A trip to Muka Head, via Monkey beach at Penang National Park

Registering our names

Monkey Beach is part of Penang's National Reserved Forest which is the smallest National Park in Malaysia. Due to its popularity,a safe track has already been made for holiday makers to explore and enjoy the rich preserved forest. We arrived at Teluk Bahang a famous fishing village at 9am,which is the entrance to the jungle.     After registering at its office and given a map of the journey, we began our journey into the jungle. Initially the path were well paved and cleanliness well maintained along the way that gave a bit of unnatural impression of the jungle.However it gave a comfort feelings to first time visitors especially those looking for clean toilets before the journey with

Mun Kit, Mun Chon, Kean Kean, Yong Ling, Rasior Kwek

assurance that they will be taken care of during the journey. As Penang is an Island, we will be tracking near or not too far off the beach. After a few minutes walk with relatively small gradient we have the first glimpse of the beach. With an expectation of a challenging jungle hike, the sight of a beach, gave a feeling of everyday strolling near a beach. It was somehow a pleasing feeling with our loved ones stopping to enjoy the scenery and taking photographs. As it was just the beginning of our journey, we moved on quickly towards our destination. We were reminded earlier that our walk to Monkey beach will take 1 hour 30 minutes and another 40 minutes hike to Muka

Head. We had just walked about about 15 minutes, and that reminded us that the journey was still a long way to go. After a few more minutes we reached the first rest house where we had our toilet break. The piped water must have been directed from the streams as the water are exceptionally cold. It was a refreshing stop and after this stop, the real challenge

Excited to start the journey.

began. No more concrete pavements, and tree roots form the friction of the track.It is not advisable to track on rainy days, as the soil turned muddy and slippery and the roots are equally slippery too. We reached the first wooden suspension bridge built for the convenience of tracker to cross a small valley. The gradient were getting higher as we continued our journey. At some point, we have to be aided by ropes and concrete steps. There are metal steps and railings too. There are many senior citizens taking this path as their daily exercise routine and therefore every precautions were taken to avoid any untoward incidents.
At some points the hike were challenging and very tiresome. We need to drink plenty of water especially '100 plus' to replenish some minerals for strength. It is advisable for first timer to prepare at least 4 cans of "100 plus' and some sweets for instant energy. For seasoned hikers, this will be a great opportunity to enjoy the scenery and the vegetation and the various information sign boards along the path. Though there are fallen trees, they were not removed, maybe for reasons to maintain its natural look. For us, it was a journey to accomplish, and we did not really stop to study any tree nor insects but thankful of the much needed fresh air which we do not enjoy in town. Though it was shady, but the entire journey was bright where we need not bring along any torch. We came out of the jungle onto the beach where the University Science Malaysia (USM) marine research centre was located. Here the beach were clean and well taken of with recycling bins provided for visitors to throw their bottles and cans. At first we thought that we had reached Monkey Beach so soon, but realized later that we were only halfway to our destination. We have to walk along the beach to enter into the jungle again to continue our journey to Monkey Beach. The beach here seems long to us because of the hot, almost overhead, burning sun. On entering the jungle again, we were faced with  tougher challenges. The gradients were higher with more obstacles and the pathways are narrow, where at some point only passable by one person at a time. It will be more difficult and dangerous during rainy days where the wet mud  turned slippery. We were expecting to see more monkeys on the way, but were disappointed as there was none. Soon we reached Monkey Beach with high expectations of clean beach and clear sea water. There were many tourist both locals and foreigners and some prepared themselves with plenty of food for a grand party. The beach was quite a carnival like atmosphere. The disappointment was bottles, cans and other rubbish were thrown all over the place where there were no specific area to dispose off rubbish. The local people take the opportunities to sell food and drinks to the tourists, making them care more for their own territory only. Here one monkey snatch away a loaf of bread from our table while we were off guard. Here we are fascinated by the small whitish running crabs which live in small holes in the white sand. They were so shy on seeing us that they could run so fast from the sand into sea in a second, making us burst into laughter.After resting for a while, again we continue our journey into the jungle up to Muka Head, where a light house is situated. At first we were unsure whether to continue further or just end our journey at Monkey Beach. However with determination to see more of our own place at the park, we decided to continue farther. The real challenge began here. The first twenty steps itself were a great discouragement, with about 45 degree gradient and not knowing what bigger challenges ahead. Will the reward worthwhile this climb? We came this far as a team and not willing to disappoint others, we continued our hike up. It was very exhausting and we have to breath deeply for air to keep us going. At the same time the muscles on our legs are getting weaker so much so we choose to step on soil than concrete steps in order to get some cushion from it. After many stops and rest and finishing off our water we managed to reach the top in about 40 minutes. We were rewarded with the site of a colonial light house which is still very much in need by fishing vessels and ships coming near to Penang from the North West directions. Climbing up the spiral staircase of the light house tower was another challenge. It was steep, narrow and hot which allow only one person to pass at a time. On top of the tower we could see a breath taking view of the sea and the surrounding jungle, with the much needed wind blowing on our sweating faces, we felt a sense of success and achievement. After a walkabout around the lighthouse, we started our journey down. Though not tiring downhill, but straining on our kneecaps with every precautions not to injure our legs by watching our controlled steps. Our journey here is a memorable one with a promise to revisit again in the near future.

