Temporary Road Closure From Kek Lok Si To Air Itam Dam

For those who are not aware, it's been a week since the road leading to Air Itam Dam from Kek Lok Si had been closed. It will remain closed until further notice being given. No motor vehicles for the time being at the dam. The closure was caused by a massive landslide that happened on last Saturday, 30 October 2016, which coincidentally was Deepavali. It was raining dogs and cats that day. Several areas were badly hit by flash flood.

But fret not, if you so happen to be in Penang and would really like to visit Air Itam Dam, there's another alternative to get you to the dam. Hike!!! There's still a trail that can bring you up to the dam. For more information about the trail,  download the gpx file here.
 

Translantau50 2015

Found out that there's a post in my draft folder which has been there for more than a year. It's an event that I joined in 2015 at Hong Kong, Translantau 50.

Get to know about Translantau from a fellow participant of Penang Trail in Twilight Stars 2014, will talk about this run in my coming post... Translantau is one of the Ultra Trail Running events in HK. There are 4 categories for this event, the 100km, 50km, 25km and 15km. All categories start and end at Silvermine Beach, Muiwo, Lantau Island.

Never thought of joining this run when I first found out about it. The idea only came after a friend of mine asking me about the Sabah/Borneo Ultra. I suggested the Translantau instead of the Sabah Ultra. Within few days, he called up and said, hey, let's do it. He manages to get some of his friends to join in. But they opted for the 25km instead. Don't want to miss the fun, me too joined the race, but in the 50km run.

The big day was 14 March 2015. Took a midnight flight and reach Hong Kong early in the morning, around 5am, of 13 March 2015. This is the first time I reach Hong Kong in such an early hour. While waiting for first HK Airport Express train, we took our breakfast at the fast food outlet in HKIA.

Travel straight to Central after breakfast, leave our luggage and come out for a walk around Central. It's too early to check in, even though I requested early check in. Manage to check in around 10am. What a brilliant idea to purchase a midnight flight to HK. But it is a blessing in disguise. You will know why later in the post.

Went to meet a friend which stay in HK for lunch. He too is a runner. Meeting him up at Sham Shui Po. After lunch, he brought me to a small level one shop nearby. The shop is quite famous among local runner. The owner is a runner himself, and things that sell there are much cheaper compare to other places. Bought a pair of Hoka One One(pronounce as onay onay)Stinson ATR there. Hoka is the pioneer of maximalist shoes. I had always wanted to try it, but can't find a shop in Penang selling it. And I don't want to buy online before trying it.

Meeting up with the others who came for the 25km run. Had a Wan Than Mee dinner at Tsim Tsa Tsui with them. After dinner went straight back to the hotel. It was a tiring day and I slept around 10pm. That's why I said it was a blessing in disguise to get the midnight flight. I am so fresh on the running day.

Running Day...

Woke up at 5am, catch the 6am ordinary ferry. Why ordinary instead of fast ferry? It is because my friend will be supporting me with a bike. Yes, he is the same guy that brought me to buy the Hoka. And yes, he is a biker too. Bikers can only travel with the ordinary ferry. Actually, it is not because of the bike, it is because only ordinary ferry has freight service. Bike=freight.

Met 2 Sabahans on board. One is supporting another. Found out later on he is a fast runner. Was in the top 20 position during the first 3 CP.

Malaysia Boleh!

The festive environment in Silvermine Beach was so happening.

Me and Support Crew..Hehe..

 

The race started at 9am. Completed the race in 12 hours and 32 minutes. Some photos and videos here.

This race is getting more and more famous. When I joined this race in 2015, I managed to register myself 2 months after the registration open. But in 2016, all quota was taken in a very short period of time. For the race next year, 2017, all slots for the 50km was taken up in 26 minutes. I am one of the lucky ones that managed to get a place for the race in 2017. Yeaaaaaa.... Stay tuned for the 2017 Translantau 50....

