Amazing Race 2.0 .... FAILED !!!! (March 28 - 30, 2024), Day 3 - Kuala Pilah to Melaka

7 am gearing up outside KP Hotel

Breakfast at Restoran Hinyi

They serves excellent curry mee and YTF

Hotel & Restoran Hinyi @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/ct4HSkALrdSzxG2e6

Approaching SJKC Chung Hua @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/91ZEPnoEH1ZDwMt9A

Back on Route 9. On our right is SMK Tuanku Muhammad where Mr Lim used to study

Taking a short cut through someone's land @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/8BSy5rjiXxy1xqSn7

Trespassing with neighbour's permission

Pak Cik reminded us to close the gate, so we did!

Feeling pleased we managed to shave off a few kms

The climb on N123 began almost immediately after the gates

The 1st incline was fine...

...everyone did it in good stride...

Some gave up after awhile...

It's called "Celaka" for a reason!

10 % gradehill

After this regrouping, we don't see the whole group anymore. 50t vs 44t vs 40t vs e-assist

There's some short descents in between!

These are not boulders but garbage! It's a landfill

Kampung Ulu Inas. There's a waterfall nearby

This point is at the peak @ 300m

Rewarding long descent

Then another climb but manageable

Rolling hills

Winding descents

After being on your own for so long, the group greets you close to the junction to Route 9

Hillman Minx Series IIIC Saloon, production 1956 to 1967

Still on N123 @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/7dyMnViApK5g4xKa7

Drink stop at 10 am at Air Mawang

Sleepy village along Route 9. Hardly any cars pass us by

Just as we were about to push off, Berenda discovered a puncture!

Technically, it is the 4th month in the Chinese lunar calendar which calls for tomb sweeping

We arrived in Tampin close to 11 am and decided to hunt down some lunch. Surprisingly we found the best Hakka Thunder Tea Rice in the world at Kedai Makanan Tampin Delicious Food Centre @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/zjWR6Tftnd3dJHQv5

Off M10's Jalan Kemus Sempang Ampat and not far from Pulau Sebang's KTM is this shady route @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/cJQWxx27AcCPGGpi9

Prima A'Famosa housing development in the foreground

On our right is A'Famosa Resort and Themed Park...

...the perimeter of A'Famosa is cordoned off by these green fences

Pit stop @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/y33PYfHTx6bNCTnX8

There were a lot of climbs...

...but we were having loads of fun!

You get to choose between broken tarmac, dirt or grass to roll on!

Better to push bike on loose gravels and downhill 

Looking back at the way we came from!!!

At the top of this knoll, we took a water break and celebrated our success! Then it was downhill with perfect tarmac for only 50 m or so. It was a real deception. As the road curved, the tarmac disappeared and then disaster struck!

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Archive

 

Amazing Race 2.0 .... FAILED !!!! (March 28 - 30, 2024), Day 1 & 2 - JB to Gemas to Kuala Pilah

 

Thumbs down to KTM for evicting the team at 1 am in Gemas

Team Singapore riding into JB to catch the 8.25 pm train from JB Sentral

Team JB waiting for the 8.45 pm train from Kempas Baru.

Here comes the train

Team JB meets Team Singapore. Missing is Team KL, Gerard. Our final destination was Tanah Merah but this was not to be

Hanging out at the train's cafeteria. 

We were thrilled to bump into Yuen Fen. He was heading back, from Singapore to Kluang on his weekly Friday train ride.

Yuen Fen knew about our trip and was keen to join. However our dates clashed with his tomb sweeping duties.

We soon learnt from him about KTM's new announcement on prohibition on bikes! 

Dated 28 March 2024!!! We had no time to react!

Before March 28, 2024 KTM's T&C stated prohibition on bicycle with no further elaboration. This was construed as bare bicycles ie bicycle rolled onto train without a bag or cover. As such, many cyclists were able to bring their bicycles on board in a bag or box. However, some were charged a parcel fee when the item is bulky.

On March 28, KTM's T&C was updated to include specific prohibition on bikes and bike parts. This prohibition includes bikes and bike parts in bag or box!

