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. 

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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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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Mossy Forest, Mount Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

Mossy Forest is a forest reserve in Mount Brinchang (Gunung Brinchang), the highest peak in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, Malaysia at 2,000m above sea level. The forest is unique to Malaysia because you will find various trees and plants that are only grown naturally at a high elevation. Its microclimate of constant mists and high moisture due to low level clouds created an ideal places for the growth of moss, ferns, lichens and orchids. When one scales up the slope of the Mossy Forest by walking along the boardwalk, one may experience a chilly and misty ambiance like the scene from the Misty Mountains in the popular J.R.R. Tolkien's novel The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Mount Brinchang is also the location of the highest road in West Malaysia and the highest mountain in Malaysia accessible by road. The mountain can be reached from the road in Kea Farm which also leads to the Boh Sungai Palas Tea Estate. 

Moss growing on the tree branches

Signboard indicating the state border of Perak and Pahang along the boardwalk

A signboard indicating the current elevation of Mossy Forest

Timber boardwalk through the Mossy Forest

The Mossy Forest landscape at the end of the boardwalk

The end of the boardwalk which leads to Gunung Irau through the dirt tracks.

Rainforest canopy view from the boardwalk

A gazebo for rest and shelter along the boardwalk which loops back to the main path

The boardwalk with railings leading down the slope 

Panoramic view of Cameron Highlands from Mount Brinchang

Moss and ferns growing on the tree trunks and branches

Peak of Mount Brinchang from the Mossy Forest boardwalk