The Great Outdoors

Trans Titiwangsa Ride

The gang without the 2 pixmen.

I was doing a recce trip into Raub one day for a 'durian ride' and it seems the place was not suitable for riding bikes as the traffic in Raub was quite busy and not only that, the vehicles was fast too with road conditions also quite bad. On the way back, instead of returning back via Bentong, I took the scenic route back through Gap junction.

From there, the idea of the Trans Titiwangsa Ride was born. I was gamed on trying to ride across our main range. This road was actually the only way to the east during the colonial days with Gap as the pass or Genting as the locals called it.

The riders participation was quite encouraging in the beginning but on nearing the date, there was many withdrawals due to the clash of date with another ride in Melaka. It didn't bother me as this ride, I was prepared to ride with only Lilian, my wife in the beginning. I was actually anticipating that there will be no others joining but the final tally came to 11 riders.

I waited for Fenn and Susanna at the Damamsara toll station after picking up Wai Keat from his home in the wee hours of the morning. After the former arrived, we proceeded to Kuala Kubu Bahru which was choosen to be the base venue. We had breakfast there and later was joined by Irene, Jayl, KK, Betty and Sooi Ying with JK driving the support car. The support came about because suprisingly, it was newbies that was attracted to this ride and Betty was unsure whether she could make it so she persuaded Sooi Ying to ride along and do a relay between riding and driving. As JK hurt his backbone, he offered his service as the driver. So, both Sooi Ying and Betty was riding with JK behind the wheels.

We started slow, real slow!

Once we were ready, we started off at almost 8.00am. Time and time again , I reminded them  not to rush off at the beginning and to take the ride as slow and relaxing as possible. The slow and pleasant ride was not really taxing and we reach the Selangor Dam quite easily, even for the few newbies. There we had a photo session and bantering was also the program for the whole day.

Sun was up but it was not hot.

We moved on to Sungai Chilling entrance and took a few shots there too. After here, Wai Keat took the lead as I am a slow climber who does not really care for time. Lilian was not feeling well too, so I better take it slow. we broke into two groups with Wai Keat taking the lead with Fenn, Su, Jayl, Betty and Sooi Ying. Suprisingly, the three newbies were at the front pack. While at the rear, I was with KK, Irene and Lilian.

Photo session at the Sg. Chilling entrance.

KK was riding his newly acquired Surly for the first time going up hilly rides. Irene was an encouragement to new riders, although not a new rider, she was very phobic of hill rides before. After much persuasion and convincing, also with a slight technical modification on her Tyrell plus another trial session in Genting Peras beforehand, she was gamed. My objective here today was never how fast we can but more to finishing the ride, even with four new riders. We agreed to regroup at the waterfall at the 24th milestone. As I always maintained, I wanted all to regroup before riding on , no matter how fast or slow the riders are.

Crossing the iron bridge.

First and second group was not really very far apart though. Hunger seems to be a factor to keep watch on on this route. Carbo loading is a must too. After a while Irene seems to be dizzy and noodles at breakfast doesn't seem to last. So, we stopped and had some food and drinks as most stocked some food in their bags and since there was a support car, a whole cooling carton of 100 plus was also available. I had experienced this before when I first ride this route. After a while resting, we continued and slowly we trudged up and up and up. The first pack was waiting at a certain point and it was just a mere kilometer from the waterfall, probably they didn't know that the waterfall was just two bends away. After all 11 of us are regrouped, we moved on till the waterfall. As usual photo session is a must but more importantly, we were lining up to use the only toilet here. I was holding it since Sungai Chilling!

Some crazy camwhoring afterwards we rode on. There's another 8 kilometers to our lunch and rest. Irene was getting tired and ask me how far are we to Gap. I told to lookout for an Indian temple, on the right and not on the left! " When you see it, then you can shout, Hooray! " I told Irene. The weather was really kind on us today, it was cooling. Then after a turn we saw some buildings and Lilian shouted, " Yay! we are here already! " A few of the front riders was already at the hanging bridge just below the Gap Resthouse. we joined them and Wai Keat told us that the cafe was not open! There goes our lunch.

Some crazy camwhoring!

