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There are two more peaks offering
different vantage points and good photo
opportunities. We only knew this when
Dad prodded us to go beyond the first
peak on our maiden climb. I had been
completely out of breath after the steep
hike, but of course, my protests fell on
deaf ears. I suppose our capabilities are
only limited by how far we push ourselves.
Be prepared for the crowds, though.
You’ll see DSLR camera-toting enthusiasts
plonk down tripods hurriedly to capture
daybreak; lovebirds perched over big
boulders in a sweet embrace; children run-
ning helter-skelter, ignoring their parents’
chastising; some even bring overly excited
Shih Tzus along for some exercise.
After sweating it out, most will head
towards Broga town for some breakfast.
A crowd favourite is the Pusat Memancing
Ikan Broga that fronts a pond. Hardly any
recreational fishing is done here now. The
owners have converted it into a restaurant
serving the best grilled tilapia in town. You
can savour the fish salt-grilled, or cooked
in assam sauce or even the extra spicy
chilli padi sauce. Spring water fromhigher
ground is purportedly channelled into the
breeding pond, which rids the tilapia of
a muddy taste that often plagues farmed
freshwater fish.
If there is time before your meal,
however, be sure to drop by the Sak Dato’
Temple (en route to the Pusat Memancing
Ikan Broga) that is popular amongst lottery
punters seeking divine inspiration.We
hadn’t been particularly curious about
entering the temple at first, but we were
certainly no match for dad’s curiosity,
which sometimes, can be a blessing.
Behind the temple, a suspension bridge
leads to another hill on which a giant
statue of the Sun Wukong Monkey King
is erected. It’s a short climb, but the
view from the top, needless to say, is
spectacular. A viewing platform in the
shape of a cloud protrudes from the base
of the statue as if the sculpture was flying
overhead.
Dad is in a better place now after a
well-fought battle against cancer, and I’ve
made it a point to go to a place like Broga
Hill each Father’s Day to revisit the good
times we’ve had and recollect the “advice”
and cheeky words that he incessantly
spewed. They weren’t so much lessons
about hiking (or swimming, or cycling, or
fishing) as they were lessons about life.
Scrumptious grilled Tilapia
Sak Dato’ Temple
A statue of SunWukong,
the Monkey King
Pusat Memancing Ikan Broga
A spectacular view from the
hill behind Sak Dato’ Temple
The suspension bridge