Saturday 23 September 2017

Santai Recce to Kg Sg Jeram (22 September 2017)


Serendipity
At the concrete jetty, Kg Sg Jeram
Having tea and coffee while waiting out the rain
Rickety stall at Kg Sg Jeram
Sipping tea by the jetty
Wooden walkway to see the wildlife
Boats moored to the riverbanks
Peaceful
Water conservation
Watergate
Food menu and cruise fare


On the morning of Awal Muharram, while our fellow Muslim friends were busy with prayers to usher in the new Islamic year, the few of us went on a recce ride to Kg Sg Jeram. This public holiday is observed with great importance in Islam as it marks the historical journey of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medinnah. On a flip side, Philip and Wai Mun attempted a similar migration when they travelled from Singapore to Malaysia to meet us!



We started off on a beautiful morning where the sky was covered in a rich blanket of altocumulus clouds. Heading out, we took our usual route to Pekan Nanas.

Midway to Gelang Patah, Claudine was enthralled when she spotted a rainbow in the sky. Her joy soon dissipated when the sky started to leak droplets of water. Faraway, Pekan Nanas was shrouded in grey....exactly where they were headed today!

Somehow, the weather held most of the way. Other than a light mist of rain that cooled their skin and dried up fast enough, they arrived in Pekan Nanas' coffee shop more drenched from their own sweat than rain itself!

Sitting down for breakfast, Claudine had an uncomfortable time when a tiny pebble lodged itself in her right eye. It rolled around but refused to dislodge no matter how many times she blinked and tear up! Finally, the doctor had to be called in, inverting her eyelid and pouring distilled mineral water in an attempt to remove it. The treatment brought instant relieve or otherwise, she will have to sport an eye patch the rest of her life!


Breakfast at the corner coffee shop next to Public Bank was overall satisfying if one knows how to appreciate the poor man's food! The school room curry noodle is drowned in watered down coconut milk; a very light but tasty stock. The char koay tiau does not follow Penang or Ipoh's famous recipes but one which is strictly reserved to Pekan Nanas; tasty, oily and rich in carbohydrates! The nasi lemak is the bestseller as the rice does not clump together, possibly cooked through a steaming process, while the sambal blends well with the ikan bilis and egg.

After breakfast, we headed for Kg Sg Jeram. Turning into the village road, we initially passed through some light industries. As we cruised further down, we came upon a small durian plantation, a small cluster of homes and a mosque.

Arriving at a T junction, TH led us on the left turn, passing palm oil estates that was lurking with wild animals. Every now and then, we heard the faraway sound of monkeys whooping. We saw how the undergrowth rustled, followed by the squawking of a hen that had probably just laid an egg. Once, a chameleon tried crossing our path before thinking twice and turning back into the bushes. Nearing the river, the fluttering blue feathers of a kingfisher caught our eye. Approaching the swamp, magpie robbins called out to each other on our invasion.

Take the boat out to visit Tia Dalma, the soothsayer from Pirates of the Carribean!!!

Close to the river tributaries, we made a quick stop at a standalone, 4 storied bungalow house equipped with CCTV. A blue watergate at the riverside controls the amount of water drawn in from the swamp to irrigate the surrounding palm oil estates. A rickety jetty beside it becomes the entry and exit point for boatmen using the river as a passageway.


Leaving this small jetty, TH took us right back up the road before turning left, at the communication tower. As we approached the village, a row of torch ginger plants stood in ceremony by the side of the road. Just as well, when we turned the corner, we saw their pink flowers, freshly harvested and arranged on the verandah of someone's home.

At the end of the road is the concrete jetty that serves the bigger sampans. Here, the river proper of Jeram Batu eventually connects with Pulai River before dunking their gallons into the Straits of Melaka. 


As we entered the walkway, the small concrete office of the Forestry Department stood on our left. Detached from it is a wooden stall suspended on stilts. It serves hot beverage and food to the hungry few. Let's just say our four orders of tea or coffee plus a curry puff did not make us sick though the water source was a bit dubious!

The rain came, the rain went. When we could no longer wait, we rode out in light drizzle, passing the school and more village homes. Almost out of the hamlet, we had to rush past a dumpster, the only blemish to our otherwise beautiful day.

