One of my hike up to Penang Hill with him and his youngest brother who are here in Penang during winter break. We chose to hike up via Jeep trail - the most common, straight forward also the easiest way among all the trails to the top. As it's a Jeep trail, beware of 4WD vehicles and motorcycle that travel up or down along the way. Usually the vehicle will honk at every winding corner to warn hikers that there is incoming vehicle going to pass by them. Generally, there are 3 major routes to trek up to the hill top starting off from Botanical Garden.
Jeep trail - Winding tar road where only permitted vehicle (of Penang Hill residents) to drive up to hill top. Located on the left of the Botanical Garden's main gate, with a guard post next to it. Easy route for walk up but the path is very steep compare to others.
Heritage trail - Stating point is located inside of the Botanical Garden. After main gate, keep walking on left and as you ascends the slope, look for a unmarked small steep trail on your left (between trees and plants). It will lead you hike up via approx.1000 steps staircase through the forest and eventually link back to the Jeep trail - almost half way towards the hill.
Moon Gate trail - Located outside of the Botanical garden, along Waterfall Road. Look for a Chinese archway with a round moon shape in the middle as entrance, around 100 meters before reaching Botanical Gardens. The path is less tougher compare to 1st and 2nd route, somehow will lead you out to the tar road too halfway up to the hill.
The first 0.7 km is very steep, more like 45 degree elevate. After 0.7 km onwards, the hike will become less steep and much easier. We took a coffee or tea break at the tea kiosk at 2.4km at the tea kiosk run on donation and managed by regular hikers. Every morning, these volunteer hikers will boil hot waters to make hot Chinese tea and local black coffee, serve with biscuit for hikers to enjoy it while take a rest. There is a public toilet not far from the tea kiosk in case hikers need a place to loo. After 2.4 km onwards, we don't pit stop anymore as the road has become easier to hike. Along the way, you might prompt into monkeys, usually in group. Beware the naughty monkeys might snatch away your hat or water bottle.
When you see this old colonial bungalow built by the British with inscription Grace Dieu 1927 at 4.7km, you are not far from the peak. The bungalow has a panorama view of Georgetown, Penang. Don't forget to look back for the magnificent view after pass by the bungalow and ascending a little. At 5.1km, we arrived to the peak. Total journey takes about 2 hours 30 mins including a 15-20 mins pit stop. As a regular hikers in the past, my fastest record hike up to the top is 1.5 hours without pit stop. That record has become a history now. It's been 4 years since I last hike up to Penang Hill. Now I become regularly trekking at Penang National Park. After short rest with view, we went to the food court for ABC Ice Kacang to quench our thirst and fill our hunger with fried rice and Nasi Lemak.
You will feel all your effort (to hike up) is pay off when you finally standing here looking at this beautiful view from hill top. Some years back, life wasn't going very smooth and I was so down and lost. I begin to hike up to hill top on weekends and whenever I feel down. Every time when I begin to hike up, the tough beginning at 0.7 km always makes me regret for coming. I keep thinking of turning back and go home. But, I'm glad that I never give up even once. I force myself make it to the top with tears and sweats. When I finally reached the top, it makes me feel that there is nothing that cannot be solve in our life. Penang hill top heals my heart & soul.
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