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 !
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.
It's time to bade goodbye to these two ladies, they will be heading back to Kuala Lumpur and it's has been a good six days riding together and sharing part of the lovely experience at east coast of West Malaysia.
On the way out of Mersing town I also bade goodbye to these two different places of wokship (Fushan Hong Fu Temple and Sri Subramaniam Temple) located next to each other at Jalan Jemluang.
Passing through the gantry at the fringe of Mersing town with the weather looking good in the morning but expecting it will get hotter later in day.
I was quite reluctant to move on with the knowledge that the route ahead would be rather tough and boring. Sedili was my destination of the day and couldn't wait to complete it as soon as I could.
After 20 over kilometres of cycling with mostly quiet oil palm plantation accompanying me, I managed to reached a sleepy town called Jemaluang. I paid a visit to a sundry shop and bought myself a cold drink and a piece of creamed bun just in case I could not find any food along the way.
The heat started to sorch, the journey became monotous and there was hardly any life seen along the way. Gradually a series of notorious dragon backs began to tease me.
Suddenly I was elated upon seeing a warong, without any hestition I went in and requested for a iced lemon tea. In fact I had two glasses of it. (Located at Jalan Jemaluang - Route 3 GPS : 2.162790, 103.868282 Faizzura Cafe).
It was so good and refreshing to have this iced drink and my body was totally drenched with sweat.
After 42km on Jalan Jemaluang I turned into Jalan Tanjung Leman and at the junction there is a BH Petrol station. A check point to safe guard the property of Felda was located.
The dragon backs were countless as I pealled each and every climbs in this liveless surrounding, The heat was taking a toil on me but I had to go through it.
I finally took out the packet of electrolyte energy powder given to me by Abdul Rahim when I met up with him in Kangar. It was prefect for hydration and boosted me to continue under the hot sun.
Let's take the turning to Sedili the quietness continued with vehicles passing by me once in a while.
Many times I saw carcasses by the road side from reptiles to birds and animals. I guessed many of them were knocked down by vehicles when they were crossing the road.
The endless route of Felda plantation finally ended and stretching for an approximate distance of 25km. I was still unable to see any sight of the coast.
At the estuary of Sg. Sedili Besar as viewed from Tanjung Sedili
On the bridge crossing over Sg Sedili Besar.
Trying out the herbal tea in a bottle.
I could hear the people speaking Teochew dialect and having chur cha meal on the table and I settled for a delicious wa tan hor (Cantonese fried noodle) with 2 bottles of herbal tea.
The opposite side of the estuary is Sedili Besar.
Another sleepy town where I thought I can withdraw cash for my expenses but there isn't any ATM machines in this place. I needed the cash for the accomodation. I called up Jason Bay Beach Resort whether I could check in using my credit card and she told me card is not acceptable. She suggested to try to withdraw cash via an authorised BSN agent at Tanjung Sedili.
The agent told me that the line is off and can not do any transaction. I had to call the lady again telling my problem and I suggested to her that I can transfer the payment online later in the day and allow me to check in first. She agreed and I then cycled another 5km to Jason Bay Beach Resort.
I found the resort the place it was kind of deserted and don't seem to have anyone in it. I was told to collect the chalet key from a warong nearby.
I found the Makcik's warong with yellow plastic chairs and tables.
It looked like I will be staying alone in the resort, no activity no live and at times it was a bit scary.
Finally I managed to make the payment for the and dinner was set for a tranquil night.
On a positive note the view was spectacular and I enjoyed the breeze from the verenda.
Day 29 was a long and lonely day, the weather was hot and full with anxiety.
