AFTER being deserted for the past two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Penang Hill today was a hive of activity as thousands of local and international visitors made their way up to the popular hill resort to enjoy various exciting programmes under the Penang Hill Festival (PHF).
The festival, which was first held in 2018, is now into its third edition from today to Sunday. It is to promote and raise awareness of Penang Hill’s nature, history, and cultural heritage.
The celebration this year was even more memorable and fascinating as Penang Hill and its surrounding areas were accorded the Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve under the Unesco Man and the Biosphere Programme.
There were a series of events that took place today. They included Zumba dance, Talk & Walk: Viaduct Trail, Bird Watching with Kanda Kumar, Amazing World of Bees at The Little Village, Ginger Garden Tour at Bellevue Hotel, Nature & Heritage Walks, A Century-Year-Old Tale of Penang Hill Railway, and mini music performance.
Apart from these, Penang Hill Photo Exhibition and Penang Hill Biosphere Reserve Exhibition were held as well.
Buletin Mutiara managed to speak with some of the organisers and spokesmen of their respective events that were held today.
According to the Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) adviser Kanda Kumar, who conducted the Bird Watching event, there were some 30 participants. They comprised local and international visitors at the three-hour event.
“Basically, there were about 20 species of birds, and we explain to them the history and origin of the birds.
“The most common ones were Thick-billed green pigeon, Yellow-vented green pigeon, Common iora, and Greater racket-tailed drongo.
“We explain how the birds help to disperse the plants’ seeds, and the interrelation between nature and birds.
“Overall, all of them enjoyed the Bird Watching session. However, the number of birds has dropped due to global warming climate,” he said.
Over to the Ginger Garden Tour in the Bellevue Hotel, there are over 70 new species of gingers and plants.
Person-in-charge Azim Rabbani shared with Buletin Mutiara the establishment of the Ginger Garden decades ago.
“There is plenty of flora here while a variety of gingers can be found in our garden too.
“This is one of the premier nature destinations in Penang Hill as those who walk into our garden can also spot peacock, turkey, pigeon, crown pigeon, elactus parrot, and golden pheasant.
“I am happy that the PHF is back after so long and we look forward to the events tomorrow and Sunday,” he said.
K.P. Ong, who is the founder of the Nature Walk in Penang, was also spotted sharing his knowledge with the participants in his session.
“Utilise this Nature Walk and discover the green lungs of Penang Hill,” he said.
The Penang Hill Gallery @ Edgecliff is also a must-stop place to get to know the hill better.
Many visitors were seen taking the opportunity to visit the former bungalow which has been turned to house a comprehensive collection of photographs along with their stories in the gallery.
PHF resumes tomorrow and ends on Sunday.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting and courtesy of Malaysian Nature Society (MNS)