2 tourists & a JRT in Penang

Was time for the PAAPP Penang dog trials and my owners decided to kill 2 birds with 1 stone and check out Penang Isle as well … with me on tow.
We arrived 2 days before the trials and embarked on a whirlwind tour of the Isle. 1st stop was the 1 of the most famous Buddhist temples in South East Asia, Kek Lok Si. Located on hilltop at Air Itam, the temple sits beside a gigantic statute of the Goddess of Mercy. We had to climb a fair number of steps to reach the top, bypassing a pond filled with tortoises. Pretty good life these tortoises have as all they do is lie and bake in the sun all day long, swim a little and then chomp on the vege and bread thrown in by tourists.

Also passed a few souvenier shops selling tacky touristy Tshirts. Fortunately for me, they weren’t selling any doggy wear. At the temple, I stayed mostly outside and took in the view of the island.
Bumped into a couple of monks as well so I pretended to be guard dog for the temple entrance in the hope of receiving good karma … yeah, dogs belief in that sort of stuff too.

Was very humid at that time, so my owners decided to head into town for cold drinks. Took some time for them to find the pubs and cafes, and we finally settled for a cool bar in Penang Lane called Beach Blanket Babylon. It was a very breezy lane and I was soon napping on Mr Owner’s slippers. Now this is my idea of a holiday, lazing around at sidewalk cafes with not much to do … very much like what the temple tortoises indulge in everyday. Appears to be the hippest and most happening street in town but we had to leave before the sunset as next on the itinerary is … the beach!

Popped into the Tanjung Bungah beach and there were already a number of Mixys making claim to the sandy beach. They were friendly but I didn’t fancy them sniffing at my butt for too long a time. They left soon after and it’s Frisbee time! Played till dusk and surprised my owners by making all catches despite the fading light. Love the beach cause all you have to do to cool down is just lie on the sand where the waves break onto the beach … and you get an all natural jacuzzi with a belly massage, groovy.

After that we headed further north to Batu Ferringhi to have dinner and explore the busy and interesting night market. Was different from the 1s we usually get back home as they had many arts and crafts stalls. Owners wanted to get cheap DVDs but the authorities were on the prowl that night. Or perhaps the stalls wrongly mistook me for 1 of those pirated DVD sniffer dogs n decided to close shop early ...
Next morning, we were at Gurney Drive for the usual Bak Kut Teh breakfast and stroll along the esplanade. Then we headed to Fort Cornwallis and met 3 Bajau mountain horses, 2 were running off leash just outside the fort walls. Spent some time watching them graze on the field till the lighter brown 1 got really close, so I decided to move along just in case this fella wanted to sniff my butt as well … he had really huge nostrils!Just next door was a lighthouse and the guard was very accommodating and allowed me into the compound to snap photos. Guard was a Muslim but he had kept a Doberman in his hometown orchard before, so he was cool about dogs, sweet.Before my pals from KL arrived in the evening, our last stop was at a pet shop named ‘Dogs r Us’. 4 resident Pugs and 1 Stzu greeted me with their butt sniffing antics, hence I wasn’t too pleased. Shop had loads of doogy wear, so I was the fashion victim again as my owners went overboard with trying the clothes on me. Was really glad to leave the place eventually.

Scruffy and Ginger’s owner was a local and arranged for a BBQ that nite at the Tanjung Bungah beach. Yeah, the beach again! Whilst the humans were busy burning their burgers and sausages, and the rest of my pals prayed for food droppings, I had my tennis ball for companion and was more then contented. However, Ginger the Mixy was also a ball fanatic and I was on red alert as she kept stealing the ball from me. As I had a soft spot for the ladies, I let her play with my ball on a few occasions but soon snatched it back when she was not looking.

Scruffy was a true blue water dog and had a go at the waves every now and then just to make sure that they haven’t fallen asleep. He would jump in the sea and then try to body surf back to shore and he didn’t even need a float.

Meanwhile, Pacco was way too preoccupied with the BBQ and polishing on her begging skills that night.

Sad to say my vacation was over too soon ... time to work for my kibble as the trials are on the next day.