Altogether 16 participants from three branches took part in this event – 3 from Penang (Mr. Hooi, the organiser and his daughter and Mr. Goh from Bukit Mertajam), 2 from Selangor (Dato Dr. Hashim Harun and Mr. Ooi.) and 11 from Perak (Loke Choong Ming and wife, Liew Chin Chow, son and friend (Ah May), Chong and wife, my wife and I, Yeo Hock Hock and Janice. The trip covered three different sites:- Pantai Kerachut, Interna-tional Floral Exhibition (Penang Botanical Garden) and Penang Hill (climb up/camp).
      We left Ipoh at 11 a.m. and arrived at the Penang Bridge toll house at 3 p.m. The traffic jam was quite unusual owing to the holiday season. We arrived at Teluk Bahang 2 hours behind schedule and trekked through Pantai Acheh Forest Reserve to Pantai Kerachut which took about an hour plus. There were inadequate signages to direct trekkers to the beach. Certain points were steep. Nonetheless, the trek was quite pleasant.
      Then came the BIG disappointment. The beach was a filthy, stinking and unhygienic place. The lavatories were clogged and flies swarmed the surrounding areas. The stench of rotten food was difficult to bear. Plastic bottles and bags were strewn along the beach.
      Dato Dr. Hashim and Mr. Ooi were the last to arrive at about 9 p.m. They were also victims of the unusual massive traffic jam. However, they were 'thrilled' by the night trek with only one tiny torch to lead them through and out of the jungle!!
      We met a few Malay girls from Pahang (MNS members). They were equally disappointed. It rained and the place was soggy. Luckily it stopped at about 8 p.m.. Members were assigned to 'Bay Watch' for turtle landing at intervals. Two turtle tracks were seen. But, no nesting. Possibly due to camp fire by the students from the UTM. Actually the turtle tracks were seen within the forbidden zone where the turtles frequently landed. Owing to human presence and camp fire, they refused to land and nest. More than ten tents were counted within the forbidden zone. The enforcement of the law by the Fisheries Department is indeed questionable.
      The next day's trek back to Teluk Bahang took us to a  'secret' site, about a kilometre up a slope off the main track. This unusual site which has a large colony of large pitcher plants was discovered by Hooi Peng Kuan. He said that he is definitely going to protect this secret from the 'rest of the world'.
      After breakfast in Teluk Bahang, we were taken to the International Floral Exhibition at the Botanical Garden. It was interesting to see some of the cross-bred orchids. Some were quite unusual really. The trek up the Penang Hill was participated by a few with muscular legs. The rest chose to go by funicular train. As usual, the waiting time was very long as it was the holiday season. It is adviseable to avoid holiday seasons in any future MNS expeditions.
      At the top of Penang Hill, we began our trek to the Convalescent bungalow. We came to a large pavilion which was able to accommodate  a few tents. We decided to camp  there as the view of Penang city and Prai was clear. Hooi took the opportunity to grumble to us about the organisational flaws of the Penang MNS office bearers.
      We also had the hottest chicken pie recommended by Mr. Hooi. "It will still be hot the next morning," he announced confidently. Yes, indeed it was still hot because of the chillies – not the temperature! Loke Choong Ming saw some birds. The names were too 'technical' for an amateur to repeat.
      Peggy Tan from Penang was kind to take her time off to meet all of us up in Penang Hill. She bought us breakfast at one of the food courts. Here, there was much exchange of views and ideas. And the atmosphere suddenly became yek-yek-pi-ti-yek non-stop for more than an hour. Soon, we were on out way back
Report by Teng Eng Lim