First view of the sea.

First stop.

Toilet available

First suspension bridge

The real challenge begins here

First sight of a Red tree

Fallen red tree

Steps for difficult climb

Easy steps down

Easy pathway

More ups and downs

Fascinating roots formation

First monkey sighted on way to Monkey Beach

Camera shy monkey

Climb continues

More challenging

Getting along

Just follow the path

Hi, are you tired?

Rest and take a photo

Taking turn to climb down

Steeper slope down

My turn to climb down

Journey continues

A fallen tree

A red tree

Arriving  at a bridge

Edge of jungle to the beach

Arrived at USM research centre

Wall perimeter of the research centre

A jetty at the research centre

Hot overhead sun

On the way back into the jungle to Monkey Beach

Natural environment

Rest under the shade

Continue the jungle track

Stop to rest

Taking turn down steep slope

Some overhead obstacles

Have to hold onto something

Strong and safe bridge

Onward journey

Narrow pathway

Down, down again

Narrow edge down, one at a time

Near to Monkey beach

Moving on

Some overhead obstacles

Yes, we have arrived at Monkey Beach

Walking along the beach

Enjoying the scene

Looking for a place to sit

Trying the swing

Have fun

Now your turn

So happy

Relaxing 

Small fast running crabs coming out of holes in the sand

Into the jungle to Muka Head

Higher gradient slope

Good stamina

Rasior leading the way

Higher climb

Wow, 45 degree climb

Clear skies

Where are you?

Yes, I  made it

Milestone showing arrival at Muka Head

Entrance to Light House

The Light House

The tower of Light House

Historical site

A wooden pondok with exposed beams.

Pondok with Malay architecture

The office in the building

Resting in the office

Staircase up the tower

Spiral staircase

12 wooden steps to the top

View from the Light House tower

Beautiful scene

Views of jungles and sea

Windy also

Not to miss

Memorable moments

Ships from afar can see this Light house

The great sea

Happy Rasior

Spiral staircase

Narrow and steep

Entrance to the tower

Majestic tower

Unique historical buliding

Ready to climb down

Saying goodbye to Light House

We came here

Me too

Steep gradient down

Be careful not to injure kneecap

Steep downhill all the way

Rest house

Looking back

Downslope

Came back to Monkey Beach

Many visitors too

The boat that take us back

Beautiful beach

L

Locals sell coconuts

Need some natural water

Sweet smiles

Wow pretty smile

On the boat back to Teluk bahang

Happy family

Another pose

Hi

Let me sit in the centre

Almost reaching Teluk Bahang

Fishing boats

Long jetty for many docking boats

At last we are back

The two brothers

Fish and chips

Tasty mushroom soup

Waiting

Let me drink my soup first

Too hungry to talk

Yummy