The new National Park Centre in Teluk Bahang...

The new centre for Taman Negara Pulau Pinang at Teluk Bahang is under final completion and set to be officiated by TYT Tun Dato’ Seri Utama (Dr) Haji Abdul Rahman Bin Haji Abbas next week on 5 JAN 2008, according to the official website for the Department of Wildlife and National Parks (PERHILITAN) at http://wildlife.gov.my. See below for the photos showing the new structure at the gate to the 'End of the World', Jalan Hassan Abbas.



To get there, once can either take the road passing Batu Feringghi from Georgetown, or another much more snaky one from Balik Pulau passing Sg. Pinang and Pantai Acheh. Photo below shows direction from the Kongsi roundabout in Balik Pulau.


A couple friends of mine came over from Kuala Lumpur to trek the trails from Pasir Pandak (Teluk Bahang) all the way to Pantai Kerechut, and I took a chance to join them -- our first visit to Kerechut Beach since all of us were there some 17.5 years ago, when we were still teenagers back then. The trekking took our group of five about 50 minutes, my longest so far in years, through the jungle trail of about 2.7 kms. We took some pictures and soak in the sea water a bit before trekking back to Pasir Pandak. We spotted a couple boats that cost about RM80 per trip (for up to eight person per boat) at the beach as well, bringing a few groups of students and visitors -- that could be your alternative way to reach this remote beach if long trekking (involving hiking to to ~400m hills) is not your in thing...

On the way back, we stumblend upon another penang-based school-mate friend who decided to bring her entire family too to meet up with us at the beach, although arrived some two hours late.


Adios TNPP! We'll be back for camping perhaps some time soon...





The stills are stored here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/mnuttyx/PantaiKerechut20071229

And here's a flashback on the original plan for turning this area into a National Park:

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