Cycling Adventure from Kota Kinabalu to the Tip of Borneo (Part 1 of 2)

10 friends flew to Kota Kinabalu for a cycling adventure. 8 of  us on an evening flight from KLIA and upon arriving at the KK airport we unpacked our bicycles and cycled to Borneo Backpackers Hostel where two other friends were waiting for us. 

Together we rode to the market area for a dinner. Anslem & family were our local contact in KK and is the brother of Apek Biker.

We were ready to roll on the following day after a good sleep at Borneo Backpackers Hostel.

Our first breakfast in KK was at Keng Wan Hing, the big Pao was delicious and so was my black local coffee.

Try the pao here at Gaya Street, you will like it.

The bicycle lane at Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen is such a beautiful path with coconut trees along the route breezy air and a bright green lane.

A group photo at Sabah Foundation Building also known as Menara Tun Mustapha. That was our 8th kilometre of the day.

From the city we proceeded to Jalan Sulaman going through Sepangar, Salut Bay and crossing Gayang Bridge (30th km).

On the 37th Km we saw the Three Horses roundabout at Tuaran and the heat was getting hotter.

After using some smaller roads we passed through Tuaran and left the town crossing Sungai Tuaran with this bailey bridge on the 43KM.

My GPS device directed us to turn right towards Topokon, later I found out that the other 3 cyclists took the route straight on instead of making this turning. They were on a different route.

The road we took was quiet, the weather was hot and worst of all it had many climbs at this remote part of Sabah.

We stopped at our 52KM and S.O.S. for our support car as the route was getting hilly and tough, we shall remember this place called Tinambak.

We were rescued and regrouped at 78th KM which means we supported with this truck for a distance of 26km.

It was at this place in a warong (somewhere at the outskirt of Kota Belud) we regrouped and had our lunch before we continued the journey.

The heat was so hot but we kept on pedalling along Jalan Kota Belud - Kudat where most of it was generally flat and quiet sometime paddy fields can be seen.

Before arriving at this junction which was our destination of the day we have to scale a steep climb. We have successfully completed the challenge to Langkon, Kota Marudu and the total distance was 125km. 

We stayed at Northern Inn Hotel for the night and tomorrow we will make it to the tip of Borneo.

The route of the Day.

A Weekend Up North for Kate's Wedding Function

This trip has been marked in the calendar for at least 6 months ago with an objective to attend a wedding in Bukit Mertajam. Eight of us took the Friday off and left Klang Valley early in the morning. We stopped at Ipoh for a Dim Sum breakfast at Ming Court Hong Kong Dim Sum .

I called a friend in Ipoh for the direction to a cultural village somewhere in the vicinity of Sam Poh Tong Temple. Thanks to Kok Choo for the direction to this amazing place.

This place is known as Qing Xin Ling Leisure & Cultural Village
清心嶺休闲文化村 and it's GPS coordinates is 4.561987, 101.124208 . You will need to go through housing scheme before reaching the place, the housing scheme is called Taman Saikat.

There are many bicycles and cargo bikes for you to use and it's free of charge or rather it's already included in the RM4.00 entrance fee. I enjoyed this bike with my father in law beaming all the way during the ride.

It was fun hiking the trail to the top, surprisingly there are so many old exhibits along the trail, it was a pleasure taking photos of these old items. So do not forget to make yourself up there.

The word “Qin Xin Ling” (清心嶺) means “Serene Hill”. It is the latest attraction near Gunung Rapat. Go check this place out, there is also accommodation available if you do want to stay there for a night.

At last we attended Kate Chuah & Seanz' wedding dinner at St. Anne Hall, Bukit Mertajam.

We put up the night at Lai Yoong's home and in the morning we went out for a lovely ride around Kulim town.

The rain tree of more than 70 years old near the clock tower of  Kulim and it was so nice to see it is still standing majestically at the position.

We proceeded to Penang Island and crossed to the island using the conventional method and it was fun taking the ferry.

