Pontian Wantan Mee - Myth Debunked! (26 March 2016)

Rooting for Superman!

Seriously no idea when YL took this photo!!!

Waiting for Zoe

Still waiting for Zoe!

The wait continues.....

Better power Zoe with Kopi O next time!

Gas powered???

We left Pan Kobo cafe with stories of Mount Kinabalu climb hovering over us. Andy had just returned from the Unesco Heritage Site whose picturesque peak had graced so many RM100 notes! Malcolm had scaled it twice while Janet had done it three times!

Andy was asked to lead and pace us while VT volunteered to sweep. Just gliding towards Southgate, TH was already impatient to overtake him! We were either too slow or TH just could not resist making full use of his mass!!!! Don't brake and waste the momentum!

It was pretty obvious from the start that we were of varying speed. Setting the pace at 25kph, Zoe could not keep up long enough. VT and Thomas fell back to ride with her to ensure her safety.

Soon, it became crystal clear that while Andy tried to lead, he was just a tad too fast! Malcolm prefers to keep a distance while Claudine enjoys drafting behind a big man! TH and YL enjoys playing with speed, sometimes overtaking everyone, sometimes riding behind Andy. While Janet could not keep up, she refused to fall back, often finding herself riding alone!

We rode through the scenic kampung route and Uncle Lim's durian farm only to see many cars parked on the road shoulders. It was too early for durian so it could only be for Ching Ming, a tradition of sweeping the ancestral tombs!

We reached Pekan Nanas' shell station quickly though Zoe swept by Thomas and VT took slightly longer to arrive. TH who was playing with speed earlier came in together with them! His bike chain fell off twice even though the bike was recently serviced!

After Pekan Nanas, we rode towards Pontian. Through the few traffic lights along the way and heavy traffic, we soon lost everyone! Thankfully, everyone were riding in pairs.

TH and Andy riding way ahead....

Claudine drafting behind Malcolm for wind resistance and security. He carries with him a can of C2 gas spray, a sort of tear gas spray...

YL was pulling Janet ....

Zoe swept by VT and Thomas, arrived at Pontian with a declaration that she will be boarding the bus home!

Meanwhile, Elaine who had driven to Pontian for her periodic supply of fresh seafood had recced breakfast for us. She was quick to inform us the popular Wantan Mee shops of A, B and C were not open. It was either we were too early or they were closed for Ching Ming too.

It was established later that Heng Heng was open for business and YL knew the way. We made a beeline there just as they were pushing the folding doors open!!!

Not concious to Pontian or southern styled Wantan Mee, we ordered the generic ones which comes with cheap tomato sauce! The noodles though al dente, were commendable but nothing spectacular. They come with red char siew that was neither charred nor barbecued. The meat looked like they were just rubbed with some red colouring and cooked over a pan. It was an injustice to the real char siew for this has created a bad impression to the juicy sweet meat!

A bowl of wantan soup is served together with the noodles. While the Wantan fillings are tasty with a tinge of salted fish, the Wantan skin are left wanting....they were slightly too thick.

Another horror is the fishballs served with the wantan!!! The teochews' craze for fishballs must have prompted them to kill this noodles which is traditionally Cantonese by origins!

Besides the much talked about Pontian Wantan Mee, Heng Heng also serves pre-packed otak-otak. Again, they were edible, rated slightly below good!

For brewed beverages, we have to self serve from the corner coffee shop though we do not need to return the cups!!!

TH shared my sentiments about the noodles. In fact, he had tried Sin Kee's noodles which he rates it as slightly better only.

After debunking the myth of this so called famed noodles, we left for Pekan Nanas. Along the way, we spotted a strange stall that sells live, fresh water fish hanging from clear plastic bags!

We arrived at Pekan Nanas' fruit juice stall for some juices and coconut water. It seems the Kopi O at Pontian had powered Zoe up. She arrived in no time.

 

We took a last group photo with Pekan Nanas' iconic pineapple. A tribute to the latest movie, Batman vs Superman, we all rooted for Superman. With seniority comes respect, after all, our Oldman is 1 year older than his rival!!!

After posing but not flying, we meekly left the grounds on two wheels. We were riding well within sight of each other until TH had a puncture somewhere after Uncle Lim's. VT, Thomas and Andy stopped to help him while ushering the rest to carry on.

We all rode back via the kampung route again but this segment sees Malcolm still riding strong though complaining of a pair of legs that does not belong to him anymore!!!! And... Zoe, needing another pick me up Kopi O. Somehow, we all managed to get back home safely but the four men left behind enjoyed a drink at Amin's before the final push!