We started our journey at about 9.00 pm after filling up the petrol tank. It has been the norm of car rental companies in Malaysia to leave the petrol tank nearly empty. The hirer has to fill it whereas in the countries like US and NZ, the car's petrol tank is full when taken by the hirer. The hirer when returning the car has to fill up the tank full. It is very convenient to the hirer and paying the petrol according to the usage only. OK, let's reminiscent the journey. At that time, PLUS North-South Highway doesn't exist. We had to use the old federal road from KL passing thru' Rawang, Kuala Kubu, Serendah, Behrang, Trolak, Tanjong Malim (old toll house), Slim River, Sungkai, Bidor, Tapah, Kampar, Ipoh, Kuala Kangsar, Taiping, Parit Buntar, Bagan Serai, Bukit Mertajam, Butterworth and then took a ferry to Penang Island. It was one hell of a drive. Zakariah and me were the designated driver as both of us have a valid car driving licence. Zakariah being an experience driver took the wheel first. We discussed a lots on what to offer to the audiences when Khalid deliver his speech. From one topic to another topic we dwelled and soon the quorom was getting smaller. One by one has had fallen to sleep as all of us were very confident with Zakariah's driving skill. I too felt to sleep and only woke up when we reached Butterworth. It was already suboh and we could hear the azan from the nearby mosque. After performing the solah, we joined the queue to embark the ferry to Penang Island. The cold morning breeze was refreshing enough and ignited our soul with new energy level. From the quayside, I could see the fishermen's boats being swayed by the waves and the sound of waves were very soothing to my ear. My tranquillity was suddenly been disturbed by a loud siren from the approaching ferry. All of us scrambling back to the car waiting to embark when the gate open.
It was way past 6 am and the sunrise had started to emerge with stream of orangish light in between the blue skies. It was such a panoramic sight and sadly I couldn't capture the moment, as I have had forgotten to bring my camera. All of us were standing near the railing, enjoying the wind blew in gusts across our faces. The sound of wavelets rubbing the ferry made me sleepy as if I was taken into another dimension. Once again the loud siren abruptly woken me from the spell of wavelets melancholic sound.
Upon opening of gate, we immediately disembarked the ferry and drove to Gelugor area. We were high and low looking for the USM signage. Our programme was supposed to start at 9 am and we still have an hour to locate the campus. Finally we reached USM campus on time and was ushered to a lecture hall. Khalid started to deliver his speech and in the process exaggerated about how closed the MU students with Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz (then the VC of MU) that we affectionately addressed as Pak Ungku. During the Q&A session, Khalid was lambasted by USM student on his remark addressing MU VC as only Pak Ungku. They perceived it as rude (kurang ajar) and no respect to VC. Khalid smillingly explained that all MU students can approached the VC and jog together around the campus without any protocol. All of us called him Pak Ungku without a qualm and not Prof Diraja Ungku Aziz.
As we had ample time to explore Penang Island, we decided to drove around the island to places such as Fort Cornwallis, Botanical Garden, Batu Feringhi, KOMTAR and lastly Gurney Drive for our early seafood dinner. All of us chose our pick from an array of fish, prawn, squid and crab. Zakariah chose a kilo of crab. I told them a kilo of crab would just stuck between the teeth (buat lekat celah gigi aje) and finally ended up with 3 kilos of crab cooked in sweet & sour sauce. The siakap (seabass) fish was steamed while the squid was fried with dried chilli and cashewnut. We ate as if we had not eaten for ages and I ended up feeling drowsy. I told them I could not drive the car as I felt giddy (mabuk seafood konon), dizzy and drowsy. I do not want to endanger my friend's life. I could even drive overboard into the sea. Zakariah had no choice but to drive the car and I ended up sleeping soundly all the way back to KL. I reckoned they must kutuk me alot and made fun of me. Till todate they still remembered this incident and would LOL when reminiscent about our trip to Penang.
When we reached the famous Bukit Berapit, Zakariah reminded all of us that the petrol was low and needed to refuel. Simultaneously, all of us said still can go on. Nobody were willingly to fork out their RM for the petrol at the moment. All of us seem have had forgotten about the mysterious and mystical stories related to Bukit Berapit. It was already 3 am and if we were stranded out of fuel, nobody would help us. However, we were so adamant and would only refuel when the indicator near zero. Leaving with no choice, Zakariah continued his driving until he shouted petrol on red alert and we were dead worried looking for petrol station. Outside was so dark with forestation along the road. All of us were cursing ourselves for being sticky and stingy. "O God, we had been unkind to ourselves, please forgive us," whispered us in our heart. From afar, we could see a dim light and our andrenalin gushing so fast when the car started to glide on the road. It was in deed a petrol station and our car came to complete halt on the dot, just beside the petrol pump. Ahhhhh, alhamdulillah, what a relieved ! While waiting for the car to refuel, Zakariah throw out his tantrum, "Lahabau kau orang, nasib baik tak habis tengah hutan." We just laughed and laughed but deep inside, I thanked Allah for the good fortune bestowed on us.
