THE HILLS IN the southern part of Penang Island may have a lower elevation than the peaks in the north, but they are just as fascinating. While the allure of Penang Hill and the peaks in the north lie in their biodiverse rainforests—not forgetting the allure of a refreshing bowl of ais kacang after a workout to Penang Hill’s peak—the experience in the south is pretty different. Instead of large swaths of rainforests, this area is dominated by orchards. Here, it is all about fruits—a diverse array of them. Records show that agriculture in these southern hills has existed since the 1850s, and though the kind of crops grown may have changed, these orchards are a present-day testament to the same agricultural legacy. While choosing a peak to explore in this area, we came across Bukit Papan.
Our hike begins on a cement road that goes slightly downhill beside the Orchard Ville apartment in Lengkok Kelicap, Bayan Lepas. Parking can be a challenge here, so carpooling is recommended. We follow the cement road as it descends briefly before climbing gently through durian orchards behind Orchard Ville. Since it is durian season, it’s no surprise that the trees are fitted with safety nets—an ingenious “trap” designed to catch falling durians and prevent them from splitting open as they land. Looking up, we spot a few durians “ensnared” in these nets, suspended right above our heads.
