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| Klang is over ..... there!!!! |
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| The team at Yi Kee Seafood Bak Kut Teh |
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| Right after the turn off from Jalan Banting-Sepang, Morib |
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| Right after the turn off from Jalan Banting-Sepang, Morib |
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| Right after the turn off from Jalan Banting-Sepang, Morib |
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| Midway through our obstacle course! |
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| Spar(e)ribs Challenge! |
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| Chain may break under extreme stress, Bukit Jugra |
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| Be respectful when you circumvent the ancestral grounds, Bukit Jugra |
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| Midway point, Bukit Jugra! |
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| Paragliding launch pad, Bukit Jugra |
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| Kedai Makanan Juan Tong, Permatang Pasir |
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| Lunch with free condiments, Permatang Pasir |
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| Escape from Permatang Pasir |
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| A shortcut that was cut short! |
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| Jalan Tengku Kelana |
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| Dinner at Restoran Boston Baru |
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| Even the legends know their eats! Mike's recommendations on Boston Baru was a real winner! |
Sitting down for a bak kut teh breakfast at Tg Sepat, Claudine couldn’t take her eyes off KC Tay’s perfectly combed hair! Side parted with a tinge of shine, even a helmet could not inflict any damage to his “James Dean” style!! Raising an eyebrow too, was his small saddle bag that catered well to his dapper looks!!!
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| Restoran Yi Kee |
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| Besides the standard bak kut teh, they serve fish slices, fish head and fishballs in kiam chye soup |
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| Prawn Bak Kut Teh!!! |
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| Delicious mua chee |
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| Makeshift stove waiting to explode??? |
Reciprocating our good intentions yesterday, he was quick to foot the breakfast bill. A rich bak kut teh breakfast of prime ribs and pig’s innards swimming in a pot of herbal soup, it was thoughtful of him to make a separate order of king prawns for the benefit of others NOT put off by the crustacean. A must have signature dish, this seafood bak kut teh can only be conceived out its close proximity to the sea!
It is easy to navigate around Tg Sepat. The food haven is centered all along Jalan Pasar. Bustling with food stalls, it was astonishing to see all sorts of roasts hung up and already commanding beelines of customers from as early as 7.30 am!
Leaving the seaside town, we rolled along Jalan Banting-Sepang. It was a dull ride by the coasts. A monotony of flats!
Occasionally, a passing group of roadies piqued our senses. When there was a lull, we began to notice the HEAT...
The blazing sun was beating DOWN on us, unbearably. The heated tarmac was releasing thermal currents UPwards . Topping it all was the combusting bak kut teh WITHIN us!
Close to a nuclear disaster, we wisely avoided the catastrophe by turning into a corner coffee shop not far from Morib’s Golf Course! Cooling down over iced milk tea in general, was not enough. Many of us had to take a second drink from the refrigerator!!!
Forcing ourselves back on the road again, we focused our interest on Prosper Resort and Impian Resort, both situated next to each other. Beyond that, the golf course lent an unobstructed view of the sea!
After the sharp right turn on Jalan Banting-Sepang, we left the main trunk road to pursue a coastal path. Riding towards the bund, we passed a car coming from our opposite direction. The driver was retracing his way as the road ahead was a dead end!
Undeterred, we continued down the path. After all, we were on bicycles and Kim Chai was all confident.
Soon, the trees gave way to an unobstructed view of the sea. With it, all thoughts of the heat dissipated!
Riding along the bund with the Straits of Malacca to our left was exciting! Far in the horizon, ships ply the busy straits.
By late morning, the tide was low, revealing massive sandbags placed out at sea. We soon realized their purpose .... OR failed purpose!!!
As we ventured further down the bund, the picturesque pathway by the waterfront soon turned into an obstacle challenge. Many sections of the bund had collapsed due to erosion! It was hard to maintain a dignified silence when blatant poor plannings and mismanagements were right before us!!!
With the bund ending at Pantai Kelanang, we joined the road that ran parallel to the canal. Along the way, we met a couple of roadies from Klang.
Taking on the challenge of Bukit Jugra, we parted ways with our new friends and started on a quiet road near to a quarry. Travelling down the beautiful route with newly paved roads, settlements were sparse. Every now and then, a durian tree was spotted; growing to its full potential with little to zero competition!
The climb started almost immediately from the foothill. Initially gradual, it became tougher and tougher as we started circumventing the Chinese cemetery.
