Batu Feringghi: A day at the beach...

Good morning! Time to change tack...

After spending a night at Masjid Lebuh Aceh pondering serious matters regarding the fate of the Penang Malays and the actual state of the Muslim faith in Malaysia, I decided to play the normal tourist role walking the lengths of Penang's many interesting streets before heading for the famous beach of Batu Feringghi some 15km or so from the city.

Oh... Now I remember... I must have slept at Masjid Lebuh Aceh on the 14th. As my records show I was in Penang (Seberang Prai which is situated on the mainland is considered to be in Penang too) 7-16 January and that includes the day after spending a night in Batu Feringghi, I arrived at the beach on the 15th... And I was at Lebuh Aceh the previous day.

Anyway, on with the story...

This is how it looks like from the little motel where I stayed for the night. I have no problem practically sleeping anywhere to save money. Usually I would put up at mosques or suraus (small praying halls) which are available almost anywhere within a 2km radius in Malaysia as this is after all a Muslim country. But the thing is at those religious venues, I must be ready to wake up by 5am in the morning for the Subuh congregational prayers.

The time for prayers itself started at around 5.45 or so depending on your location on the globe while one can perform the Subuh alone by the latest at about 7am. But at such places, the caretaker almost always comes early to prepare the venue and it is not polite for you to be still sleeping and not join the congregational prayer.

This is OK if I'm not so tired travelling but there are times I felt so whacked or simply so lazy... And there are times it's easier to put up at a cheap hotel especially when I have bundles of soiled clothes to wash, so there...

OK... Can you see the sea already? If not, watch closely again...

There, if you still can't see the sea, you better replace your eyes with marbles or something like that. Or maybe as they say, you have lost your marbles... Haha!

This is how a typical day at Batu Feringghi looks like. The beach is the most popular in Northern Malaysia attracting tourists from all parts of the world. The Mat Saleh (a Malay term for the whites) really seemed to love this beach...

In the background is Gunung (mount of) Jerai in Kedai, the most visible mountain up north. The history books say that was how merchants of the olden days find their way and navigate to Kedah... Eh... I'm not supposed to talk about history here... Ish... Ish... Ish!

Another look at the beachside. A place to relax and cool down. So forget history and serious matters eh?

A look towards the north-east horizons. Seen in the picture are the hills making up that part of Penang... Hmm... There's actually another pair of hills in the picture if you are observant enough, haha! :]

The main road at Batu Feringghi leading to the city of Penang. There's a whiff of Phuket, Thailand here except for the prostitution... Thank God!

I always like the hills... So one for the picture...

And despite any attempt to revert my attention elsewhere, I can't also forget the mosque. Must be my age catching up... Cheers!