Day 2 in Bentong with a Group of Brompton Owners

The three of us were staying at a homestay located right in front of a Chinese school at Jalan Chui Yin GPS : 3.523599, 101.906638 it is a double storey pre-war shop house with a stationery shop (Pustaka Delda) on the ground floor.

Jalan Chui Yin is a vibrant street and it was already busy with people in the early morning probably due to its proximity to the market. We headed towards the market and found a corner kopitiam crowded with locals, so we joined the crowd for our early breakfast.

We tried the busiest stall in the shop selling Wan Tan Mee, the noodle was simple yet good and delicious. My breakfast was as usual completed with a cup of kopi "O" kosong.

It was time to gather at Bentong Gallery for a morning tour of Bentong town and its nearby surrounding with our hospitable hosts Kokhway & Lap Hong taking care of us. Visit Bentong Gallery if you want to know more about the history and information of Bentong Town. You will love the place besides seeing the exhibits on the display there is a cafe for some local savouring. And also there is local produce that you can buy back home.

Lap Hong leading at the front taking us through the historical villages of once upon time a Briggs Plan of a barricaded community. Until today the houses are still being occupied but there are a few units being left dilapidated and abandoned with undergrowth over taking the structure.

Some of the house have been converted from timber to concrete frames infilled with bricks and plastered surfaces.

Kampung Perting is one of the four Chinese villages within Bentong town, the others are Kg. Kemansur, Kg. Chamang and Kg. Repas.

There are many small bridges crossing river and stream, we had the chance to visit Malay kampung adjoining the villages and it was a flat and easy ride for us.

One of the highlights of the morning was patronizing a sundry shop for its homemade ice cream. It is located at GPS : 3.522141 101.904884 and the shop is called Khow Kee at Lorong Aman 1, Kemansur Village.

Well, it is a must try ice cream which comes with several flavour such as red bean. Everyone of us simply love the ice cream, it is rare, unique and yummy.

A place worth visiting again and the location was marked for future reference. Not many will know how to get here and in deed worthy attempt to locate Khow Kee Sundry Shop for its homemade ice cream.

A salute to the shop for a good local ice cream.

There you are .... the ice cream lovers licking all the way and fulfilling its unique taste.

One of the attractively painted wooden house at the village.

I was glad that the ride was within the town and villages which was relatively flat and easy to handle for a weak heart. The peaceful villages are all connected together, clean and conveniently close to the town. We were informed that you could get food in Bentong town throughout the 24 hours so one cannot get hungry when you are in Bentong. Photo credit : Jotaro Zen.

Back to Kwong Fook Temple for the second time and this time for the benefit of those who have not visited before.

The attractive dragon ever awaiting for you at the main entrance.

The ladies at the main door befriending the door gods before leaving the sacred place for Kow Po's famous ice cream and ice kacang.

A clip of our Sunday Bentong Ride.

Our last destination in Bentong was Gibbon Retreat where we had an opportunity to be officially invited to view the the retreat and also a wonderful durian treat. Thank you David Lem, the host for entertaining us and a great introduction of Gibbon Retreat.

There are a few type of accommodations available at the retreat such platform for camping and chalets.

The biggest chalet which can accommodate 4 single beds and extendable with camping tent outside the room if there are more people.

One of the toilets in the midst of a suspended platform amongst the tropical trees.

The centre gathering space for group function or activities, facitities like BBQ pit, water electric power supply are all available.

David was busy splitting the durian for us while many waiting anxiously to taste his durian, come August as David mentioned for Musang King.

Check out the link here at Gibbon Retreat for further details or any booking you wish to made. Plan a hideaway from the city it would be interesting. Gibbon Retreat sells its own durian and no others. You can buy your durian cash-lessly. Cheers and have fun !