Penang Hill

The Penang Bridge

We arrived in Penang yesterday at about 3.00pm. We consider that not too bad for a 5-hour drive from KL, considering the heavy traffic due to the holiday season. The journey was smooth-flowing other than a 1-hour traffic jam. The jam happened because the police had stopped drivers using the emergency lane as a "fast lane", and the jam caused the drivers to take the emergency lane - a vicious cycle it is.

We took a trip to Penang Hill today. A place I have not been in more than 30 years!


The only way to get to Penang Hill is through this cable train. I am not sure when the tracks were laid, but the trains, at least the one that we were in, were constructed in 1977. Tickets are cheap - at only RM4.00 return. Penang Hill is about 701m above the sea level. Train departure is every 15 minutes. There are 4 trains and the journey takes 30 minutes. Transit takes place at the Middle Station. It reminded me of Middle Earth!


Here is the train track up to Middle Station, halfway up to the hill, obviously. Squint and you will notice a kidney shaped tracks - that's 15 minutes uphill, where the 2 trains on the bottom half of the tracks will intersect.


The year is 1922. So I guess these are all built in the 1920s.


We arrived! Bukit is Malay for Hill and Bendera means Flag.


Houses in Malaysia of the early 1900s all look really cool.


I wonder why?


Let's get back already.

Maeghan