Title: Jetty Reflections: Life on the Edge of Jerejak
"To live simply in a complicated world is a profound art."
It’s been a while since I’ve had the chance to sit down and jot a few thoughts about where life has taken me lately. The truth is, I haven’t had access to a computer I can call my own, nor the luxury of time to hang out at a cybercafé. You see, I’m now gainfully employed as a ticket seller at the ferry terminal for Jerejak Island Resort here in Penang.
Yes sir, I sell tickets, provide information to guests, and mostly spend my time sitting around between ferries. But being who I am, I can’t just sit idle. So I water the gardens around the jetty, and when the sun isn't too harsh, I pick up trash along the beach—gifts from the sea. I also read a lot, especially The Bodhisattva's Way by the Dalai Lama, to keep my mind from falling into despair.
My children are slowly settling into their new environment, making friends, and picking up their studies again. I know they miss their mother, though they don’t say it. I see it more in my son than in my daughter—he was always closer to her. After a taste of middle-class comfort in Illinois, cheesecake and apple pie included, they’ve returned to shared meals with neighbor kids and sleeping on cold cement floors. It's character-building, I suppose. Still, with a millionaire uncle and an airline pilot for a brother, you'd think they’d catch a break. But that would be too simple in today's world.
Life here in Georgetown, Penang, has been a blessing. We’ve been graced with kind-hearted relatives and friends, far more so than in Terengganu. There’s less judgment here, more compassion. Opportunities for work are better, and the kids have more to explore. Schools here are more integrated, and that’s good for my son. He was beginning to develop a narrow outlook in Kuala Terengganu—forgetting that he himself isn’t exactly a typical Malay.
So far, I’ve managed to rent a small place, enroll the kids in school, land myself a job, and make a few meaningful connections for possible ventures down the road. What I need now is decent transportation. Then I’ll be ready to truly take on this island and all that it offers.
Working at Jerejak Resort and Spa has been a good start. I meet people—especially those who can afford time and travel—and some have become companions in conversation. I’ve shared this blog with a few, hoping they’ll stay connected. With the younger visitors, I often talk about the environment, awareness, meditation, and self-discovery. It’s been heartening to see their curiosity and engagement. Some return to share their own thoughts, which keeps the dialogue alive.
Pulau Jerejak, about 960 acres of mostly untouched jungle, holds a unique history. It was the first landing point for the British East India Company under Captain Francis Light, the founder of Penang. Initially a quarantine post for migrant workers, the island was abandoned due to a malaria outbreak. Later, during World War II, it served as a submarine base for the German Navy, then a Japanese POW camp where grim events unfolded. After the war, it was used as a leper colony, and later still, a detention center for hardcore drug addicts—Malaysia’s own Alcatraz. Eventually, it was all shut down, and the island was reborn as a resort.
Most guests who arrive at the jetty don’t get here through glossy ads or brochures—they stumble upon it by accident, having made a wrong turn or lost their way. Few know about it ahead of time, and many arrive confused or frustrated due to the lack of signage or standardized information. It’s a recurring issue, and one that often leads to disappointment.
As for the staff and management—well, that’s a whole different story, worthy of its own blog post someday. But I’ll leave it at that for now.
"The jetty has become both my workplace and my meditation cushion—where time floats in and out with the tide."
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