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.

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!

Sekinchan Ride.

An idyllic scenery along the way.

The idea actually started when Norman mentioned about being interested in riding in Sekinchan to Sungai Besar ( a place they called " Tua Kang " in Hokkien ). I have seen many photos of Sekinchan rides but usually within Sekinchan itself. So, when Lilian have a free day ( I was supposed to join Johnny in Fraser's Hill but couldn't make it), I decided to do a ride from Sekinchan to Sabak Bernam. Clement agreed with the idea. Zali told me about a chalet on stilts near the coastal area in Bernam and I was gamed to locate it.

So, I contacted a few riders via FB and the next morning, Steven and Lay Hoon, Earl Ku, Clement and wife, Norman and together with me and Lilian, we met up in front of the Sekinchan's fire station. The sun was up when we started the journey. Not sure of the route actually, we kept as much to the coast as possible. At one juncture, we came to a dead end with just a laterite road hugging the coast. We decided to take that road anyway, againts the objection forwarded by Norman. Hehehe!

A really 'shioking' laterite road!

Along the whole off road adventure, Clement spoke to a fisherman we met. He told us the laterite road goes as far as Pasir Panjang. We know it quite far but we are not sure where Pasir Panjang is! Norman resisted and was the last to reach a sluice gate that controls the irrigation canal. The laterite road continues but Norman again protested, so, we went back to the tarmac road.

Back to the tarmac!

My chain was giving problems again since the FRIM off road the other day. So, we cycled to a beach front area and while they were having drinks, I tried to rectify the problem. Clement helped me to cut off the problematic section of the chain. I need a new chain! After some temporary measure, we were off again continuing on the isolated coastal road which incidently is the old coastal trunk road but quite unused by traffic nowadays. We had the road all to ourselves.

We cycled at an average speed of 18 km/h and since the road is flat, it poses no problems to any of us. The sun was going higher and temperatures is also getting hotter. We made a few stops to rest, have drinks and also regrouped. Slowly, my GPS recorded 15 km, then 18 km , then 20 km and so on ..............

Road conditions were good!

Not knowing that Sungai Besar is actually just a kilometer away, we stopped in front of a big air conditioned restaurant. I was quite amazed that there is such a big restaurant in such an isolated place. Steven was more suprised and cycled into the compound to check it out. After some bantering and photos and disturbing a cow at the roadside, we moved on.

Around the corner, we saw another familiar coloured building where we started our journey. The fire station, almost as big as the one in Sekinchan looms ahead. Then we saw a mini stadium and I knew we were already in Sungai Besar. Norman caught up with me and told me to find a place for lunch. I said, " Something light, we take our seafood meal later back in Sekinchan". He replied, " Seafood here, OK ". I thought we were continuing to Sabak Bernam while he thought we were turning back from here! When he found out what the plan was, his eyes widened. Then I decide that we will have a meal here and head back for Sekinchan after that. I can explore what's ahead, sometime later in future.

The 'Bagan' entrance.

So, we went into the 'Bagan' area. Bagan is like a fishing village in Malay. Norman wants to know where to have a great meal so he stopped by a roadside drink stall and asked the 2 ladies manning the stall. I also joined in since since they were so accommodating, I ordered some drinks from them and the others joined in. At this juncture, Norman was like chatting with old friends with the ladies. We cycled into the same road but was still unsure of a good 'makan' place. Norman again asked a gas delivery man. We went back into town area as said but didn't find the place suitable! Later, we met again a man, who spoke to Norman earlier and he offered to guide us to a good place. We followed him back into the 'Bagan' following him on his motorcycle.

Two ladies manning the drinks stall. Norman's info center!

A restaurant recommended by a local.

We seated ourselves and there was curious onlookers looking at our bikes. We ordered and when the food came, we practically gulped down everything. We re-ordered again and again. Altogether we had 3 fish dishes, 2 eggs and brinjals and another greens and 2 BKTs. Multiple orders of ice buckets and 100Plus, chinese tea and also extra white rice. It all totalled up to RM165.00! We can never get food at this prices back in KL. After the meal, the shop keeper were asking about about our bikes and our PR man, Norman happily obliged!

Nice and cheap!

The pace back to Sekinchan was faster, so as to burn off the food we ate. I was full, too full infact. The ride back was quiet and faster. Earl was falling back and I slowed down to ride alongside. Lilian too slowed down. At one point, me and Lilian went ahead and after a while Earl disappeared from sight! We waited under a shade for 15 minutes but Earl was not in sight. Me and Lilian back tracked and a kilometer away, we saw Earl at the roadside taking off his rear tires. PUNCTURED! I helped him out and got it repaired. Clement called and we explained the delay. They will be waiting for us to regroup. We then cycled to where they were waiting. We let Earl rested for a moment before we carried on.

Punctured!

We cycled on till we saw another roadside selling sugar cane juice. We all stopped for drinks as the stall keeper has a nice seats and table under a shady tree by the canal. Such pleasant surrounding, we can't resist to rest for a moment. As usual Norman started bantering with the lady stall keeper and a few Malay boys. Then the whole group started chattering away with the locals. We watched a monitor lizard swam by in the canal. Imagine how relaxed we were! The it was time to carry on!

The place and drink is nice! Especially after ride.

The last stretch was a constant 18 km/h to 20 km/h and by 3.15 pm we were back to where we started. My GPS recorded 55 kilometers and average speed was 16 km/h. Although blistering hot, it was a nice ride. Quite relaxing and fun. By the time we folded and loaded the bikes onto our cars, we were just tired and wanted to go home, so there was no plans for drinks. We wished goodbye and left car by car. 

I still curious and very gamed for the next trip beyond Sungai Besar! Maybe a two day one nighter trip.