Raining-Hujan lagi PNG vs AFG

It's raining .. raining.. hujan lagi.. in Penang now. For less than a week, three times days raining already in Penang.

What about in Afghanistan ? :) hehehe For four months in Helmand provinces at Laskhar Gah city, three times already I experienced hearing the bullets raining and bom exploded.. :) What a wonderful raining season in Afghan!

It's just a luckily or God still protecting us because we just hear the voice and not getting bleedy wet with this kind of human made raining :)

Penang, at Banana's terrace guesthouse I'm composing this posting blog. I did my packing already for getting ready to go home tomorrow morning.. Medan - Medan - lovely Medan.. after four months.. :) though not so much change there.

I just want to see my bro's and sis, niece and nephews, and some old friends to let them know that "I'm doing all rite" "I'm survival", "I'm happy and healthy" :) I'm missing them all already, so it will be a good medicines for everybody to see and talk each other.. :).. two nites is enough for me in Medan, just to get rid off this missing home! :) Planning to find my favourite foods in Medan.. bakso bakso bakso :)

From Medan, I'll be back to Penang again then back to my assignment post in Helmand.. Helmand.. huh huh huh...I am trying to put together piece by piece of my spirit.. (just like a friend said), after holiday, it's so heavy and lazy to go back to lovely Afghanistan due to this unique raining season :)

Well yeah I followed friend's advise to have continous motivation about my assignment. In addition, I have not so much option then I need to stay and keep burning my motivation that I can complete this assignment. It's just 3months more my friend.. no worried.. Okay, All rite then yeah I'm ready to go back.. ready to hear again "tsenga yeee" ready to see again a nice and sincere smiles from my Afghan's buddies.. :) and eventually get ready for another shocks and brutal pressure on the environment Hehehe.. it would be fun.. Insya Allah.

Penang is lovely during raining, the weather is a bit cold.. it's not a heavy raining, just small, cats and dogs rain.. If it's heavy raining will be nicer to go to the beach and dancing with the raining unfortunately it's not. The sun starting shining again :) hmmm... well okay.. What i'm going to do in my last day today in Penang ? Go movies ? go 3B again ?? beach, beach and Beach.. :) hehehe.. well will see.. I'm getting hungry now.. will go to Pusako restaurant or Jaya.. to have my lunch... selamat makan.. bonapetite..ada pete, jengkol kagak yee ?? heheheh

Exploring the Nature of Bt.Ferringgi Waterfall

First Experience @ Waterfall in Batu Ferringgi

To answer our curiosity regarding the waterfall in Bt. Ferringi, then myself and with some Iranian mates agreed to explore it. Our original plan actually doing our tracking to Penang national park and go further to Monkey Beach. As all agreed that we are going to stop a while to see the Bt.Ferringgi waterfall then here it's.

It's located around the Batu Ferringgi beach, just a few mater from the Bay View hotel. You will see a poor signboard that promote about the waterfall. We stopped near the signboard, as we talk to the bus driver that we are going off at waterfall.

From the main road to the waterfall, not very far, only about 300 meters. The road to go there, still okay.. not so much interesting and less of promotion. When we got closer to the location, we are still not sure yet..where is that actually, because none of us been here. We are starting to heard the sounds of droppings water calling us! We knew that we are getting closer.. and eventually we found the Batu Ferringgi Waterfall.

First expression.. not bad.. natural, and greener areas on the top of the waters. Many big and flat stones around, where the water falls and flows. The water clean, and not so many tourists or visitor here.. only five of us, and two locals. Excited.. not bad.. we felt that it's different.. so, not only beaches actually Bt.Ferringgi offers, but also the waterfall. It's tranquil and natural.. we like it.

Myself and dadash Ayoub, going up to the top until the source of the water that fall down. There is like small river or pond above the water fall surrounded by trees. It's very good up there, so serene and fresh air! We love that! Then we take some photos there! rest a while at the waterfall, having our snacks.. and decided to continue our tracking to national park.. at Mongkey Beach..... Mongkey Beach we are coming!.. The mongkeys are waiting for us there! hehehe

Bye JKT and Welcome Back PNG!

