Pantai Remis Fun Ride

    Video of Ride

     Map of Ride

Time to time again, we hear about Pantai Remis, most notably the seafood is good here. Even Ipoh folks have choose to come here instead of of Kg. Cina in Sitiawan. I did a recce ride here a few months ago, the course is quite straight forward. When a few riders was suggesting new courses to ride, Pantai Remis popped up. As I have already recce-ed the place, I was delegated the task to lead. To be honest, I rather follow as I am a slow rider, hardly a candidate to lead, especially for fast riders.

The scheduled morning came and I was already in town at 6.30am, travelling from Taiping is actually quite near and near traffic free in the early hours. Hunting for a breakfast place, the rest messaged me and before I can actually suggest anything, they were already seated in a 'coffee shop' having their breakfast.

I rode past and saw their transport and I too stopped there to join them

After breakfast, we all assembled at an empty space near the wet market. The place was big enough to park a hundred cars and also it is just a walk away from our intended lunch venue later after the ride. One rider was late and Fookson requested us to wait. When everyone is accounted for, all 28 of us is ready, we started off. I actually did not anticipate a big group.

I leaded them to the fishing jetties first and we soon came to the edge of town where a new temple was built. Most fishing communities offer their prayers to the 'Mazu' godess. From Kuala Selangor to the north till Tg. Dawai, there must be a temple dedicated to 'Mazu' in every 'Bagans' or chinese fishing villages.

After a photo session, we set off again. We will be going on the main trunk road for a kilometer before we hit the gravel trail to the the lakes and sea shore. The lakes were created when tin mining was also a major activity here. 

For those who don't know about the mining landslide in Dec 11, 1993 can click here , https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XupgwBIBCw This was how one of the bay was created! 

They mining activity, as in other places has ceased now and we can see duck rearing activity starting to go in a big way here. Most don't know that exporting duck is a major earner now for Malaysia. But because we locally don't actually consume that much, it is a hidden industry, quite unknown.

The ride is relatively easy but because the weather was quite dry although it was shady today, anglers in their cars were zooming past  us, peppering us with the dust. Reaching a small path, I guided them to one of the lake shores. Though not scenic, it was a calming sensation just to be around there. Watching the wind blowing the grass and the silence around, well, maybe except for the boisterous bantering of the riders.

Spent quite some time at this lakeside as many were trying to get the best scenic shots as possible. Parading and posturing with their close friends, selfies, we-fies etc. Now to continue to the seashore. The course although easy, there are one or two high slopes and even after comforting the new riders to go slow, they were too eager to catch up with the others.

We reached the shore in just a few strokes and as usual, being a scenic location, lots and lots of photo sessions here. we were actually near the wharf where LaFarge loads their cement raw materials onto barges here. Although gated , many anglers are seen doing fishing here for groupers and catfish.

See the picture above, that's the cape where we will be going after here. A little real mountain biking needs to be done here.

That we did and actually , this part was more fun as there's real foliage and real trails. There was a trail branching out to the left but that's not for today. As usual, the group was bantering and laughing while the cooler ones just sat by the rocks enjoying the breeze.

We moved back out using the same trail for a while and turn right just before the lake. This trail will leads us straight to the power station in Segari. We reached a junction where the remaining course will be on tarmac now. In Segari, there's also a turtle hatchery center operated by our Fisheries Department. This is our next destination. Also beside the center, there's also one of the spots where moon sightings are taken, usually to pinpoint the date of the Muslim calendar. More like an astronomical center which are scattered over many strategic locations around the peninsular.

I was surprised at the number of visitors here as the last few times I was here, there was hardly 4 cars, even on a Sunday! I didn't go in as I have been there quite a number of times. So, I just waited outside, buying a can of cold ice lemon tea and enjoying it.

I noticed one of the new rider, first time going off-road, has 'butt pains' and this is not good for cyclist. This means if you don't really rest them, you will have to ride in pain. I consulted his husband and told him to lead others from here on wards back to our cars. He will lead the fast riders as fast as he possible could and then drive his pickup to fetch his wife. I will sweep behind her and we will ride back easy!

