March 12 Penang Hill

Of all the things we had earmarked to do while in Penang, taking the funicular to the top of Penang Hill was firmly at the top of the list. At roughly 2km apparently it’s the longest in Asia and has the steepest tunnel section in the world. We have waited until now so that school holidays would be over and planned our day to arrive fairly early.

It’s two buses to get to the bottom station and then a queue to board. Even with all that planning and foresight the carriages are still full to capacity.

Four and a half minutes later we reach the top station at an elevation of 712m. Our first stop is breakfast at the top station cafe, out on the terrace overlooking the forest with occasional glimpses of the very cute Dusky Langurs scampering in the treetops and over the cafe roof.

And the we are off. Firstly we climb a roadway that leads to a large open space with an information kiosk on one side. I head there in search of a map, and leave with entry tickets to the Nature Trail and elevated walkway.Read more