Penang.. Penang.. PNG ---> PENING deh :)

Now I am back to Penang, my desire is very strong.. back to Penang.. continue my study.. a Phd Research huh.. What's a Phd Research mean to me ? Do I made the right choice to go back to study to fill my plenty plenty of time.. hmmm will discuss about this further on my Phd jouneys.

So, here I am. in Penang. I took Airasia flight from JKT to Penang, direct flight about 2hours more journeys.. the cost as it's budget flight still good good price, only about 60USD one way. As soon as I arrived in Penang, I took bus, go to my campuz area and find a rental monthly room for my living. I stayed close to my campuz, only 15-20mnts walk :) hehehe GOOD exercise.

I'm ready ready.. ready.. to study again.. that's why I found place for living just close to my campuz.. eventhough it's not inside the campuz but.. I'm happy enough to have this place, and the rental rate also much cheaper compare to my previous place around penang road.

I am cleaning my simple room, then cleaning myself, next going walk to my campuz to attend the oath taking ceremony for the new students. Welcome to intelectual world my friend.. welcome to the jungle.. :) don't get lost here.. be focus on your path and goodluck with your study.. have spirit in your study my bros and sis.. don't worried and be happy.. I'm trying to entertain and make myself confortable.. hehehe..

After all the official welcoming and oath taking ceremony over, I decided to go to the town - port at Jetty to buy my unlimited Rapid ticket bus.. then walk around chulia street the backpackers areas. See some paints at the Gallery's just nearby to Mesjid Kapitan.. then go to nite market to have a look some stuffs I need for my new rooms... this will be put in another blog.... cheers.

Run away Hiker go to Tanjung Bunga Beach

Feeling a bit tired today.. ahggg too much thinking :) hehehe

Some hikers friends invited me to joint the hike to Penang Hill again. Considered how I try to survive from previous Hiking, unfit condition and being lazy today I decided to run away from the hike :) Beside I'm willing to see the sunset at the beach.

So, the team living to Penang hill without me, wish them enjoy the hiking, and I am going a head to the Tanjung Bunga beach. I took rapid bus No.101 for 2Rm until the Island plaza. I would like to do some rest at the gym first then in the afternoon have my walk to Tanjung Bunga beach.

Around 4pm, I am ready to make a move with my MP3, a bottle of water then camera .. I starting to walk. Started point from Island Plaza to the Tanjung Bunga beach. It's a little bit warm.. but don't care.. a bit sweating but who care.. It's nice and I'm planning to swim in the beach later.

In about 20mnts, I arrived at the Tanjung Bungah beach just near by with Chinese Swimming Pool Club. It's strong wind around the beach, the tidal movement increase to the edge of beach.
I continue walking at the end corner of the beach. There are some new nice sky scrapers building nowadays just beside the beach.

Some local peoples swimming, doing picnic, or just jogging around. Others are studying to play the wind boat, and little surfing. Taken some photos for lovely readers to view, how is this beach look like.

Then I swam a while. The water not clear and sandy, but it's okay. It's warm water. I decided to continue my walk back to Island plaza through the beach side. I am approaching the Tanjung Tokong beach first by passing the rocky spots of the beach..

Let's Study for Free

Who said that Study is costly ? Me ME ME .. :)

Not anymore, here in Penang at Malaysian Budhist Association provided free school. It's called "Sekolah Penang Budhist Free".

Myself and drunkerhero visited this free school to get some information there. The school located at Burma Road in Penang. It's not far from our living, only about 20mnts walks.. we love walking here in Penang as the city is less polluted, can see new things along, and healthy as well as no charge ;) I love this 4 alphabets "FREE" rather than "Costly".