So, the rest all zoomed off and the distance remaining is 6.3 km to the main trunk road and another 9.3 km to Pantai Remis, totalling another 15.6 km but this will all be tarmac.

Another patient and considerate rider who decided to ride with me and wife, who were sweeping the troubled rider. All four of us were taking it slow to make the ride back as easy as possible for her. When we reached the main road junction, it was only less than half an hour and the pickup truck was still not here. I suggested we wait at the junction but she said she can still ride so we carried on. This was on the main trunk road now and cars and lorries were fast here. It's still another 9.3 km to go.

With another 5 kilometers to go, we saw her husband on the opposite and we stopped for him to do a U-turn. I must commend her on her first offroad. She did about 34 kilometers today! All of us hopped onto the pickup as we don't want to slow down lunch time as it was already noon.

All 4 bikes were loaded on the pickup and we reached Pantai Remis in just 10 minutes. Then to lunch. We were separated into 3 tables and each ordered their own dishes. We choose Ling Song Kee Seafood Restaurant today as it was near our car park. I ordered 5  and when we were almost finished , the next table said the squid was NOT TO BE MISSED ! So, we ordered the squid as well. We did not regret, the squid was really nice ! And so was the other dishes.

There is a special dish here where yam paste is inserted into a pumpkin and steamed for a few hours. I tried reserving the dish the day before but it was not available as the operator said they can't find suitable sized pumpkin.

Food                 -  Good ****

Damage            -  RM271.00  for 10 person. ****

Place                -   Ling Song Kee Seafood Restaurant

Address               -    No. 17, Lorong 1, Taman Pantai Indah, 34900 Pantai

                            Remis, Perak 

GPS                  -   4.446419, 100.626198

Opening hours   -   12.00noon till 3.00pm  , 6.00pm till 11.00pm

Phone               -   05-6772803

Lion Hill of Sungai Siput

I received a Whatsapp message asking me if I am interested in riding up Lion Hill in Sungai Siput. Shaped like a lion comprising of two hills, one being the head with two ears and the rear as another hill. At that instant , it was a " YES !" Many a times, even more so when I was a child, I passed by Sungai Siput while on the way to Penang, I saw this hill and my parents describing it as Lion Hill, making it sounds so mystical.

Almost near the top

At the day of the ride, I woke up at 5.30am , drove to Sungai Siput via the old trunk road which requires you to drive straight into Kuala Kangsar town before heading out towards Sungai Siput. It was only a 40 minutes drive. Once there, I see many vehicles with mountain bikes strapped on their car roofs and I instinctly went into the lane where most riders are having their breakfast.

This was the coffee stall recommended by Fookson, a local rider based in Ipoh and Sungai Siput as well. I sat at one of the tables and immediately joined by Fookson himself. He ordered the toast and 'kaya with butter' together with a cup of milked tea. I must say, the 'kaya' was really good. Seriously 'good!' Never tasted this old kind of 'kaya' anymore, anywhere else. I found one GOOD 'kaya' not listed on Google. Stall location is GPS 4.820381, 101.070292

After breakfast, all riders assembled near the local church and not long after that all 80 or so mtb riders starts off. We rode on some main tarmac towards Sungai Nyamuk and not long after that into oil palm plantation. The climb was almost instant!  After much 'huff and puff' , we were the last two riders .......... hihihi,  and need to be swept by others. Later after this offroading session, we came to a village called Temin. All were regrouping here. Finally came the last two riders, yours faithfully and wife.

I also found out that the last session was a warm up and we have not even at the foothills of Lion Hill yet! When we all moved out , then into another plantation, this time we have to carry our bikes over a barrier. Usually plantation owners don't really mind cyclist trespassing into the plantation. Not that we can carry bunches of palm kernels anyway, right?

