TRIP TO MONKEY BEACH

Monkey Beach is part of Penang's National Reserved Forest which is the smallest National Park in Malaysia. Due to its popularity,a safe track has already been made for holiday makers to explore and enjoy the rich preserved forest. We arrived at Teluk Bahang a famous fishing village at 9am,which is the entrance to the jungle.  After registering at its office and given a map of the journey, we began our journey into the jungle. Initially the path were well paved and cleanliness well maintained along the way that gave a bit of unnatural impression of the jungle.However it gave a comfort feelings to first time visitors especially those looking for clean toilets before the journey.

   

 As Penang is an Island, we will be tracking near or not too far off the beach. After a few minutes walk with relatively small gradient we have the first glimpse of the beach. With an expectation of a challenging jungle hike, the sight of a beach, gave a feeling of everyday strolling near a beach. It was somehow a pleasing feeling with our loved ones stopping to enjoy the scenery and taking photographs. As it was just the beginning of our journey, we moved on quickly towards our destination. 

We were reminded earlier that our walk to Monkey beach will take 1 hour 30 minutes and another 40 minutes hike to Muka Head. We had just walked about about 15 minutes, and that reminded us that the journey was still a long way to go. After a few more minutes we reached the first rest house where we had our toilet break. The piped water must have been directed from the streams as the water are exceptionally cold. It was a refreshing stop and after this stop, the real challenge Excited to start the journey began. No more concrete pavements, and tree roots form the friction of the track.It is not advisable to track on rainy days, as the soil turned muddy and slippery and the roots are equally slippery too.

We reached the first wooden suspension bridge built for the convenience of tracker to cross a small valley. The gradient were getting higher as we continued our journey. At some point, we have to be aided by ropes and concrete steps. There are metal steps and railings too. There are many senior citizens taking this path as their daily exercise routine and therefore every precautions were taken to avoid any untoward incidents.

At some points the hike were challenging and very tiresome. We need to drink plenty of water especially '100 plus' to replenish some minerals for strength. It is advisable for first timer to prepare at least 4 cans of "100 plus' and some sweets for instant energy. For seasoned hikers, this will be a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery and the vegetation and the various information sign boards along the path. Though there are fallen trees, they were not removed, maybe for reasons to maintain its natural look. For us, it was a journey to accomplish, and we did not really stop to study any tree nor insects but thankful of the much needed fresh air which we do not enjoy in town. Though it was shady, but the entire journey was bright where we need not bring along any torch. 

                                                                                               

We came out of the jungle onto the beach where the University Science Malaysia (USM) marine research centre was located. Here the beach were clean and well taken of with recycling bins provided for visitors to throw their bottles and cans. 

At first we thought that we had reached Monkey Beach so soon, but realized later that we were only halfway to our destination. We have to walk along the beach to enter into the jungle again to continue our journey to Monkey Beach. The beach here seems long to us because of the hot, almost overhead, burning sun. On entering the jungle again, we were faced with  tougher challenges. The gradients were higher with more obstacles and the pathways are narrow, where at some point only passable by one person at a time. It will be more difficult and dangerous during rainy days where the wet mud  turned slippery. 

After a walkabout around the lighthouse, we started our journey down. Though not tiring downhill, but straining on our kneecaps with every precautions not to injure our legs by watching our controlled steps. Our journey here is a memorable one with a promise to revisit again in the near future.