Batu Ferringhi, Penang

Sinar suria matahari telah lama melabuhkan tirainya. Hanya limpahan cahaya dari lampu neon jalan menerangi kawasan tempat kami menunggu. Pada malam ini, atau lebih tepat lagi, pada malam 23 Mei 2014, kami berada di Stesen Bus Shah Alam untuk menunggu bus kami yang dijadualkan bertolak pada jam 11 malam. Perjalanan kami kali ini agak jauh kerana kami memilih untuk bermalam di Pulau Pinang. Kali ini, dengan kehadiran Nazreen dan Intan, kami menuju ke Pulau Pinang atau nama lainnya Pulau Mutiara berempat. Oleh kerana perjalanan ke Pulau Pinang di jangkakan mengambil masa selama 5 jam, kami membuat keputusan untuk bertolak pada waktu malam supaya sepanjang perjalanan nanti kami dapat melelapkan mata dan berehat selain menjangkakan yang kami akan tiba di sana pada awal pagi.

Jam menghampiri 11 malam dan pengangkutan kami sampai. Kami teruja kerana bus yang bakal kami naiki ialah bus dua tingkat dan kerusi kami berada di tingkat atas. Sepanjang perjalanan bermacam-macam yang kami lakukan tetapi kebanyakkan masa kami tidur.

Awal pagi 24 Mei 2014, kami tiba di Stesen Bus Butterworth. Jam menunjukkan pukul 5.30 pagi dan kami tidak boleh kemana-mana kerana untuk ke Pulau Pinang, kami terpaksa mengambil feri yang dijadualkan tertolak paling awal pada jam 6 pagi. 

Jarak dari stesen bus dan jeti tidak begitu jauh. Perasaan teruja menyelubungi tatkala terlihat cahaya matahari menyinar menerangi bumi dan kabus yang semakin menghilang. Setelah tiba di pulau, kami mencari-cari kedai makan. Malangnya tiada kedai makan berhampiran jeti, jadi kami berbincang di Stesen Bus Rapid Penang dan sekaligus menaiki bus menuju ke tempat tujuan kami. Kami bersetuju untuk pergi ke Taman Negara Penang dan turun dari bus sekirannya terlihat mana-mana kedai makan sepanjang perjalanan kami. Ketika bus kami tiba di satu kawasan, Aizuddin terpandang akan sebuah kedai makan yang tidak berapa jauh dan kami segera turun dari bus.

Apabila sampai di kedai makan tersebut, kami meminta makanan dan minuman. Penting untuk kami mengisi perut sebelum tiba di Taman Negara Penang kerana khuatir di sana tiada makanan dan tiada tenaga. Usai makan, kami meneruskan perjalanan ke destinasi kami dengan menaiki bus. Apabila sampai di Taman Negara, kami teruja dan segera mendaftar masuk sebagai langkah keselamatan. Lebih kurang jam 10 pagi, kami memulakan langkah memasuki Taman Negara Penang. 

Bermacam-macam kawasan yang kami lalui antaranya kawasan hutan, paya, pantai, batu sehinggakan tidak tahu sudah berapa kilometer kawasan yang kami lalui. Terasa sedih ketika melihat sampah sarap angkara tangan-tangan manusia merosakkan permandangan indah Taman Negara Penang. Kami tiba di kawasan pantai yang agak luas dan membuat keputusan untuk berehat seketika. ‘Groundsheet’ Aizuddin dibuka dan kami beramai-ramai merebahkan badan di atasnya. Bayu laut ketika itu sungguh mendamaikan dan pohon-pohon rendang melindungi tubuh kami dari sinaran terik cahaya matahari.

Setelah sejam berehat, kami meneruskan perjalanan tetapi sebelum itu, kami memakai krim pelindung UV bagi mengelak kulit kami dari terbakar. Kemudian kami dikejutkan dengan kecederaan yang di alami oleh Intan. Kakinya melecet kerana pemakaian kasut yang tidak sesuai. Walau bagaimanapun, perjalanan kami di teruskan. Kami tiba di satu lagi kawasan pantai yang mempunyai ramai pengunjung sedang bermandi manda. Kami tergoda dengan air laut yang diharapkan boleh meredakan haba yang terhasil daripada tubuh kami tetapi kami harus fokus. Kami mahu tiba di rumah api sebelum melakukan aktiviti yang lain. Kami berhenti seketika untuk berehat dan membeli air. Jarak antara kami dengan rumah api tidak jauh tetapi kami harus mengharungi pendakian tangga yang amat mencabar. Pada masa itu, beg yang di galas oleh Aqif dan Aizuddin seberat kira-kira 10 kilogram dan terasa semakin berat semasa keletihan. Dengan keazaman yang tinggi kami meneruskan perjalanan walaupun tidak pantas. Semasa dalam perjalanan, kami bertemu dengan seorang pengunjung dari Thailand yang berusia dalam lingkungan 60’an yang masih gagah mendaki tangga-tangga rumah api itu dan dia seorang wanita.

