge. So, focus and focus on energizing myself and getting ready for the run. The next day, I had to go to Queensbay Mall for collection of race pack. Taking bus from Komtar to Queensbay mall was easy. Once I arrive the start/finish point for the Marathons, I got off track a little and say "Hi" to the Penang Bridge. "See you tomorrow" she replied. After race pack collection, I walked around and bought a hair curler and two pairs of shoes for myself. In my directory, Malaysia is associated with beautiful and colourful shoes. I seldom came back from Malaysia without buying at least a pair of shoes. By the way that has to be considered out of the travelling budget ;)
When I was back to CHH, it is time to relax and prepare for the Half Marathon which would start the next day 3am. I had to leave CHH at 1:30am so that I could have some time to make necessary adjustment for the body before the run. It is very important to hydrate the body as well as use the toilets and put the body to ease. This is my second HM and thus at least I knew what to expect before, during and after the run. I had to have a mind-set that I am going to make it before 3.5 hours. Only then I would be qualified for the completion medal. The field was filled with the 34000 runners and the booths set up by the companies. Nestle which is going to be my employer in a month's time had a huge presence in the field. The staffs are getting themselves ready to distribute Milo and Cereals for the people who completed the run. The runners were busy stretching and queuing for toilets. The loud music was floating in the air. The "Bridge" was as graceful as usual.
Half Marathon for ladies was gunned off at 3:15am. We ran quietly. The sound around us were the footsteps - some barely heard, some sounded like King Kong stepping on the ground. At times I could feel panting from the runner next to me. As we got on the bridge, there were ups and then downs. The footsteps got slower and then faster. The breathing got only heavier and heavier. The sea underneath was calm and quiet. The breeze just wiped my sweat away. My feet carried me steady. However tired I was, I still spare some time to photograph. As I flew all the way from Singapore, I want to seize some special moments captured in the photographs. Step, step, step.... Snap, snap, snap.... ;)
I crossed the finishing line with no celebration, nothing. But I felt I had quenched the thirst for challenge for a while. It was a good run as the muscles were not so painfully tensed until I reached the finish line. I quickly went back to CHH and took a good rest.
Oh, when we talk about Penang, we must talk about the food culture. It seems like good food is important for everyone in Penang. I saw long lines queuing at the food stalls in the lanes or at the road sides. They sell real good food. A cup of ginger tea or a bowl of Chandol or a plate of Briyani Rice with curry could give the satisfaction to the patron. All the good things must come to the end anyway.
Now that I have to pack the luggage for tomorrow morning flight, I am wrapping up what I had enjoyed during this trip. I had fun, completed the Half Marathon within the qualifying time and I completed about 20-30% of the book on communication. I would say this trip is different from other but still a beautiful one.
In this trip I really get to know the sun, the sand and the sea.
