Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre

Another recent attraction is the Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre in Relau, Penang which was opened to the public on 19 December 2015 and it was officially opened on 28 January 2016 by the Penang state government. It was previously known as PISA Aquatic Centre before it was closed for refurbishment. Facilities available at the aquatic centre is a Olympic-sized lap pool, 3m-deep diving pool, water theme park for kids, party space, badminton courts, squash courts, gymnasium, sauna, hot showers, lockers, function room, sports store and a café. The refurbishment is part of the massive Subterranean Penang International Convention and Exhibition Centre (SPICE) project developed by SP Setia replacing the previous Penang International Sports Area (PISA) which was a popular venue for sports events, events, fairs, conventions and exhibitions in Penang.

I decided to check out this new facility upon reading the news of its official opening ceremony published on Buletinmutiara as I have been frequenting the public swimming pool at the MPSP Stadium in Bukit Mertajam for the past few years. The other public swimming pool in Seberang Perai is SJ Arena in Seberang Jaya. It is the only public swimming pool in Penang Island. 

I had the opportunity to tour around the place including the main lap pool, diving pool, children’s outdoor water park and the viewing platform. Immersing in the hot showers after the swim is indeed most satisfying for me.  The main highlight is the vast lap pool for those who wanted to do some exercise or practice swimming during their spare time, and the water candy-themed park for the kids, another recreational and relaxing spot for the family. It was less crowded when I went there on a Tuesday afternoon. 

The building has a renewed, modern façade design while the interior has a revitalised, brand new look. A hotch-potch mix of colours contrasted with white and grey concrete walls make the atmosphere more vibrant and playful. Entrance fee for adults who wanted to use the facilities is RM8 during weekdays from 8am-6pm, RM10 during weekdays from 6-11pm and RM10 during the weekends. For children, senior citizens and disabled persons, the entrance fee is RM6 during weekdays from 8am-6pm, RM8 during weekdays from 6-11pm and RM8 during the weekends. Locker hire is RM2 with RM20 deposit.

Below are some of the pictures of the Setia SPICE aquatic centre taken by me using my iPhone camera after my swim. 

Olympic-sized lap pool with diving pool in the background. 

Candy-themed water park for children

Olympic-sized lap pool viewed from viewing platform

Olympic-sized lap pool with diving pool in the background viewed from viewing podium.  

Exterior facade of Setia SPICE Aquatic Centre

The Star LED Art Sculpture

I had a chance to visit The Star LED sculpture which is a recent attraction at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterwoth, Penang designed by Ong Jun Hao in conjunction with Urban Xchange 2015. It was launched on 7 November 2015. This star-shaped art installation is set in an abandoned building along Jalan Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda 1, taking centre stage among rows of shophouses and flats within the commercial area of Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth.

The objective is part of urban renewal of Butterworth through creating a new community art space. The 3-storey high art installation appears as if light emanates from inside the building and the light is able to penetrate through the solid thick concrete floor slab of the abandoned building.

This dazzling LED light display along with occasional performances, markets and music concerts plays a pivotal role as a new community space, which helps rejuvenates and revitalise the existing dead space behind the newly-built shopwhouses along Jalan Raja Uda. This art installation illuminates a previously abandoned building and quiet dark alley, creating a vibrant urban landmark which draws many visitors. Recently, Penang state government also launched Bamboo Square at the open area next to the art installation, decorated with planted bamboos and illuminated with mini red lanterns and red ribbon wishing tree as part of the Chinese New Year celebration. 

How to get there

The Star LED sculpture is located at Jalan Pusat Perniagaan Raja Uda 1, off Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth, behind Coffee Venture. Entrance is free for all visitors. 

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. 

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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Bukit Tambun Street Art Murals

This is the latest attraction in Bukit Tambun during my trip back in June 2015. The idea of a street art mural in this quaint little town in South Seberang Perai, Penang came from the village headman with cooperation with the residents to beautify the village.

Malihom Private Estate

I had a unique experience at Malihom Private Estate last weekend. My parents and I had a opportunity to visit Malihom Private Estate, which is a hilltop retreat in Balik Pulau, Penang Island, Malaysia. A driving expert is needed to reach there as the journey is rather a steep and windy uphill road not for the faint-hearted. On either sides of the road are durian orchards. Malihom means 'the village of fragrant rice' in Thai. 

