It was a cloudy Sunday morning where I decided at the last minute to join a ride organised by Andrew Lau at Lake Titiwangsa but it did not go well for me. First I discovered that my rear tyre was flat when I was about to ride on and had to change the tube.
Then came a second problem, the side wall of my front tyre was found "pregnant" this has been common for Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyre especially when it is over inflated.
Andrew treated the group with his homemade pulut Tai Tai (a Nyonya glutinous blue and white rice with kaya) before we head on for the morning ride. The destination as suggested by Anne was to visit Nasi Lemak Mek Jah at Wangsa Melawati. After a short while on the wheels the sky started to drizzle nevertheless we just went on with the ride.
The rain got heavier and we had to stop for a shelter. We were somewhere in the proximity of Setiawangsa after going through Kg Datuk Keramat. We took shelter at a food court next to AU2 Aeon Shopping Mall and ventured into a popular Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang.
Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang has been operating for a long time, me and my family has been patronising the stall since 2009. The stall is located at the corner of the food court and most of the time it's crowded with customers. We were lucky to be able to park our bicycles 3 stall away and tumpang the tables and chairs from the closed stalls (these stalls only operate in the evening). Nasi Lemak Daun Pisang Medan Selera AU2C/1 Jalan AU2C/1 Keramat Selangor GPS : 3.175998,101.750183
The sky began to clear and it was time to continue the ride and a stop at AU2 AEON Shopping Mall for a group photo for we move out from Setiawangsa.
Sometime back in August 2012, we were here at the very same spot where a similar weekend ride was carried out. And was 8 years ago, come to think about it, time really flies.
We took an underpass cutting through the underneath of MRR2 (Middle Ring Road 2) and via a Malay kampong to Taman Melawati. A section of Jalan Kolam Air has been closed for an underground service works, we braved through the closed section to maintain our original connectivity to Klang Gates.
After a short undertaking getting through the closed section we were back to normal road condition of Jalan Kolam Air. This narrow road is of my favourite roads to cycle on because of its dense greenery and wonderful tree canopy.
A small waterfall along Jalan Kolam Air which is another enhanced features to note.
"Bamboo Junction" at the 90° bend of Jalan Kolam Air also connecting to a road leading to the foot of Tabur Hill (West) is a beautified space created by a group cyclist friends from Melawati. Well done Geng Melawati! GPS location is at 3.231975, 101.748277
The group spent some fun time at the junction after we have visited the dead end at Klang Gates. Some of the friends even went down to Klang River for a quick dip.
Another group photo was taken at the Royal Selangor Pewter Center as we passed by the place.
My favourite "jalan tikus" linking Setapak Jaya to Air Panas Wet Market.
A brief stop at Muthumariaman Temple at Lorong Air Lombong, Air Panas.
Lunch at Air Panas Food Court for some delicious food such as Cantonese fried noodle with bitter gourd and others from Stall No:4, unfortunately fish head noodle has been sold at Stall No:5. Maybe the next time when we are around this area again.
Finally a bowl of delicious cold cendol to complete the lovely ride (it has been a while since I last tasted this cendol from here) and thank you Andrew Lau for lending me his Brompton to use.
The ride basically formed a two loops route, one big loop before crossing MRR2 and a smaller one in the vicinity of Taman Melawati. A total of 33km was clocked in. Till then I hope to continue to explore more of the city with my bicycles.
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.
