Berapit Hill Thai Buddhist Temple

Berapit Hill Thai Buddhist Monastery (known in Chinese as Chanxiu Jingshe 禅修静舍) is located up on the western slopes of the Bukit Mertajam hill in Seberang Perai, Penang Island. This temple is rather well known among the locals but not tourists out of town. This monastery can be accessed by a 25-minute hike from the car park at the bottom of the hill. A pair of running shoes and a bottle of water is highly recommended as it is going to be a steep hike up the asphalt and concrete path through the dense jungle. The other Buddhist monastery is Vivekavana Solitude Grove which can be accessed through the same concrete path located at a higher elevation compared to this Thai monastery. 

Upon reaching the Thai monastery there is a large statue of a sitting Buddha and the main prayer hall. Several shrines dedicated to Luang Phor Tuad and Na Tuk Kong are also located next to the main prayer hall. If you continue hiking, you will reach the 5-tier pagoda and the meditation pavilion overlooking hill below with panoramic views of Bukit Mertajam town and Penang Island in the distance. Also located next to the pagoda are Phra Prom shrine and a large statue of a standing Buddha flanked by two elephant statues. 

View of Bukit Mertajam hill from the car park

Asphalt path leading to the hill

View of the temple from the bottom of the hill

Junction at midway along the concrete hilly path. To get to the Berapit Thai Buddhist Temple, take a left turn. Take a right turn and you will reach Vivekavana Solitude Grove. 

Sitting Buddha statue next to main prayer hall 

Miniature Buddha statues in the main prayer hall

View of Bukit Mertajam hill from the monastery

Telecommunications tower atop the summit of the hill 

View atop the pagoda

Panoramic view from the pagoda

Panoramic view of Bukit Mertajam town and Penang Bridge

Panoramic view of Seberang Perai and Penang Island

Pagoda at the monastery

View of the pagoda and the hill below

Panoramic view of Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai and Penang Island. 

Statue of the standing Buddha 

How to get there

Unfortunately there is no signboard leading to the Berapit Hill Thai Buddhist Monastery. To reach there from Bukit Mertajam town, drive along Jalan Berapit. After passing SJKC Jit Sin and SMK Berapit and before you reach the Berapit wet market on your right-hand side, turn right into Taman Pearl which then leads you to a residential road. Turn right into Tingkat Berapit 4, then turn left into Lorong Berapit 1 before turning right into Tingkat Berapit 7. You will see a car park behind the residential area where you can park your car before you ascend the hilly path leading to the monastery. 

Chinese New Year 2016 in KL

Welcoming the 2016 Year of the Monkey with some of these enthralling Chinese New Year decorations at Pavilion and Suria KLCC in Kuala Lumpur. 

CNY decor at Pavilion 

Gigantic statue of the monkey holding a giant peach on display at Pavilion main concourse 

Lanterns dangling at the main entrance of Pavilion shopping centre

Floral archway at main entrance of Pavilion shopping centre 

Giant lantern on display outside Suria KLCC facing the KLCC park. 

Palace-themed pavilion on display at the main concourse of Suria KLCC 

D.O. Hill Recreational Park

Taman Rekreasi PBAPP Bukit D.O. (D.O. Hill Recreational Park) is a recreational park and green lung in the heart of Bukit Mertajam in Seberang Perai, Penang. The park can be accessed from Jalan Sri Bukit either via Jalan Permai or Jalan Chan Ewe Pin. The park was recently upgraded by the Penang state government with added facilities such as outdoor gym, jogging track, reflexology path and gazebos. You can see Penang Island and Prai from the summit of the hill. The park has ample parking space and popular with locals especially working adults and retirees. However I do feel that the authorities should create more parks around Seberang Perai area to cater the growing population. 

View from the summit of the hill

View from the summit of the hill

Jogging track at the park 

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Trip to Junjong Waterfall

Junjong Waterfall

Stream beside the Junjong Waterfall

My parents and I were on a recent visit to Junjong Waterfall in Kulim, Kedah on 7 January 2016. We have not been there since ages ago so we thought that we should visit there again. The waterfall is popular with locals with families and visitors alike for recreational activities such as picnicking, strolling and taking a dip in the river while enjoying the natural beauty. However, we found out that the waterfall’s natural beauty is marred by several problems caused by under-maintenance and inconsiderate visitors, which leaves much to be desired. We felt that the waterfall has been degraded from its former glory without any positive development.

As we entered the waterfall, the archway greeting motorists to the waterfall along the road is in a dilapidated state with structures, roof tiles and timber boards about to fall down. This might pose a danger to motorists and passers-by. After we parked our car and walked along the river, we noticed that river water is still clean, but the area around the river was strewn with rubbish. Not only it makes the area dirty but it also pollutes the river, which pose a health risk to visitors who wish to take a dip in the river. This may lead to illnesses such as typhoid and leptospirosis. This proves to be an eye sore to visitors.

Stream that flows beside the waterfall at the end of the footpath.

Aside from that, the existing facilities on site such as the toilets, changing room, information counter, gazebo and surau are also in a state of neglect and disrepair. I don’t think that any visitor would dare to use these facilities as these places may be a breeding ground for mosquitoes, spiders, leeches, snakes and rats.

There was a pathway along the stream beside the waterfall and also a bridge over the stream. However, the pathway which leads to the waterfall are not clearly marked as it is broken and overgrown with grass, making the access to the waterfall difficult for visitors. 

When we hiked up the pathway next to the waterfall, the steps which goes up the waterfall is also damaged due to erosion. After we reached the end of the footpath, we saw another pool and another waterfall cascade at the far end of the pool. Compared to the pool at the bottom of the waterfall, this one has a stronger river current. 

The pool at the top of the waterfall

The pool at the top of the waterfall

View from the top of the waterfall

After visiting the waterfall, I hope that the Kedah State Government and the Kedah State Forestry Department should take the necessary steps to revitalise the area, such as cleaning up the area and maintaining and upgrading the facilities. The authorities should also look into the safety and cleanliness of other popular waterfalls and nature sites around the state to ensure that they are on par with tourism standards. 

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