And So It Begins
![V is for Vivisection It's some sort of visitor from KL](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-01.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
It’s some sort of visitor from KL
The vacation began when Ivan came a-visiting from Petaling Jaya via the ERL. I picked him up at the Arau station and he gave me an early birthday present: the Rogue One Ultimate Visual Guide, which will eventually be its own blog post.
![Meat and seafood Lok ching](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-02.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Lok ching
Because of work, I had to spend the first day of vacation grading papers. But we did take Ivan out by the sea where we had some grilled lok ching and laksa.
Gua Kelam
![In the mouth of madness The Gua Kelam entrance](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-03.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
The Gua Kelam entrance
With me on call for the grading work, we managed to take a trip to Gua Kelam. It was a work day so there were not many people at the park. Here are Ain and Irfan at the mouth into the dark tunnel of the shadowy realm.
![Ayah Cik and Cikma's spot On the other side of the cave](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-04.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
On the other side of the cave
Once we got to the park grounds on the far side of the cave, Ain identified the spot where Irfan, Ayah Cik, Cikma and Ciksu once had a cranial massage thanks to the fast-flowing stream.
![Entada phaseoloides Sitting on a tree](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-05.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Sitting on a tree
Ain also sat and swung on the thick, ropy stalk of a beluru tree (also known as a sintok tree). Mouseover the photo above for its scientific name.
![The waters are green too Walk in the woods](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-06.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Walk in the woods
It was somewhat green out here in the park.
![Greenery Foliage](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-07.jpg?resize=500%2C833&ssl=1)
Foliage
Even the lake is green.
![A nice picnic spot Riverside](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-08.jpg?resize=500%2C833&ssl=1)
Riverside
A stream flowed through the park and snaked into the cave itself becoming an underground river.
Stories of Your Life the Movie
![Ivan took this photo MBO Cinemas](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-09.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1)
MBO Cinemas
Friday night we headed for the nearest MBO Cinemas to watch Stories of Your Life the Movie starring Lois Lane, Hawkeye and Saw Gerrera. It was a non-zero sum sort of movie. Seeing that Ivan and I have read the short story by Ted Chiang, the exercise in watching the film was to watch it unfold as it was foretold.
An Island Trip
![A restaurant's eye view Batu Ferringhi](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-10.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Batu Ferringhi
Saturday morning, we headed south on the highway toward Pulau Pinang and took the Penang Bridge to get to Georgetown on the island. Thanks to Ivan’s Waze we headed to where we could get cheap lodgings near Batu Ferringhi.
What Is This I Don’t Even
After acquiring rooms at the motel, we pressed on north and came across… something. The following photos are presented without any comments except for the mouseover text.
![For the Emperor! For the Emperor!](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-14.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![Perceptor! What's shaking? Other than this fortress? Perceptor! What's shaking? Other than this fortress?](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-15.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![Matt Trakker's crew Matt Trakker's crew](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-16.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![The Pelvis! The Pelvis!](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-17.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak! Nak!](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-18.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![It's the Granny from The Last Starfighter It's the Granny from The Last Starfighter](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-19.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
![Anakin has eyebrows Anakin has eyebrows](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-20.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
!
Batu Ferringhi
After the trippy trip, we retreated back to Batu Ferringhi. There was sea and sand and all at Batu Ferringhi.
![There is more than a handful of sand here Seaside](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-11.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Seaside
![Nice little stream Fisherfolk](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-12.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Fisherfolk
![The Strait of Melaka beckons Where the longkang water meets the ocean](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-13.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Where the longkang water meets the ocean
It smells a bit like Teluk Batik in the 80s here. Just a bit.
![Meeting Phil again No GM screens though](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-21.jpg?resize=600%2C338&ssl=1)
No GM screens though
That night we had dinner with Phil. A Traveller GM, Eclipse Phase GM and Star Wars GM walked into a seaside restaurant.
![It was a cheap but comfortable motel Rasa Motel](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-22.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Rasa Motel
The next morning we checked out of the motel. Luckily we had not booked rooms online. All of the rooms offered online were at least twice the price of the ones we got here. And there were cheaper ones still.
![Departure day from Penang Bye Phil](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-23.jpg?resize=600%2C450&ssl=1)
Bye Phil
We had one last breakfast with Phil before heading out of Batu Ferringhi.
Final Exploration of the Island
![Get out of the way, green car Bukit Bendera tram line](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-24.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Bukit Bendera tram line
We thought we could spend a couple of hours on Bukit Bendera a.k.a. Penang Hill, but the tram was in maintenance and non-operational for a couple of days.
![This is where I would study if I were to study here Checking out the university](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-25.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Checking out the university
We found the university and explored its empty streets. It looked like it was the semester break, which meant we could not get lunch there. Everything was closed. Not one restaurant or bistro was open.
![The far side of the island Nice view over Balik Pulau](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-26.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Nice view over Balik Pulau
We headed out toward Balik Pulau where we had lunch, and took this photo from the restaurant on top of the hill overlooking the northwestern quadrant of the island. The restaurant was adorned with a trillion bonsai plants and wheels from wagons salvaged from Oregon Trail.
![Thanks for the photo Ivan The home team on vacation](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-27.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
The home team on vacation
Then we headed for Bayan Lepas and headed off the island via the second bridge – the newer one that has fresh paint on it – and headed back north toward Perlis.
After Ain got a fresh supply of Jeruk Pak Ali pickled fruits at her regular place.
Last Day at the Museum
Two years living here we have never visited the museum near Kuala Perlis, so Ivan and I went exploring there.
![A wild museum appears A wild museum appears](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-28.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
The Kota Kayang Museum
I think this will be its own blog post some day.
![From the Malaysian Ministry of Tourism and Culture Front desk](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-29.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
Front desk
One thing is for sure: the museum grounds are very pleasant and well-kept.
![Limestone massif The museum grounds seem nice](https://i0.wp.com/hishgraphics.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/january-vacation-30.jpg?resize=600%2C360&ssl=1)
The museum grounds seem nice
Later that day Ivan got on the ERL back to KL Sentral and I suppose the vacation ended there.
awww looks like a really awesome time. Balik Pulau is always cool. i loved when we used to drive around Penang. 🙂