GEORGETOWN: With the Covid-19 lockdown now lifted, 16 members of the 'Evergreen Hash Walkers' decided to trek the Penang island.
It was a good outdoor exercise and outing - during the 'Year of the Tiger' (Chinese zodiac calendar) - for the group of ardent men and women, whose ages ranged from 25 to 80 years.
Speaking on their behalf, event organiser Brig-Gen (Rtd) Datuk Soon Lian Cheng, 80, said their journey began from the 'End of the World' Rimba Teluk Bahang forest reserve to Bukit Laksamana, then to Bukit Bendera (Penang Hill), and ended at the 200-year-old Bats Cave temple at the foothill.
"The whole journey, covering approximately 14km, took about six hours to complete.
"We were fortunate that there was no rain on the day as it often rained in the afternoon!
"It was a very memorable trekking and everyone enjoyed the excursion," said Soon, who had trekked and scaled most of the mountains in the country.
In fact, Soon was instrumental in organising a similar trekking way back in 2008 when he led another group of 70 hashers to cross Penang island from the 'End of the World' to Gertak Sanggul, south-west of the island, over two days.
Soon said the 'Evergreen Hash Walkers' had met up a day earlier at Long Beach in Batu Ferringhi, for dinner.
"After breakfast at a local coffee shop the next day, we began our walk from Rimba Telok Bahang uphill to 'Station 1' and eventually to the top of Bukit Bendera – for a breathtaking view of Penang island," said Soon.
He related how the trekking was incident-free, except when one of the women suffered a momentary allergy.
"She had unknowingly brushed her hand against the leaves of a Gluta hardwood tree - from the plant genus in the Anacardiaceae family (commonly known as the cashew family).
"The leaves had released a poisonous sap (like poison ivy) that caused acute dermatitis and blisters.
"Fortunately, another trekker carried an antidote to relieve her," said Soon.
Once they reached the top of Penang Hill, Soon said some of them walked down to the foothill, while others chose to drive in four-wheel-drive vehicles to the Penang railway station.
"We then adjourned to the Bats Cave temple, which had been destroyed by a fire three months ago, for refreshments," said Soon, who decided not to trek owing to his age.
He added that the hashers handed over RM550 to the management of the Bats Cave temple towards their rebuilding fund.
"The following day, we visited the Penang National Park by trekking from Teluk Bahang.
"Unfortunately, no trekking was allowed by the authorities towards the light house in Muka Head," said Soon.
The other 'Evergreen Hash Walkers' were Wong Mei Jean, Katherine Chang Siew Ean, Emily Mariano, Angeline Wong Pek Yen, Wu Swee Woo, Teoh Bee Hong, Joy Chin Sew Ying, Ku Yuen Mun, Mynne Tan Hooi M, Yeoh Keong Kok, Poon Suit Mui, Eddie Yap Man Hoong, V. Sivakaran, Tan Sin See, Ho Yuek Wah and Jimmy Chew Hiu Chow.