On the main road again, we hurried back, waiting to regroup at several points. At Amin's, TH decided to take it easy with a drink while we rode ahead without him. Henry turned off at Nusa Sentral while the Singaporeans left us at Horizon Hills to return home on their own.


Photo credits :
1. Philip
2. Henry
3. Desmond

Sunday 17 September 2017

Impromptu Ride to Pontian for Seafood (9 September 2017)


At Pontian's Crown Arch

At Crown Arch, Istana Bukit Serene


It was the Agong's Birthday, a national holiday as such that ACN and ATOJ embarked on a ride to Pontian. Coincidentally on the same day, half of JB's citizens were congregating downtown to give their beloved Sultan a warm sendoff on his annual Kembara Mahkota Johor expedition. A four day endeavour spanning over 800 km and 10 districts, it is an opportune time for the Sultan and His Royal Family to visit their subjects.

Somewhere on the quieter streets of Johor, VT and Claudine were circling the Southgate of Horizon hills in search for Kai. They had prearranged to ride together to Pekan Nanas where they will rendezvous with the Singapore team. Taking the cue to leave without him as he may not make the border crossing, they left after a short wait.

Rolling on the butterfly interchange, they spotted Aaron first, then Wai and 2 other friends. Since it was an auspicious public holiday, Wai was able to ride to Kukup without having to worry about the opening hours at W Cycles, his bike shop.

Wai pulled everyone along the Iskandar Coastal Highway before VT and Claudine took the left turn for Lebuh Kota Iskandar heading for Pontian while his team rode towards Mydin. Their paths were to cross again later as the duo emerged from Kg Jelutong Tengah aka the scenic kampung route, bumping first into Aaron and the rest, later.

It was right after Uncle Lim's Durian Farm and at the turning to Lebuhraya Skudai-Pontian that William finally caught up with Claudine. She was taken aback as she had meant to take her breakfast at Pekan Nanas, in wait for him and the Singapore team to show up. Looks like, they were riding really fast this morning! Even Jenny on her Lynskey titanium touring bike was keeping up a good pace behind William and gang!

Requesting time for a quick breakfast, VT and Claudine went to the corner coffee shop next to Public Bank while William led the Singapore team to Auntie's fruit shop. While downing their delicious but unappetizing looking char kueh tiau and curry noodles, the duo saw the rest of the Singapore team approaching and later Wai and his team mates who had suffered a flat near Uncle Lim!


Finally, together as a complete team, we rode to Pontian. Hoping for a Cendol stop at Pontian Kechil, our Indian stall was not opened, forcing us to proceed to an ayam golek stall further down the road for teh halia, sirap bandung and iced lemon tea. That was after a short photo call at Pontian's new recreation park by the seafront.

Taking leave, we continued on J5's Jalan Pontian, crossing the river mouth decked with fishing boats. This is the epicenter of the fishing industry in Pontian considering the bigger boats as opposed to the smaller river with smaller vessels we crossed earlier at Pontian Kechil. Along the road, men were busy at work building mats out of mengkuang aka screw pine leaves meant for drying salt fish from nearby cottage industries.

Turning into J115, we rode along Jalan Parit Sikom before stopping at Kayu Ara Pasong. Waiting by the junction for the rest to catch up, we were a great curiousity to the old folks sipping coffee at the corner coffee shop. They couldn't understand why we had rode all the way from JB and even Singapore!!!

Continuing on to J109, we crossed a few rivers before the road became a boring landscape of flat, swampy grasslands. There wasn't anything appealing except for a few scattered homes.

After toiling for almost 8-10 km, we had another short regrouping stop at an unobtrusive junction. The road we were traveling on makes a sharp right turn but small discreet roads led ahead and to the left as well. At this junction, makeshift food stalls caters to the village folks but for canned cold drinks, a modern concrete My Family Store tucked away from the junction becomes a haven to cyclists stranded for miles from civilization.

When the last rider rolled in, we pushed on again. This time the rolling hills, trailing from the mountain range of Gunung Pulai awaits us.

The challenge became more extreme when we hit the palm oil factory. While it was often seen puffing out steam from its processing plant, today's familiar stench was accompanied by strong headwinds and crosswinds.

Initially, the ladies fought on keeping up with the paceline. When the wind persisted, Jenny who was the second rider called to drop behind the line. Claudine, who could no longer keep up by then, watched as the group slowly advanced away.

