Malacca River Run 2014

I registered for the Brooks Kuantan Run earlier but could not make it there since my convocation day happened to fall on the same day as the event. Anyway, still glad that I have the chance to join the Malacca River Run recently.

We thought we could collect the race kit on the morning of the event day, and planned to make a day trip but were told that we had to do so the day before. So we left for Malacca without a definite place to spend the night since we didn't book any hotel earlier. It was right in the middle of the school holiday so we had to make do with whatever that's left, 2 clean small rooms, just a walking distance away from the event venue.



Rise and Shine..subuh in beautiful, Melaka

This time we did not have to rush since our event started quite late compared to our previous runs, the full marathon category was flagged off much earlier around 4am. We walked to the venue and arrived before 7am, it was still a bit dark.



There was no warm-up/aerobic session and I heard a lot of complain after the run. Especially the lack of water station for those full and half marathon runners. It was sorta a bit unorganized here and there. But for us, it was okay. Whenever we joined the run, it was for the fun exercise and spending family time together so we have no complain.

And oh, I love the fact that we got to see some historical and beautiful places in Malacca during our run, Awesome choice of routes!


Starting line.

The usual: a red cap, phone and earphone!

Peace! Go...abah, 10km!

 

Finally at the finish line

 

Hiking @ Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang)

Taman Negara Pulau Pinang: The entrance

This is one of the natural wonders of Penang,

 there are two main hiking tracks, one heading to Muka Head Light House and another one to Kerachut Beach. 

We were thinking of heading to the Light House initially but did not like the idea of being greeted by the monkeys at Monkey Beach. So off to Kerachut Beach!

The trail was pretty easy at first and we stopped to take some photos and enjoyed the scenery.

But as we went further into the jungle the trail became a bit trickier. The tracks were steep and slippery  with lots of roots and tree trunks. And most of the journey, we had to climb up hills, passed through some small streams. Quite tiring and we were sweating like crazy and after a while no one wants to snap any photo anymore. At one point we thought we were lost since it was so quite, dark because it was about to rain and we did not see any one else in the jungle.

Taman Negara Pulau Pinang, Penang National Park, Kerachut Beach, Penang Turtle Sanctuary, Monkey Beach.

Near The Entrance: Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang)

Can't recall the name of this place but it is located at the beginning of the trail of Taman Negara Pulau Pinang.

We were told that this structure is what's left after the big Tsunami

The canopy walk was closed for maintenance due to a falling tree when we were there.

Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang)

I think this is the last photo taken before we went deeper into the jungle.

After walking and climbing for almost two hours we reached the suspension bridge near Kerachut Beach. This is where the meromictic lake is, a special lake where the fresh water and sea water do not mix. But unfortunately, when we were there, the lake was dry. It is a seasonal lake!

And just then, it started raining heavily, with thunderstorm and lightning. We were soaking wet when we finally reached the beach. No one expected the rain since it normally rains in the evening not at noon. We had to wait for more than one hour at a small hut before continuing another short walk to the Penang Turtle Sanctuary. It was already lunch time, the persons in-charge were out and we did not get a chance to hold the little cute baby turtles, sigh!

 Cute little baby turtles, comel! 

The scenery at Kerachut beach is so breathtaking, beautiful and serene. We could have enjoyed it better if it wasn't for the rain, thunder and lightning! It was windy, a bit foggy and we were soaking wet, so cold can't even feel our fingers. Who would have thought that it could be so cold even in a tropical country (and at noon!).

Pantai Kerachut, Penang National Park (Taman Negara Pulau Pinang)

 The beautiful and foggy Pantai Kerachut

The jetty at Pantai Kerachut, Taman Negara Pulau Pinang

The jetty at Kerachut beach.

Abah is very excited about this hiking trip.

He is planning to hike again here, next time his destination is the Light House!

Hopefully there will be no rain, thunder and lightning!

P/S: To the foreign tourist who shared the same boat with us on the way back to the mainland, 
THANK YOU for lending your jacket to my youngest brother who was shivering due to the cold wind and rain!  

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