Shaolin Chi Kung with Sifu Joan

The flight landed safely in Penang airport but unfortunately, it was dark so I couldn’t see very much.

Arriving into the Arrivals hall, I made my way to the taxi office and luckily had the name of the hotel in SP written down. I am sure it would have been difficult trying to explain where I wanted to go in my Kerry accent!

I was given a slip of paper and told to queue opposite the desk. This was in 2000, things have changed a bit since then. I was slow to join, as I was putting my purse into my handbag when suddenly a man at the head of the queue and who seemed to be directing people began shouting loudly at me. Apparently, he liked his queue in numerical order and I was upsetting the order of the line and taxi queue!

Finally as I went outside, the stifling heat hit me, it was like opening the oven door when one is too near it and getting the full force of the gust. I had never experienced anything like it before, it was so very hot and very humid. Luckily my taxi was there and he had air conditioning on in the car. My destination was the Cinta Sayang Resort in Sungai Petani, which was about 45 minutes away. I sat back enjoying the drive, although it was nighttime, the city lights were really nice and the noise and smells were so different from Ireland. The taxi driver was very chatty and even understood me when I spoke very slowly. As we drove out of the city, I was amazed at all the beautiful palm trees lining the roadside. I felt very peaceful and very much at home.

I can’t remember what time I arrived at the resort, it was late, probably around 11pm. It looked spectacular in the night light and even though it was the 10th January, Christmas music was still playing all over the place and a big Christmas tree greeted me at the open entrance. The reception staff were so nice and everybody was smiling! I was in a chalet a good walk down from reception, so one of the girls brought me down in a golf car! A great novelty for me! When we arrived at the chalet, the lights refused to come on, nothing electric worked, she was just about to ring maintenance when I looked up and saw the trip switch. I asked if perhaps this was the problem and within seconds we had light!

So here I was in the biggest bedroom I had ever seen with the biggest bed I had ever seen. I couldn’t wait to get to sleep as I was meeting the Grandmaster at 8am. However, just as I was about to close my eyes, I thought I saw something run across the wall. I sat up so fast, I nearly fell out.  I also must have startled the ‘thing’ because it ran across the wall again. I finally figured out it was a very small looking lizard and knew that was going to be the end of sleep. I had never seen anything run so fast across a wall and didn’t know how dangerous it was.

I kept my eyes peeled on the wall but sleep must have come as the next thing I knew my alarm went off and there was no trace of the strange creature.

I was excited and fearful. This was the day that I hoped would change my life and end my pain allowing me the freedom to live life like a normal 30 something. I prayed that I was right.

To be continued.