Ipoh Senang Senang Ride
The trip was planned last month and as soon as Johnny informed me about the trip I agreed on the spot. I have a choice of going there by train but parking around Sentral KL and also the schedule at home made going by ETS a bit of hassle for me so I decided to drive to Ipoh on that very morning. Helen together with Vincent and James were already in Ipoh the night before as I requested them to be on time. Clement and Penny was already in Teluk Intan for a wedding dinner so they drove to Ipoh the same morning as well.
I reached Ipoh a bit early as there was no traffic on PLUS. It took me only 1 hour and 50 minutes to reach Ipoh's toll plaza and since the exit was near Kg. Simee, I drove to the wet market there for the 'egg tarts'. I bought a few and had it together with a bowl of 'Kai See Hor Fun'. It cost only RM2.80 per bowl! I slushed it down with a glass or warm soya bean milk. I drove slowly to the Railway Station and checked with Clement on his whereabouts. It seems that he's arrived too.
The eatery at Kg.Simee, nice egg tarts there.
As I drove into the Railway Station I saw Clement assembling his bike with Penny. I parked beside him and also did the same. Helen, James and Vincent came along later and so did 'Ah Fatt'. As we were loitering about the railway station, we saw the big group (from the Ipoh Fun Ride) numbering almost two thousand rode past with all the fanfare. Patrol cars' siren wailing, men shouting and SBs' trail bikes roaring past herding the riders. It took some time for all those riders to ride past.
Uncle John's gang was already at the railway station quite early and Uncle John himself came over and introduced himself. We chatted a while and later the train from KL arrived. Then Sam Cheong, Johnny, Patrick, Roger, Radzi, William and Eric emerged from the station gates and started to unfold their bikes. Altogether we have 22 riders.
Bikes all ready to go!
A short briefing and group photo in front of the railway station and off we went. I actually was familiar with Ipoh as I have stayed in Taman Cempaka for 3 years in the 90s. The city hardly changed, the pace or the city itself. We convoyed down to the riverbank and then rode into Taman Dr Seenivasagam. This is still the oldest park here and the air was nice here with a lake at the center. KL could learn from this preservation!
Taman Dr Seenivasagam
After circling the park we headed onto the main roads and headed for the old town. That's where the 'old food' is also available. Good 'old food'! Most of the food in KL have already been through an evolution but not that many in KL knows. Only those who have been through the days of cassette players, Betamax or VHS players will know. It's still prepared the same way here. I can't say I am an expert but being a former cook and also been eating around Malaysia, I can attest to that.
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The old eateries of old town. At the other far end,
Nam Heong (where Old Town coffee started) and Sun Yuan Loong.
There were many 'coffee shops' here, more than 10 actually. All old style! The group splintered into many small groups. Some went for this and some went for that! I and Lilian, seeing the crowd (and we have eaten anyway), stayed back with Uncle Pah and watch over the bikes. 20 minutes later, we all regrouped and Uncle Pah leaded us to Sultan Abdul Aziz recreation Park. We rode through many of the main Ipoh city roads passing through the chaotic 'Dim Sum Alley'. Somehow or rather, the famous 'dim sum' eateries all converged into this lane. This makes the traffic chaotic on a Sunday morning! After a brief stop at the Park and a 'pow wow'! by the elderly, it was decided that we ride to The Perak Cave Temple.
"Sudah sampai" Perak Tong
From the streets of Ipoh, we headed to more quiet lanes of housing estates and then more secluded lanes and headed for the temple. The ride was relaxing as the sky was kind to us. In the morning, I was expecting a wet ride but it turned out a perfect cloudy day. The temple was peaceful until a group of riders rode in and park the bikes in a row for group photo. After the session, we parked our bikes under a tree and as usual Uncle John stayed back to look after the bikes while we explored the cave. The cave was like a tunnel with the temple inside and on the other side of the mountain, there was a garden with a lily pond. Really nice, except for the marble plant on the other end which somehow mars the scenery!
At the other end of the tunnel!
After everyone was satisfied and regrouped, there was another 'pow wow' between the elders and they decided to ride to Ulu Kinta. This is where the trail head for Gunong Korbu is! That is far! We didn't objected anyway and we just followed. Along the ride, a few pit stop was made for the slow riders to regrouped. This kind of ride, I liked! Another like was, there were local sweepers, so I don't have to sweep today and I can ride alongside Lilian. Hehehe! After reaching the Tg. Rambutan junction, we stopped at a petrol station, we made a pit stop at a petrol station. The way I see it, it was more of a 'Piss Stop', especially for the ladies. We refilled our water bottles here and I gulped down a can of 100Plus.
"PISS STOP"
As we rode on, we passed by Sunway's, "The Lost World" and also Banjaran Hot Spring. We did not stop as we were heading further into the dam area. Just about 5 kilometers from the dam, we were cautioned about the climb there. I was expecting Genting Peras like climb but actually it's milder and we did it without any difficulty. We ventured into the riverside and Uncle John said this was a favorite trail for mountain bikers. The off road trail here can go up to Chemor! Maybe one day we do that, possibly on a folding bike, off course!
We were really getting hungry now and the GPS recorded 42 kilometers already. Uncle John suggested we have 'nasi Kandar' and I don't think anyone will reject anyway. Too hungry already. We stopped at an eatery in Tambun just after Banjaran Hot Springs. Before that, we stopped at a roadside stall for coconut juice. After a hefty lunch, I though I could not cycle anymore. I think everyone is having the same feeling as after lunch, everybody seems to ride slow! Hahaha!
Hungry Pack!
After a few kilometers, we all warmed up again and the tummy eased up, we were riding fast again. So fast that, Uncle John went zooming past us to get to the front riders to request them to slow down as the rear markers can't catch up. We were actually now heading for Funny Mountain soya bean shop. After reaching there, I wasn't interested anymore. The line was sooo........long! Then Penny and Helen volunteered to line up. So, we waited and Sam Cheong and many others were more interested in the 'Ice Cream Soda' float at the other end. Also the 'Rojak' there.
Johnny with an octogenarian who is STILL riding!
After quenching our desire for soya bean milk, there only time left to head back to the railway station. It was already 3.30pm now. The train back is scheduled for 5.05pm. We then headed back to the railway station and after goodbyes to Sam, Johnny and also Uncle John, we went to our cars and folded our bikes and headed home. My! was I sleepy on the drive back. I wish I was with them on the air conditioned train ride. I think they slept too!
