Amoi rides in the kampungs

Thursday, 13 March 2025

DRC 20.0 - Desaru to Sungai Rengit (1-2 March 2025)

Night time at Chalet D'Arked Punggai's campsite. Rate is RM20 for a tent plot and an additional RM5 per car

Route 90 going through upgrading roadworks which is good as Desaru is popular for International sporting events. Ironman Desaru and L'Etape have held their races in Desaru several times to date.

Batu Layar's tower received a facelift sometime in 2024. This is the new look as at 1 March 2025. While the public toilet is now opened to public, the tower continues to be closed. A yellow tape across the doorway works as a barricade to keep off curious tourists.

This is how the tower looked like on January 2024 (credit : Google Maps). Note the rusts from the metal railings leaching onto the walls. Also note the top floor with a new coat of red paint.

The tower and toilets were around as far back as October 2022, maybe more! They were always closed to public until recently.

We were pleasantly surprised Batu Layar's public toilet is finally opened to public

Besides the open shower stalls, there are also 2 shower cubicles and 2 changing rooms for the more conservative people

The beach area is divided into 3 levels

A bit further down the road, a promenade by the sea appears to be in trouble. A signboard by the construction works states it is a project by the federal government!

We wonder if any land survey was conducted before the project was approved!

Broken concrete slabs as the sea seemed to claim the promenade.

High tide at Jambatan Kuala Punggai

Chalet D'Arked Punggai

Chalet D'Arked Punggai, the morning after before the cleaners arrived

Bayu Impian Campsite is the most well managed campsite we visited so far. But the price for a tent plot is RM95/RM90 depending on the views. Besides the hefty price, it was also quite cramped with neighbours so near you're bound to hear them snore at night! Access is via 2 rows of houses which are popular for homestay rentals albeit somewhat abandoned.

Bayu Impian Campsite's office, cafe and convenience store on the left. Opposite the office are the toilets and chalets

Bayu Impian's open campsite. Rate is RM25 per camper. The setback to both areas is you cannot park next to your tent. Cars have to be parked at designated car parks, away from the beach. If you have a campervan, your only option is to drive your car onto the tent plot!

Bayu Impian's new chalets for rent

Red snapper in Nyonya sauce @RM88 per kilo. This fish is slightly more than 1 kg. We have never eaten so much fish at one seating!

Yam basket @ RM38 for 2 pax is seriously overkill

Poh An Kong Chinese Temple. The caretaker told us the new temple is built over the grounds of the original temple which has been around for than 100 years old

Clean beach by the side of the temple

Met up with our fellow campers for the night, Kelvin and Bobo

Thumbs up for another breezy weekend. The wind is a constant factor, the only variation is the velocity

Cosy dinner by the sea at Big Tree Food Corner @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/CU4bQkbHtWGKpbGp6. Crispy fried bee hoon at RM9 per plate

Rewarding views by the food court

The fishermen came in with their catch

Sorting at the fish market next to the food court

Small traders helped themselves to the catch

Stars and fishing boats

Good night Desaru

The morning after, coffee by the beach

Gorgeous sunrise

Only 3 campers, ourselves and an Indian family!

After so many years, we finally found a few Chinese coffee shops in Desaru. This pan mee kon lou is not bad at Desaru 899 Good Restaurant.

Spotted a LPG ship, viewed from Johor River Bridge

Wednesday, 26 February 2025

DRC 19.0 - Mesmerising Mersing, Magical Mawar (22-23 February 2025)

The morning after at Pulau Mawar

After parking our car at Mersing Seafood Restaurant on Route 3, we took Jalan Bawal and was immediately greeted by a steep climb!

View at the top of the climb!

Jalan Mesjid, next to Mersing's Fire Department, we were greeted by another climb!

On our way!

Masjid Bandar Mersing

Jalan Sekakap. This road is at a high vantage point and offers a view of the sea and the beach below

Istana Sri Mersing

Persatuan Berbasikal Daerah Mersing & Pusat Latihan JDT Cycling Team

Another view

The JDT center is off J181's Jalan Sekakap, down a slope and by the seaside

Rocky

Fishing port by Sungai Jemaluang. Ahead is the watergates

Fishing port by Sungai Jemaluang @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/x6zDLCg23mc6bvc3A

Fishing port by Sungai Jemaluang

View from the fishing port

View from the fishing port, Jalan Flintstone intersects with Jalan Meta

Jalan Meta

Another fishing port by Jambatan Sungai Jemaluang

Beware of crocodiles

There's a shelter by the river

Jetty

Jambatan Sungai Jemaluang

Approaching Istana Flintstone

This tower is a new addition to the istana grounds. The lower building with the golden roof is the older structure. There's a lot of land clearing and grass planting as if a golf course is being built here.

These are actually guard posts. The guard was quick to step out but allowed a photo to be taken from afar.

Palace gates

Palace walls

Flintstone cycles too!

Trying to avoid the steep but short climbs at Jalan Bawal, we decided to use an alternative route. Jalan Pintasan comes with equally steep climbs!

Jalan Tun Dr Ismail with Taman Rekreasi Mersing on the right

Johor is lined with many of these crowns someone should start a map chart!

Registration counter at Pulau Mawar. They are opened from 8 am to 6.30 pm, Mondays to Fridays

RM25/adult which includes entrance fees to the Geopark, camping, toilet and shower facilities. RM5/adult for day trippers but toilet fee is RM1 per use and shower is RM2 per use. Even though it is free for kids below 10 and senior citizens, they have to pay RM10 if they wished to camp.

Enjoying a breezy afternoon by Pantai Mawar. Pulau Mawar with its viral Doorway to Heaven and Window to the World is on the left.

Well managed and spacious, this property sits on private land belonging to the Sultan of Johor.

Gated campsite. At night, the gates are locked with a padlock and the key accessible from a lockbox, opened with the correct combination

The road starts from the gate and continue here right up to the boomgate. A few years back, cars can even drive up to Pulau Mawar, a tidal isle connected to the mainland by a narrow strip of land