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| At the butterfly interchange, Iskandar Coastal Highway |
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| At the flyover, Lebuh Kota Iskandar |
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| Short regrouping, Taman Nusantara |
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| Short regrouping, Kg Jelutong Tengah |
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| Kids, DON'T try this!!! Performer has been trained by the Royal Circus of London... |
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| At Kg Melayu Dapur Arang |
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| The tyre fix department, finally arriving at Kg Melayu Dapur Arang |
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| "Half a million dollar worth of junk???" Quote adapted from Henry. |
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| Those who feared punctures had a long walk |
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| Low tide at Gelang Patah |
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| Boats stranded |
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| The water is black!!! |
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| The teens, some of whom needs to learn proper riding etiquette |
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| Messy attempt at DAB |
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| Rolling out of Kg Simpamg Arang |
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| Our local escorts |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Regrouping at the junction to Kg Sg Arang |
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| Age does not matter |
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| Legs does not matter |
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| Modesty does not matter |
Nestled in the South West fringes of Gelang Patah are several traditional charcoal factories. Here, the countryside is sparsely lined with round, igloo like structures of charcoal kilns which draw the raw materials from the surrounding coastline. While mangrove trees thrive in this brackish water resulting from the meeting of Pulai River and the sea, the river here serves as a passageway allowing their smooth logistics.
Even though households have advanced to cleaner cooking fuels like gas and electricity, charcoals still command great respect when it comes to wholesome cooking. Barbecues, double boiled soups and stews taste a great deal better when cooked with this fuel. These days, restaurants that uses charcoal fuel usually commands a bee line following. Try the humble kaya toasts or the health tonic in bak kut teh by charcoal fire and everyone will go, "Ooo La La!"
Our curious fascination with this enigmatic carbon residue brought us to Kampung Melayu Dapur Arang and Kampung Simpang Arang this morning! Today's route panned out to the fringes of Kg Jelutong Tengah, passing by a hillock with old rubber trees before hitting a small section of dirt road that connects to Kg Melayu Gelang Patah. Beyond this, the road became a maze, weaving past a school, a multi purpose hall and kampung houses. Passing by what looked like new village homes, a Briggs' plan to segregate the predominantly Chinese villagers from the communist party during the Malayan Emergency, we finally came to Kg Melayu Dapur Arang.
Arriving to the sound of chainsaw biting into wood at the largest charcoal factory in the area, this activity ceases when we stepped in. Nevertheless, we still managed a first class view of a burning kiln and workers stacking wood in another one. A prohibited area, the owner of this factory let us in reluctantly. He was still as gruff as before, warming up a little when Claudine greeted him. They had met during her 3rd recce with Daniel Wng.
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| Definitely not golden eggs! |
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| Chicken count remain the same! None became dinner!!! |
Kg Simpang Arang was something else. Always dirty but filled with friendly indigenous people, they waved and called out greetings to us. A mini Utopia, it is home to mixed ethnicity. A Muslim graveyard stood at the entrance to the kampung whilst a Chinese cemetery can be found at the far edges. With a mosque and a Taoist temple in the village center, dogs running about freely and the happy, mentally challenged woman as the village icon, the whole place resembles a rainbow....a beautiful blend of people and animals.
Rolling out of the village, the children came out to the street, seeking "High Five's" and bidding us farewell. We returned, riding alongside the railroad tracks before making a turn to go under the rail bridge. Beyond, we met yet again, the undulating gentle rolling hills of a nursery and palm oil estate.
We had anticipated punctures but the first on Kevin's bike at Kg Jelutong Tengah was a surprise as we had never even started on the off road route. Henry's puncture on the way into Kg Simpang Arang was expected as the tyre had earlier, rattled through 200 m of gravels! Disappointing though was George's fall caused by the irresponsible teens that tagged along. It was nothing serious and he went on without a wince into Kg Simpang Arang, returning to Singapore after a mini birthday celebration for Philip, Jon and Jack !!!
Photo courtesy :
Ang Yee Ling
Jack Aleoca Tan
Lionel Tan
Seah KP
Daniel Ng
....and everyone that attended the ride!
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| It takes 3-4 days to fully load a kiln with wood |
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| Workers |
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| Steam, when condensed becomes vinegar |
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| Igloo like structures |
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| Fire is to heat up the kiln. It is a smoking process. |
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| Wood for charcoal is stacked on a raised floorboard |
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| These are not charcoal but part of a floorboard |
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