2019 Penang Hill Revisited

2019.08.21 Penang Hill - Notice a large scorpion on my arm. My last visit to Penang Hill was 38 years ago in 1981 when I was working there. I used to hike up from the Moon Gate in the Penang Botanical Gardens with the Penang Adventurers Club members. We go for overnight bungalow stay or would camp beside the old government bungalows. It was truly down memory lane to have visited the 823m hill again. We came to enjoy the clean, cool fresh air and the serene natural environment of Penang Hill and truly the visit was a memorable one. A visit to Penang is incomplete without a visit to Penang Hill.


Welcome to Penang Hill signage depicting the three types of train used in 1922, 1977 and 2011. It was used as a retreat during the British colonial period, and is now a popular tourist destination in Penang.


The 823m hill is accessible via the Penang Hill Railway from its base station at Jalan Bukit Bendera, Air Itam. The funicular track stretches a distance of 1,996 metres (1.99KM) from lower to Upper Station which is the longest in Asia. The 6 minutes comfortable ride up the hill in the funicular train is truly an exhilarating experience.


This is the top railway station of Penang Hill.


This is the food court known as Cliff Cafe or Astaka Bukit Bendera selling local delights. You can enjoy lots of local food there such as Penang laksa, pasembur, rojak, char koay teow and many more!


This is the 823 meters above sea level observation deck of the Penang Hill.


This is the 823 meters above sea level observation deck of the Penang Hill.


The view deck offers a magnificent panoramic view of George Town and of Butterworth across the Penang Strait.


The Owl Museum featuring a collection of owls made from a myriad of materials such as wood, stone, metal, glass, clay, plastic, buffalo horn, seashells, beans, plant fibers, crystal, porcelain, earthenware, paper and recycled items.


David Brown’s at Strawberry Hill of Penang Hill, is a British colonial Restaurant and Tea Terrace which also happens to be the highest restaurant in Penang.


The David Brown Restaurant on Strawberry Hill where Francis Light’s friend David Brown first planted his strawberries centuries ago. The restaurant serves English style food.


The Little Village features a Love Arch, Dwarf Village, Rabbit Garden and the green surroundings of Mother Nature. Sample wide range of pure honey that's sure to please you.


Henna & Spa - If you are not a fan of Henna, you can enjoy the herbal foot spa which is located just beside the Henna Art. The foot spa is good for relaxing and also able to releasing toxic from knee and feet.


Henna & Spa - If you are not a fan of Henna, you can enjoy the herbal foot spa which is located just beside the Henna Art. The foot spa is good for relaxing and also able to releasing toxic from knee and feet.


Ching Jin Wei and Catherine - On top of Penang Hill, there is a cannon dated 1796 and was used for signaling incoming ships – hence the name Signal Hill in the olden days.


Penang Hill Mosque, or Masjid Bukit Bendera, is the only mosque on Penang Hill also happens to be the highest mosque in Penang.


Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan, or better known as the Penang Hill Hindu Temple.


Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan, or better known as the Penang Hill Hindu Temple, is one of the oldest Hindu temples in Penang. It was set up in the 1800's as a small shrine to the Hindu deity Murugan (the deity associated with Thaipusam) by the Indian Sepoy and sedan chair carriers, and is located at a mount within Penang Hill called Gun Hill.


The Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan on Penang Hill is embellished with colourful and exquisitely ornate sculptures of Hindu deities. It started off in the 1800's as a small shrine to the Hindu deity Murugan.


The Dravidian style of constructing Hindu temples calls for four principal parts. The temple proper, or vimana, is the shrine with a tower, a mandapa, or porch, gopurams, or gate towers, and chawadis, or pillar halls. In addition, there would usually be a tank of water for use in sacred rituals or for cleansing.


The Dravidian style of constructing Hindu temples calls for four principal parts. The temple proper, or vimana, is the shrine with a tower, a mandapa, or porch, gopurams, or gate towers, and chawadis, or pillar halls. In addition, there would usually be a tank of water for use in sacred rituals or for cleansing.


Penang Hill Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple deity figure.


Penang Hill Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple deity figure.


Penang Hill Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple deity figure.


Penang Hill Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple deity figure.


Penang Hill Sri Aruloli Thirumurugan Temple deity figure.


Bellevue the Penang highest hill hotel.


Bellevue is a 12 rooms colonial type of hotel with simple, nice, neat and clean set up. It has unique collections on rare species of Birds, Flora and Fauna at the Aviary Garden and a spectacular Panoramic View Restaurant.


Catherine and Ching Jin Wei - We were enjoying the nice cool refreshing atmosphere while waiting for lunch to be served in Bellevue Hotel, Penang Hill. With the temperature of 25 degree Celsius, it was the perfect place to relax and taking lunch.


