Maxwell Hill Taiping Hiking

Hiking up to the gardens of Bukit Larut via waterfall trails on 6 May 2017 ... It was formerly called Maxwell Hill of Taiping. The event was organized by Kim Thai and Chan How Nean, both hometowns are from Taiping. 

One way to the hill gardens at an altitude of 1036 meters is about 4 hours, with relaxing time at the waterfall and eating breakfast at Hut #3. The hut is complete with cooking utensils, gas, tap water from the mountains and a toilet that one can take bath. The utensils are locked in different metal lockers and open by respective group owners.

While waiting for the jeep to descend the mountain, we hiked up to Cendana Hut (1128m) but the bungalow was closed on that day. Started the hike at 7:30 a.m., we boarded the jeep at 2:30 p.m. for a 7-hour outing. While negotiating the many hairpin corners by the jeep journey, we actually hiked quite a distance up the hill resorts.

Do CLICK HERE to view 195 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

 Arriving at the trailhead of Bukit Larut

 At the waterfall area ... we went up to Hut #3 via the waterfall trails

 Arriving at Hut #3 for breakfast, and then continue the hiking journey via tar road

 The garden of Maxwell Hill ... (left) Kellie, Michelle Wong and TehWE 

TehWE and Michelle Wong with the high-jumping pose

 The garden of Maxwell Hill

 Taking a breather ... preparing and savoring some hot drinks; (left) Kellie, Michelle Wong and KC Leong.

 Bukit Larut cafeteria 

 At Bukit Larut garden and also the jeeps terminal

 At Cendana Hut ... (front) Kim Thai, Liang Lin, Chia Chee Fen, Michelle Wong

 At Cendana Hut

 Post hiking (the following morning)... Mangrove Swamp at Kuala Sepetang (Port Weld)

 Visiting charcoal factory at Kuala Sepetang (Port Weld)

 Seafood lunch at Kuala Sepetang (Port Weld)

Sumptuous seafood lunch of fish, prawn and crab

Do CLICK HERE to view photos of my previous Maxwell Hill outing where we put up a night at Cendana Hut.

Posted by KC Leong

Run/trek up Maxwell Hill Taiping - Day 2

This morning (Sunday, 1 July 2012), we went up to the Telekom Tower starting at 5:30 a.m. waiting to see sun rise. From the Cendana Bungalow, it is another 3km away. Equipped with headlamps, the group walked up via tarred road in darkness amid a not too cold morning with occasional breeze. While waiting, Lee Ye Ching and Simon Goh set up the burner, boiling water and preparing hot drinks for all. At around 7 a.m., the scene of sunrise was partly blocked by the passing clouds. Nevertheless, we have a good experience there relaxing and doing something different if we were back in Kuala Lumpur.

Do CLICK HERE to view Part 2 (final) of the photo album courtesy of yours truly (KC).

We then returned to the bungalow, have our breakfast at 9 a.m. Immediately after that, I set out to look for the bungalow that I last visited long time ago. I ran up to an abandon road and saw two abandon hill resorts. I then ran down to the Hill Station area. At around 10:30 a.m. on Sunday which is considered prime time, I could only meet 10 tourists or less. I think this hill resorts is really trapped in time with not much development.

 Lee Ye Ching and Phoebe

The group descended the mountain by 4-wheel drive vehicles at 12 noon while David Spence, an Ironman, ran down to the foothills. It was indeed precision driving by the drivers negotiating the many hairpin turns with narrow road.

At Taiping town, it was a moment of gastronomic delights savouring a few of the places with good food; thanks to Simon Goh for leading the pack. We returned to Kuala Lumpur at around 8pm.

It was indeed a memorable trip for me and I enjoyed it very much. Sure I will be back to look for the bungalow again -- definitely not a lapse of so many years this time.

 Hot drinks to go with the cold morning while waiting for the moment of sun rises

 Telekom Tower or Station @ 13km from foothills of Bukit Larut or Maxwell Hill

 Michelle Tan

 Sighting of UFO? ... :-)

 Smallest roundabout in M'sia? The jeeps actually observe and turn around here. Well, most of us did not see it. It is just next to the entrance to Cendana Bungalow.

