After the rain, the Penang Hill range comes alive with wildlife

A dazzling variety of mushrooms sprout along hiking trails to satisfy shutterbugs.

Wild animals are elusive, but there is a great chance of stumbling onto many of them when you go hiking after a downpour.

Most amphibians and reptiles go into a state of minimal activity and metabolic depression when it is dry; a bout of heavy rain sends them scampering out again. Your hiking trip then also becomes a herping trip.