The Habitat, Penang

The Habitat is a fairly new but welcomed attraction in Penang. Soft-launched in 2016, the Habitat is located on top of Penang Hill and is designed to give nature lovers an appreciation of the rainforest and the biodiversity that lives there. It also has phenomenal views of the island!

Besides upgrading the existing nature trail in the rainforest, the Habitat has also created new attractions that complement nature. One of the primary attractions is the Canopy Walkway, which they call the Langur Way, so named after the Dusky Leafed Langurs, that reside amongst the treetops. Besides walking at the same level as the treetops, you also get spectacular views of the forested valleys and the sea beyond.

The other main attraction is the Curtis Crest. Located on top of the plateau, this metal structure is the highest viewing point on the island. Named after the botanist Charles Curtis, this oval shaped walkway offers unparalleled 360 degree views of the whole island, including George Town.

Then there is of course the nature trail that connects all of the above to each other. As you walk along the trail, you can see the various endemic plants and if you are lucky some of the fauna that live here. Various gardens punctuate the nature trail, to give points of interest and there are places to stop like the Giant Swings.

Besides this, it is also possible to do adventure activities such as the Flight of the Colugo, which is basically a zip-lining experience through the jungle. However this requires prior booking. Similarly it is also possible to do a Sunset Walk.

To get to the Habitat, once you get off the Funicular Railway at the Upper Station, walk towards the Penang Hill Square. At the square, there should be a manned desk for the Habitat. Talk to the guy and he will arrange for the buggy to send you to the Habitat. Alternatively, you can also chose to walk along Summit Road until you get to the entrance of the Habitat. Should only take you about 10 minutes walk.

Once at the entrance gate to the Habitat, walk along the pathway.

You will eventually reach the Habitat Shop and Cafe. Buy your tickets here and enter.

Walk along the nature trail and enjoy the rainforest.

You will come across a few of these giant swings. Sit and enjoy the views.

View of the island.

The Langur Way Canopy Walk brings you up amongst the treetops.

Some of the trees must be pretty old.

The walkway is high off the ground.

Some of the endemic flora.

Walking towards the climax.

The Curtis Crest.

Map of the Habitat shows you where you are.

 Climb up the Curtis Crest.

Panoramic views, Jerejak island in the distance.

You can complete a 360 degree view of the island up here.

The steel structure of the Crest is an attraction in itself.

Looking at the staircase down.

View of Bel Retiro, The Governer's House built in 1789.

Orchids.

Some of the fauna you might see in the Habitat, if you are lucky.

View of George Town and Butterworth.

The Habitat is a welcome new addition to the attractions on Penang Hill, and will give you an appreciation of the rainforest.


The Habitat Penang Hill

Address: The Habitat Penang Hill, Bukit Bendera, 11300 Penang, Malaysia.
Telephone: +604 826 7677
Opening Hours: 9am to 5:30pm (standard) 5:30pm to 8pm (sunset walk)

Langkawi Skycab, Kedah

Langkawi is known as the Jewel of Kedah, which is a north-western state in Peninsular Malaysia. Although, the Langkawi archipelago consists of 99 islands in the Andaman sea, most people will only visit the main big island of Langkawi itself.

Locally, Langkawi is known as a land of myths and legends. There are stories of Mahsuri, a pretty maiden who cursed the island for seven generations, the legend of the Pregnant Maiden and the Field of Burnt Rice. But our favourite story is that of the quarelling giants.

The story goes that there were once two Giants living on the island, Mat Raya and Mat Chinchang. The two were great friends, to the extent that their children became betrothed to wed. Unfortunately at the wedding reception, Mat Raya and Mat Chinchang got into an argument and began to quarrel.

Each grabbed items close to them and began to throw at each other. A pot of gravy was thrown and spilled on the ground. The place where it fell became known as Kuah (which means gravy in malay) and is today the main town on the island. A pitcher of hot water fell at Ayer Hangat (hot water in malay), where today you can find a hot spring. Lastly a jar fell at Belanga Pecah (broken crockery) and the handles or rings of a pot fell into Selat Cincin (Strait of Rings), the channel which separates Langkawi from Tarutao island in Thailand.

A third Giant, Mat Sawar, managed to stop the fight and mediate between the two warring giants. In remorse and anguish, they decided to atone for their mistake by being turned forever more into mountains. Mat Raya was turned into Gunung Raya, the tallest mountain in Langkawi today, and Mat Chinchang became Gunung Machinchang, the second tallest. Mat Sawar the mediator was also turned into a small hill between the two giants, to separate the two and guard the peace for eternity.

Today Gunung Machinchang stands guard in the heavily forested north-western corner of Langkawi island. The area was declared a UNESCO Global Geopark due its unique geo-diversity, with its exposed palaeozoic sedimentary rocks from the Cambrian to the Permian period. It also has great biodiversity in its flora and fauna.

For a long time, there was no way to get to the top of Gunung Machinchang, other than through an arduous trek through the jungle. Then in 2003, the Langkawi Cable Car was opened to the public, after 2 years of construction. With a total length of 2.2km, the cable car took you from its starting point at the Oriental Village in Burau Bay, up to the top of Gunung Machinchang in about 15 minutes.