Akhirnya kami tiba di lokasi tujuan kami iaitu rumah api. Malangnya keadaan di sana terlalu panas dan kami kehabisan air. Air paip juga tiada untuk kami menyejukkan badan. Lantas, Aqif dan Nazreen mengambil keputusan untuk membuka baju sementara tiada pengunjung lain. Tetapi tidak lama kerana pengunjung dari Thailand itu tiba. Kami berbual-bual dengan dia. Kami mengenalinya sebagai Aunty Petra. Bermacam-macam soalan yang di tujukan kepadanya dan dia menceritakan pengalamannya mengembara ke lebih 60 buah negara bersendirian dan kadangkala berteman. Baginya, mengembara amat menyeronokkan dan dia lebih teruja melihat kami yang mula menjelajah pada usia yang muda. Bagi dirinya, apa yang kami lakukan bagus dan tidak semua berpendapat dengannya. Sesetengah orang beranggapan kami ini hanya membuang masa tetapi dia memberikan kami semangat dan harapan. Semasa berbual, Aunty Perta juga memberi cadangan tempat-tempat yang kami boleh lawati dengan kos tempat tinggal yang murah. Tidak lama kemudian, Aunty Petra berpatah balik tetapi kami bercadang untuk berehat seketika. Lalu kami menaiki rumah api untuk ke puncaknya. Kami menyesal kerana tidak menaikinya awal-awal kerana keadaan di situ sungguh berbeza dengan di bawah. Keadaan berangin sungguh mempersonakan dan kami bercadang untuk berehat lebih lama sambil menikmati permandangan.

Lebih kurang jam 2.30 petang, kami bersedia untuk turun. Kami tiba di pantai paling hampir dan mencari kedai untuk membeli air. Luluh hati kami ketika mendengar pertanyaan peniaga di sana yang musykil kerana kami membawa beg naik ke rumah api. Peniaga tersebut mengizinkan para pengunjung untuk menumpang meletakkan beg di kedainya. Tiada apa yang kami boleh lakukan kerana kami telah pun turun. Terasa diri ini kurang bijak pada ketika itu. Kami membuat keputusan untuk menaiki bot kerana kami telah kehabisan tenaga untuk berpatah balik dan menjimatkan tenaga. Setelah sampai di pintu masuk, kami mendaftar keluar dan membersihkan diri sebelum bersolat. Terasa amat lega ketika air menyentuh tubuh dan menghilangkan bahang kepanasan. Setelah semuanya bersiap dan letih mula menghilang, lapar pula menjelma. Kami segera mendapatkan bus dan menuju ke kedai makan yang kami kunjungi pagi tadi.

Kami tiba di kedai makan dengan penuh berselera dan lebih kurang jam 5 petang, kami tiba di tapak perkhemahan kami yang berada di tepi pantai. Rancangan kami untuk berehat terbantut kerana terik matahari menyebabkan kami seperti cacing kepanasan. Nasib baik kerana ‘flysheet’ milik Aqif dapat digunakan untuk melindungi diri dari bahang matahari. Kawasan perkhemahan kami sebenarnya terletak di hadapan chalet yang di sewa oleh ahli keluarga Aizuddin dan Nazreen. Lewat petang itu, kami semua menaiki ‘banana boat’.

