A Book Writing Project on Pulau Pinang

And so it came to pass that I was invited on another project. This time we were to write and edit an elementary-level English language school book for Perlis. The team consisted of workplace colleagues and a selection of Perlis’ primary school teachers. We had to produce both English and Bahasa Malaysia books, so we split into two groups. Like the previous month, we headed to Pulau Pinang to do our work.

On the First and Second Day…

I mostly worked, except for when we had to dine together as a team. We stayed at Copthorne Orchid Hotel, at Tanjung Bungah and the view from the hotel was gorgeous. Check out the photos below. Also, in the early evening after my work was done for the day, we went for a stroll at the beach. Previously we were unable to bring Irfan along as he was stuck in his polytechnic hostel. This time, we were somewhat lucky.

Book Writing Project Days 1 and 2

Irfan drives over waterKOMTAR tower can be seen in the background

The centre of the Penang BridgeWe meet again, bridge

A beach near Batu FeringghiAfter unable to have breakfast at USM, we went to the beach for brunch

Copthorne parking lotUnloading our gear at the hotel

View of the beach from the windowTanjung Bungah beach is below us

Middle eastern dinnerI went to the group dinner without Ain & Irfan. Later, we found out that they were invited.

Dinner at the Restaurant LebanonSome teachers and lecturers having dinner or something

The writing teams, both Bahasa Malaysia and English, posing outside LebanonTime to head home for the night

Morning cloudscape over Tanjung BungahThe skies were beautiful during our stay

A blended meeting with participants on site and from home via Google MeetAt work with headphones on

Tanjung Bungah beach explorationAfter work, it was time to get our feet wet

The home team with the hotel in the backgroundWe have blue-pink gradient masks

A dead crayfishRIP crustacean

A little stream flows out to the Melaka StraitThe water is probably from the Tanjung Bungah sewer network

Home team at a little lagoonThe beach curved outwards and back to a pile of rocks

Ain on the rocksNothing to do now but pose for photos at the beach

Ain on the rocks, part 2Part of the mainland is visible on the horizon

Hisham and AinPhoto taken by Irfan

Irfan enjoying the sea breezeIt was late afternoon and the sun had disappeared behind the tall hotels

Rice and chicken and omeletteWe headed back to the hotel for dinner

Home team ready for dinnerThe hotel cafe was outdoors, overlooking the beach

After dinner photoWe rested at the furniture by the cafe

Days One and Two in Penang in February

On the Third and Fourth Day…

As work came to a climactic conclusion, we also went for a swim in the sea. I miss it dearly having unable to do in Perlis, where the beaches are mostly muddy areas. The best part was that I was able to lie back afloat and watch the sea birds hover aloft. Irfan however was stung in the arm – mildly – by a jellyfish. Before our ocean swim, Irfan spent hours at the swimming pool while I was at work in the meeting room.

Book Writing Project Days 3 and 4

Ain at breakfastThe breakfast cafe was indoors

Not a bad selection of foodWe do not take what we cannot finish

Ain with the seaThe morning sky is slowly being lit up in the back

Irfan with the seaWe headed down early to avoid the morning breakfast crowd

Lecturers and teachers at their laptopsAt the hotel's meeting room, we did our work going through the book being written

Ain near the poolWhile I was at work, Ain and Irfan went to the pool

Irfan swimming, as to be expectedIrfan spent his time at the pool

The view from the pool was spectacularSadly, I myself did not have time for the pool

Irfan dunking himselfHe must miss the LeJardin pool

Ain and Irfan by the poolAn obligatory selfie with his mother

Ain and Hisham at the cafeThis photo was taken earlier in the day after finishing breakfast

Another Ain and Irfan selfieThey were having fun hanging out while I was having fun at work

The online meeting with other participantsI was recording the sessions

Newcomers to the English language book meeting roomZaki with the visitors from the state education department

Irfan and I head down to the surfI miss swimming in the sea

Irfan and I were really enjoying the evening sun and the oceanIt was great to have the seawater wash over my eczema-laden skin

Irfan, Ain and Hisham having dinnerThis was our final dinner at the hotel

A home team selfieThe sea in the background as the sun sets inland

Irfan and Ain at the cafeSunlight is nearly gone in the back

Irfan, Ain and Hisham with the darkening sea and skyThe last night at the hotel

Final breakfastBeans, salad, mushroom, omelette, tart and honeydew melon

Irfan and Ain final selfie at the ppolThey both took photos at the hotel while I was at work

Irfan and Ain final selfie with the beach belowThe rocks where we took photos on the second day is visible at the far end of the cove

Irfan, Ain and I at the meeting roomThey came to visit me as we were winding down our work

Selfie with the Bahasa Malaysia teamEveryone was packing up to conclude work at the two meeting rooms

Ain and InaGossiping at the food & beverages tray

Hisham and Ain at the beachSome last photos at the cafe overlooking the sea

Home team at low camera angleNow work is over, it was time for one last looksee

Hisham, Ain and Irfan at the lift lobby at our floorWe said farewell to our floor and headed out

The home team selfie before getting to the carOne last photo at the hotel, for real this time

Irfan, Ain, Totoro and I head homeWe went through the island one last time, cutting across the middle and returning to Batu Ferringhi before heading home

COVID-19 test kit says were were not infectedWe got through the entire weekend (plus change) without being infected... or did we?

Day Three and Four in Penang in February

When we got home, we checked and the COVID-19 test kits indicated that we were free from the virus.

However, a week or so later…