Penang Hills and Trails - Pondok Upeh Circular
Pondok Upeh to Pondok Upeh via the Sungai Ara Valley

This is one of a series of pages on walking the hills of Penang, click here for the index. This is a Grade 2 walk although quite long. There is a sketch map at the bottom showing the route followed.

Please visit my Penang buses page for information on accessing the starting point.

We are very careful about whom we take on our walks because experience suggests that, despite appearances, very few people can match our stamina for rambling all over tropical hills. Some weeks ago when Yuehong was bringing a particularly heavy water melon up our approach road we were offered a lift by another lady who was intrigued to hear of our our hobby since she also enjoyed long walks although her experience was all in the northern part of the island. As it turned out she lives in the same set of apartments as us, we kept bumping into her and soon she was asking to join us for one of our walks and could she bring a like-minded friend. So it was that we met up at the end of our stay and we took them on a typical circular walk which we hoped would be interesting and challenging but within their capabilities.

We repeated this walk exactly almost a year later and were rewarded with this view of a 'red tailed racer' in one of the durian orchards. It was a wonderful experience watching this non-venomous snake winding its way round an abandoned hut next to the path. As the name implies it's got a different coloured tail but also a blue tongue. 

We had a delayed start, our access road off Jalan Tun Sardon was blocked by a digger rearranging boulders, we had an awkward reverse and had to go the long way round to get to the parking spot we had previously used with friends Nathan and Tom. I have to say that Jenny and Conchita ticked all the boxes for us, they were properly equipped and knew rather more about local plant life than we do. I let Yuehong act as guide and I followed at a respectful distance as we went up the new concrete road towards 'the Carpet'.

Even allowing for the botanical stops, progress was good and soon we were on the upper concrete path among the durians and after that at the ridge for a short break.

As they obviously appreciated the new experience and we wouldn't be around to give another first hand lesson, we pointed out some of the key junctions, firstly, the small trail off left to Anjung Indah.

Equally, the road they wouldn't want to take, in this case left down to Relau. While we didn't need to be told about the birds' nest factories we were learning about local culinary herbs along the way. 

We paused briefly to admire Penang's answer to the Golden Rock at Kyaito before turning right at yet another critical junction. It probably seemed quite bewildering because while we know our way around very well, what they obviously didn't see was our own learning process.

Never mind, they could just enjoy today's new experience, they definitely weren't going to get lost this time around.

As we came to yet another junction, Yuehong knew to turn left and by the time Jenny and I got to the MPPP sponsored shelter, they were well ahead to the right.

Seeing as it was the weekend, some of the locals were out fishing, not for their dinner but for their aquaria. We were now roughly half way as we turned right heading for a break up at the Thai Temple, Samnaksong. 

Unusually, we had the place to ourselves, but after refreshment, we carried on the second of today's climbs. Since we spent the whole time between 200 and 400 metres above sea level it didn't take too long.

Jenny was interested In Malihom on the hill above Yuehong, so I took them up to show them where the front gate was, but not before we had explained that this path on the right was actually the shortest way to the ridge.

Mission accomplished we went round to the rubber on the ridge, passing this singularly impressive ladder. The wide road down was very welcome, but I think all of us were feeling the heat.

One of the main lessons today for our mature students was that trespass notices and gates are not aimed at bona fide hikers in this part of the island. We have always been welcome to roam here, long may it continue.

I hope the ladies enjoyed their day out and will come again, it's so nice to have the chance to share our experience with other like minded individuals.