Bukit Lanjan
The plan was to hike north, adjacent to the transmission line route, on a narrow strip of green nestled between Kota Damansara and Damansara Perdana.

Somehow the mention of high-tension cables does not conjure up images of lush greenery but I couldn’t be more wrong. From the moment we got onto the trail, my eyes were greeted by a hill carpeted in a million shades of green, inviting me to clamber all over its hilly freshness.

Picking my way along the barely discernible path amid a sea of green, I was distracted by the knee high grass and didn’t realise I was climbing until I was halfway up. It was like walking through a huge salad garden, surrounded by leafy fresh greens.

Each time I put my foot down, it seemed to drop a long way before hitting bottom, because of the layers and layers of dense vegetation covering the ground. I soon got used to the ‘sinking’ feeling, relishing the softer landing and the quiet of muffled footsteps.

Traipsing uphill, we headed into a forested area, gingerly picking our way through an overgrown patch of shrubs, leafy overhang and a termite infested log. The narrow section was mercifully short, and the landscape turned serene green once more, as the trail widened out.

To the north, the trail became a ledge on the hill side, dropping away to reveal the North Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) below on the left.  On our right was more climbing action.

While we could see our target, no clear path was visible. Undeterred, we started carefully up the slippery grassy slope, looking for firm footholds along the steep 45° incline.

The benefits of hiking goes beyond a good cardio workout. You will also be rewarded by stunning vistas, fresh air and the sounds and smells of nature.

From our perch at 163m above sea level, we were presented with a rare viewpoint of the NKVE. We replenished energy levels with bananas and other energy food while taking in the panoramic 270° views.

The paradox of climbing is such that, each time you crest a peak, you are bound to see another higher peak in the distance. It was no different this time. Though it looked temptingly near, the next peak would be another hour’s worth of hiking. Common sense prevailed and by consensus, we decided to save it for another day. 

On every hike, we try to vary the route, following a loop pattern rather than retracing our steps. Having just come from the south, we turned eastwards, skirting the open grassy knoll for a way down. We were reluctant to leave this soothing, tranquil paradise, wishing to prolong the sense of well-being as long as we could.

In the dim forest, we navigated our way down the earthy brown slope with care, encountering several near-vertical drops and slippery patches. We were now traversing the forested area closer to the Mutiara Damansara side.

Glimpsing a road through the trees, we decided to take the direct route down via a cascade drain. Bad idea, it was like stepping into a mosquito nest. We moved quickly, and that is one experience I would not like to repeat, ever.

It was all road walking from here on, weaving through a small village, past a monsoon drain and football field as we followed a westerly direction to complete the loop.

We passed by the Orang Asli Settlement in Desa Temuan, which has a community hall, school and museum, before crossing the entire width of the transmission line route at ground level.

We emerged a short distance from our entry point from 2 hours ago, making it back to the carpark in high spirits.