It was a ride organised by a group of Brompton bicycle owners to visit an island off Port Kelang with our folding bikes. This was my second time visiting Pulau Ketam. My first trip could be viewed from this link. We all gathered at Chong Kok Kopitiam near the Klang Train Station for a lovely breakfast before we start our event.
I like the atmosphere of this coffee shop, it has become a very rare scene to see all races sitting down in the a coffee shop and eat together. Fortunately we still have a few of such shops like Chong Kok Kopitiam. The local coffee is simply awesome it's concentrated "kaw-kaw" and I love it without sugar.
Our ride from Klang town to Port Kelang, it was about a 10km ride.
To the jetty at Port Kelang and here we come.
By the way the boat fare per trip is RM7.00.
Pulau Ketam if translated to English is "Crab Island" is basically a fishing community literally floating or sitting on silts. We enjoyed cycling around and observing and experience their lifestyle in the island.
We found an interesting ice floss dessert at a shop by the name of Chop Hiap Thye, the ice dessert is a finely shaved flavoured ice and topped with red bean and jelly.
Time to go home and everyone on board as the boat is about to leave.
A train ride from Port Kelang to Klang instead of cycling on a hot afternoon, we were looking forward eating the banana leaf rice in Klang.
Yap Kee is another unique shop a Chinese shop serving Indian banana leaf rice and it is always pack.
Good Morning Hotel G2 Hatyai, breakfast was included in our package but we wanted some local Hatyai food beside a simple morning coffee.
Before we could venture into the food outside the hotel we had solved a small problem with Patric's bicycle.
It was a beautiful morning in the city as we rode on the streets and found our favourite pork porridge shop.
Definitely the breakfast was better than G2.
Another puncture occurred on the way back something was wrong with the rim after a service he had done at a shop. Patric has caused some anxiety making me to run errand for a spare tube....anyway it was another small trouble with good experience.
All properly packed and we were ready for the train to Kuala Lumpur.
It's kind of mandatory to stop at this boat noodle shop even though we were still full but we just had to eat it before we leave Hatyai.
I had a small bowl 20 baht and the taste was still awesome. How nice if I can have one now.
Inside of the shop where the best taste of boat noodle is found.
Time to fold our bikes, bag it and wait for the train.
Better to be early than late we have plenty of time so we loitered at the train station we tried to utilise as much as possible of our our data plan....what's more facebook lah.
It was 3 something in the afternoon and the train is ready for boarding. That's was all I had 2 panniers and the bagged folding bicycle, it was slightly heavier with some extra items added in.
Our bagged bikes have caused a bit of hindrance at the aisle but there was no issue at all it could be done.
My upper berth for a 12 hour cradling to KL most importantly I could sleep without any problem. As mentioned earlier the fare was RM54.00 and RM6.00 more for the lower berth.
Not only for sleeping we ate on the bed too. There is actually a canteen at the last coach but we had "tapau" some Thai economical rice for dinner and it was my last Thai meal of the trip...
I woke up early it seems everyone was still sleeping and I took a walk to the cafe with Patric for coffee.
Sam & Michelle have always prefer the seat instead of the berth.
Before 6.30am I touched the ground of Kuala Lumpur old KTM Station while the rest ended the train ride at KL Sentral and I was ready to cycle back home.
I reached home at 9am after a detour to Titiwangsa for a breakfast and realised that my holiday has ended. I shall venture for more bike touring....who want to follow....hehehe. It was a great trip I want to thank Sam Cheong & Roger for their great efforts in planning this trip and also thank Michelle, Andrew & Patric for their great company. Cheers!!!
9.30am we arrived at border after a train journey of 12 hours.
After clearing the immigration departments we took a simple breakfast at the train station. The train then continued the ride at 11.00am.
My ticket for a berth KL - Hatyai.
12.20pm we reached Hatyai Junction. Patric Yee joined us from here, he made his own way to Hatyai by bus and it was faster travelling by bus than a train.
Sam Cheong immediately purchased tickets for the next train ride to Pak Khalong. 21Baht each for the fare.
A data plan 299Baht of this sort is highly recommended in a foreign land and really makes you a happy tourist when you are able to be connected with the cyber world ....hence our facebook-ing continues ... hehehe.
Basically I am a light weight traveller my stuff weighs 20kg (15kg for the bike and 5kg for the panniers).
This Officer charged us an additional 900Baht each for our bicycles more than 4 times the price of the train ticket... Interestingly this coach is partially built with timber such as the partition walls, seats and windows. And it is naturally ventilated.
Majority of the passengers were local people. I enjoyed the scenery from the window openings. There were many stopovers with enchanting characteristics of a small train station.
At last we reached Pak Khalong and that ended our long 18 hours of rock and roll in the trains. I just could not wait to pedal.
The full team at Pak Khalong train station with the Roger who came a day earlier.
Immediately we set up our bicycles & rode to Pak Khalong for a light refreshment.
Let's go and check into Talay Noi Resort which Roger has made a prior arrangement.
Individual chalet for around RM50 per night.
After a quick laundry and shower we headed to Thale Noi town, a small town but with attractive lighting decorations in conjunction with Songkran water festival and tomorrow is Songkran Day.
We visited a local food fair in the town itself.
Thailand food is very interesting and it was time for us to explore their food. In fact it was food food and food most of the time.
Hooray!!! it's dinner time.
Some of the foods we tried in this restaurant.
Tomorrow is going to be another interesting day .... Cheers!!!