The learning conducted at the old building of the school. They have new building just beside called "Malaysian Budhist Institute". While study here you'll feel like study at ancient time :) while everything still classics, such as: using writing chalk, old fashioned chinese teachers, table and chairs made from timbers. All these things recall my memory at my basic school at "SDN 060795" in Medan.. wow.. cool I still remember it :)

We read some information on the information boards, as it's written mostly in Chinese.. we just smile and need to find somebody downstairs. At first floor there is a kind of praying room for the budhist. We find a lady there, and ask the information we need. She said just come at nite, as the free school only operate at nite time start from 7pm. I took some shoot of photos around and the course they offered varied from the languages course : "malaysia, chinese, thai, japanese and english", photography course, saloon and skin care course, computers, flower arrangements etc.

Though, I'll take my photography class there just for fun and to filled up my time. My friend thinking to take languages : English and Japanese as he has dream to be "Expatriate English Teacher" some days.. some times.. some where.. in the future.

Yeah.. Dreaming is always nice, easy and free but Realizing that Dream is a hard Hard efford and survivals. Sometimes paid with blood bathing and tears. hmmm see "gua jadi puitis banget" ---> I become so poetic. Anyway no harm to have dreams. It's beautiful, and make lives more lively.. rite ? RITE ? So, let's start dreaming.. and make it comes true..

Further we leave the free school premises, and find the short cut to go to Gurney drive. We keep walking as it's beatiful weather, and it's nice place to have a walk. They have big pedestrian spots, not so many traffics, many trees at the side and the road flat just beside the beach.... hmmm welcome Gurney Drive.. welcome Gurney Plaza.. want to see what's new there.. movie and other stuff they sale... cuti cuti Malaysia.......

Frisbee Time

Unhappy Childhood time, poor me.. never play Frisbee :) hehehe

It's a throwable and catchable simple games. So, the hiking team, four of us promise to play Frisbee today. We will meet at the Konven school at football field, just opposite the beach.

The place is tranquil and excellent for relaxing. It's located at the edge of the beach, got some big trees for leisurely or reading the books. Some peoples fishing on the beach, playing football or just jogging around the fields.

We met there around 6.30pm, have a small chat a while before starting the games. Then the Frisbee Time coming. It's first experiences for me to play Frisbee.. while childhood never play this game.. sounds like unhappy childhood :)

So we make some distances and start playing. The player need to throw the plastic disc to other players who need to catch it then fling it again to other player. It's really look simple games, just a peanut game I said in the beginning..

In fact it's not as simple as it's looks. While I'm into the game, mostly I misstarget the throw, I though the wind not helping me :) my good excuse. I just can't toss the disc in correct method.

My friend keep saying throw it flat so it will spin in the air that easy for other to catch. We are a good team player though... there is no winner or loser.. we play for fun.. Eventually I successfully adapt with the technics.. I can throw the disc on the target.. yeah.. YES YES.. so happy.. see, it's not difficult.. I though.. heheheh.. We have bat sweating for this exercise.. what a fun, free and healthy sport.

We play around 40mnts, when it's become darker, we stopped playing and have a rest a while at the edge of the beach. When we go home, the school's gate already locked, so we need to climb the gate for exit. See you tomorrow.. we say good bye each other.. what an interesting holiday.. play everytime..

Padang Culinary in Penang - Mamamiyah Lezato :)

Yearning for my Padang Cuisine abroad ?

Anyway Padang food become an International cuisine. Where there is Padangness, there will be always Padang food restorants ;) (I'm thinking to open 3 resto here ;)

Is it hard to find Padang cuisine in George Town Penang? No, No problem at all. It's very easy. There are two well known Padang restorants here. One a bit expensive with many variety of menu choices located around Transfer road. The other one is located at Lebuh Tamil just beside the traditional market around Penang Road, It is called "Pusako Restorant"

The later is my favourite place to eat my Padang food at "Pusako Restorant". They already start the business for 12years at that premise. Their culinary taste fine FINE for me, and reasonable price. By spending around 4-5RM for the lunch set that included: vegetables, curry, fried fish and one glass of warm Padang tea drink. For Me The Padang Tea drink is a good accompany for my meals as its' a normal tea served warm and no sugar. While I enjoy my drink, my memory back to Minang Kabau.. my descendant hamlet.. :)

As the seller of this restorant originally come from Indonesia (West Sumatera), so most of the clients also from Indonesia, with some bule bule tourists who loves mamamiyah Lezato Padang Food :). This restorant start open the business from 10am until 8pm.