Immediately after we embarking from the ferry I took the group to 3D Trick Art Museum while I cycled to Time Square to sort out the accommodation. I was told they had a good time in the museum. 

A view from the condo we rented for the night at Time Square. The location of this place is simply ideal.

I rented a 4 wheeler that was able to take non cyclists and this was just perfect. I was really excited when I managed to get hold of this machine. The rental was RM80.00 for two hours.

After a second round of breakfast at Chew Jetty we started to roam around the heritage area of Georgetown. Everything seem to jell in nicely. I can see the satisfaction from their faces especially when they were moving on their bikes. So let's go see places.

The weather was absolutely awesome.

We need not have to walk and could see so many places, that was a great pan indeed.

The 2 hours rental time was running out fast I decided to bring them over to Beach Street for the Car Free Morning activities. The traffic was bad the 4 wheeler was having problem squeezing through but it eventually managed to get through with lots of fun.

Here we were the eight of us at Georgetown Car Free zone.

Let's have some fun and refreshment before we return the bicycles.

Lunch at Ong Cheng Huat Seafood 王清发海鲜, Bagan Lallang Butterworth before we headed back to Kuala Lumpur.

Restoran Home Cooking at Sungai Way Village

I was looking forward eating the Char Siew as I had heard so much about it but to my disappointment it was sold out by the time we reached Sungai Way Village and it has to be a next visit for this marvel.

This eating place is a corner house near an Indian temple from the outside you wouldn't think it is a restaurant it's only when you step in you will register it as a eating house but not many table in it.

A simple stir fried tapioca leaves with garlic.

Half a bird of free range chicken, tough and chewy that makes a perfect indulgence of eating a delicious kampong chicken.

A pre-cooked curry pork ribs spicy and appetising

Deep fried Threadfin fish (Ma Yau) that was perfectly fried crispy on the outside and juicy in the inside with finely shredded ginger topping and soy sauce. It's truly yummy and what a simple home cooked dish.

Take note of these slots of the week with Monday on a half day basis and Tuesday is off day.

Somewhere nearby the famous Ah Sang Bak Kut Teh is also around this corner.

Restoran Home Cooking 

鼎豐 (家鄉菜) 饭店

555, Jalan SS9A/12,

Sungai Way,

Petaling Jaya,

Selangor

Tel: 016-677 3200

GPS : 3.088247, 101.615392

Luammit Thai Food, Bagan Samak, Kedah

Take the first right turning after coming in from a main village gantry sign board there are two restaurants with "identical" names on this road (Jalan Satu). The one in the inner part is a bigger setup with more patrons, we tried the one at the outside.

Couple of years back I came to this village Bagan Samak but failed to eat the food here because it was on a Monday. Remember eatery shops are closed on Monday. In this small and secluded village there are so many restaurants, it is truly amazing, the fresh water fish is popular here. And at last I managed to savour the food.

Steamed Lala clams came first everyone was happy with it, even the gravy was tasty and it went so well with the plain rice.

This is their signature dish glass noodle with prawns (Udang Galah). There were more prawns than noodle in this dish.

Sambal fried paku veggie was extremely delicious probably it must be the small shrimps in it.

Steam patin catfish (Pak Su Kong) was fresh, succulent and delicious.

Fried prawn fritters was another interesting order it's different and yummy.

There were only a few tables occupied when we were there, it was passed lunch time, a place we could come back again and next time I want to try the Soon Hock fish.

Udang galah is popular in Bagan Samak which happened to be one of the bases where such shrimps are found and caught here. It is within the surrounding of Kerian River.

There is even a small block for air conditioned dining it's just opposite the restaurant. Our next destination was Kulim and it is about 47km away where we will be passing by Serdang.

Luammit Thai Seafood 

门楼泰式河、海鲜

Thai Restaurant and Seafood Restaurant

90, Jln Satu, Bagan Samak, 34950 Bandar Baharu, Kedah

Tel: 05-716-4015

GPS : 5.093056, 100.559553