Penang Hill at Night & Dusky Leaf Monkeys!

I have been to Penang Hill a number of times since I was a kid and assumed it's only open to the public at night, particularly the funicular tram ride which would be a more economical mode of transport for commoners like me. 

Turned out the operating hours were from 6.30am till 11.00pm! Well, the cooler climate at the top of the hill in the evening would be a nice respite and we proceeded up to Penang's tallest hill at about 6.40pm! 

Breathtaking view in front of us; at more than 800 meters above sea level, this elevation was perfect for the cityscape. And even though Penang is named after the island we were on,the state included parts of mainland Malaysia which was right across the strait.

To take the time-lapsed video, we took refuge at Sky Terrace Penang Hilltop Cafe. Maybe due to the timing, the crowd had died down and we managed to secure a table immediately! I left Alex to the "guard" my belongings while I explored abit. 

I was walking along a path while someone stopped me. Looking puzzled at the gentleman, he pointed to the tree canopy. My head turned up and didn't see anything until a trail of water came streaming down! Now, I see it. No, not it; them.

A troop of dusky leaf monkeys; and the 'water' was in fact urine! Okay, maybe not a troop but maybe about four of them foraging on top of the trees. Seeing them was such a nice experience given their cuteness, and uniqueness since they differ from the common macaques. 

Listed as endangered in The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, I have no idea what's the estimated number on Penang island although I did thank my lucky stars to have chanced upon them! 

I went back to Sky Terrace Penang Hilltop Cafe but stepped out to the area where I saw the dusky leaf monkeys when the sun set. This time round, I saw about seven and eight of them even though they were much further, albeit more active.

Night view from Penang Hill; I can only blame my poor photography skill for these badly taken photographs. Nevertheless, sometimes, you have to see it using your own eyes! 

The time-lapsed video for your viewing pleasure. In the video, you would see like a black shaped item appearing in the sky; it's a drone that's part of a chargeable filming for those who are interested.

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Click here for my Five Days 

Itinerary to Penang in 2024