At the first segment of the challenge, Kim Chai was leading with KC Tay following close behind. Claudine fell to fourth place when Uncle KC overtook her in glee!!!
Then...
A loud snap!!!
CS’ chain broke under extreme stress! He was rendered out of the race!!
Following behind, George stopped to help. He had a spare chain link for the job! He dropped out of the race as well!!!
Alvin, still recovering from his bad knee was going up the hill on foot when the mishap happened. He decided to lend a hand. This prompted VT to offer moral support too!
Once past the ancestral ground, Kim Chai made his first stop. This prompted everyone to follow suit, catching their breath as well.
When our dear lead rider decided to roll back down to offer his help, the baton was passed on to KC Tay. He took over the leadership in good stride! Standing up on the pedals, he turned the crank slowly but surely all the way to the peak. The rest followed the best they could, sometimes pushing, sometimes pedaling.
At the peak, we were rewarded with a breathtaking view of Hulu Langat and its majestic river. Right across the river, separated from the mainland is Carey Island.
About one fifth the size of Singapore, Carey Island was initially developed by Edward Valentine Carey as a rubber plantation. Slightly more than 100 years on, all we could see were palm oil trees!
Sitting on the grassy slope fondly used as a launchpad for paragliders, we squinted and stared but spotted no Mah Meri’s, the native folks of the island. Turning around, school children on a field trip swarmed the base of the lighthouse and radar tower!
Returning to the foothill, we found the rest of the team waiting under the shades of a run down park. Together, we rode out, stopping by a coffee shop for lunch before proceeding to the old Istana. By then, rain had caught up with us and the gates of the palace was closed for the day!!!
The rain was in a way, a real blessing! Once out of the kampung, traffic began to build up on Jalan Pusara. Heavy vehicles screamed past us on Road 5’s Jalan Banting Klang. Had it not rained, it would have been unbearably hot and dusty!
Coming into the city, traffic was crazy! There were so many traffic lights, flyovers and underpasses to navigate through.
By then, Claudine’s water bottle had jumped its cage at least 3 times! Branded Monkii Cage, its primeval nature was not surprising!
Traffic quietened down at Jalan Tepi Sungai. Stopping by the side of the road to get his bearings, Kim Chai was a bit confused. Right across the river was Dream Garden Hotel. While within sight was an old double decker bridge, we were not sure how to get to it.
Meanwhile, running parallel to the river were railway tracks. As we waited patiently for Kim Chai to get his coordinates right, a man traipsed across the tracks, sauntered over the cut fence and walked towards us. The idea of a shortcut immediately came to light!
In a flash, Alvin had nimbled his way across the tracks! VT followed suit!! Claudine was about to attempt the crossing when Kim Chai called us back!!! He had found an easier way to cross ... via Jalan Tengku Kelana!!!
As the 2 misfits found it too troublesome to cross the railway tracks again, the bigger group left it to them to find their way to the hotel. However, they were picked up, midway, at the bridge crossing!
KC Tay’s pick up was already waiting when we arrived at the hotel. The Melaka Team were homeward bound after a quick change of clothes as some of them had a wedding to attend that very same night!
After saying our goodbyes, the remaining team went for street food to tide us over till dinner. Returning to the hotel later, we took turns to shower. Some bikes were given a shower as well!!!
All spruced up, we met Mike and Jo for dinner at Restoran Boston Baru. Strategically located near our hotel, the crowd and queue were shocking! All seats in the restaurant and side walks were already taken up from as early as 6.30 pm. By then, a long queue of customers were already standing In wait for the second seating.
We finally understood the craze when the food was served. They were simply delicious and affordable!
Patrons continue to throng in, past 8 pm. By then, tables and chairs had already spread out to the carpark and curb as well.
The second LTF BKT group left Klang that night. Travelling together with VT and Claudine was Alvin who had purchased a second ticket for the south. No more Singapore bound tickets, he dropped off in JB, crossing the border via a private taxi at 4.30 am the next morning!
Berenda who went to Klang Sentral with the trio boarded alone. She was bound for Singapore’s Novena Center but her bus left her at the Island’s CIQ when she took too long to clear customs! She went to work still dressed as a cycling hobo!
The last group left Klang, the next day, after a BKT breakfast. Arriving late in JB, some of them decided to return home by private taxi. Uncle KC who never had to worry about work after retirement, took his time crossing the bridge alone. It turned out, bicycles travel faster than cars!!!
Photo Credits :
1. KC Au Yeong'
2. KC Tay
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