Tanjung Langsat Sightseeing Ride (18 June 2016)

Strong support from Impian group, Kulai group, Joho Foldies, SaiKit and his friends! May we ride together again!

We ride for fun!

Tanjung Langsat Port

Senai-Desaru bridge

Kampung Tanjung Langsat

Kampung Pasir Putih

David, Ah Ping and friend

Yeoh and partner

Lee Wei and partner

E.T. Lim and his son

Mickey and Christina

Maggie and Sibyl

Saikit

Kim Hai

Desmond

Chiam

SK

It was destined to be a good ride. The day before the ride, the Hyades, daughters of Atlas had sent torrential rain in the afternoon. The rain petered down to a drizzle throughout the night until the wee hours of the morning. By roll out time though, the nymph sisters had no more tears to shed. The land was awashed, clean and the air crisp.

We met at Medan Selera Tanjung Langsat. Built to complement the Port and Sarang Buaya, a crocodile farm, it was sadly devoid of any human activity. Closed for Ramadhan, we wondered if this month denotes "Pack your lunch to work month!"

We were just a stone throw away from the Tanjung Langsat Port, the third port in Johor. It handles bulk cargo such as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and dangerous chemicals. That explains the huge drums and pipes around the vicinity. Its long private jetty and docked ships can be viewed from the sea point.

We were also standing at the flight path of planes landing at Changi airport. In fact, the airport's control tower was a glimmer of blinking lights from afar. We were rewarded with the sights of planes queuing up to land at every 5 minutes intervals. The descent of the Airbus 380 was like a heavily pregnant woman coming down slowly unlike the lithe of the smaller 737 and 747!!!

We rolled out after a percusory group photo. Heading into Kampung Perigi Aceh, the road was almost at sea level, flanked by mangrove trees on both sides. Here and there were little mud mounds left by crabs burrowing into the soil. Overhead, monkeys were starring at us warily from the telephone cables. They were like little circus performers walking on the tight rope!

As we rode further in, we came upon a small concrete bridge that leads to the kampung. This replaces the old dilapidated bridge standing beside. Some of the hard tropical wood that forms the foundations were still erect and strong.

As we crosses this bridge, a kelong and some colourful floating wooden houses came into sight. The kampung houses by the river bank with its huge satellite dishes and motorboats docked by the sides clearly explains the economic viability of this area.

We entered the village to be charmed by a duck and drake frolicking in a shallow puddle of water. Further in, 2 roosters were bravely guarding the hens from our menacing two wheelers. All this while, the monkeys followed us!!!

We stopped outside the Sekolah Kebangsaan Perigi Aceh. From here, another narrow road that spanned a vehicle begins. It was filled with pot holes and so rarely used, the tree branches have grown closer to form an arch!

Hypnotized we rolled in slowly till we came to the end of the road. We were met with a small army base camp, so small there was only a lorry and a truck! A pot bellied soldier sent us curious looks but as we were there only for a brief moment, he did not sent us away.

We proceeded to Kampung Tanjung Langsat coming to a stop at its colourful jetty. By this time, our eyes were no longer interested in the stilt houses nor fishing village scenes. A few oil rigs stood out in the sea, tucked away at this corner of the earth, till it is called out for duty again. At the far left, we could see part of the Senai-Desaru highway, the bridge that traverses the river.

Next, we headed for Kampung Pasir Putih. The route led us along the industrial roads. Passing by a refinery, we were struck dumb by the huge balls of distillers, lighting arrestors that looked like bunga manggas but most of all, by the staggering amount of steel and pipes!!!

We soon left the industrial roads and connected with the 4 lane expressway. Thankfully, traffic was low and the few lorries that plied the road respectfully kept its distance.

An expressway also meant some riders who knew the way went at express speed! This left huge gaps between riders. Thankfully, for Sibyl, she had the good sense to stop and wait for the back riders when she came to a junction.

The truth was Sai Kit, Kim Hai and Desmond had dutifully waited at all the turning points. In between the huge gaps, Andy and TH were guiding while Thomas and VT took sweepers duty.

We made a short drink stop outside Pasaraya Pasir Putih. Here, some riders took the opportunity to go inside for cold drinks and to relief themselves.

The impian mtb group though, flicked out their rations to share. They were seen munching on some sweet buns. There was the left over bananas from morning push off too! No wonder, the monkeys were shadowing us all the way at Kampung Perigi Aceh!!

We rode the final short distance to yet another jetty! Across the waters was Singapore's Pulau Ubin with its metal fences surrounding it. On our shabbier side, is the unmistakable fishing village scenes.

Our attention were riveted to a dead monitor lizard held by a noose, bloated in the waters. The poor animal did not die a hungry ghost, as there was a fish, still sticking out from its mouth! But we were all saddened by its cruel death.

We soon leave for base. As the riders slowly streamed out, Christina gave a wail! She had a front tyre puncture. Thomas was requested to chase the front group to disseminate the information. Not taking chances Andy, radioed an alert to TH, thanks to Susanna's walkie talkie. Meanwhile, Impian group also radioed back to make sure SK's son was still with the group behind. They are an organized group with their own communication sets.

The ride back was insignificant though slow. After the final junction, Saikit was seen tearing down the slope at top speed! He made a fast turn, albeit almost hitting a curb! Following closely behind was Desmond. They raced ahead and caught up with Mickey. Not perturbed that he was on mtb, he too gave chase. Then the speeding group came upon TH.

Witnessing the high speed chase, Claudine was willing TH to win. But he slowed down instead! Rear tyre puncture rendered him out of the race!

It was decided that since base was just a few more kilometers, help should be sent to TH instead! While we waited for TH's rescue, Lee Wei went around with cut watermelons which was most welcomed after the ride. Everyone arrived back safely but not before another photo was taken with the motionless buaya, a concrete crocodile that graced Sarang Buaya's signage!

Now, while David, Ah Ping and another friend pushed off for Kulai, Desmond and Debbie headed for Kiang Kee Bak Kut Teh and thereafter, Mersing! Some left for home but the bigger group of Impian Mtbs carried on with their fourth kampung ride....they went on to Sungai Layang. Accompanying them were Sai Kit and his friends!"

Some of the riders that slipped us :

Siow Hui and Lim