The cable car is said to have one of the steepest inclines in the world, at 42 degrees between the base station to the middle station. It is also said to have the longest free span for a mono-cable car, at 950 metres. From the middle station, another span takes you up to the top station.

Today the entire operation is run by Panorama Langkawi, which has numerous other attractions in the Oriental Village, such as 3-D Trick Art, Time Travel, 6-D Cinemotion, ATV's and the like; but the main attraction is and will always be the Langkawi Skycabs.

You can either buy your tickets online through their website or queue up on site at the Oriental Village. Please note that the Skycabs do close for periodic maintenance from time to time, so make sure it is not closed at the time you chose to visit! It may also close in times of bad weather or high winds.

If you chose to buy on site, you can either opt for the normal queue or buy express lane tickets at higher price. There are also options for a glass floor gondola, private gondola and even a VIP gondola. The tickets also cover admission for some other attractions like the SkyDome, SkyRex and 3-D Art.

Once you have paid, you queue to get on your gondola and then off you go!

The Skycab takes you over old growth jungle.

Truly a wondrous sight to behold all this unspoilt greenery.

You also get a glimpse of the Telaga Tujuh (Seven Wells) waterfall.

Soon you come to the middle station where you dismount.

A wonderful view of Telaga Harbour, Pantai Kok & Burau Bay from the middle station.

You then take the cable car up to the Top Station from the middle station.

From the Top Station you can pay extra to take the Skyglide down to the Skybridge.

Alternatively you can chose to trek downhill to the Sky Bridge.

The skybridge is an impressive feat of engineering.

At the opposite end of the skybridge is a platform with an amazing view of the Machinchang range.

The jurassic park looking moutain range.

View of the Top Station from the Sky Bridge.

From the Top Station, you can climb up staircases to the topmost platforms.

There are two platforms on top of the mountain.

View of the Skybridge from the top platform.

The very scenic view of the surrounding jungles in the mist.

The Thai island of Koh Tarutao can be seen in the distance.

Last view of the Skybridge.

Langkawi is truly the Jewel of Kedah, a beautiful island in the Andaman Sea. And no visit to Langkawi is complete without going up the Skycab to the peak of Machinchang!


Panorama Langkawi Sdn Bhd

Address: Cable Car Station, Oriental Village, Burau Bay, 07000 Langkawi, Kedah.
Telephone: (604)-959 4225
E-Mail: info@panoramalangkawi.com
Operating Hours: 9:00am/9:30am/12 noon to 5:00pm/7:00pm

Kluang Rail Coffee, Johor

When the British left Malaya after independence, besides leaving behind a good civil service, good legislature and the english language, it also left behind a good railway system.

Connecting the small towns along the west coast of the peninsula, the railway was the main form of transportation before the advent of highways and expressways. The railway stations in these small towns became hubs of activity.

One such small town was Kluang in the southern state of Johor. Even with the decline of the railway as a the main form of transport these days, the railway station in Kluang still stands until today.

One of the main reasons why the station still remains an active hub until today, is its prominent location in town. The other is of course the presence of the Kluang Rail Coffee kopitiam.

The original Kluang Rail Coffee.

A kopitiam is of course an ethnic chinese coffee house and is now an endearing symbol of the malaysian identity. Kluang Rail Coffee was founded way back in 1938 in the Kluang railway station. Today it has become a landmark of Kluang town and an institution in itself.

The Kluang Railway Station. Adequate parking at the station.

The railway station is a simple single storey structure.

Although it has been modernised, it still evokes the feel of colonial British Malaya.

You can still sit and watch trains goes by.

Not many trains nowadays though.

The Kluang Rail Coffee takes up a prominent location in the station.

For a kopitiam, it does have a substantial menu.

But of course the main attraction is the Bun Kaya.

When you think of a kopitiam, you of course think about breakfast and having a cup of local coffee, soft boiled eggs with pepper and soy sauce and toast with thick slabs of butter and kaya (coconut jam).

You can get all of that here as well, but there is also a bunch of other stuff on the menu as well. Our top tip here is to forget the toast, instead go for the Bun Kaya. The bun is soft and fluffy on the inside and charred and smoky on the outside, with generous lashings of butter and kaya. The difference here is that it is toasted with charcoal which makes the difference.

Rojak Mee

The Karipap, or malaysian syle curry puffs.

Cucur Ikan Bilis

Some prices. Very cheap and affordable.

If you are in the area, and are craving for some old-fashioned grub, why not head here and get your fix. While the owners now have other outlets in the town, and there is also that other Kluang Station franchise chain all over the country now, nothing beats the authenticity of the original one located in an actual railway station.

Be advised that it is extremely popular, and you may need to wait awhile to grab a table whenever one becomes vacated. Being primarily a breakfast and teatime venue, it is not open for dinner.

Kluang Rail Coffee

Address: Jalan Stesen, 86000 Kluang
Telephone: +60 17-755 7273