2nd Series Trial Run with Durians and Laksa

Durian "Che Pui"(Green Skin) at Balik Pulau.

Andrew has invited me to try to do a final trial run for the Penang Run 2nd series on last Saturday 22 June 2013. Since I will be doing a long run of 20 km this week, so it may be better to try out the trial run. After my previous experience with the trial run of MPSP Larian Hijau last year, I know I will be the last running. Since I am such a slow runner and most of the runners that come for a trial run will be experienced runners. There are more than 10 of us for the trial run where many of us are not familiar with the route and thankfully we have Ms Gan that have waited for me at every junction when there is a turn. If not, I will have been lost a few times.

The run up Bukit Genting picks up after about 2km and you have to run another 2 - 2.5km to reach the top. And then it is downhill all the way. The problem is it is dark when you are running up the new highway and when you are running down. Thankfully, I brought my new headlamp which I was holding it in my hand. But running up this section alone needs a lot of mental strength. But the toughest route is Jalan Bahru after reaching the mosque. It is a straight and flat kampung route of almost 6 - 7km and a real mental test. My brain almost check out at the end of the road. This 2nd series the final distance is 21.8km or could be longer since you have to run into the school. And it is definitely tougher than the 1st series. Will have to see if I could perform better at the actual race day on 7 July 2013.

Penang Run 2nd Series Trial Run

Since it is a trial run, it will just be a slightly faster LSD. And I have arranged for my family to me pick up at the finishing point of the 2nd series, i.e. SK Sungai Pinang. Our plan for that day is going for durian feast and laksa at Balik Pulau. It is durian season and Balik Pulau is famous for durians ! When we arrived at  Balik Pulau, it is too early for laksa as the stalls are not open and we could not find any durian stalls around. So end up eating chicken rice and hokkien mee (prawn mee) for breakfast. Then we realised that the old market is already closed and there is a new market after asking the locals. The elderly auntie told us that there is a new market and the Durian Festival is just opposite the new market. But we wanted to try the Peng Siew Durian Farm which Andrew has recommended.

Fruit Stall opposite the new market for the Durian Festival

He has given me some road instructions on whatsapp and we just could not find the place although we almost drive up a hill. But he told us that it will be near Sacred Heart High School. We give up looking after driving up and down and unable to locate the farm. Then we decided to go to the new market and we found the row of stalls mainly selling durians which is for the Durian Festival. We just simply choose a stall and pick two durians, which is "hor lo" and "che pui". Two durians costing RM76 and the "che pui" which has only two pieces of durian fruit inside costing RM20 is really pricey. Which we Chinese say "Eat Gold".

Durian at the Fruit stall opposite the new market

As we have plenty of time on our hand, we decided to give the Peng Siew Durian Farm a try again. We  drove along the road based on the instructions Andrew has given. We reach a row of new shophouses on the left-hand side of the road. And we decided to ask for more directions. Fortunately, we ask the right person this time and he gave us a precise location which is only slightly further up. There is no signboard on the outside. Just an iron gate and a durian tree. When we drove in, the place is full of cars. Yup, we found it !

Peng Siew Durian Farm

Durians at Peng Siew During Farm

Nice Peacock at the farm

Haven't taken durians at a durian farm all my life. Nice environment and it will be ideal to bring young children as there are some animals on the farm. The biggest attraction is the peacocks. You can probably see some snakes hanging from trees. And I actually saw a monitor lizard walking around the farm leisurely like his own house. The durian farm also sell other fruits like rambutans. But the durians are much cheaper than the stalls we have at the Durian Festival. And they sell fresh eggs just collected from the farm. This durian farm is definitely worth a visit ! Will be back the next time.

Fresh eggs for sale

After the 2 rounds of durian feasting, we are definitely full and have to buy a few packets of Balik Pulau's laksa for supper. It is always great to weave in some sight seeing and "makan-ing"(feasting) with a run after you have burned so much calories.

Map of the farm taken from the back of the name card