步行记：浮罗山背 Balik Pulau

浮罗山背是个以客家人居多，人情味满满的地方。浮罗山背这名字取至于客家话，浮罗（puloh）山背（sampoi），意思是岛屿的另一面（后山）。图里的这个喷泉已经有百多年历史了，以前是给马车的马儿喝水解渴的，而如今则是浮罗山背的主要历史遗迹及地标。

第一次接触浮罗山背是在大学时期时参与社服的考察。过后也参与了社服在浮罗举办的一日游和小学营，一起和这些朋友度过了多少风雨。除了喜欢浮罗满满的人情味，除了喜欢浮罗那休闲的环境，更重要的是浮罗是我珍贵回忆存在的地方。

一向来喜欢走路的我，昨天从我家（立信花园）步行通过Jalan Tun Sardon来到了浮罗。这十三公里的路程一共耗了我三小时十五分钟，其中我休息了三十分钟。我中午十二点出发，当时天气阴凉。

Balik Pulau is a place dominated by Hakka people. The name Balik Pulau is actually came from the Hakka dialect which has the meaning of the other side of the island. The fountain in the photo has a history of more than hundred years. Long ago, it was a place for the horses to drink water and now it has become an important historical landmark of Balik Pulau.

The first time I went to Balik Pulau was with She Fu (a community service club in USM). Afterwards, I have joined the one day trip and primary school camp organised by She Fu at Balik Pulau. One of the reason why I like Balik Pulau so much is because this place has the precious memory that me and my friends hold.

Yesterday, I have walked to Balik Pulau from my house (Lip Sin Garden) to refresh this precious memory of mine. I passed through Jalan Tun Sardon and walked a 13km distance. I departed from my house at 12pm and reached Balik Pulau at 3.15pm. I was lucky as the weather yesterday was not that hot.

上次走去湖内人民公园时，只走到了Taman Bukit Jambul那里的交通灯。要去浮罗，抵达那里的交通灯后要转右，然后随着Jalan Paya Terubong直走，直到来到T字路口。

Last time when I went to Relau Metropolitan Park, I have only walked until the traffic light at Taman Bukit Jambul. To go to Balik Pulau, I have to turn right from that traffic light and then followed Jalan Paya Terubong until a T-junction.

抵达这个T字路口时正好一个小时。那时的我已经是很喘了，因为一直都是上坡路。T字路口转左就能到浮罗了，转右是去亚依淡的。

I used one hour sharp to reach this T-junction. When I reached here, I was already quite tired as the path from Jalan Paya Terubong until this T-junction is a slope. Turning right from here is the road heading to Air Itam and to the left is where my destination is.

从T字路口转左后，接下来就是要一直沿着山路走了。

After turning left from the T-junction, all the way towards Balik Pulau is a hill road.

一路上我看见不少的玻璃碎片，这里应该时常发生意外吧。

Along the way, I saw pieces of car glasses. It must be quite a number of accidents have been happened here.

这山路是没有行人道的，所以我都是走在最旁边。比较令我担心的是那些啰哩和巴士，这些重型交通经过的时候真的是很靠近我咯！还有就是在转弯的时候也是很危险的，因为看不到前方有什么，所以每次经过转弯时都必须特别小心。

There is no path for the pedestrian to walk on along the hill road. I have to make sure that I walked along most side part of the road. The thing to worry about is the lorries and the buses. When these heavy vehicles passed through me, they were really near to me! Another thing to worry is the corner. I cant see what happened beyond the corner so I need to be extra careful every time I came to a corner.

整条山路都有着脚车标志，心想既然会有脚车经过，来往的车辆也会多注意一些。这么一想心里稍微舒服了一些。。哈哈。。

There are the bicycle sign on the road along the hill road. Since there is bicycle passing by, so the vehicles that used this road will be more careful. Thinking this way made me feel better..hehe..

一个人走在山路上，难免脑子里会出现一些不该出现的画面的。走着走着，我看见了一个摩多头盔就这样放在路旁，过不久我在路上看见一个佛牌，然后我又看见一个小孩的鞋。这时我真的是害怕了，连拍照都不敢了。我不断告诉自己只要保持一颗平常心继续前进就会没事的。

Well, when you are alone, especially when you are alone in the place like this, you cant stop your mind from imagining the horror scene. Along the way, I saw a helmet at the side, an amulet on the road and then a child shoe. Seeing these, I cant stop the fear flowing through my body, I even don't dare to shoot anymore. I kept on telling myself that everything will be fine.

