Botanical Garden, Penang 4.5.09

I was chasing butterflies and this small yellow butterfly was what I caught with my camera. Mind you...it wasn't an easy 'catch'. There were other species flying around as if they were dancing or teasing me. I managed to take a few shots of the yellow butterflies as they were easier to spot.

My brother and I decided to take a walk to the Botanical Garden on the 4th of May, 2009. We decided to atke some pictures of an Indian temple before reaching the garden. It is a beautiful temple opposite the Chettiar Temple. It was just refurbished.

As we were shooting around, I heard rumbling noises. I turned towards the noise only to discover that the monkeys were running on the roof on the other side of the temple.

House Dana 3.5.09

Before my brother came back to visit my parents, I decided to have house dana. It just came to my mind that it would be good for my parents. But I was not sure how to go about it. My dad had once invited monks over to his house back in Perlis after he was struck with stroke back in the 70s.

Luckily, I have a friends who gave me valuable advice. They are Charles Ong whom I met online at PGHK and Sunny Khoo who is Charles' friend and I had Sunny in my Facebook. So I contacted both of them. I then proceeded to Heng Ghee's place to discuss with him and his wife since he is my dad's Godson. Poay Eng gave me some tips.

I decided to choose the monks at the Burmese Temple at Burmah Lane as it is nearer to my home. Frankie drove me to the temple on that very day. I was not sure where to make the appointment. Frankie led me to the hall and there he asked a couple of ladies minding a stall. They told us to see the lady in the temple at the counter. She asked us to see the monk who was sitted at the end of the hall. I went to him and after paying respect to him, I told him my intention.

I never know that it was so easy to invite monks home for house dana. Bhante was so pleasant and helpful.

The day came with much excitement. My cousins each brought food that they cooked. So we have plenty on that day. Bhante arrived and all of us lined up to pay respect to him. Then we were all sitted on the floor. Bhante explained to us about doing dana and he explained every parittas that he chanted. He did not want us to follow blindly.

My dad may not be able to think well now but he did tell me that he was very very happy for the dana. Well, I hope to hold more house dana in future as my parents are not able to go to the temple to offer dana now.

It is good too to transfer merits to the devas, petas and to our dead relatives who may have reborn as hungry ghosts. And also to practice metta. I felt a lot of metta being radiated. As my parents a staunch Buddhist, I will fulfill their aim for them as long as I am alive.

Taking a boat ride from Monkey Beach

YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE Emmelia and I got a boat ride back to the other side. Pak Atan, the boatman, was seated behind Emmelia. As you can well see, both of us were having a good time. We enjoyed the ride not doubt we were scrutinized for being softies. Oh well, as long as we were happy SO WHAT!!!!!!!!

The trail to Monkey Beach

Here are a few photos which I manage to take though I was out of energy. Shame that I was not in the mood to take one of those which we need to jumped down and climbed up on boulders. It was tough on me as I was carrying a heavy load (water, food, DSLR camera, lenses, batteries and flash. Every time I jumped, I felt like falling to the direction where my load swung to. For your information, I fell twice scraping my knees. I rather not have my camera and lenses knocked against any though rocks.

Black Creature

Can anyone of you tell me what this black creature is? It was caught by Wong at Monkey Beach. It is not slimy. Soft to the touch, moves and shapes itself. And it was not a blood sucker though it looked like a giant leech.

I was captivated by it and was playing with it for a while. Alas, I asked what Wong was going to do with it. He said he was taking it home to cook it. Though I begged him to let it back into the water, I was talking to a deaf ear. He murdered it and found it uneatable as it turned very hard after boiling.

Poor thing...It was killed. It would be good if the authority set a law that whatever is caught has to be put back where it belonged?

Monkey Beach, Teluk Bahang

Here we are at Monkey Beach after the Pantai Keracut hike. The trail is rough compared to the one to Pantai Keracut. The beach is not as clean too. I saw a bungalow or two which were dilapidated. The bathroom and toilet situated behind one of the bungalows are in bad condition but usable. I hiked there but was too frighten to face the rough path upon coming back. So my daughter and I took a ride back for a mere RM10. We shared the ride with a few other youngsters. If not for the sharing, we have to fork out RM50 for a one way ride back.

There were lots of 'siput' (small clams) and our friend, Wong, managed to scope them with a self made device. These were plenty but they were small.

There was a group of families who camped here. The proprietor charges RM10 for a tent per night. He was a very pleasant guy. I took his boat back to the other side. He told a group that they can always call him on his mobile if there is an emergency.
His name is Pak Atan tel. 012 4731299 If you ever need his service.

All in I still prefer Pantai Keracut even if there were jelly fish there.