R. Doug Wicker — Author

So… what does one do when one finally reaches the top of Penang Hill via the Penang Hill Funicular Railway? Many in our group took the long, steep, upward hike to the Jade Emperor’s Pavillion (Thean Kong Thnuah Temple). But Ursula and I are in our 70s, Ursula was still recovering from her knee replacement, and I was sweating like a member of Congress testifying under oath. Instead, we separated from the group, hired a golf cart driver and went for a leisurely chauffeured spin to see the less strenuous sights. Along the way we met some furry friends:

The cute little chap above is a dusky leaf monkey. We found this guys roaming around in search of leaves to munch, and they appeared unperturbed by our presence.

There’s also some nifty art in this area:

If that photo above looks familiar, it’s because I posted this image of Ursula on that bicycle a few weeks ago in Fun Photo Friday — Penang Favorites 2:

And because I love this piece so much, it was also the featured image in Fun Photo Friday — Penang Favorites 1:

Let’s take one last look at the views of George Town (foreground) and Peninsular Malaysia (in the distance), then head on back to the funicular:

Disembarking from our golf cart tour, we headed back toward the Penang Hill Upper Station of the Penang Hill Railway:

Here we rejoined our group as they straggled back from their trek, then loaded up onto the funicular for the ride back down the hill:

All Aboard!

And just eight minutes later we were back at the bottom of Penang Hill:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)

Our next Penang Island destination on this excursion would take us to a vantage point some 2,700 feet/823 meters above sea level. This would be accomplished via a funicular railway that starts travels 6,549 feet/1,996 meters, starting at an elevation of about 295 feet/90 meters and ending at an altitude of 2,460 feet/750 meters. This, my friends is Penang Hill, and the conveyance is the famous Penang Hill Railway. And while the above shot seems to show a ridiculous slope, the gradient ranges between 18.8% (10.7°) and 52.9% (27.9°). Still steep enough that I wouldn’t care to climb it, and looking downslope certainly does give one pause.

After standing in line for a few minutes, probably no more than five, we boarded our funicular car.

And as the funicular ascends, sit back and enjoy the ever-changing view:

But your climb in not yet over. After disembarking you still have a way to go to get to the highest point, Western Hill at 2,733 feet/833 meters. Before we get that far, however, you first must pass through the upper station:

As one would expect, the views from the upper station are quite impressive. Here you can see George Town and the 15-mile-/24-kilometer-long Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge (Penang Second Bridge).

Turn around from the viewing platform for a look at an arriving funicular:

On Wednesday we’ll explore Penang Hill. But before that, here are two views as you leave the station on foot:

Слава Україні! (Slava Ukraini!)