At 800 meters above sea level on Penang Hill, Bellevue enjoy a spectacular panoramic view; overlooking Georgetown and Straits of Malacca.


Overlooking another hill with bungalows from Bellevue Hotel, Penang Hill.


Bellevue Hotel is the only hotel on Penang Hill with simple, nice, neat and clean set up. From the terrace, you can get very nice views of George Town, particularly from afternoon to night.


Bellevue Hotel is the only hotel on Penang Hill with simple, nice, neat and clean set up. From the terrace, you can get very nice views of George Town, particularly from afternoon to night.


Bellevue Hotel is the only hotel on Penang Hill with simple, nice, neat and clean set up. From the terrace, you can get very nice views of George Town, particularly from afternoon to night.








After lunch at Bellevue Hotel it was time for the 2km cool nature walk to Monkey Cup Garden, Penang Hill.


After lunch at Bellevue Hotel it was time for the 2km cool nature walk to Monkey Cup Garden, Penang Hill.








The 1st surprised - On the nature walk to Monkey Cup Garden, a baby squirrel came down the tree to play with Ching Neng Bin.


The 1st surprised - On the nature walk to Monkey Cup Garden, a baby squirrel came down to play with me.


After lunch at Bellevue Hotel it was a 2km cool nature walk to Monkey Cup Garden, Penang Hill.










There are a total of 52 hill bungalows located on Penang Hill (42 of them are private-owned and 10 bungalows are state-owned). Most of them are more than 100 years old and Bel Retiro (Governors Bungalows) built in1789 is the oldest.


There are a total of 52 hill bungalows located on Penang Hill (42 of them are private-owned and 10 bungalows are state-owned). Most of them are more than 100 years old and Bel Retiro (Governors Bungalows) built in1789 is the oldest.


There are a total of 52 hill bungalows located on Penang Hill (42 of them are private-owned and 10 bungalows are state-owned). Most of them are more than 100 years old and Bel Retiro (Governors Bungalows) built in1789 is the oldest.






Catherine and Ching Jin Wei - The Monkey Cup garden located 750m above sea level at top of Penang Hill has more than 100 varieties of pitcher plants in the garden.


The Monkey Cup garden located 750m above sea level at top of Penang Hill has more than 100 varieties of pitcher plants in the garden.


The Monkey Cup garden located 750m above sea level at top of Penang Hill has more than 100 varieties of pitcher plants in the garden.


The Monkey Cup garden located 750m above sea level at top of Penang Hill has more than 100 varieties of pitcher plants in the garden.


The Monkey Cup garden located 750m above sea level at top of Penang Hill has more than 100 varieties of pitcher plants in the garden.




Catherine and Ching Jin Wei - Taking a rest at the Monkey Cup garden while ordering some coffee.


Beautiful orchid flowers at the Monkey Cup garden.


Beautiful orchid flowers at the Monkey Cup garden.


Towards the end of our nature walk, you will find the first and only Monkey Cup Sanctuary in Malaysia with a Kopi Hutan. Sip a cup of freshly brewed Arabica coffee here as we immersed ourself in the peaceful natural setting while relaxing on the stone bench.


Catherine and Ching Jin Wei - Coffee time at Monkey Cup Station in Penang Hill. Taking a cup of coffee here will entitle you a free shuttle (pick up car) to bring you back to the top station.


The 2nd surprised - A large scorpion on my arm greeting me at Monkey Cup Station in Penang Hill. Scorpions are arthropods, they have eight legs, two pedipalps, and a tail with a venom-injecting barb. Scorpions have two venom glands that produce venom used in hunting and self defense. Scorpions do not have bones instead they have an exoskeleton made of chitin, which is similar to the shell of a shrimp.


It was misty and so was time to get down to visit my brother for a dinner appointment in Georgetown.


Penang Hill funicular tunnel, at 79 metres (258ft) long and 10feet (3.0m) wide with a steepness of 27.9degree, is the steepest tunnel track in the world.


Penang Hill funicular tunnel, at 79 metres (258ft) long and 10feet (3.0m) wide with a steepness of 27.9degree, is the steepest tunnel track in the world.








At the middle station.












Disembarking at the lower station of Penang Hill.




Dinner was hosted by my brother Ching Neng Shyan at Annathai Kitchen, 26 Jalan Moulmein, Pulau Tikus, Penang.


Sleeping was at Quayside Condominium@ Clear Water Bay, Taman Teluk Molek, Butterworth.


Sleeping was at Quayside Condominium@ Clear Water Bay, Taman Teluk Molek, Butterworth.

 

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