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| Warmly welcomed by the Koh Family |
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| Tee off at Pekan Nanas |
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| So happy to get on the 4WD !!! |
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| On our way to the coconut plantation ! |
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| While Mr Koh cuts down the coconuts, we helped to collect them |
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| While Mr Koh cuts down the coconuts, we helped to collect them |
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| A lot of hard work ! |
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| Thanks Frankie for the lovely ACN designed jersey |
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| One for the ladies |
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Enjoying our coconut drinks by the shed. Note the "spoon' fashioned out of coconut husk
by Mr Koh |
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| Mr Koh insisted we take some of the coconuts home with us! |
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| Always handy with a rack |
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| Coconut trouble 5 km after Benut town. They had to be given away! |
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| Taking cover from the rain a few kilometers from Pekan Nanas town |
Recently, Claudine's, co-worker resigned to help out in his family's business. Disappointingly, his last day at work was during Malaysia's Movement Control Order (March 18 to May 3) issued to curb Covid 19 pandemic. Nobody could throw him a farewell party as rightly should for all his help and contributions at work. Thus, when the country eases its restrictions to Conditional Movement Control Order (beginning May 4), allowing limited outdoor activities, Claudine decided to pay him a visit.
Consequently, the ride to Benut panned out as planned today. Meeting up at Pekan Nanas, we suffered Route 5's Jalan Pontian - Skudai for 7.5 km during which we were subjected to marginally heavy traffic with bad road conditions. Initially fighting for space on roads with no road shoulders, motor lanes appeared further down the road. This did not offer much improvements as many sections had sunk in forming long and deep grooves which were dangerous traps for cyclists!
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| 1 km gravel road |
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| 80% on kampung routes |
Once we left Route 5, we were all smiles riding through kampung roads and farms. The stretch which began at Norliza (NB Poultry Processing Industries Sdn Bhd) went on for close to 12 km during which we traversed past both Sungai Pontian Kechil and Sungai Pontian Besar. Along the way, we rolled on gravel roads, past farms and stretches of banana trees, watched a man collecting grass for animal feed and threw many greetings of "Selamat Hari Raya" to the muslim folks.
We returned to Route 5 at Sekolah Kebangsaan Api Api but this time, the road with wide road shoulders, motorcycle lanes and visibly lower traffic made riding a lot easier. As we were too early for our appointment, we decided to take a break at Ayer Baloi. Restoran Mana Lagi, from Claudine's last visit on 30 April 2016 ( Training for FSTR - Johor Bahru to Batu Pahat ) was still closed for Raya hence we stopped at the next available stall, 20 meters away.
At Sanglang, we decided to make a short detour, breaking off from Route 5, right after Sungai Sanglang and returning to the same route at Sungai Pinggan at Benut. Immediately, we have arrived in Benut town! Just ahead, slightly more than 1 km from the traffic lights and right after Sungai Benut, we finally arrived at Ho Joo Plantations Sdn Bhd.
Waiting for us, right in front of the gate was Chi Shyang. His white Lacoste shoes which he often wore to work was slightly grey, possibly from his constant walks around the factory. We were warmly welcomed by him and then by his mother, who arrived minutes later and there began our tour.
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| Drive through scale |
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| Palm oil kernels |
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| Fork lift at work |
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| Drying coconut kernels to be turned into oil later |
Ho Joo factory is fronted by an office and a drive through scale. At the time we were there, a fork lift equipped with a front loader was loading palm oil seeds into a waiting truck at the open compound. Under the covered roof, deeper inside is where the actual coconut processing is done.
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| Machine removing husks |
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| Mrs Koh determined to get us to try the "tombong" |
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| "Tombong" or the embryo bud of a coconut tree is sweet and crisp |
After a walk through the factory, we were whisked away to the coconut plantation a few kilometers away. We followed Mr Koh around the plantation, collecting the nuts as he cuts them down; carefully selecting the bigger fruits with more water and younger flesh. As we drank and ate, he explained the plantation requires minimal care. Only the occasional weeding and fertilizing, while the trees will faithfully bear fruit 3 years on and continue to do so for at least 20 years!
Making our way back, those seated on the open truck bed were again slapped by the coconut fronds. This reminded Claudine of the traditional "penyapu lidi" or broom sticks; made out of coconut stalks. Naughty children were often whipped by these sticks!
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| Lovely lunch treat by Mrs Koh |
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| Lovely lunch treat by Mrs Koh |
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| Lovely lunch treat by Mrs Koh |
Returning to the factory the same way we had arrived, Zoe was lucky her cap which had flown off while she tried to stand up in the truck was still lying in wait near the cow. Picking it up, we returned to the factory for our bikes before proceeding for lunch at Benut town.
The warm hospitality extended to us by the Koh family left us feeling humbled and grateful. Even the rain at Pekan Nanas could not dampen our spirits, warmed up by a family that was all welcoming and giving! How does one repay such kindness?
Click on the link for videos to watch :
Removing the coconut husks :
https://youtu.be/mz1lMT0eITA
Opening the hard shell :
One of its kind, machine designed and invented by Mr Koh Senior and custom built in Kulai. The spinning saw removes the husks and hard shell. The 4 cup holders are meant to hold the coconut water which will be sent for bottling and export to USA. Due to MCO, this process is stopped as exports are frozen
https://youtu.be/HkPbv3x0rAQ
Washing the kernels :
https://youtu.be/bwwOOH6nPv0