Pada malam hari, kami hanya berehat-rehat di perkarangan khemah kerana masih penat mengharungi Taman Negara Penang siang tadi. Kami berasa bangga kerana boleh melihat rumah api yang kami daki dari kawasan perkhemahan kami. Bangga kerana kami boleh berjalan begitu jauh. Pada masa itu Nazreen tertidur dan kami masih berbual-bual. Semasa kami tiba siang tadi, kami bercadang untuk menghidupkan unggun api tetapi kerana keadaan pantai yang tidak begitu sejuk, niat kami terkubur. Tidak lama kemudian, hujan mula turun dan Aizuddin mengejutkan Nazreen untuk memasuki khemah. Tidak lama kerana selang seminit memasuki khemah, Nazreen keluar. Rupa-rupanya khemah kami basah di masuki air. Mujur hujan tidak lama tetapi kami di kejutkan oleh bunyi bising dari chalet jiran yang memasang lagu dengan begitu kuat sambil berpesta. Pada jam 11 malam, ahli keluarga Aizuddin dan Nazreen pulang sambil membawa pasembor. Kami makan sambil di temani bunyi music dari chalet jiran. Pada mulanya kami tidak kisah kerana mereka mengadakan parti hari jadi tetapi bunyi bising itu berpanjangan sehingga ke jam 2 pagi. Kami menghadapi masalah untuk tidur kerana gangguan bunyi serta bahang di dalam khemah. Kawasan khemah kami tidak berangin langsung dan menyebabkan tiada aliran udara di dalam khemah. Jam 3 pagi kami nekad untuk membentangkan ‘groundsheet’ berhampiran khemah dan tidur di situ. Intan tetap berada di dalam khemah kerana bimbang akan keselamatan. Aqif, Aizuddin dan Nazreen tidur di kawasan terbuka walaupun gangguan bunyi masih belum berhenti.

Pada pagi 25 Mei 2014, kami berempat kelihatan lesu kerana kekurangan tidur. Hari itu merupakan hari terakhir percutian kami ke Pulau Pinang. Kami terpaksa berangkat pulang kerana keesokkan harinya merupakan hari Isnin dan kami tidak cuti pada hari Isnin. Pada pagi itu, kami membuat kopi dan minum bersama roti serta tuna. Kami mengisi perut sambil menikmati permandangan pantai di awal pagi. Kemudian kami berkemas-kemas dan mengambil beberapa gambar. Kami menyertai ahli keluarga Aizuddin dan Nazreen bersarapan di kedai makan berhampiran. Usai bersarapan, kami menaiki Rapid Penang menuju ke jeti untuk menaiki feri. Kami bercadang untuk menaiki bus di Penang Sentral setelah bertanyakan pendapat penduduk tempatan. Ketika tiba di Penang Sentra, kira-kira jam 12.30 tengah hari dan kami terpaksa berpecah kepada dua kumpulan kerana Aizuddin dan Nazreen perlu menaiki bus ke Stesen Bus Pudu manakala Aqif dan Intan perlu menaiki bus ke Stesen Bus Shah Alam. Bus terawal ke Pudu pada jam 1 petang manakala bus terawal ke Shah Alam pada jam 3 petang. Setelah masing-masing menaiki bus ke destinasi yang di tuju, kami pulang ke rumah dengan selamat.

(ditulis oleh: Aqif)

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The darkness was rising during that time. The only light source was come from the road lamp nearby. On that night, specifically on 23^rd May 2014, we already at the Shah Alam Bus Station, was waiting for the bus which should depart on 11 pm. We choose to go further at this time for our expedition which at Penang Island. For this time, this expedition to Penang Island or known as Pearl Island was involving 4 person which includes Aizuddin, Aqif, Nazreen and Intan. 

We decided to choose the journey on the midnight because the journey will took about 5 hours so we can sleep or rest while on the way there. We expected to arrive there on early morning. Time was nearing 11 pm and our transport had arrived. We felt so excited because our bus was double storey and our seat was on the top storey. On our way, we slept, chat, took pictures and others but for the most of the times we slept.

On the next day which on 24^th May 2014, we arrived at Butterworth Bus Station. Time shows 5.30 am and we stuck there because to get to Penang, we need to take a ferry and the earliest departure time was on 6 am. The distance between the bus station and jetty was just nearby. Excitement was felt when we saw sun rises and fog disappearing. Once arrived on that island, we search for the restaurant nearby to eat while discussion our next destination. Unfortunately, there was no restaurant nearby so we had to make a little discussion on the Rapid Penang Bus Station and directly took the bus. We had decided to go to Penang National Park and will stop if there is restaurant available. When the bus pass through the unknown location, Aizuddin saw a restaurant and we choose to get down there.

Once arrived, we ordered our meals. It is important for us to eat before get to National Park because we afraid if there is no restaurant the means no energy to continue the journey. After took the meals, we continued our journey by bus. 

The excitement was increasing when we were arrived at Penang National Park but first, we need to sign in for safety purpose. We started our quest on 10 am. Our journey was already covered lots of area includes forest area, beach, swamp, rocky area until we don’t even know how far we already go. It feels terrible when saw rubbish that left by human being which disturb the nature scene there. When we arrived on the beach that the area was quite wide, we decided to take a rest for a while. Aizuddin open his groundsheet and we laying down on it. The sea breeze was so good and we were covered from the sunlight by the shaded trees.