突然间，这只黑狗挡住了我的路！我看它懒散的样子似乎没什么攻击性，所以我也很冷静的越过了它。怎知，越过它不久在前方有四五只狗在等着我。我越过马路来到了右边的山路，与那群狗拉开距离。那四五只狗就在另一边看着我，当我经过它们时，其中一只就开始向我吠了。我当作没这回事，看也不多看它们一眼继续往前走。

Suddenly, there was a black dog get in my way! I saw the dog was just lying at there so I assume that it has no meaning of attacking me. I passed through the black dogs calmly and what awaits me in front was even more dogs. I crossed the road and reached the other side of the road. These dogs were looking at me and when I passed through them, one of them started barking at me. I pretended I didn't hear anything and keep on walking forward without looking at them.

那之后走了不久就来到了这个名为Anjung Indah的地方。原来之前的那些狗狗都是来自这里的，我看见有一对夫妇正在喂食一群狗。

Not far from where the dogs were, I came to this place called Anjung Indah. I saw an uncle and aunt were feeding dogs at there so I bet those dogs from before came from here.

Anjung Indah应该是山顶了，因为之前的路都是上坡路而之后的都是下坡路。我从T字路口那里花了四十五分钟才抵达这里的。在Anjung Indah的路旁有个巴士站，乘搭502巴士便可以抵达这里哦。

Anjung Indah should be the top of the hill as the road from before was going up the hill and the road after this was going down the hill. I spent 45 minutes walking from the T-junction to get here. There is a bus stop at the roadside so we can actually take 502 bus to reach here.

在那里可以看见整个浮罗市镇，也就是我的目的地啦（看起来还真的是蛮远一下的！）。还记得我第一次来Anjung Indah时是参与社服小学营的时候。途中经过这里时我们把车子停下，然后一起在这里看夕阳。

The whole town of Balik Pulau can be seen at there. I still remember the first time I came to Anjung Indah was She Fu people during our way to Balik Pulau for the primary school camp. When we passed through Anjung Indah, we stopped our car at there and we all enjoyed the beautiful scene of sunset together.

浮罗市镇一目了然。

Town of Balik Pulau, my destination.

在Anjung Indah上方有个泰国餐厅，前往餐厅的道路两旁都种满了柳树。

Above Anjung Indah there is a Thai restaurant. Both side along the road to the restaurant was planted with willow trees.

这就是泰国餐厅啦，里面的气氛蛮不错的。他们的食物味道如何我就不晓得了，不过可以肯定的是一定会很贵的。。嘻嘻~

This is the Thai restaurant, the environment inside was not bad. I am not sure how their foods taste, but for sure they are pretty expensive..hehe..

在餐厅旁边放置了很多盆栽，是个拍摄的好地方。说到拍摄，让我想起了之前和善玉还有华维（现任室友）一起在这里拍照。说起来，我也很久没有看到善玉了，你还好吗？

At the side of the restaurant is a row of bonsai. This is really a good place for shooting. talking about shooting, it reminds me of last time I used to come here with Shan Yu and Hua Wei (current roommate) to take photos. Come to think of it, it has been a really long time I didn't meet up with Shan Yu, how are you now?

我在Anjung Indah待了半小时，然后继续赶路。考考你们吧，有发现到下坡路和上坡路有什么不同吗？如果有留意的话你会发现下坡路的山区靠向左边了哦~

I spent half an hour at Anjung Indah before I continued walking. Have you notice the different between the hill road before and after Anjung Indah? Well, the hill has actually changed it's side to the left side.

在下坡路上，我看见了用竹竿做成的楼梯。这楼梯就这样放在果树旁，应该是等待果实成熟时爬上去摘下果实。

On the way, I saw a ladder made of bamboo. This ladder is put at the side of the fruit tree.

将竹竿割开一个洞，然后将木棍插入两支竹竿的洞里，结合起来就变成一个楼梯了。我在想啊，这楼梯能耐久吗？木棍久了应该会变得脆弱易断吧？

Opened a whole in the bamboo stick and inserted a wood in it. Combined it with another bamboo stick and it became a ladder. I was thinking that can this bamboo ladder last long?

原本以为下坡路比较好走，不吃力所以会快些。没想到走到市镇时还是用上了一小时。

At first I thought that the road going down the hill will be faster but who knows it took me one hour to reach the town.

山区又变回右边了，我很好奇这座山的构造究竟是怎样的。

The hill has changed it's side again. I wonder how is the structure of this hill.

