Beach-y nights

I'm currently in my 3rd week of my 3-month ordeal from home. So far I'm doing quite OK I would say. Lately, I've learned to make myself more useful and communicate more with the In-house guests.

Back to my journal, my housemates and I have been making full use of the close proximity between the beach and our apartment. One night, we explored a bistro that is tucked amidst swaying palm and casuarina trees.

Interestingly, they had fire eaters performing there. I believe it's their daily routine. Kinda brought us a Deja Vu from the isles of Perhentian. It was filled with Caucasians which brings an uber-cool atmosphere. lol. It had a hammock, a tree hut and anything a Caribbean experience could offer

I love fire...

June, Me, a Hongkee June picked up at the hotel and Reagan. Sue's missing

Despite the fact that we have free meals, we still prefer to dine at Long Beach.
Again, similar to Perhentian, there's a Food Centre called Long beach. The place to get the best O'chien in Batu Ferringhi. Packed with tourists.

The beach alone is a cool place to hang out with the reflection of the moon on the sea. I can easily fall asleep on the beach with my nano.

Nana, June, Joanne, Reagan, Philly and me
So far, Philbert who's all the way at Copthorne managed to join us only once.

A beach-y experience

Btw, this is how my apartment block looks like.

Back to topic, we had an outing to the beach 2 days in a row. Somehow we just couldn't find time earlier and coincidentally I had two off days in a row.

Bleu

Penang's beaches have been known for years to be filthy and undesirable. However, the beach here in Batu Ferringhi is in contrast to that statement. In fact, many tourist staying in Golden Sands love the beach and claimed it is clean. lol.

Pretty bitches on a pretty beach

While loitering around the shores, I caught a so-called "sand prawn" according to Reagan

Dinner
*just kidding.. we let it free in the end*

man I just love the beach. It's the perfect place to unwind, away from home

an idyllic sunset

and a perfect reflection

Considering some jakuns don't even know what a banana boat is, we decided to give it a try

Jason, Sabrina, Me, Nana, Suraya, Junior and Reagan

A bunch of excitees (excited people)

haha... check out Suraya's face

Sunrise behind my apartment

The next morning, I headed out to the beach again.

And I did get some sort of De-javu from my trip in Langkawi last year

Eagles hovering above the sky, preying on fishes.

More updates about me here in Penang, I've got a big tip today. haha. And I won't be clocking in for work 4 days in a row. That means, I'll be visiting the beach again.

Apart from that, a kind British couple offered assistance in any way possible shall I decide to further my studies in Toulouse.

The night before, we visited a bistro called Sunset Bitro by the beach. The lassi rocks, the beach chair rocks and the atmosphere is simply great. I shall post it up the next time I visit the cc again. Au Revoire!

Penang and the New Year

It has been 10 days since I left home. It feels like this is the longest period I've stayed away from home. Fortunate to say, I'm not really homesick as yet considering I have a nice and comfy bed and a wonderful apartment in Penang. It not only has a swimming pool, it also has a sauna, a gym, a table tennis table, tight security and lots of Caucasians. Not to forget the view too.

Group pic during twilight from our apartment

Group pic 2

Our first self-cooked dinner

Well, here's a litle introduction to the surrounding area of Batu Ferringhi in which I am staying at now.

The Uplands International School is situated beside my apartment. Not only it has the best field i've ever seen in my life, it has an Olympic-sized swimming pool and plenty of Caucasians.

And the sunset here is captivating... Made even better when you can see it from the window of your room unlike KL where cats and pigeons dominate the backlanes.

And here's the best part of it, my apartment is walking distance to the famed Batu Ferringhi Beach.

And surprisingly, the beach is relatively clean.

And the weather here is hot and sunny most of the time with minor showers during the night.

There are also foodcourts near my apartment but a bit on the expensive side.


A 30-minute bus ride will bring you to Gurney Drive with a minimal fee of RM1.50. Gurney Plaza which is just around the corner houses a Red Box and GSC which I've yet to visit

Gurney Drive

Nana blowing bubbles

New Year's Eve

Only Reagan, June Joanne and I decided to join the crowd at Gurney Drive to usher in the New Year while the rest stayed behind.

Waiting for the Fireworks

Bubbles

If you read the papers, apparently there was a riot in Gurney Drive. But we received prior warning so we did not approach the affected areas.

Penang seems to be weird. At 12 midnight, there were no fireworks on the island. Instead, We could see fire works being shot up in Kedah, across the Northern Channel. After awhile, some fireworks were shot up behind us and then in front of us and across us. It was like a massive display of fireworks.

fireworks illuminating the night with G Hotel in the background

Somehow, the fireworks at the Curve seems better.

Post New Year celebration

So that was my first New Year's Eve in Penang! quite dull but I guess it was meaningful.

Life Abroad

I've finally arrived in Penang for my much-awaited industrial training. Considered a "test drive" for a career in the hotel industry, this training lasts for 3 months. Life in Penang for now seems difficult to describe as I'm here for about 5 days only. I'm currently training in Shangri-La Golden Sands Resort btw.

I left KL on the 30th via a 30-minute flight onboard Air Asia.

The view from my window was amazing and at the same time saddening as I could see myself slowly parting from the city I grew up in. Although 3 months may seem short, imagine 3 months of life without your family, friends and the feeling of being at home.

Accompanying me in my apartment will be Reagan, June, Joanne, Su Fen, Nana, Atika and Eugene. Perhaps it's the time for us to bond among each other.

Reagan, Me and June

Me rockstar

Glad to say, my apartment has a nice swimming pool, a sauna and quite a nice view of Batu Ferringhi. On top of that, it is situated in between the night Bazaar. Unfortunately, because we are in the tourist area, price of goods here are crazy.

The swimming pool area at my apartment.

Sunset from my apartment

I would say that the setting of my new home seems great together with its facilities. As for the working hours... I'll leave it to God. I have to sign off now, I'll tell more in my coming post.