For my appetite of food I still taste that "Cambodian and Thai rice" is premium, it's a bit of sweet rice, and always good to mix with whatever extra menu. I can eat gluttonously that Cambodian's rice with simple crumble eggs, hot chille and vegetables :) hehehe.. rakus apa lapar yeee

Anyway, I'm now in Penang, and nothing so much worried to find good and healthy food here. From Western food, Thailand, Indian, Malay, Chinese cuisines and Indonesia also available here. There are many choices of culinary here and in the hearth of George Town some restorants open for 24 hours. Crazy enough rite? People are hunger for the food.

Just a little note to promote my ancient food, well blog readers.. if you come to Penang, your journey will not complete yet before having the Padang food and Tea Padang here :).. Really yeah ?? hehheh.. just a promotion..anyway but no harm to try this mamamiyah lezato Padang food...

Stop 84 @ Penang Hill

After having break at stop no.5, We all ready to move forward to hike the Stop no.84. It will take approximately another 50mnts to reach that stop. There are some trails paths, then We decided to get through the stop no.39 first to find our free hot tea, coffee or water. It's only about 10mnt to go to stop no.39. We continue our refreshing here, some chinesse hikers making some groups there to playing card, relaxing, or even just for talking.

I took some shoots of photographs from this 39 stop, the view from this stop look nicer. We are resting about 10mnts here then continue our hike to stop no.84. As we have enough time to refresh ourselves, now we ready to make further hiking.

The trail path looks fine, not really stiff but a little bit challenging. In about 40mnts we approached the Stop no.84. This stop managed by an old chinese man that keep saying "donation" "donation" put your "donation" please into the slot of thin. So the hikers, who want to have some tea/coffee or water and some biscuits, need to put some donation, 1rm, 2rm, as they wish.

We took some biscuits, hot drinks and put in some money for donation. We refreshing again at this stop about 15mnts. As usual I took some photographs for my blog. Next we ready to going down from the hill. The sky become darker and the heavy raining started. We need to wait the raining slow down before we continue our hiking down to the road. We are taking the trail path that will go to the Ayer Hitam road spot. It's about one and half hours journeys to going down plus extra times we spend to wait the raining slow down.

While we are arrived at the road of Ayer Hitam, it's still raining. Myself and drunkerhero doesn't have good preparation for this raining. We don't bring umbrella or raincoat as our other team have it. Then, it's no problem, we try to enjoy having bath with the rain, back to the childhood, feel free, playing and running under the rain.

We are waiting the bus to bring us back to our hotel at George Town - The backpackers area in Penang. We are getting inside the bus, feel wet and colder with Aircond bus. At 8pm we arrived at George Town, we stop and say goodbye each other. We promise to play Frisbee tomorrow afternoon... Wow.. what a good holiday.. playing all the times.. :) hehehe

Hiking on Penang Hill Stop No. 5

Hiking on Penang Hill (from Botanical Garden to Stop No. 5)

Quiet long time we are not doing hiking up the hill. It was about 2 months ago our last time hiking in lovely Penang Hill. We meet our hiking guide this afternoon, and he told us his plan to go hike tomorrow, and if I want to joint that will be great. In fact I am still on holiday ;) thought it's a good working out to the natures by doing hike and hill trackers. So the next day, we meet again at the "Pusako Padang Restorant" in George town, we have our good lunch there before starting our hike.


There are four of us in this hiking team. One is a NZ's lady, an active and fit lady. She has not never make up to the top of the hill yet. On her mysterious age, she still look very frisky to break an unique record for her hobby to walk or even running from George Town to Batu Ferringgi beach.. wow.. wow.. That's special I though.. why not joint her running some times:) about 15-20km run bokkkk.. hehehe.. very special

So, we all set up, we take the bus no. 101 for the route to teluk bahang. We stopped around one stop close to my Indonesian embassy (be proud to be Indonesian) :) hehehe.. Then we continue our walk to the botanical garden hiking point.


