Day 1
On the morning of 24th July 2009, I start my tour to explore the coastal road of Peninsular Malaysia. Started in Seremban, Negeri Sembilan the tour begin it journey. Headed to Sepang then take route 5 all the way to Setiawan, Perak. At this route, between Sepang to Kelang it will pass thru a palm oil plantation estate and also riding beside the Street of Malacca. The road are a bit bumpy but the traffic are less, so it was a leisure ride. When approaching Banting and toward Kelang, traffic are getting heavy with lots of big vehicle since Kelang was near to one of the busiest port in Malaysia (Port Klang). It was not fun riding in this kind of traffic. Soon after pass by Kelang town, the traffic are less and the road are width. It's time to add more speed until reach at Hutan Melintang, Perak.
Before crossing Perak River.
Short break before Perak River.
After crossing the Sultan Yusuff bridge, continuing the journey to Setiawan. Still in route 5, but the road are straight all the way with the oil plantation at both side of the road.
Once in Setiawan, Perak, I bump in with my office mate who rode an Aprillia Caponad at one of the junction. in the town. So we stop over and well he also planning to ride to no where, so I ask him to join my trip. Well, its more fun to ride with a friend rather alone :).
@Setiawan, Perak with a friend (Zul)
From here, we took route 60 to Changkat Jering, Taiping, Perak. Along the way, the road are a bit twisted and this make us really enjoyed it.
We reach Changkat Jering around noon, so we went to route 74 for the famous Prawn Mee which located at Kuala Sepetang also known as Port Weld.
Prawn Mee @ Kuala Sepetang
Once ready, we continue the journey toward Sungai Petani, Kedah still on route 1. Along the way, we did stuck at Bukit Mertajam area due to heavy traffic and lots of traffic light. This continue until we by pass Butterworh. Then the traffic back to normal until we reach Sungai Petani. It was a good tarmac all the way.
After refueling, we took another coastal road at route K1. There is few small town like Merbok, which is knows as an archaeology area. From Merbok to Yan, it was a state road which is not width but with a twisted road and also by passing lots of village, it was enjoyable ride to see how the people on this area live. Also at one area, we can even see the beautiful view of the coastal. Kedah state are known as a paddy field. On this route we can see a stunning view of paddy field form our both side until we reach Kuala Kedah. When we reach here, the night has just around the corner, so we decide to call off the day and proceed to the capital city of Kedah which known as Alor Setar. As the original plan we want to ride until Kuala Perlis, Perlis.
Here we overnite at Sri Malaysia Hotel and due to it location which is near to all the food :).
''Cucur Udang''
Known as Soup Gear Box
Day 2
In front of Sri Malaysia Hotel, Alor Setar Kedah
Warming up the Versys for the next journey.
Caponad
Today, the plan was to cross the Titiwangsa Mountain (in malay it's known as Banjaran Titiwangsa) toward Kota Bahru, Kelantan.
"This mountain range is a part of the wider Tenasserim Hills system. It forms the southernmost section of the Indo-Malayan cordillera which runs from Tibetthrough the Kra Isthmus into the Malay peninsula.[3]
The Titiwangsa mountain range begins in the north as the Sankalakhiri Range, a prolongation of the Nakhon Si Thammarat Range which includes the smaller Pattani, Taluban and Songkhla subranges. The main range runs approximately from northwest to southeast across the border into Malaysia and ends in the south near Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Foothills extend further southeastwards into Johor."
From Alor Setar, we go south on route 1 until Gurun Route 1 is the federal road and the condition are good. From Gurun, we take left to route K10 to Sik, then we stop over at Lata Mengkuang Recreational Park. To road to this place are good. Here we can found the very nice stream. There is a parking just next to stream. The park are well maintain.
Lata Mengkuang, Sik, Kedah
Continue on route K10 until to the junction with K157 to the left. but we kept right on K10 toward Baling. There lots of village along the way and it was a new road which is much more wider and better tarmac. As later I know that, the road has been upgrade between Baling (route K10) to Durian Burung Immigration new checkpoint.
For info, Baling was a historic place during insurgent era.
'' Baling was also the site where the leaders of the Malay Races Liberation Army, the newly formed Malayan Government, and the British met in 1955 to try to end the Malayan Emergency. Tunku Abdul Rahman, a leader of the Malayan government, implored the Communists to give up their arms peacefully by promising that no retaliatory action would be taken against them. The MRLA leader Chin Peng expressed skepticism of a pardon promised by the leader of a nation that had yet to gain its independence (Malaya's independence was gained in two years later in 1957). Chin Peng insisted that the Malayan government and the British endorse the MRLA as a legal Communist Party so that it could run in the forthcoming elections. This was denied, however, and thus no agreement was reached. ''
From Baling, we took left to route 76 until Pengkalan Hulu. Here we need to fuel up and take a break. From Pengkalan Hulu we maintain on the same route toward Grik. Then we took left to Grik - Pasir Puteh which is route 4 and also know as East - West Highway. This route were is among the best for bikers. With the green scenery and the twisted road. It really nice to ride on this route.
