First Interstate Travel Since Covid-19 Movement Control Order - Bentong Pahang

Ever since the lifting of the MCO (Movement Control Order) we were allowed to travel interstate but within the country, going oversea for a travel is still a big no no for Malaysian. Jason has organised a trip to Bentong, Pahang for a weekend and I decided to join them at the last moment. Let's cuti-cuti Malaysia !

Jason and Kenny met me at Setiawangsa LRT Station where we started our drive to Bentong from there. Our first stop was at Kg. Bukit Tinggi and the car was parked at the commercial area at Kampong Bukit Tinggi. Unfolded our Brompton bikes and took a loop into the village to visit this river called Sg. Tanglir

A Chinese primary school in the village where the majority people living here are of the Kwong Sai dialect and Bentong ginger is widely planted in this area.

Thanks to the developer who took the extra effort to beautify and maintain the river. A spot not many many people is aware of it.

The weather was cooling probably in the region of 25°C and enjoying the fresh air and lovely countryside of the village. After completing the loop we settled down at a kopitiam for a bowl of wan tan noodle before proceeding to Bentong town.

A clip of the loop we did within the village of Bukit Tinggi.

The traffic into Bentong Town on a Saturday morning was rather heavy, it seems that every weekend one can expect such traffic jam into the town.

Kwong Fook Temple sited along the main road Jalan Loke Yew with a GPS : 3.522843, 101.909695 with a bold red paint on the building that one could miss the sight of this temple.

There are many documents on the wall like pictures of the early leaders and strong linkage with Sin Sze Si Ya Temple from Kuala Lumpur. Loke Yew was the one responsible in the making of Bentong with the tin mining industry and also rubber plantation.

Guess these are the Menshen or threshold guardian - divine guardians of doors and gates in Chinese folk ... 尉迟恭

As we were very close to Cafe Kow Po, the famous ice cream or ice kacang shop we just could not say no to its ABC. Ais Batu Kacang was good and situated at GPS : 3.522296, 101.910817, don't miss it whenever you are in Bentong.

Glad to have a local Brommie accompanying us and it was indeed an excellent way to know Bentong better.

We were able to "kidnapped" Kokhway to show us around linking the routes from one Chinese Village to another, it was really a big Chinese village community which were built during the time of Malayan Emergency under the Briggs Plan to cut off communication from the Chinese people and the communist guerrillas.

Lemang To'Ki Bentong is an extra ordinary place, never in my life I have never seen a lemang seller so popular. Thanks to Kokhway for leading us to the place, it's located at the junction between the main road Jalan Tras heading to Raub and a kampong road called Jalan Permai with a GSP ref: 3.545283, 101.899523

The crowd was overwhelming and we did not bother to eat but just to see the amazing eatery.

The last stop was a hidden shed and apparently the favourite place of our Bentong buddies.

"Anchor" is popular in Bentong and cheers to our cold beer before we check into our homestay in Bentong. Photo credit : Jason Leong.

As recommended by Jason a tilapia fish done in two ways steamed on one side and the other was deep fried. Unique and tasty.

Sinful soy sauce pork belly cut in a sinful size just nice to be mouthed.

A delicious dish of tofu with nice fried eggs, it looks simple but the taste was awesome. Besides these dishes we had giant kangkung merely stir fried but another great dish.

Nothing like a simple and delicious dinner with the company of wonderful friends. 

Place of dinner was at GPS :  3.522071, 101.906724 among a cluster of food stalls next to a covered basketball court and a stream behind the stalls.