Palatable Pleasures In Penang: Part 1

We indulged in a 4-day getaway in Penang from 12 to 16 March – desiring nothing more but pure relaxation and total leisure. We came back revitalized, invigorated and with a few extra inches around our waists!

We stayed in the Hard Rock Hotel, perched right on the beautiful northern beaches of Batu Ferringhi. The resort was nestled up in hills where we meandered through narrow winding roads set precariously on jutting cliffs with stunning views of the Straits of Malacca – albeit with heartstopping vertical drops right down to the gently rolling waves.

It is disorienting to gaze in wonder at the panoramic views of the sparkling sea in the immediate wake of Japan’s monstrous tsunami. The ocean is seemingly so tranquil and placid, yet the world now knows the full wrath of vicious destructive waves with utmost capability of wiping out our so-called invincible humanity.

The beach right outside our hotel

Which is why I stared at the infinite vista of ocean right outside our bedroom every day with sobering thoughts and awed respect – the forces of nature are doth mightier than humanity indeed.

Daily scenes of tranquillity and calm

Here are some highlights of our trip. 

The hotel

Hard Rock Hotel is synonymous with blasting rock music, upbeat customer service, raucous activities and a whole atmosphere of casual chaos. For families looking for quiet calm, this hotel may not be suitable. But for us with 2 loud and boisterous girls, I relished this environment as no one would give our active girls dirty looks for making too much noise. Hence, we felt perfectly at home in this energetic hotel.

We slept with the Beatles above us every night!

We booked a seaview room right on the 4^th floor, so we had the pleasure of indulging in expansive views of the ocean and the surrounding rolling hills right from the spacious balcony. 

Scenes that greeted my eyes every day - right from our room's balcony. 

After researching in Tripadvisor, I also learned to ask for a room in a quieter part of the hotel, which was a blessing, as there were bands playing right till midnight in the lobby.

Another view from our balcony

I am particularly fond of the nights when the Bees slept, and Hubby and me would sit in the balcony, just listening to the hypnotic rhythm of the waves, taking note of their eternal patterns of movement, and gazing at the starry moonlit sky. Time stood at a standstill and we could truly return to our core essence again.

The free form pool is the largest in Penang, and the Bees loved the water play area and 3 huge pool slides. Bearing the usual Hard Rock Hotel trademark of sandy swimming pools, the Bees thoroughly enjoyed sandplay beside (and inside!) the pool as well!

Elated Little Bee at the waterplay area

There were also poolside performers in the form of a snake charmer, who entertained us for one whole hour with his colossol python and many highly venomous cobras! The Bees were enthralled by him. 

Big Bee has a strange fascination for snakes...

The beach

The beach in front of Hard Rock Hotel Penang is a public beach – which led to some touts marketing a plethora of services from massages to horse riding whenever we strolled on the beach. However, these touts were not pesky, so we were able to avoid much friction with them once we declined their services politely.

The sand was rather coarse at the beach, and the waves were really gentle and mild. The entire landscape was enhanced by enchanting emerald rolling hills on both sides of the oceanic vista, framing the halcyon sea in an embrace of verdant lushness. The horizon of the sea was stunningly unobstructed, hardly speckled with any boats or ships, except with a sprinkling of parasailers and banana-boaters that added a dash of excitement to the composed sea. Splendidly tall casuarina trees towered around the fringe of the beach, creating an informal barrier between the private land of the hotel and the public space of the beach.

Big Bee loved the tall horses trotting around the beach, and her utmost wish was granted one evening as we sat by the seaside pizzeria eating dinner. A tout with a large gentle brown horse ambled up to us as we admired the resplendent sunset. After some discussion between Hubby and the tout (50 ringgit per ride), as well as much wistful gazing by Big Bee at the horse, she was hoisted up the statuesque stallion and was led away to trot on the sandy beach, alongside the waves.

Soon after, she was riding the magnificent horse independently, even cantering at some instances on the soft sands. Hubby and I watched with our hearts in our throats, but it is very apparent she was enjoying herself tremendously.

It was breathtaking watching her ride the horse against a dazzling backdrop of brilliant sunset hues and the ravishing darkening sea atop a majestic steed. Both rider and horse looked like they were truly enjoying the moment.

Big Bee riding into the sunset...

Little Bee, on the other hand, a huge adoring fan of sandy beaches, has busied herself with a few long hardy twigs, squatting under a stately casuarinas tree, and creating little patterns and structures on the sand, oblivious to her jie-jie’s joy, whilst engrossed in her own happiness.

The sunsets

I never failed to be bewitched by sunsets all around the world, especially sunsets by the beach. My idea of a perfect holiday is to sit by the beach everyday, just gazing in wonderment at multi-hued sunsets. 

The sunset at Batu Ferringhi is a gradual and long-drawn process, starting from around 6.30pm and ending with a brilliant finale at 8pm! The skies were brightened by tangerine and ochre colours at first, before ending with ravishing blazing skies of flaming crimson, mysterious indigo and fiery coral, illuminating the adjacent sea below it with radiant, shimmering parallel reflections. I could just watch this over and over again.  

6.50pm

8pm!

To be continued...