The terrain went steeper and steeper and the gap between me and wife were

getting really far. It was never a flat or level part until 40 minutes later. Only then some respite but we still need to carry on riding. After some tough ride, we came to a lone 'quinine' tree, a kind of mango species, on top of the hill. Then I found out this is the rear of the 'Lion' Sigh................still some climbs to ride! Regrouped here again and I am thankful, although it is a big group, they insists on full regroup!

I was suprised with the condition of the trails here. They were well maintained and they even have road signs. I guess there are vehicles coming up here to enjoy the peak. As we trundled on, gasping for air like a gold fish, the sun is rising and burning our backs. The neck is on fire! We crossed onto another hill, the head as they called it, where the two ears are! Still more climbs...........more climbs...........and more climbs. Then we reach a small hut just before the last section.

Scenic peak with 'quinine' tree.

I rested here and was watching the rest climbing the last section and it was like 45 degrees slope. Then I see the strong riders start to push their bikes too. I decided to stop here, after all, they will be coming down this way to get down. The last part was actually a telecommunication tower and the actual ears of the 'Lion' are limestone formations and you need to abseil to reach the peak.

The downhill section took me and Lilian just 10 minutes and at a glimpse of an eye , we were already on the main road. We need to regroup here as well as some are good at going downhills and some are good at going uphills. Off course there are some that are good at both. But we were waiting the those bad at downhill......hahahaa.

Off to finish the last section!

We were supposed to get onto another offroad section , they called "Black Hill" but I saw Fookson going tarmac. So, after some discussion, half the pack wants to take the easy ride on tarmac back to town. After the 'hardcorers' went off, we stroll slowly back into town stopping by to buy some 'Shat Keh Ma', a local specialty. Just beside the Petron Station on the main road.

After a 'teh peng' breakkie, I decided not to join their lunch session at the other end of town. I said my 'thank you' and 'good byes' to the rest and headed back to the car, pack up and drove the other way back to Taiping.

'da man' Fookson in green floral jersey and Steven GT taking the selfie.

I like to thank 'da man' Fookson Liew for including me on this fun ride.

Taman Negara V2

Road Gets Easier The Second Time !

It's been ages since I last blogged but since I have all the time in the world, I just felt like doing it again. 

I have since gave up folding bikes but I still have another one, all fully modded to 2 x 10 speed, not the best groupset but just a mid level one. After 2 years of riding a mountain bike (I have actually started with a mountain bike during the late 90s), seems riding the mountain bike seems much easier, even with the large 2.1 tires shodded on mine.

I haven't changed my concept of riding though, still the easy going, sight seeing and good food hunting kind of ride. Except now, with a mountain bike, I gained more access to places where folding bikes can't explore. Many equate mountain bike to extreme games but there's actually 3 kinds of mountain biking, cross country (and I am currently riding an XC bike), all mountain or enduro and finally the downhill.

Back to the subject, there were many request for this ride again since the last one we did three years ago. I don't know why I re-do it again, moreover I have to actually drive 6 hours to reach the starting point not to mention sending my pets for boarding. Maybe I too, have this inner desire to ride there again.

I have initially stuck to the old plans where we will stay a night in Jerantut , even the hotel was booked. As the date approaches, I usually go over and over the plans again in my mind, I realized that Kuala Tahan can be a boring place at night. Beers and stouts are also scarce and expensive too. So, I decided to check in a day earlier and bring in a few crates of beers and also some food for our night activities.

I was insomniac the night before the ride and was already driving out back to Jerantut to meet the other riders at 4.30am. I reached Piccadilly (breakfast place) at 5.30am and the shop keeper was just laying out the tables and chairs. Looking alarmed, I just told him to take his time.

Breakfast in Jerantut

Later, punctually as planned, the others arrived one by one. After greetings and hugs we had breakfast before taking a drive to Kuala Tembeling where the boatman was waiting for us.

We assembled our bikes, collected all dues to pay the boatman and then carried our bikes down to the riverside. As usual, excited faces can be seen when the boat was trudging across the river. The major flood 3 years ago has changed the whole landscape of the riverside and it was muddy now. We unloaded and pushed our bikes to the start of the tarmac road and after a group picture, we started off.

