Tropical Spice Garden

The garden itself was little more than a big, really nicely landscaped garden. The real treat was the café, not for the food by any means, but for the incredible views and free entertainment. Situated so close to the sea you can look out through lush trees onto the blue water of the entrance to the Strait of Malacca which joins the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. The sun was shining right into my lens, silhouetting everything and ruining the shots, so the pictures do absolutely no justice to the scene. As I sat there a family of monkeys decided to leap from tree to tree above me. What a treat!

Penang National Forest

Penang has the smallest national forest in the world, but many areas of it are so hilly and remote that you aren’t permitted to enter unless you’ve first registered with the authorities. Still, in my short trip I was amazed, and the forest became my favorite spot so far in Penang. The vistas were beautiful and the animals were nearby. The monkey in the tree isn’t very well lit but you can get a sense of how close he was to me. I don’t know what type of lizard was in the water, but I’m glad it wasn’t as close as the monkey.

Tropical Fruit Farm

I almost didn’t stop here. I’m glad I did. It was really neat to learn about all different kinds of tropical fruits and see cinnamon, nutmeg and lots more in their natural, growing state. That tree is a cinnamon tree. They shave the bark off and dry it in the sun. It smells wonderful when cut fresh.

After the tour we were treated to a fruit banquet, including any fresh-blended juice we wanted. On the recommendation of the juicer I tried pineapple juice blended with fresh nutmeg fruit. It was great.

Titi Kerawang Waterfall

The waterfall wasn’t a big as I was hoping, but it was a nice stop. The small bridge crossing the stream lacked handrails, which I came to find is pretty normal here.

Titi Kerawang Waterfall fruit stand & monkey

There wasn’t much room to park or walk near the entrance to the waterfall. As I leaned in closer to take the monkey’s picture his handlers started warning me, “Be careful! Be careful!” What, he doesn’t look friendly to you?

I guess he doesn’t look friendly to me either.

Road Trip!

For years I’ve wanted to drive on the left side of the road. The weather conspired against me in Ireland. But here in Malaysia I had my chance! I rented a car, a Proton Saga. Proton is a Malaysian manufacturer who draws technical assistance from Mitsubishi. They are active in rally racing and Formula 1. However I wouldn’t be doing any rally racing in my 1.3 liter Saga—the seemingly suicidal motorbike riders convinced me that slow and steady would carry the day.

Armed with a free tourists map I set out away from traffic up the west coast of the island with a couple of possible destinations in mind, but mostly with the aim of just hitting the road and seeing whatever there was to see.

I later found out from my regular cabbie, Zoo, that durians are a fruit that smell like “weeks old socks”.

Day of Goodwill

Here was the newspaper headline the day after Christian church firebombings in Malaysia. Malaysians of different backgrounds took to the street to offer flowers and smiles to strangers passing by in a gesture of friendship, unity and peace.

When Renee and I were in Costa Rica people that we encountered outside of Intel were often being nice because they were paid to be nice. I’ll call it “Oregon Nice”. As in, “Hello, I’ll smile because I have to, please spend lots of money, and then immediately return home”. It’s been very different here in Penang. Everyone has been wonderful and genuinely warm and friendly.

My prayer is that my Christian brothers and sisters here in Malaysia model Christ’s example of forgiveness. What a witness that would be, and the above photo is touching evidence that such forgiveness is being extended.