We arrived to the hiking point around 1.15pm, We feel already the fresh and clear air, the wind blowing to the big big trees, and some mongkeys welcoming us. I took some shoots for this Darwin's descendants, then we start our hiking. We got a new accompany from a local 67yo chinese which made hiking as his daily sport to keep him on excellent conditions. Yes on his age, he still look very fit to walk around the hill trails.. and he is a kind of entertain man, he become our guide for the new trail path to the hill. Times moving, we keep moving, and stepping the trail path to the hill.


At this hiking myself and drunkerhero in a very very survival situations.. hehehe.. crazy, Althought we are the youngers among all the teams but we need to admit that.. we still not fit enough to hike. we having shower with our sweathing, we are breathing fasters, and our legs like carrying lots of load while stepping.

Aghhgg... I need a resttt..... guysss.. i need a rest..... ohpss.. The senior hikers keep walking.. only the drunker hero still around me. He said.. come on.. come on.. man.. keep hiking.. No.. no I said.. can't I need a rest... You can go a head.. a need a little rest.. and have my seat under the trees.. I kept bathing with my sweaths and my hearth pump the blood and breath faster.. hmmmm..

Come on 2mnts more, we will reach the stop point.. ahggggg.. I need a rest.. I need water.. hehehe.. yeah.. we can rest at the stop point and drink pure pipe hill water there.. my friend entertain me.. hmm aghhhhhh sounds this trail path more difficult then the one we used before..
I'm dying, and I don't want to be leave alone in this jungle.. then I said i can do that.. so, hardly.. wake up and start moving my legs step by step.. yeah.. it's really 10mnts.. huh.. to the stopped YES Yes.. finally we can reach that stopped.. Good GOOD GOOD..

What do I do first at the stopped point? It's not like usual as They don't have drinks at this stopped.. ahgg.. no.. :) but they have pipe water, pure water from the natural those can drinks. So, I wash my face, my hands and glug.. glug.. glugggg hmmm the drinks ahh.. mamamiyahhhh lezato.. heheh

Feeling recovery, refresh.. and sitting to relaxing a while.. taking some shoots of photos on this stopped then resting, hmmm.. I'm ready to move.. I think :)

We have rest about 20mnts there.. Next stop 84 stopped point.. we are.. coming.. :)

Good Bye Sleepless Khao San

Staying two nites in Bangkok at Khao San road. Nothing so much to do except the city tours. Walking around the unsleep Khao San road and eating at the Moslem restaurant next to Khao San road.

The foods are tastefull, and reasonable prices. You can find various foods in this moslem restorant from chicken rice, noodle soups, a kind of mixed vegetables with noodles, tofu, martabaks and satai.. hmmm mamamiyah lezato..

Amaze me, "mie bakso" also available here. The "meat ball noddle soups" hmmm.. I miss to eat "bakso" so much and decided to try it here. The taste still fine.. eventhough not as tastefull as "Bakso Titoti" pasar Minggu Jakarta :) but still fine FINE FINE. Talking about bakso.. make me feeling hunger again.. :)

Continue my walking around the nite market, still neighbourhood area from Khao San. In this nite market sell some kinds of antiques or used stuffs. The location is opposite the Royale hotel just around the park.

This illicit street vendors just display their merchandises along the pedistrian path. From used Handphone, DVD, CDs, some antiques stuffs, like cheramics vase, toys, medicines, foods, drinks and clothing are available there. I took 1 hour walking around for window dressing, eating the spicy local noddle food at nite market then go home through the Khao San road.

This sleepless road always very nice to passed through as many things you can see there. I need to say Goodbye for Khao San as tomorrow I'll leave to take my train and go to Malaysia.. Bye bye.. Khao San.. bye bye Red Shirts Bangkok.. and welcome back to the heritage city of Georgetown in Penang.. Malaysia.. my 2nd home :)