THANK you to the 67% of Penang voters who cast their ballots in the state election on Saturday.
And what a relief that the election is over because there were signs of voter fatigue with a third of the Penang electorate staying away from polling stations.
So enough of politics. Let us get back to our regular lives such as taking a walk in Penang Botanic Gardens.
The morning crowd at the gardens is part of what I consider Penang’s socio-cultural pride.
In the Klang Valley, I perceive that people flood retail hubs and entertainment centres while their parks and green belts tend to be sparsely visited.
But in Penang, our green belts — the Botanic Gardens being the island’s crown jewel — become congested in the morning with thousands of people exercising.
A Wagler’s pit viper coiled on a cannonball fruit tree at the entrance to Penang Botanic Gardens
Drive to the gardens at about 8am and you will find it nearly impossible to find parking.
On a weekend morning, finding a spot will be even worse.
But you should still try despite the hassle because it will almost feel as if something festive is happening.
To be a part of such a large community dedicated to intense morning walks or a jog around the gardens feels vibrant and wholesome.
There might be clusters of friends chatting away as they meander along walking paths but more often than not, many walkers and joggers are solo, eyes fixed a few metres ahead while they focus on the cadence of their steps.
Sometimes, you can hear smartphone health apps declaring aloud the kilometres they clock in as they walk by.
Most heartening are those who are obese and sweating it out.
Filepic of visitors enjoying their morning walk and jog at the park in George Town.
You can really see them making an effort to improve their lives by losing weight and getting healthier.
For the past two years, I regularly encounter a man who practices speed walking at the gardens.
He went from having a huge belly to looking 10 years younger with a flatter stomach and a chiselled face.
I couldn’t help but call out to him and praise him for his achievement.
He told me he does four rounds each time at least three days a week. A full round at the gardens is a little over 2km.
While immersed in this culture of exercising, remember that this is a botanic garden, which contains a documented collection of living plants for research, conservation and display.
Take a good look and you will find majestic trees to capture, digitally or otherwise.
Crush the leaves of the cinnamon, eucalyptus and weeping tea tree and discover their fragrant natural oils.
Read the signs with tree names and find a massive mahogany tree, its wood famed for making musical instruments, including the grand piano.
Lately, I have been fascinated by little snakes, especially the Wagler’s pit viper.
I learned to keep my eyes peeled for this creature, also named the temple viper, specifically because so many of this species live in Penang’s Snake Temple.
It tends to stay motionless for hours at a time, giving you a chance to take photos of it.
But remember to be either beside or behind the snake.
Never be in front of it, because it’s usually coiled in a way that allows it to strike straight ahead with lightning speed when it feels threatened.
Thank you to the 67% of Penang voters who cast their ballots in the state election on Saturday. And what a relief that the election is over because there were signs of voter fatigue with a third of the Penang electorate staying away from polling stations. So enough of politics. Let us get back to our regular lives such as taking a walk in Penang Botanic Gardens. The morning crowd at the gardens is part of what I consider Penang’s socio-cultural pride. In the Klang Valley, I perceive that people flood retail hubs and entertainment centres while their parks and green belts tend to be sparsely visited. But in Penang, our green belts — the Botanic Gardens being the island’s crown jewel — become congested in the morning with thousands of people exercising.
A Wagler’s pit viper coiled on a cannonball fruit tree at the entrance to Penang Botanic Gardens
Drive to the gardens at about 8am and you will find it nearly impossible to find parking. On a weekend morning, finding a spot will be even worse. But you should still try despite the hassle because it will almost feel as if something festive is happening. To be a part of such a large community dedicated to intense morning walks or a jog around the gardens feels vibrant and wholesome. There might be clusters of friends chatting away as they meander along walking paths but more often than not, many walkers and joggers are solo, eyes fixed a few meters ahead while they focus on the cadence of their steps. Sometimes, you can hear smartphone health apps declaring aloud the kilometers they clock in as they walk by. Most heartening are those who are obese and sweating it out.
Filepic of visitors enjoying their morning walk and jog at the park in George Town.
You can really see them making an effort to improve their lives by losing weight and getting healthier. For the past two years, I regularly encounter a man who practices speed walking at the gardens. He went from having a huge belly to looking 10 years younger with a flatter stomach and a chiseled face. I couldn’t help but call out to him and praise him for his achievement. He told me he does four rounds each time at least three days a week. A full round at the gardens is a little over 2km. While immersed in this culture of exercising, remember that this is a botanic garden, which contains a documented collection of living plants for research, conservation, and display. Take a good look and you will find majestic trees to capture, digitally or otherwise. Crush the leaves of the cinnamon, eucalyptus, and weeping tea tree and discover their fragrant natural oils. Read the signs with tree names and find a massive mahogany tree, its wood famed for making musical instruments, including the grand piano.
Lately, I have been fascinated by little snakes, especially the Wagler’s pit viper. I learned to keep my eyes peeled for this creature, also named the temple viper, specifically because so many of this species live in Penang’s Snake Temple. It tends to stay motionless for hours at a time, giving you a chance to take photos of it. But remember to be either beside or behind the snake. Never be in front of it, because it’s usually coiled in a way that allows it to strike straight ahead with lightning speed when it feels threatened.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
