Immediately, after a hearty breakfast we proceeded to Penang National Park located in the north western corner of the Penang Island. There are 5 major trails. We chose the Muka Head Trail which involves a hike of over 2km of coastal trail. We started at 10.30 a.m. and after many photography stops, we reached the Muka Head Lighthouse at 2 p.m. According to the brochure, the trek time should be about 3 hours. The trail is dotted with bridges of wood, concrete and metal constructs over streams and rocky shoreline. Generally, the trail and the facilities appeared well maintained and litter free up to USM Centre. From hereon, the trail is more feral until the base of Muka Head Lighthouse, where one has to mount a series of concrete steps from sea level up to 242m in net elevation to the Muka Head Lighthouse built in 1883 (125 years old) by the colonial British. The weather was good and views from the Lighthouse were lovely.
From the Lighthouse we back trekked to USM Research Centre and took a boat back to Teluk Bahang for a fee of RM5 pax.
Our original plan was to take a boat from USM Research Centre to Pantai Kerachut (famed for its white sandy beach). From there, we could visit the Meromictic Lake and then trek back to Teluk Bahang, thereby completely an anticlockwise loop. However, our plan was dashed when we were told that the sea was too rough for the boat operator to ply.
For the photographs, please refer to http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/3380.
No Time for Pantai Kerachut? I have a Geocache hidden there - Titled "The End Of The World".
ReplyDeleteIt has taken them years to complete. But at last!
ReplyDeleteAfter coming down from the Lighthouse, we wanted to take the boat from Monkey Beach to Pantai Kerachut and to trek back to Teluk Bahang from there. Unfortunately, the sea was too rough and the boat man took us back to Teluk Bahang.
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