@Petrol Station, Pengkalan Hulu, Perak
'' East-West Highway, Federal Route
(Malay: Lebuhraya Timur-Barat or Jalan Raya Timur-Barat) is a highway constructed by Malaysian Public Works Department (JKR) to shorten the journey from Kota Bharu, Kelantan to northwestern towns and cities of Malaysia such as Alor Star and Penang.
Before East-West Highway was built, the journey from Alor Star to Kota
Bharu may reach over 1,000 km (-- miles), but the highway shortens the
distance by about several hundred kilometers. ''In between this route there is a lake known as Lake Temenggor.
Lake Temenggor, Banding, Perak
'' The highway includes Lake Temenggor Bridge which crosses Temenggor Lake, a hydroelectric dam. The East-West Highway is one of the more scenic routes in Peninsular Malaysia, due to its hilly nature. There are even places where road signs are put up to warn motorists of elephants crossing the road.''
One of the Bridge that cross the Temenggor Lake
'' Temenggor Lake is the second largest lake in Peninsula Malaysia after Kenyir Lake in Terengganu, Malaysia. This man-made lake is located south of 1,533 m high Ulu Titi Basah peak,[1] in Hulu Perak district in the state of Perak. It was created after the construction of Temenggor Dam to generate electric power. The lake is located about 45 km from the Hulu Perak district capital, Gerik. There is a man-made island, Banding Island (Pulau Banding)[2] and Lake Temenggor Bridge on the East-West Highway which crosses the lake. ''
One of the entry point to Royal Belum State Park
Rule & Regulation before entry the Royal Belum State Park
We ride all the way on route 4 until we reach Machang, Kelantan which we took left to route 8 to Kota Baharu. Here we meet another friend, Marzuki with his GTR1400 who also want to join the ride back to Kuala Lumpur. After have a late lunch, we proceed the journey by along the coastal road. From Kota Baharu, we took route 134 then to route D8 toward Bachok, Kelantan. Route D8 end and continue to route D5 (coastal road). At the end of route D5, its continue with route D11 toward to Tok Bali, Kelantan. Then we continue along the coastal road toward Kuala Trengganu for the night.
Kota Baharu, Kelantan
Lunch time @ Kota Baharu, Kelantan
Caponad, GTR & Versys
Myself & my Red Versys in front of
Grand Continental Hotel, Kuala Trengganu
Day 3
Kuala Trengganu to Johor Baharu was a destination for the day. Destination was about 550km along the coastal road again. We stop for lunch at Kemaman, one of the district located south of Trengganu. Here we take a light lunch such as mee soup & the famous local dishes known as ''Satar".
"Mee Soup"
"Satar"
"Satar is another fish snack in Terengganu Malay cuisine. It is mixture of pounded fish, shallots and ginger wrapped in banana leaf, pierce of few by 1 single bamboo stick then barbecue over low fire."
From Kemaman, we continue to south toward Kuantan, Pahang, then to Pekan, Pahang before we have another break at Tanjung Gemuk which a border town to Johor state.
Since today ride in a very slow pace, we reach the destination in Johor Baharu after dark. The road condition were a bit rough because the road construction from Kota Tinggi to Ulu Tiram, Johor.
At Ulu Tiram
Finally, we reach to our hotel around 10pm. Here we stay at Sri Malaysia Hotel, Johor Baharu.
Day 4
After a late arrival last night, we start the day a bit late. But still on the riding schedule. Today was a last day before we headed back home. So, the first destination were to Tanjung Piai. Located to the most south point of Peninsular Malaysia.
"Tanjung Piai is a cape in Johor which is the southernmost point of Peninsular Malaysia and thus the most southern point of mainland Eurasia. The skyline of Singapore is visible across the Johor Strait from the point. It features seafood restaurants, perched on wooden jetties that are surrounded by a rugged and rarefied coastline of unspoiled mangrove forests."
Entry to the park office
Entrance Fees to the point
@ the Tanjung Piai landmark
Tanjung Piai, The Southernmost Tip Of Mainland Asia
From the park office, we have to walk to the tip point crossing the mangrove.
After couple hours in this area, we headed north thru Pontian, Johor. After refueling we have to ride in the heavy rain to Batu Pahat, Johor.
Pontian, Johor
Really heavy rain before reach here (Batu Pahat, Johor)
At this rest area, we have our late lunch. The famous "Nasi Briyani" of Batu Pahat.
"In Malaysia and Singapore, the dish is called Nasi Beriani or Nasi Beryani or Nasi Briani or Nasi Minyak. It is commonly served with Rendang dish and Sirap Bandung beverage especially during wedding receptions of Muslim Malays community. Nasi Beriani Gam, a special version of the dish is famous and favourite in the southern Malaysian state of Johor, especially in Muar and Batu Pahat."
From here, we continue headed north to Muar, Johor then to Malacca before headed home.
Conclusion.
This is 4 days 3 night ride using the coastal road. I will wrote again about this on my 2nd tour of Peninsular Malaysia. Total range covered was 2048 kilometer.
