Gunung Jerai, Kedah

Gunung Jerai is the Malay name for Mount Jerai, one of the taller mountains in Kedah state in Northern Malaysia. While it may not be the tallest, its position on the coastline amidst the surrounding flat geography has made it stand out as a landmark in the area.

In fact, it is so striking, it has been even used by ancient mariners from India as a navigation marker from ancient times. Today, it can also be seen from as far away as Penang island, further south.

It is believed that in the past, sea-levels in the are were much higher, and that Gunung Jerai was once an island called Pulau Serai. The waters than receded and leaving it as a mountain emerging from the surrounding flatlands.

Gunung Jerai, as viewed from the coast.

Today there is a Forestry Museum and a hotel called The Regency, Jerai Hill Resort at the peak of the mountain. The road up the peak is drivable, starting from the north-eastern flank of the mountain.

At this point at Kaki Gunung Jerai, there is a museum called the Muzium Terusan Wan Mat Saman. From here it is about an 11km drive up the mountain to the hotel. The drive up is challenging, as the road is narrow and there are switchbacks. Not a problem for an experienced driver and you do not need a 4-WD vehicle, but may be a challenge for a novice.

On the way up, you will first come to the Forestry Museum, before finally arriving at the Resort. Be warned that there is very little parking up there, and can be quite congested if there are a lot of day trippers as they do not allow visitors into the resort and you have to park outside. At the time of our visit, there was a charge of RM4 to park there.

Walking into the resort, there are various accommodation options and there is a playground and swimming pool for hotel guests. There is also a small strawberry park. Besides that there is also a small cafe and the hotel restaurant of which visitors can also partake.

Map of The Regency, Jerai Hill Resort.

The main reason to visit is however, the View! This is indeed spectacular, as the resort faces northwards towards the surrounding rice paddies below as far as the eye can see. You can also see the coastline going all the way to the north.

A small island called Pulau Bunting lies of the coast, and it is linked by a white elephant bridge to the mainland. It is a white elephant as the island is uninhabited, and the bridge was built at enormous cost to connect to an uninhabited island. As of now, access to the bridge is also sealed off.

At 1217m from sea level, Gunung Jerai is thought to have once
been an island called Pulau Serai, before the sea retreated.

Stunning view of the coast and surrounding rice paddies.

There is not much else on the mountain itself. The road continues on from the resort to go up to the telecommunication tower at the peak, but essentially once you have visited the resort, it is time to drive back down.

On the western flank of Gunung Jerai there are three waterfalls, namely Seri Perigi, Titi Hayun and Batu Yan. The Puteri Mandi waterfall is a 3km hike from Titi Hayun.

Seri Perigi falls.

On the southern flank of Gunung Jerai is the Bujang Valley Archaeological Museum. Bujang Valley is believed to be a civilisation that dates back to at least 2,500 years ago. More than 50 tomb-temples, known locally as Candi, have been excavated in the Gunung Jerai area.

Also in the south is the Tupah recreational forest.

Last view of Gunung Jerai from the ricefields.

Gunung Jerai is an interesting drive for day trippers from Penang. Do bear in mind the limited parking up there, and there can be congestion if there are too many visitors at a time.

Bukit Jugra, Selangor

Bukit Jugra, or Jugra Hill in English, is located by the banks of the Langat river in Selangor state, not far from the estuary where the Langat discharges into the Straits of Malacca. Standing out from the surrounding mangrove swamps, it was a landmark for mariners plying their trade along the Straits who knew it by the name Parcelar Hill from the arab word "balasar" which means "above the head".

Jugra Hill

The monarch of Selangor Sultan Abdul Samad built his palace in the lands nearby the Hill in 1875 and established his seat there. As Jugra was the royal seat, the British also initially established their administration here, although this later moved to Klang and subsequently to Kuala Lumpur in 1880.

Sultan Abdul Samad of Selangor.

Sultan Abdul Samad passed away in 1898, and his grandson Alaeddin Sulaiman Shah was proclaimed as the next Sultan, also in Jugra. Sultan Abdul Samad was laid to rest at the foot of Bukit Jugra, and his mausoleum is still located there to this day. The landmark moorish style Sultan Abdul Samad building located opposite the Dataran Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur is named after him.

Sultan Sir Alaeddin Sulaiman of Selangor

Upon Sultan Alaeddin's ascension, he commenced construction of the Istana Bandar in 1899. The palace was a mish-mash of architectural styles, from islamic influences from India and the middle-east, oriental touches from China and even neo-classical Roman and Gothic design elements. 

Sultan Alaeddin also oversaw the construction of the royal mosque in Jugra in 1903 which still bears his name till this day. A fine example of moorish and moghul architecture, Masjid DiRaja Sultan Alauddin's (Royal Mosque of Sultan Alaeddin) design is believed to have been inspired from the Deli sultanate in Sumatera.

In 1905 Sultan Alaeddin moved his seat to the Istana Mahkota Puri Klang in 1905 and Jugra soon declined into little more than a backwater, a situation that still lasts until today.

Istana Bandar was mothballed in 1938 after Sultan Alaeddin's death and remains in disuse but can still be visited today together with Masjid Alauddin if you happen to be in Jugra.

As for Bukit Jugra itself, it is now primarily a scenic lookout point, walking and mountain biking venue amongst locals. Paragliding is also an activity that sometimes take place here, with enthusiasts launching themselves of the grass patch of hill fronting the lighthouse which stands on a prominent location on the hilltop.

If you see this small park with a Bukit Jugra sign, you have reached the turnoff road up the hill.

On the way up the hill, you will past a Chinese graveyard.

Quite a large graveyard.

Opposite the graveyard are the ruins of the old District Office.

As you drive further up, you will see that the inhabitants of the graveyard have a scenic view of the Langat
river and Carey Island on the other side.

Park here after you pass the Building where the Sighting of the Moon is done for Ramadhan and the Eid.
This is where the Lighthouse and Scenic viewpoint is.

The lighthouse on Bukit Jugra. The present day one was built in 1976.

Signboard with information on the lighthouse.

Sign telling you that you are 120 metres above sea level.

A viewing gallery has been built for you to enjoy the view.

Hollywood sign for the Instagram generation to take selfies.

The scenic view of the Langat river flowing towards the Straits of Malacca.

View towards Jugra.

The road past the Lighthouse goes on through virgin jungle until you reach the gate
of an Army firing range.

After you drive back down, turn right and follow the road and you will find this small museum. Not open when
we visited.

If you drive on, you will reach this small Chinese temple.

Opposite the temple is the Langat river and Carey island on the opposite side. The road ends at another gate
of the Army Firing Range.

Bukit Jugra makes an interesting Sunday drive from Kuala Lumpur. At just over an hour's drive, the scenic viewpoint can be combined with other minor points of interests such as the Istana Bandar, Masjid Alauddin and Makam Sultan Abdul Samad (Sultan Abdul Samad's mausoleum) which are all in the vicinity. 

If you partake, there is also a chinese seafood restaurant called Viking in the area, or head over to Morib which is a few more kilometres south.

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