Revisiting BM hill

Second day of Chinese New Year. Sunday, the 11th of February. We heard that the Bukit Mertajam forest park in Cherok Tokun had finally reopened after a two-year closure for repairs and rejuvenation. 

My daughter, back from Kuala Lumpur, was eager to explore the hill trails but my wife was unable to join us, So it was just me with my daughter as we set off along the trail beside the stream that ran through the park. Though the tarmac road had been improved significantly, the hill trail we took was basically untouched. A huge tree that had fallen across the trail more than two or three years ago was still uncleared and we had to clamber across the trunk. Because hikers were still finding ways to get into the forest park despite its temporary closure, the earthen and stone trail was still very much in use by them and thus, nature had not had time to reclaim it. 

At one point, I decided to veer off the normal path and took my daughter to find the park's biggest tree. Her first visit here. This is reputedly the biggest known tree in Penang, whether on the mainland or island. 

Eventually, we emerged from the trail to rejoin the tarmac road. I was surprised by the work done by the Public Works Department to improve the condition of the road and also the steep slopes beside it. But there was still one problematic part that was covered by torn blue sheets of plastic. I wonder what the Department is going to do next. They can't simply leave the job unfinished. It would be quite an eyesore. 

Oh, by the way, because we had rejoined the tarmac road at a bend where the metal ladder stood, we did not even reach the old Wawasan 2020 viewpoint. It would be interesting to see what has happened to this place. It shall be left to another trip, and perhaps I may even climb higher next time to the clearing where the tea house is.