We stop for an hour before continued the journey but before that, we use sunblock to avoid the sun burns. Then, an accident occurred when Intan foot was blistered because of improper shoe used but the journey was going on. We arrived on another beach that had lot of visitors. We were stunned by the sea water that looks chilling but we have to focus. We wanted to reach the lighthouse first. Then, we stop a while and bought some drink. Our distance to reach the lighthouse was not too far but we had to face the incline steps first. At that moment, Aqif and Aizuddin bag was about 10 kilogram and it felt heavier when the energy decreasing. With the high spirit, we continued our journey. While on our way, we met a female visitor about 60 years old came from Thailand and she was alone.

Then, we managed to reach the lighthouse but unfortunately, the condition was too hot and we already have no drinking water left. There is no tap water also to cool our body and Aqif, Aizzudin and Nazrenn had to remove our shirt while there is no other visitor there. But, few minutes later, the visitor from the Thailand came. 

We had a conversation there and known her as Aunty Petra. Ton of questions went out from out mouth and she told us her experienced that already explored over 60 countries alone and sometimes with her friend. For her, exploring is fun and she felt excited to see us started exploring on young ages. For her, what we were doing is good but not everyone will agree with us. Some people thought that we were wasting our time but she gave us hope and motivation. Aunty Petra gave us suggestion about the suitable country that we can visit for the future with low living cost. Then, she decided to return to the beach but we want to rest for the moment. After that, we climb to the lighthouse top. The condition on the top was different with the ground. The windy condition chill us and we decided to take a few minute to rest while enjoying the view. About 2.30 pm, we were ready to turn back. We reach the nearest beach and searching for drink. We were disappointed when seller ask us about the heavy bag that we been carried along our journey. She said that the visitor can put their bag at her shop and nothing can we do because we already on our way to campsite. We felt stupid at that time. We decided to take a boat because couldn’t manage to walk back. At the gate, we check out and clean up ourselves. It felt so relive when cold water touch our body. When all of us were ready, we search for restaurant because all of us felt hungry. We went to the same restaurant that we took our breakfast on that morning.

We took our lunch late and about 5 pm, we arrived at our campsite which located at the beach. Our plan to get rest on the beach was stopped by the heat from sun but luckily we have a flysheet belong to Aqif that can be used as cover. Actually, our campsite was located in front of the chalet rent by Aizuddin and Nazreen family members. On the late evening, all of us rode banana boat. During the night, we just rest nearby our tent. 

From the resting place, we can see the lighthouse that we went before. Nazreen already slept meanwhile Intan, Aizuddin and Aqif still having a conversation. On the evening, we plan to build a campfire but the condition was not suitable. Later then, rain was pouring and Aizzudin ask Nazreen to get into tent. Few minute later, Nazreen get out from the tent because our tent was flooded. Luckily it won’t get long but we were shocked by the loud sound came from the nearby chalet that played music while having a party. 

On 11 pm, Aizuddin and Nazreen family members return and bought us local food called ‘pasembor’. We ate with the loud noise still played. Initially, we don’t even bother because they having a birthday party but they won’t stop until 2 am. We can’t sleep because of the loud noise and the condition in the tent was very hot like in an oven. Our campsite didn’t have proper air flow so the heat inside our tent cannot be release out. On 3 am, we open the groundsheet in front our tent and slept there. Intan still on her tent for safety purpose but the rest was falling asleep in open placed even though the music won’t stop.

On 25^th May 2014 morning, all of us were tired because lack of sleep. That day was the last day for us to Penang Island for that expedition. We had to get back home because on Monday, we had a work to do. On that morning, we made coffee and drink it with slice of bread with tuna. We having a breakfast while enjoy the beach view. Then, we pack our stuff and took few photos. We join Aizzudin and Nazreen family members taking a breakfast at restaurant nearby. Once get full, we took Rapid Penang and headed to the jetty to get a ferry. We decided to take a bus at Penang Sentral after getting an opinion from local people. We arrived at Penang Sentral about 12.30 pm and we had to divide into two group. It is because Aizuddin and Nazreen had to go to Pudu Bus Station meanwhile Aqif and Intan had to go to Shah Alam Bus Station. The early bus to Pudu was on 1 pm meanwhile to Shah Alam was on 3 pm. Then, all of us were arrived at home safely.

(Written by Aqif)