ACN’s JB to Kluang (11-12 November 2017), Day 2 : Musang King

Some of the team members photographed here...

Morning exercise before we start our journey

Ailang Hotel

Kluang Rail Coffee

Kluang Rail Coffee

Kluang Rail Coffee

Kluang Rail Coffee

Kluang Railway Station

Kluang Railway Station

Kluang Railway Station

Kluang Railway Station

Leaving Kluang

Turning into J262, waiting for some who overshot the junction

On Federal Road, waiting to regroup with the fast team just before our lunch stop

One for the road!

We started the day at Kluang Rail Coffee. Located right at the local railway station and only 500 m away from Ailang Hotel, the cafe still maintains its old world charms from 1938. Coffee and tea are still brewed in tall stainless steel teapots and filtered with sackcloth bags, fondly referred to as panty hose as they resembled one!

Nasi Lemak Telanjang

While the cafe's kahwin toast was good with generous amounts of kaya and butter, the nasi lemak bungkus will probably be condemned by Chef Wan as “Naked” following his Instagram post in 2014. Back then, he had complained his in-flight meal with Malaysia Airlines had felt naked without peanuts, Ikan Bilis and cucumber slices. Today, our naked version comes with no eggs, ikan bilis and cucumber slices!

Not quite satisfied with breakfast, Bernie took us on yet another food hunt. Following him, we rode along Jalan Station’s Little India....

Flower shops and newsstands were already opened for business past 8 am. Besides those, we spotted Indian Jewelers, saree traders, a clinic and the standard barber shop with their shutters still down. Jasmine incense filled the air while the smell of curries and spices wafted to the road.

Leaving Jalan Station, we joined Jalan Lambak. Here is a wide road with a good blend of old and new. While the right side of the road is decked with pre-war shophouses, the left side sees taller and newer buildings, some even occupied by government agencies.

Stopping at Kedai Makanan Leong Kee, Bernie treated us to yummy yong tau foo. Taking up the space of 2 shop lots, the place churns out a good variation of stuffed fish and pork paste. Everyone gave their thumbs up to the white tofu which comes silky soft and smooth. 

On the move once more, we headed for the roundabout just up the road. Circling it, we took the 12 o’clock exit, catching a quick glimpse of Kluang’s Coffee Factory at one corner.

Roundabouts, a popular British road system, brought in during the colonial days are fast replaced by traffic lights these days. Usually found in small towns and more so in the malay federated states, they will become symbols from the past one day!

Once out of the roundabout and onto Jalan Yap Tau Sah, we started a slow climb past homes with a 1950’s architecture. Mostly built in half brick, half wood structures these homes were part of Briggs’ Plan to curb communist insurgency back then! A nationwide attempt on resettling the country’s 500,000 populations into new villages, it successfully cuts off support to the Malayan Communist Party.

Hitting Route 91, the real climbs began. Once we rolled past Kluang’s general hospital, we were subjected to a continuous, mind numbing, monotony of sweeping palm oil estates that went on for 70 km! The term “counting sheep” takes on a new meaning here!!!

The first 20 km down the road, we managed a drink stop by a ramshackle stall, so poor, they don’t even have a fridge not to mention, canned drinks!

Another 20 km later, the sight of Ayamas chicken factory piqued our senses. Not far from there, we rolled to a stop at Bandar Tenggara’s Petronas.

Turning right onto J262 later, we crossed 3 rivers, passed a dusty section of a road which was going through some drilling, cursed the road and the weather...

After clocking 67 km and with another 5 km more to the Kulai junction, Claudine could not help but call for a stop when she spotted an estate road to her left. Joining her, everyone had a real surprise when they spotted Bernie, taking a rest there as well!!!

The group did not stop for long. Just a short water break with enough time for Billy to take a leak and the smokers to take a fag. By then, Susanna’s Crocs had bitten her so many times, both her feet were covered with bandaid!

Shortly after, we hit the road again as KC had shot ahead on his own. We found him later, up on a hill, less than a kilometer away.

Not far from the junction to Kulai town, we rolled over a set of railway tracks. Thereafter, we arrived to cheers from the rest of the team who were resting at the corner coffee shop, right across the road.

Once united, we started on Hakka Thunder Tea Rice, located not far away. A blended concoction of tea, mint and peanuts, the green soup is served with rice and generous helpings of mixed vegetables, tofu, peanuts and pickled vegetables. An acquired taste, those who finds it queer were served a backup dish of Hakka Yong Tau Foo instead.

Kulai marks the end of the journey for Bernie. Bidding him farewell, we were eternally grateful to him for playing host and leading us this far! Once on our own, the torch was passed to Claudine again.

Rolling on the Federal Road was like playing a game of Russian Roulette. The road was filled with whizzing cars while its road shoulders were narrow and filled with potholes. It was a lethal game of chance.

Approaching Kulai Centrepoint, the road shoulder disappeared completely and the battle for space began. Where the slip road joins Jalan Besar, the 2 lane traffic heading for the city squeezed to accommodate 4-5 rows of cars!!!

Taking the inner most lane with potholes as big as a car wheel, Billy’s tyre exploded. The sidewall had a cut! As most bicycle shops are closed on Sundays, he had no choice but to replace the tube with a silent prayer. 

It was also at this moment that Miki Sam spotted our group in distress. Driving past, she rolled down the windows to send her greetings!!!

Once on the move again, we travelled slowly past Saleng and Senai. Somewhere along this route a tree branch fell right in front of Claudine. She was thankful her Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres rolled over the branch without any problems!

First regrouping at Senai town

Second regrouping at Skudai Parade

Outside Skudai Parade, we made a regrouping point before leaving the crazy highway. Turning into Taman Ungku Tun Aminah, we joined Sutera Utama before taking a pit stop at Tea Garden for drinks and snacks.

Resting and enjoying each other’s company, the idea of durians began to crop up! Yesterday’s indulgence at Layang-Layang was not enough to stave everyone’s hunger. 

Besides, with an in-house durian connoisseur amongst us, Lionel's talent was to be honed and not wasted! Thus, he was put on yet another quest. At Giant’s Nusa Bestari, the musang king priced at RM60 per kilo went through careful selections and negotiations.

Finally, we paid RM400 for 4 fruits to which each person handed out RM40 for the durian buffet. Claudine can only remember eating 3 seeds but they were the best durians she had ever had... and so claimed the King of Durians himself!!!

We parted ways after the durian pig-out. The Singapore team clocked an additional 18 km to the Causeway with extra legs to reach their respective homes. As for the JB team, Zoe was first to reach home followed by VT, Susanna and Claudine.

Driving home from Horizon Hills, even the band aids had started peeling off from Susanna’s feet. Such was the ferocity of the “crocodile”! A real sufferfest for Susanna, it was amazing to see her quiet determination, ploughing her way for the last 2 days, on her first ever touring experience!


Photo Credits :
1. Lionel
2. KC
3. Philip Sim
4. Billy