Unfortunately for us, KTM officials were on a strict enforcement agenda that night. The couple seated next to us were fined for boarding the train with tickets for a shorter route. They were headed for Kluang but had tickets up to Kempas Baru only.

A man on the sleeping berth above Claudine was issued a similar fine.

What irked us was we were asked to disembark. They could have issued a fine to us as well since it was the first day of the new ruling. Plus our bikes were in a sealed bag within the standard dimensions and weight accepted by all transport providers

Note the bike in a sealed bag on the sleeping berth. It was not obstructing the passageway. Moreover, we had purchased 2 extra sleeping berth to put away the bikes as well.

At 3.30 am, all ready for our ride to Kuala Pilah together with Gerard. Gerard had no problems getting on the train from KL Sentral. But he was barred from boarding at Gemas. Perhaps the train supervisor was alerted on a cycling team on board by then.

We were forced to disembark at 1 am. Stunned, we cycled out to the one and only restaurant in town that was opened to discuss our next course of action. When we had finalised our plans, we returned to the train station to suit up and to start our ride

Pitstop at the Battle of Gemas memorial

An obelisk built in memory of the Australian soldiers and the supporting forces who fought at this site from 14-15 January 1942

The 2/30th Battalion were assigned to blow up the Gemencheh Bridge in an effort to impede the advancement of the Japanese soldiers

45 km later, we came to the 1st coffee shop that was opened for business in the morning. As it was another hour to sunrise, we decided to wait for day break before continuing our ride to Kuala Pilah for safety reasons.

Dangi @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/LkhjABWZoZGJDtUZ6

7.15 am on our way to Johol @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/aS2XSFCkhK16Jy9KA

Quiet roads

Johol

Shell Lama Johol is probably the world's smallest Royal Dutch Shell station in the world. It stands on a 5 feet by 5 feet land with only 2 working pumps! Some say this is the oldest Shell station in Malaysia.

Sadly, it was reported that Shell is in talks to sell all its fuel stations in Malaysia to Saudi Aramco. Will this cute little petrol station prevail ?

https://www.thestar.com.my/.../shell-in-talks-to-sell...

Heading to Kuala Pilah on Route 9's Jalan Tampin - Kuala Pilah

River by Route 9, Kampung Tering

Uncle KC riding out from Kg Simpang Tering

Junction to Dangi @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/KioP5J99BG1L4H1KA

It was a climb to Tokong Si Thian Kong

The entrance to the temple is still decked with CNY decorations

Another view of the gateway

Inside the temple

Kuala Pilah, approaching SMK Tuanku Muhammad where Mr Lim used to study @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/azoSVmabMo7oek8J6

Kuala Pilah town @ 9.30 am

Hai Nam Kopitiam and Restoran, the oldest Hailam Restaurant in Kuala Pilah with 4 stars ratings but it served passable chicken chop in tomato ketchup and dilute coffee. A bit overated

A for effort @ rabbit carved out of cherry tomato. 

After our brunch, we checked into KP Hotel and had a snooze 

At 3.30 pm, we decided to explore the town which began with a cendol and kuih bahulu.

This is the old section of the town. It was somewhat quiet and abandoned

Lister Memorial Arch overlooking Sam Seng Keong Temple and Masjid Jamek

This memorial was built in 1897 within the compounds of the Chinese Pleasure Garden to honour Martin Lister who was the British Resident to Negeri Sembilan from 1889 to 1897. Lister was instrumental to restoring peace amongst the Chinese clans through his superb negotiations and diplomatic skills. The memorial was presumably built after his death in 1897. He was on his back to England after being in poor health for months with heart problems but had succumbed to illness at the Suez

Note the incriptions in English, Chinese and Jawi

A plaque on the land reservations 

Flying high one day before Chief Navigator flew down the "mountain"

Charcoal fired CKT was the only highlight in Kuala Pilah @5.20 pm.

Most of us retired early that night without dinner but some still hit the streets for supper at 8 pm!