 The interior of Cendana Bungalow ... complete with Astro high-definition reception

 Spacious and bright

 Bukit Larut Hill Station area ... seen here with only four tourists

 Bukit Larut Hill Station ... not a single person here (10:30a.m. Sunday, 1 July 2012)

 Savouring the famous ice chendol at Taiping town ... Jacklyne Lee, Phoebe, Michelle Tan, Samantha, Jezamine

The famous porridge cook with crab meat ... Simon Goh, Agnes Yew, Phoebe, Michelle Tan

Do click here to view Part 1

Do click here to visit a blogs all about Taiping ... at end of web page, click Older Posts.

Posted by KC Leong

Run/trek up Maxwell Hill Taiping - Day 1

It was a fun and interesting weekend running and trekking up the hill resorts of Bukit Larut (Maxwell Hill) of Taiping last Saturday, 30 June and put up a night in the cool mountains with a group of 15 runner and trekker friends.

Before the start of the ascent, led by Simon Goh, we ran one round at the Lake Gardens of Taiping. For a 7km run, it took about 55 minutes for a free-and-easy, sight-seeing run passing by scenic landscape of the lake gardens and running under the huge, aged-old trees – a signature scene of Taiping, Perak. ..

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Do CLICK HERE for the photos taken by yours truly (KC) on Day 1 of the event.

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In Picasa web photo album, click Slideshow, hit F11 key for bigger displays.

Ready for a run at Taiping Lake Gardens: (left) Simon Goh, KC Leong, Agnes Yew, Jezamine, Florence, David Spence, Phoebe, Kenny.

The ascent from the foothills to the hill resorts involve trail and tarred road that took between 2.5 to 3 hours. The milestone just before arriving at the hill resort (Cendana Bungalow for the group) showed 10km but the distance registered by my GPS-enabled Garmin is only 9km. The difference of 1km is due to the short-cuts via the trails.

It was a memorable trip for me to rekindle the fond memories of yesteryears. It is in my dream that I have been wanting to re-visit this hill resorts all these years as the last visits was such a long time ago when I was in secondary school. I totally could not recall the layout and the terrain of the hill resorts. I tried to look for the bungalow that I last visited but in vain: all I could remember was that it has a field in front of the bungalow overseeing Taiping town.

  Peaceful and serene ... the meaning of Taiping in Mandarin

30 June 2012 (Saturday):

Warm-up run at Taiping Lake Gardens:

Distance = 7km

Duration = 55 minutes (free and easy run with taking of photos)

Trek up to Cendana Bungalow (where the 15 of us put up a night):

Distance = 10km (from foothills)

Duration = 2.5 to 3 hours (run and trek)

Compare to the milestone, we saved 1km due to going up via trails which is shorter distance.

Highest peak at Telekom Station = 1,376 m

Total Distance (from foothills) = 13 km

  

Phoebe, Kenny Kwan and David Spence (Simon's view is blocked) 

 Refletion of the sun on water

 Have good fun ... Agnes Yew, Phoebe, Kenny, Simon, David Spence

  The huge and aged-old trees of Taiping Lake Gardens ... runner model by Agnes Yew ... :-)

  Just before running/trekking up Maxwell Hill ... Lee Ye Ching, Florence, Simon Goh, Agnes Yew, Jezamine, David Spence, Kenny, Abby, Phoebe, Jyn Yeow, KC Leong

  At the trail ... Jezamine, Abby, Jyn Yeow, Lee Ye Ching, Florence

 Florence, Jezamine and Jyn Yeow

 Phoebe and Agnes Yew

  The long and winding tarred road, accessible only to 4-wheel drive vehicles with pre-determined timing for ascent and descent.

Most people would wave at us for taking the challenge to ascend the mountain this way ... model by Florence ... :-)

 Yours truly (KC Leong) at Cendana Bungalow

 Almost complete group photo: (left) Jyn Yeow, Samantha Aw, Simon’s mother, Phoebe, Michelle Tan, Abby, Jezamine, Jacklyne Lee, Florence, Lee Ye Ching, Kenny Kwan, Simon Goh, Agnes Yew (David Spence and KC not in photo)

  

  Near to the hill station (about 1,000 m above sea level)

Enchanting night view from Candana bungalow, where we put up a night in the cool mountains.

DO CLICK HERE FOR PART 2.

Posted by KC Leong