Once at the hilltop, the estate commands the views of both sides of the island from the comfort of the bedroom suites (styled as barns). The entire atmosphere is picturesque, secluded and private given that this place is relatively unknown even to many local Penangites. The bedroom suites sit among the durian orchard designed in a form of Thai rice barns on stilts, a finest example of tropical architecture in the region. There are a total of 8 named barns: Baanmai, Aloun, Khanun, Dhamma, Sankara, Sripatum, Sanook and Jhana.

Within the estate there is a swimming pool, a koi fish pond, hammock, outdoor bathroom, deck chairs, cafes, common lounge and gazebos equipped for the guests to relax and hang out. The indoor and outdoor spaces are adorned with wood carvings, Buddha statues, earthenware and pottery to reflect the tropical setting of the retreat. There is also a peacock farm greeting visitors at the entrance of the retreat. 

Room rates of the retreat ranges between RM800-RM1,000 per night. The estate can be reached via Balik Pulau hill road from Bayan Lepas right after Bukit Genting Leisure Restaurant. The hill road which leads to the resort is on the right side before reaching the hill road viaduct to Balik Pulau town. 

Bedroom suite at Malihom

Bedroom suite at Malihom

Aerial view of Bukit Genting and Pulau Betong on the west coast of Penang Island. 

Aerial view of Bayan Lepas and Pulau Jerejak on the east coast of Penang Island.

Hammock and seating at the bedroom suite

Bedroom suites at Malihom

Aerial view of Balik Pulau on the west coast of Penang Island.

Bedroom suites at Malihom

Lower deck of the bedroom suites at Malihom

Koi fish pond at Malihom

Swimmming pool and pool deck at Malihom Private Estate. 

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Hutan Pelajaran Air Hitam Dalam (Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest)

Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest is a fresh water swamp reserve in Sungai Dua, Butterworth, Penang. The park is managed by the Penang State Forestry Department and has an area of about 10 hectares. According to the park ranger, this park has opened to the public about 2-3 years ago. This park has been a centre of attraction for many bird watchers and nature lovers as this place is home to many migratory birds and various faunas.The trip to the park with my parents is one of the many off beaten tracks as this park is still very much unknown to many locals. 

Prior to this trip, my parents and I have never heard of this place until I stumbled upon a website which featured the place on the internet. We decided to go there as we wanted to go for an evening walk. 

Unlike many other popular parks in Malaysia where many of the facilities were damaged, and disused due to neglect and poor maintenance, much to our surprise, many of the facilities there including the concrete-paved boardwalks, suspension bridge, observation tower and the gazebos were in good condition. Besides that, there is also a dyke with a footpath that runs along the Sungai Air Hitam and Sungai Jarak which flows into Prai River. The riverbanks and swamp area are mainly covered with nipa palms. However, there was no caretaker or staff manning the information counter. 

This habitat hosts a myriad of wildlife such as crab-eating macaques, squirrels, monitor lizards, otters and different species of birds. 

Overall, it is a serene and tranquil park worth visiting. 

Information board at the front car park

Gazebo overlooking the swamp area

Barringtonia racemosa fruit (Powder-puff tree or putat in Malay)

Concrete-paved boardwalk leading towards the suspension bridge and observation tower

Squirrels at the park

Monitor lizard swimming in the swamp under the boardwalk 

Suspension bridge 

Boardwalk leading towards the riverbank

Meandering Sungai Air Hitam with nypa fruticans (nipa palms) thriving along the riverbanks

Gazebo along the riverbank

Observation tower

Crab-eating macaque

Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest can be accessible easily by the North-South Expressway (E1) via the Sungai Dua interchange. If you were coming from Penang Island or the south, turn left into Jalan Sungai Dua (P198) at the interchange. After about 1.2km from the interchange, take a left turn into a road (P205) towards Kepala Batas and Tasek Gelugor. Upon reaching a junction which after about 3km, turn right into a road (P3) towards Kubang Semang direction. After that, take a right turn into an open car park next to the park before the bridge. 

More information and details about Air Hitam Dalam Educational Forest can be accessed through the Penang State Forestry Department website here. 

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