Penang Hill Via Heritage Trail

Penang Hill with the highest peak of 833meters(2733ft), is the most visited hill in Penang. You can see a number of cyclists and hikers on the peak during the weekend. There're several routes that you can take to reach the peak. Via Jeep Tracks next to Botanical Garden, Moongate, Tiger Hill, Bukit Laksamana, Hye Keat and Heritage Trail to name some.

My favourite among all is via Heritage Trail.

To get there to the entrance of the trail, you will need to follow the uphill cemented/tarred road from the Penang Hill Train Station Carpark, the one in front of the Thni Kong Thnua Temple, not the multistorey.

Penang version Sakura 

Not too far after passing the temple, you will see the entrance of the trail on your right. There's a signage on a big rock just before the entrance.

Entrance To The Trail

The first half of the trail are all stairs. This section will lead to the middle station, with the altitude of around 350m . A non-stop hike will take about 15 to 30 minutes depending on your fitness level. The middle station was an interchange for the old funicular system. Passengers need to change to another train to either bring them up to the peak or to the foot of the hill. A new funicular system with a single direct train was installed in 2010.

 

Old Funicular Train On Display

Continue the hike by following the stairs(yes stairs again) next to the toilet. The stairs are connecting to a single cemented trail. Follow the trail and you will see a farm in front. There are few dogs here which are kept by the farmers. The dogs will bark, it's their job to bark at strangers, but don't worry they will not bite as long as you keep walking and don't try to do something stupid. You might encounter farmers on motorbike too. Be polite and always give way to the motorbike. Afterall, you are passing by their land.

Follow the stairs on the left

  

 

Walk straight until you see a small hut, this is actually a station for the train. It is the Claremont Station. By now, you are no longer on the cemented trail. Take a right turn when you see the station on your left. Few meters after you turn right, you will see few direction sign. Follow the direction of Top Station which is turning to the left.

Claremont Station

Follow right

Follow the TOP STATION direction

Walk straight again until you see a rope tying to a tree, you will need to do a little bit of climbing here. Follow the trail, this section is quite steep with a lot of roots. You will see some stairs again after the rooty section. Turn right at the end of the stairs.

 

 

 

Go straight till you see a funicular railway. Follow the trail beside it. Be extra alert now as you will need to turn left into one of the arches below the railway. But don's worry because you will see an arrow sign there. Follow the sign and you will get to some well-paved trail again.

 

 

 

 

Follow the stair with red railing.

Walk till you see a stream/drain/sewer whatever you want to call it. You will need to follow the stream because the old trail was blocked by fallen trees. But don't worry, you won't need to wet your feet. You can walk on the cemented stream barrier. Be careful as it is quite narrow.

This section had been blocked by fallen trees

Follow the path and you will reach here:

This section doesn't look like this anymore. It's covered with concrete and have a few steps for you to climp up.

There's some upgrade work done here, so it doesn't look like this anymore.Will upload the updated photo once I took it. There are more concretes here now. Don't know why the authority likes concrete that much. Nevermind, back to our trail.

Follow the cemented path.

 

 

Until you see this junction. Go straight up.

 

Go straight up

You can choose to go straight or turn right.

If you go straight, you will be greet by a steel staircase. It will bring you up to the Penang Hill food court. If you choose to turn right, which is my usual route, you will see some stairs, follow the stairs and it will lead you to the Top Station.

Tadaaaa.... Here we are Penang Hill....

You may follow the same route to get back to the foothill. There's some other trails that will can bring you back to where we start which I will share in the coming post. Or there's another option which is by using the funicular train. What you need to do is join the queue, get aboard and enjoy the journey. No ticket needed(as for now). You will only need to pay for the fare at the counter on the foothill. The one way ticket for MyKad(Malaysian ID) holder is RM5, for non MyKad holder is RM15.

Click to enlarge

You can download the GPX file here. 

PS: Please do let me know if I missed out any important anything important about this trail.