In high spirit !

It was a misty morning, so misty, droplets of water was blurring my glasses. But it was great, cooling and the whole group just loved it. We were riding and chatting at the same time, bantering, joking all the time. Maybe the happiness made us not noticing that we have already reached the small sundry shop where we re-stocked our water and 100 plus the last time. Only this time nobody did so.

             


 

We came to a section where during the last ride, a rider fell off her bike and was hospitalized. The sand patch was still there and being extra cautious, I stopped and warned every rider to be extra cautious of the sand patch. Only after the last rider has passed safely, I continued on. There is a planned left turn here to go to the next village called Merting. But during the last trip, a few fast riders overshot but I did not asked them to turn back as the road they were heading to also leads to Kuala Tahan. In fact going straight just leads you to the main trunk road faster. Little did I realized, the left turn to Merting actually avoided a lot of high slopes and also cutting short 7 kilometers off the route. This time we managed to choose the right route! I also noticed that although it is the durian season, I only saw one tree with fruits! This year's harvest is really bad!

After the village, a right turn leads us to the main trunk road (this is the end of kampong roads) but it comes out to where we had lunch the last time. A row of three shops, two eateries and a general store. It was only 11.00am and as I recalled, the last time we reached here , it was well over noon. As this is the last eatery until the junction near Kuala Tahan, we decided to have an early lunch. The stall owner over charged us big time because we were not local and also because the next shop was not opened.

After lunch, we carried on and it was getting hot now. The highest section of the whole route is beyond here. A few high and long slopes and also crossing the Pahang river. Somehow or rather, it seems easier for everyone and after a short ride we were already crossing the Pahang River bridge. Stopped for a few shots here. We passed the jungle section and now reached the plantation section. The old oil palm trees were cleared and new saplings were planted here onwards. The palm oil kernel loaders were rusty now and I remembered very well  as I seen riders taking refuge from the hot sun under it the last time.

As the last group was riding, we saw Kimmie standing on the roadside. She told us Jui Lee was taking a 'poo poo' and it was just lucky for her to find a place to do that , right in the middle of a plantation! We stopped too and after regrouping we carried on.

Slightly past 1.00pm, we reached 'Kenny's Place'. Called so because the last ride, we were all waiting for him here. We regrouped only after two and halfs hours here when John Kang borrowed a motorcycle to look for him and brought him back. We are now calling this place 'Donald's Place' because right after he reached here, he got cramped! He went lying on the ground for a good 15 minutes.

After a good laugh and drinks, we headed for the last three dragonbacks. It's now easy to tackle the dragon backs. As long as you don't brake on the downhill section the momentum will drive you to the mid uphill section of the next climb and at times all the way to the apex of the slope. But the last one was different. After the downhill, the road levels off for a while before the big climb and we have to start pedalling from the bottom. To compound this is the heat and the tiredness.

Still we need to finish it. At exactly 1.48pm, I reached the apex of the last slope and a few was in front of me. I stopped here and waited till the last rider passed me before I zoomed down to Kuala Tahan. Upon reaching and checking in to Han Rainforest Resort, we were at the front terrace , lazing and chatting away, joined in by the recreational officer there. It was then 8 of us decided to do the rapids boating and 'Orang Asli' village visit. The other four just wanted to take a shower and rest.

Small party.

We had dinner and then look for a place to have a mini party with beers and tidbits brought in last night. We chatted till late night and went to sleep. We regrouped again at breakfast the next morning and then packed up and headed for the jetty for our boat ride back to Kuala 

Tembeling. Some rode there and some took the hotel's shuttle service.

Like before, some of us took a nap on this long journey back and as the river was swelling, the current faster, the boat ride was also faster as we were heading downstream. Reaching Kuala Tembeling , me and Donald have to say our goodbyes and missing the lunch as we were heading to the opposite direction. We were taking the Cameron Highlands route back to the north.