Above the Clouds: A Hidden Retreat at Hickory Bungalow

by Dr Victor SL Tan

Some journeys do more than take us to a destination; they change our state of mind. My journey with my team of staff to Hickory began at the foot of Penang Hill. We bought the 6 tickets from the Penang Hill Funicular train at Rm16 per ticket return. Senior citizens those age 60 and above get a 50% discount. As we travelled upward, the air grew cooler, the greenery thicker and the noise more distant. By the time we reached Lower Tunnel Station, we already felt that we had crossed into another world. We alighted from the train after 10 minutes and walked another 5 minutes to the Hickory Bungalow.

Hickory is not the kind of place that announces itself with a grand lobby, marble columns or glittering chandeliers. It welcomes quietly. Set on the eastern slope of Penang Hill, about 650 metres above sea level, this century-old bungalow looks across George Town, the airport and the mainland beyond. The moment I arrived; I understood that its greatest luxury was not extravagance. It was space, stillness, cool air and the freedom to breathe again.

A Morning I Will Remember

We stayed 3 days and two nights in Hickory. My most memorable moment came early in the morning. At about seven o’clock, clouds covered the landscape below and Penang city seemed to have disappeared. I sat at the balcony on the upper floor there watching the mist drift across the hill, content simply to enjoy the silence. Then, gradually, the clouds lifted. George Town emerged, the sea brightened and a bridge appeared in the distance. It felt as though Penang was revealing itself slowly, almost personally, just for those willing to wait.

That changing view gave me more than a beautiful photograph. It gave me perspective. From high above, the traffic, deadlines and worries that occupy so much of our attention suddenly seemed smaller. I was reminded that stepping away is sometimes the best way to see our lives more clearly. Hickory offers precisely that gift: Penang from a higher perspective, both literally and emotionally.

A Heritage Home Preserved with Heart

During my conversation with Dr Raj, Hickory’s owner and host, I discovered that the bungalow’s story is as compelling as its view. Built about a century ago by a local tin miner from Larut, it later belonged to another family for roughly 85 years. Although it was largely unoccupied in its later years, an elderly caretaker couple continued to watch over it. Dr Raj acquired the property in 2014, originally intending it to be a weekend home.

He soon realised, however, that such a special place should be shared. With his wife’s construction experience and the help of workers who understood the building, he began a patient restoration that took about five years. They worked within the bungalow’s original footprint, preserving its main structure while carefully adding bathrooms and adapting existing spaces for guests. 65 solar panels were also installed. Nothing was rushed, and the old house was never stripped of its identity merely to make it look modern.

That care can be felt throughout Hickory. The vintage tiles, wooden floors, antique touches, verandas and windows are not stage decorations; they belong to the bungalow’s living history. The rooms are comfortable and individually characterful, but the atmosphere remains that of a gracious home. I did not feel processed as a room number. I felt welcomed into a place with a soul.

Hospitality That Feels Human

Hickory began receiving guests quietly around August 2018 and grew mainly through word of mouth. That gentle beginning still defines the experience today. Dr Raj is not trying to turn Hickory into a crowded commercial resort. He wants it to be discovered by people who value authenticity, nature, heritage and meaningful time together.

Even the staff embody this unusual story. Several originally worked with Dr Raj’s wife’s construction company and helped restore the property. Over time, they learned to care for guests with a warmth and courtesy that feel natural rather than rehearsed. Their hospitality reflects Hickory itself: sincere, informal and unpretentious.

The bungalow has 15 rooms and approximately 24 individual beds. When guests are comfortable sharing, it can accommodate larger gatherings. Yet it never loses its intimate scale. There are lawns and outdoor corners for conversation, a library for reading or meetings, and enough quiet spaces to sit alone with one’s thoughts. Complimentary breakfast choices and a free flow of hot and cold beverages add to the feeling of being comfortably looked after. Lunch, dinner and snacks may also be ordered.

A Retreat for Rest—and for Purpose

I can easily imagine returning to Hickory for different reasons. Couples can come to reconnect. Families and old friends can hold reunions without the distractions of a busy resort. Churches, yoga groups, meditation groups and tai chi communities can gather in an environment that naturally encourages reflection. Writers have stayed for a week, finding a quiet corner in which to think and create.

As a leadership trainer and consultant, I also see enormous potential for executive retreats, strategy conversations, brainstorming sessions and small team-building programmes. A group of about 10 to 15 people can step away from the office, lower its guard and engage in deeper conversation. Fresh thinking rarely flourishes in the same room where routine problems are discussed every day. At Hickory, the environment itself invites people to pause, listen and see possibilities differently.

Nature is not an attraction added to Hickory; it is the experience. The calls of birds, movement of squirrels and monkeys, sound of rushing water and cool evening breeze become the natural soundtrack of a stay. Temperatures at this elevation are typically about six degrees Celsius cooler than at the foothills, so the comfort comes from the hill itself rather than air-conditioning. For those who enjoy activity, Penang Hill offers hiking, guided walks, birdwatching and nearby attractions such as The Habitat.

Comfort and Value

This property's amenities include a restaurant, a front desk open around-the-clock, luggage storage, and complimentary WiFi. The hotel has a fitness gym, karaoke, a library and family rooms. There is a desk in each room at the inn. Some of the rooms also feature a kitchenette with a microwave in addition to a private bathroom with a walk-in shower and slippers. Each room at Hickory Penang Hill is furnished with towels and bed linens. The hotel offers a continental, Full English/Irish, or American breakfast. The lodging provides a space for picnics.

The food served was indeed delicious. They have assorted menu from ala carte Asian to Western food including barbecue and steamboat dishes.

Why I Would Return

I have stayed in many fine hotels, but the places that remain in my heart are not always the biggest or most luxurious. They are the places that make me feel something. Hickory made me slow down. It reminded me that rest is not wasted time, that silence can restore us and that a change in altitude can sometimes bring a change in attitude.

I would recommend Hickory not to everyone, but to the right people: those who appreciate heritage more than uniformity, intimacy more than crowds and natural beauty more than manufactured entertainment. Come for a peaceful night, a family gathering, a writers’ retreat or a purposeful leadership conversation. Come to watch the clouds lift, to hear the hill awaken and to see Penang anew.

Hickory is more than accommodation on Penang Hill. To me, it is a gracious old home lovingly given a new purpose place to breathe, reconnect and remember what truly matters.

Plan Your Stay

Dr Victor S. L. Tan is the Chief Executive Officer of KL Strategic Change Consulting Group. He is the author of 21 books, including Changing Mindsets, Releasing Trapped Minds, Changing Your Corporate Culture, and Lessons of Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow. KL Strategic Change Consulting Group is the winner of The BrandLaureate Award for making one of the most positive and profitable impacts on organisations through corporate training. For more information contact him at 0123903168 or email at victorsltan@klscc.com

Dr Victor SL Tan (victorsltan@klscc.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!

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