I drove to Penang to join a big group of walkers participating in a hash walk organised by General (R) Datuk LC Soon. Botak Chin, Margaret and Han joined me for the drive. We stayed at Air Itam Training Centre (AITC), near Kek Lok Si Temple. It was a basic hostel accommodation. For RM170, we got 3 nights stay at the hostel and 2 days breakfast and packed lunches. Not bad.
We planned to walk from Teluk Bahang in the north to the base camp in Air Itam and continued all the way south to Gertak Sanggul the next day.
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One peak conquered, a few to go
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We started the walk in high spirit. After hours of gruelling walk, it began to take tolls. I separated from my walking partner and room mate, BH Tan as he was having some pains. I continued the walk with no one in sight in front or back of me. I just prayed that I did not get lost. I was following the paper trail.
I stopped for lunch by a stream just after the farm and before going into the jungle again.
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The walk took us through hills, farm lands and jungle. There was steep climb and descend. I came across some beautiful flowers, water falls and abandoned old colonial buildings. I walked under the canopies of Bunga Kantan trees of which flowers are used in the assam laksa that Penang is famous for. I had a field day taking photos.
Towards the end of the walk, I regrouped with Wu, Collin, a New Zealander and Shirley.
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After dinner, I retired early. I decided not to continue walking the next day and instead joined my family at Holiday Inn, Batu Feringhi. I felt bad of not completing the mission but glad to be with my family again. I believe half of us decided not to continue on the second day.
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