Climbing Bukit Broga To Fete New Year

SEMENYIH (Selangor, Malaysia), Jan 2 (Bernama) -- Bukit Broga, near here, which is popular among weekend climbers, was congested Friday morning when scores of visitors celebrated the new year by endeavouring to reach its top. Some turned back half-way in dismay to avoid the human traffic as too many wanted to climb the 400 metres high hill. Housewife Anis Hanafi, 34, who climbed with her four friends, estimated that up to 300 people turned up to climb Bukit Broga Friday morning. "Definitely full, very, very full, although we were not expecting it to be like normal weekends. "Maybe, there were those who climbed last (Thursday) night to witness the fireworks display in conjunction with the New Year," said Anis who used the climb as part of her preparation to climb Gunung Semeru in Surabaya, Indonesia, in April. Other than enjoying the beautiful scenery, many used the climb to the top of the hill as a new year resolution to face their respective challenges and targets. "I feel very happy as I am enthusiastic about slimming down this year," said Anis, who is a mother of two. Student Ilani Ihsani, 19, was forced to stop midway because too many people wanted to climb the hill although it was dark when she started the climb at 6.15 am. "Definitely, too many...they had already started queueing from the car park itself to enter the foot of the hill. "Some, went up but stopped half-way and came back down when it rained," she said. (photoBERNAMA) -- BERNAMA