As we drew closer to Pekan Nanas, the wind tapered down to soft breezes. Riding alone, Philip soon caught up with Claudine. Together, they spotted the red jersey of Jenny; turning and disappearing into corners, rising up hills and vanishing down the other side....

Just short of a kilometer more to Ngee Hoe Bike Shop, Claudine noticed Philip was no longer behind  her. Soon she caught up with Jenny who had stopped by the side of the road, unsure of the way. Together, the ladies rode the final leg to Ngee Hoe to be greeted by the awaiting team.

The timing could not have been more perfect as the rain came just as the lasts of our team members arrived. We sat down at the next door coffee shop, cradling iced filled mugs of 100 plus while watching the rain past. Together, it brought along a group of senior riders from Singapore, enroute to Kukup for an overnight stay.

On our next roll out, the streets were washed and cleaned. The journey ahead was cool but following a rider closely has its negative consequences....Claudine received sprays from Jason's rear tyres!!!


Midway, we turned into Kg Jelutong Tengah, stopped for a group photo by the river, rolled slowly past the quaint kampung houses, the school and the madrasah before attempting its steep slope challenges. As we huffed and puffed our way up, we rolled past the malay cemetery but met no spirits from the after life that could have given us a boost!

Out of the village, VT and Claudine parted ways with the seafood lovers. Together, the duo rode home bumping into Bernard Sng at SILC. He was heading for the Little Red Dot and with him was a friend. Both grinning like the Cheshire Cat, we wondered if they will still be as cheery when they head into the storm along the way.

While the Singaporeans had a sumptuous lunch, the rain clouds that have been following them all the way from Pontian finally closed in on them. Those good natured guys took everything in stride, stopping by for Chng Thng at Yong Yong's desert....no matter if they were as wet as drowned rats!!!

Thursday 14 September 2017

A Taste of Johor IX : Kampung Sungai Melayu (2 September 2017)


The team in the kampong

Sunrise at Jia Qin Restaurant, Johor meets Singapore!


At meet up place, Pan Kobo Café


Rolling on butterfly interchange

Rolling on butterfly interchange
Young riders with their mentors, Kg Sg Melayu


Team IRC


Kg Sg Melayu


Kg Sg Melayu


Kg Sg Melayu


Ladies team
Kg Sg Melayu


Kg Sg Melayu


Kg Sg Melayu
Kg Sg Melayu


As usual, ATOJ team from Singapore arrived at the nick of the hour! Their 3 minutes delay this time was due to the spicy prawn noodle from Jia Qin coffee shop. Of course, we wouldn't go into details on what happened there!




No longer strangers to Johor riders by now, everyone exchanged greetings, huddled together for a group photo before finally rolling out. Malcolm was made our designated lead rider and as usual, he went a little too fast! Fast or slow, we all got to the village in one piece, thanks to caring riders who were ready to lend a helping hand.




Safe for SK who needed a tyre change in the palm oil estate, Anna who eventually swapped bikes with Lim and Malcolm who returned home after a dizzy spell, we continued our ride to Puteri Harbour! Of course, along the way, we also picked up a group of young boys and Julie...all latecomers who did not made it to meet up point!





It was a little disappointing for the Johor riders when they realized the ride was over at Puteri Harbour. Many had wanted to ride a lot further. As Team Singapore had arranged for a short 40 km ride not wanting more as they had a long ride home, the rest of the riders soon banded together with their own arrangements. Team IRC rode to Educity before ending the day with prawn noodles, the young boys were spotted circling Iskandar Puteri, Henry rode solo, all the way home to Permas Jaya while Matt continued his birthday "santai" with buddy BG! Happy Birthday, Matt!!!





















It was a short ride for many but the newbies heaved a sigh of relief when they finally reached ground zero. As for Team Singapore, they can never return home without a standard visit to downtown's Ya Wang, an age old restaurant famous for their roast duck! You are always welcomed to join them on their food adventures!!!

Jia Qin Coffee Shop
Jia Qin Coffee Shop

Prawn Noodles

Photo credits :
1. Anna
2. Lionel
3. PS Cheong
4. Phillip
5. Kee Chai
6. William


Team Singapore after clearing Malaysian CIQ

Riding along the Lido Beach
Sunrise at Iskandar Coastal Highway