October 4,

This morning we had an agenda. So we had our Javas and Muesli with yogurt. We readied and Jeff called a Grab taxi. We loaded up and went to the Penang Botanic Gardens or “Waterfall Gardens”.

The Taxi let us out at the parking area of the Gardens, right near a Hindu Temple. There was security guard at the gate. He waved us through. The Garden is free. At the entrance is a map of the Gardens and some placards of the Gardens. The Penang Botanic Garden is a part of Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve, which is “recognized by UNESCO for its efforts toensure the protection of the environment while allowing humans to coexist harmoniously with nature… .” The Biosphere Reserve spans 12,481 hectares – 7,285 h being parts of Penang Island (which is 25% of this island); and 5,196 h that is marine. I found this facinating. Anyway, the Gardens are more like what I would describe a park, and “was established by the British way back in 1884 from an old granite quarry site. It lies in a deep valley at the foot of 112 m (367 feet) jungle clad hills, bound by evergreen tropical rain forest, divided by a cascading streem that meanders through a sprawling 50 hectares of prime and undulating grounds.” … a river runs through it! Hee-Hee!

We trekked through the valley park/garden. We had sightings of monkeys, small water lizards, and numerous birds that we call LBJ – Little Brown Jobs, sparrow-type birds. (God knows them, Matthew 10:29-31). The monkeys are more proliferic though. There are all manner of tall trees, with a few labeled. Noticeably absent were beds of flowers.

We went through a Sun Rockery of succulents and cactus, that have an awning to protect them from too much rain, not sunshine. They had three or four greenhouses (one being orchids) but all were closed. They are only open nine hours per week – three hours each T,W,Th! We passed by the waterfalls but it was up in the jungle and not so “viewable”.

Now we just wound our way back down following the meandering stream. We found the Japanese Garden area, but were underwhelmed. The map showed a red Japanese Gate – never saw it. The monkeys like this area though – lots of them with many babies clinging to mothers. There were signs here to watch out for aggressive monkeys.

All in all it is a lovely park, many people are out here walking or jogging; enjoying nature with it's paths, stream, or grassland; and the sunshine or shade from those tall beautiful trees. As far as a Botanic Garden we were not impressed, but it was free.

After we finished we started walking back the 3.6 km (2.2 miles) back to our place. Once at our place, cooled down, and then went out for lunch. We went to our mall and to a new place – Ipoh Onn Kee Tauge Ayam (Chicken Restaurant). We ordered one order of 1/4 Ginger 'Beard' (???) Chicken. Questions?? I asked our waitress and she could not explain the differences in English of three options of chicken (Meat, Kampung, and Beard). Also ordered Whole Chicken Leg Char Siew (BBQ); a small fragrant rice; a Bundaberg Root Beer form Australia; and a water. Total was 55 MYR ($13.04). The Ginger Chicken was boiled and served with the skin still on it. It was tasteless until you added the amazing ginger sauce. But it was tough and hard to get past the skin. We were not too pleased with it. Cultures being different and all that – still not a fan! The BBQ chicken leg was super great! And the imported root beer was great too.

Finished we went to the store for light/snack supper, and then back to our place, making it back before the rain. We took a little siesta and showered after deciding not to go for a swim due to Jeff's back and lingering congestion.

Supper we had last of the sausage, some more Gouda mustard cheese, last of our crackers, and some caramel popcorn. Finished the evening reading and watching a bit of You tube. 2100 exhausted we went to bed