终于来到了这熟悉的弯口，浮罗市镇很靠近了！

Finally I saw the familiar bend. Balik Pulau town was not far away!

十分钟后终于看见浮罗市镇的入口处了！踏入此处时，心情是兴奋的！不是因为离开了那艰辛的山路，而是因为我的生命又多了一个旅程碑。

10 minutes later and I saw the entrance of Balik Pulau town. At that moment, I was really excited! Not because I was free from the suffering hill road, but because my life has earned another humble achievement.

到浮罗做的第一件事就是狠狠的想用一大碗的金叻沙，这段旅程真的是消耗太多体力了。

The first thing I do when I reached the town was to filled up my stomach with a big bowl of Kim Laksa! I have really used up a lot of energy from the trip.

在镇上我看见了这辆移动式图书馆，我还是第一次在槟城看见呢！

I saw this mobile library in the town. This is my first time seeing one in Penang!

崇德学校是我在浮罗回忆最深刻的地方。我第一次参与的社服小学营就是在这里举办的。崇德学校的前任赖校长和已退休的郑老师是我们的恩人，这两位伟人都很力挺社服举办的活动！谢谢你们！

In Balik Pulau, Chong Teik School is the place where my precious memory lies. This is the place where She Fu camp that I first participated was held. The former principal and the former vice principal were two great people in the school who had contributed their great help to She Fu. Thank you!

有一年，因为某些原因崇德无法提供场地让我们举办小学营，于是我们便把场地更换到圣心学校。在这里的回忆也不少，印象比较深刻的是那个停电的晚上。。哈哈。。社服也曾经受邀为圣心学校画上壁画哦。

There was a year that Chong Teik School cant lent their school to She Fu for the primary school camp. So, we changed our venue to Sacred Heart School. There was a lot of memory at there as well, especially that blackout night..haha.. She Fu was then invited to do some drawing on Sacred Heart school's wall.

圣心学校的隔壁就是天主教堂了。这是社服每次举办一日游时都会参观的地方。

Next to Sacred Heart school is the catholic church. This is a must-visit place during She Fu's one day trip.

另一个必定会参观的地方是玄武山庙。玄武山庙就在天主教堂的对面。对于此庙我听过了不少传说。

Another must-visit place is this Chinese temple that was located opposite the catholic church. I have heard few legends about this temple.

其中一个传说就是从前在离玄武山庙不远的河流，有一位屠夫看见一位老婆婆在河边清洗衣物。于是，这位屠夫主动过去帮忙，怎知却将衣物越洗越脏。此时，老婆婆开口说：“你的双手沾满血腥，当然无法将衣物洗干净。”这时，屠夫猛然醒悟，有感于过去的罪孽深重，于是便取刀剖腹净体，取出内脏投入河中，以赎前愆。原来老婆婆是观音菩萨的化身，见屠夫放下屠刀，一心向善，于是便度他上天成仙，成为了玄武帝。

One of the legends goes like this. Long ago, there was a butcher seeing a granny washing her cloths at this riverbank (not far from the temple). This butcher felt pity for this granny and went to help this granny washed her cloths. However, the more the butcher washed, the dirtier the cloths get. The granny then told the butcher that how can you expected the cloths you washed to be clean since your hands was dirtied with bloods? The butcher suddenly realised his guilt and felt sorry for the lives that he took with his own hands. He commit suicide to pay back for what he has done. Actually, the granny was the incarnation of Goddess of Mercy. She saw the butcher's kind heart and decided to turn him into a deity. Since then, the butcher has became the deity of the temple.

这间色彩缤纷的建筑物就在金叻沙的对面，是卖油漆的店铺。

This colourful building is just opposite the Kim Laksa. It is a shop selling paints.

上次我来的时候墙上的油漆好像是没有那么鲜艳的，应该是从新粉刷过了。

When I came last time, the colour was not that bright. I think they have painted it all over again.

在市镇里走了几个回忆满满的地方后，现在是时候该回家了。当然，我是乘搭巴士回家的，若是再走一次山路的话恐怕会不行了。

After visiting some place that hold my dear memories, it is time to go back home. Of course, I went back home by taking a bus. If I was to walk again I am afraid that I have to spend a whole week for my legs to recover.

我可怜的脚，这次又委屈你了。在路上不小心把你踢向一块石头，幸好没什么大碍。等你恢复后，下次再带你去别的地方吧！

My poor legs, I must say sorry to you. On the way I accidentally knocked you on a rock but luckily you weren't hurt badly. Rest for now and hope you recover fast, next time gonna bring you to another place!