We were tired, hungry and thirsty! We had a group meeting on whether to ride up to Fraser's Hill or zoom down to Kg.Tras for lunch. We all decided to ride down and that we did! The ride down here was faster than the other side and certain part of the roads were not smooth until we cross an iron bridge. Lilian and Wai Keat was really fast going down while I tag at the rear. It actually took some time to actually finish rolling down. The fast snaking down the road was quite fun with Wai Keat and Lilian clocking over 50 km/h at certain stretch. Wai Keat and Lilian stopped at another waterfall to wait for the rest to regroup. After all are accounted for, there's still more downhill to go. we passed by a really big and well maintained durian orchard. Durian trees was abundant as far as the eyes can see.

Saw the nearest way to feed ourselves.

We then came down to more flatter road and then I saw the shop house at the junction that turns to the Bentong route. we were too hungry for photo session here and we rode past it. As we neared Kg. Tras we can see more residential houses. I then saw a narrow bridge and rode over it forgetting that the support car cannot pass it. " Never mind, JK will find a way to find us", I was thinking. We went around the village looking for restaurants and we saw one but it was not opened but the shop owner directed us to another one that was open. Wai Keat went to scout first while we rested and waited. I gave a call to the support car and check his location and then directed him to the eatery. Wai Keat has ordered for 2 tables of 6 and 5 pax. Anything is good now!

A temple along the route.

After filling in our stomach and satisfy our thirst, we headed out of the village and onto the main road to Raub. We stopped by a temple and was impressed with the 'thousand hand Kuan Yin Goddess' and took a few snaps there. After that we moved on and headed straight into another hill climb and long too. With our stomach full and ourselves on sleep mode, we had to dig deep into ourselves to reach the apex of the hill. After reaching we waited for another regrouping and headed downhill again and then after a few more 'dragonbacks' we finally reached the Raub town junction.

From here , I took over the lead as I know where our hotel is and as fast as we could, we hurried to the hotel. We were all in bad need of a bath and rest. after reaching the junction to our 'homestay', we baded goodbye to KK, Betty, Sooi Ying and JK and we decided to meet at 7.00pm for dinner.

Although not the main curry house, this branch's food also lives up to the expectation of Sempalit curry chicken.

After checking in and sat down, we were too relaxed to even take a bath but we had to. After a short nap after bath, we then rode out again into town where the others were putting up. we had a grand curry dinner (Sempalit curry chicken) at Ratha Curry House. We took a short ride after dinner to check out the town and all of us headed back to the homestay.

We opened a few bottles of wine and beers and have the famous Sempalit groundnuts. We were very loud laughing at every funny incidents that happen during the ride here. With a few glass, added with the full stomach and drain out body, we began to get too relaxed! This was when the idea of not wanting to ride back was hatched! I have actually planned the contingencies and I even have telephone numbers of 4WD vehicles to fetch us up back to Gap but KK suggested that we ride in Chamang, Bentong after some 'ice kacang'.

Curry Fish Head

So, it was decided that , tomorrow morning all the drivers will go to KKB and then drive back to Raub with the cars. Then we will all head for Bentong. We did just that and had a good Hainanese breakfast in KKB, e even had Hainanese chicken chop but the 'nasi lemak bungkus' here was fantastic! There was only 3 packets left and Irene took two. We then headed to the famous KKB cake shop and bought some cakes to take back.



We drove back to Raub in a convoy of 5 cars and after checking out, we headed to Bentong and KK took us to another spot for 'ice kacang'. Suprisingly, the 'ice kacang' here was even better than the more famous Kow Po. The sky was turning dark and strong winds blowing hard when we were having the meal and we decided to head home after this. After paying, we headed back to KL. 

Even though it was a tough route, it was relaxing as no one in the group was in a hurry. Sense of camaraderie was prevalent among us and more care was given because there was 4 new riders in the flock and this made the whole group closer. In fact all of us made it without coming down to push even on the uphill section from KKB.I wish every ride was marshall as such as I find it more less stressing and fun. I am very sure that I shall invite all the participants on this ride again for other rides. This bunch has my first priority invites for any rides!