Simpang Renggam Ride for Durians (18 June 2023)

Peninsula Pineapple Plantation

After a quick breakfast at Restoran Jumaat we rode parallel to North South Highway enroute for Rattan Factory @ https://goo.gl/maps/CLtkfytYhHkjnTtR9

Crossing Sungai Benut with dark clouds looming in the sky @ https://goo.gl/maps/mPAjPKDBFdDCy7ss7

Taking cover from the rain in an abandoned government building. The Simpang Renggam's water treatment plant is diagonally opposite this building. Meanwhile, our quest to visit the rattan factory is hampered by the rain and overgrown vegetation and had to be abandoned

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Riding above the North South Highway @ https://goo.gl/maps/sEfXzZvdG1bSWTBm9

Watching the cars speed by from above

Jalan Mangga, near Parit Jepun after our second cover from the rain @ https://goo.gl/maps/YPMeRCMELbtrWc1HA. We had earlier stopped by a gerai in a rubber estate

Note the arm and pulley by the riverbank, possibly to pull in the boats. There's a heavily fenced up station with a CCTV as well. 

 A stone's throw away from Jeram Viral Simpang Renggam is Montamah Paiman Homestay

The gang at the suspension bridge. Note some of us are holding on to the railings in case the bridge cannot take our weights

The entrance to the bridge makes a good photo frame

Taking cover from the intermittent rain @ Warung Di Pinggiran Sungai. This food stall is opened by the community's co-op of Kampung Ulu Benut

Gorgeous bicycle/walking path to Jeram Viral

The path winds around a palm oil estate

It takes a good photographer to turn a plain narrow stream into Niagara Falls!!!

Strangely, this stream comes with a hard rocky bed which looks similar to volcanic rocks  

This stream flows into Sungai Benut. Seen here is soil management to change the flow of the stream, allowing a bigger pool for waterplay.

Cars can reach the stream via this single lane tarmac

Toilets available

On our way out, crossing the stream near Montamah Paiman Homestay

Back on Jalan Mangga @ https://goo.gl/maps/QTJGu4T9orsp5y7C7

 Jalan Parit Satu, riding below the North South Highway@ https://goo.gl/maps/CyM7zkax2zJ3od427

Rain trees at Peninsula Pineapple Plantation

The short row of shops inside the plantation

Pineapples sold at the next door coffee shop, Keng Sian which also commands a good flow of customers

Strangely, note the small watermelons sold at Fang Hui. They are grown indoors and cost RM29 per kilo!!!!!!!

Even the lorry looks old

Workers quarters behind the shops

Happiness is when we were allowed entry into the plantation

We first ride past palm oil plantation before arriving at the pineapple plantation. Here is the first junction to the pineapple farm

First sight of pineapples

Note one side is palm oil while the other side is harvested pineapples

 

Happiness is when we saw lots of pineapples

Hunting and photography

Riding out with the pineapple plantation behind us

Palm oil plantation ahead

Jalan Sekolah leads to SK Sungai Linau @ https://goo.gl/maps/hyVcSJiMadpDCUHc7. There's also unmanned side roads which leads to Peninsula Plantation

Stopping by a tapioca wholesaler. Sungai Linau is famous for their tapioca and this was once featured by TV3

Lots of small dragon backs along Jalan Kampung Haji Salam @ https://goo.gl/maps/ZdGE1YFzXu2UThhu6

Jalan Felcra @ https://goo.gl/maps/aej5n6FNbS5K92xt5

Another view from Jalan Felcra

Midway Jalan Felcra's tarmac ends and continued with dirt tracks

Farmland. On our return journey, a wild boar crossed our path!

Jalan Durian was a beautifully paved road which threw us off our tracks. It is not becoming of a traditional durian farm. We decided to use this narrow lane to get to the durian farm only to be told to follow the proper road

Back on Jalan Durian, the proper road to Benut Durian

Outside the gate. We had to call them to let us in

The farm

It's actually a farm cum resort!

Keldai Betina by the durian tree

Such low trees and already fruiting

Enjoying the thorny fruit

Competitive pricing but the durians here are fresh 

Old durian trees

Resort stay

Riding amongst the durian trees can be dangerous especially without a helmet

More durians on low branches

Dragon fruit

Oranges

Archway made out of passion fruit vines

With Ah Siang, one of the shareholders of Benut Durian. He is also an avid cyclist and often rides his MTB in Hatyai where he has some businesses too.

A quest for durians led us to Simpang Renggam with an extended tour that excites and tantalises all our 5 senses!!!

First of all, 90% of the entire planned route of 62 km runs through beautiful, single carriageway kampung roads with only about 3 km of dirt tracks to tackle. But today's ever present dragon backs winded us!

Setting out when the rain dwindled to a light drizzle

Very early in the ride, we were hit by sporadic but heavy rainfall. We had to take cover in abandoned buildings and stalls.

The North South Highway became our guiding point. We rode parallel to it, under it, above it and was constantly crisscrossing the busy highway!

Cows grazing by the embankment

Anglers, their cars and tents

We were also riding along rivers and waterways. Sungai Benut became the watering point for a herd of cows. Meanwhile, Simpang Renggam's water treatment plant situated nearby, drew water from this very same source! No doubt, river is indeed a source of life as we can see anglers enjoying a day out at this same embankment.

After the rain, Jeram Viral Simpang Renggam saw a muddy flow of water. But the gorgeous landscaping in the surrounding village makes up for what the stream lacks.

Our ride took us through rubber estates, palm oil plantations, tapioca farms, pineapple farms before our final stop at a durian farm. But the old world charm of Fang Hui coffee shop took us back in time.

We often rush past those old little towns which are by-passed by the highway. What's more, the old traditional coffee shop which is far out from the town itself, initially built to serve the farming community.

We came to Simpang Renggam in a quest for durians. But our quest manifested into a cyclo-tour through the backroads of Simpang Renggam, exploring hidden gems and bygone eras.

Established in the 1960's and operated by 3 generations, Fang Hui is a hidden gem nestled in a plantation

In Fang Hui, we discovered a coffee shop which is preserved in time. They still serve traditional coffee which is so good and aromatic everyone were nodding their heads with approvals. Meanwhile, their kaya and butter toast is a must have as they still take pride in cutting the butter in generous chunks for you!

One of the highlights of today's ride to Simpang Renggam was visiting Peninsula Plantation, a Pineapple Farm. We have often rode past pineapple farms around Johor but we have never witnessed the different stages of a Pineapple from the flower to the fruit. It was also interesting to know this plantation employs 300 over workers to harvest the Pineapples which are then sent by lorry loads to Lee Pineapple Factory in Skudai. At least 8 trucks, each with farm produce of 8 tonnes are transported to Lee on a daily basis for processing.

By the way, the farm does not welcome unauthorised persons. There is a farm manager on duty at the boom gate who has been given strict orders not to allow visitors. Let's just say we managed to charm our way in.