First Interstate Travel Since Covid-19 Movement Control Order - Bentong Pahang

Ever since the lifting of the MCO (Movement Control Order) we were allowed to travel interstate but within the country, going oversea for a travel is still a big no no for Malaysian. Jason has organised a trip to Bentong, Pahang for a weekend and I decided to join them at the last moment. Let's cuti-cuti Malaysia !

Jason and Kenny met me at Setiawangsa LRT Station where we started our drive to Bentong from there. Our first stop was at Kg. Bukit Tinggi and the car was parked at the commercial area at Kampong Bukit Tinggi. Unfolded our Brompton bikes and took a loop into the village to visit this river called Sg. Tanglir

A Chinese primary school in the village where the majority people living here are of the Kwong Sai dialect and Bentong ginger is widely planted in this area.

Thanks to the developer who took the extra effort to beautify and maintain the river. A spot not many many people is aware of it.

The weather was cooling probably in the region of 25°C and enjoying the fresh air and lovely countryside of the village. After completing the loop we settled down at a kopitiam for a bowl of wan tan noodle before proceeding to Bentong town.

A clip of the loop we did within the village of Bukit Tinggi.

The traffic into Bentong Town on a Saturday morning was rather heavy, it seems that every weekend one can expect such traffic jam into the town.

Kwong Fook Temple sited along the main road Jalan Loke Yew with a GPS : 3.522843, 101.909695 with a bold red paint on the building that one could miss the sight of this temple.

There are many documents on the wall like pictures of the early leaders and strong linkage with Sin Sze Si Ya Temple from Kuala Lumpur. Loke Yew was the one responsible in the making of Bentong with the tin mining industry and also rubber plantation.

Guess these are the Menshen or threshold guardian - divine guardians of doors and gates in Chinese folk ... 尉迟恭

As we were very close to Cafe Kow Po, the famous ice cream or ice kacang shop we just could not say no to its ABC. Ais Batu Kacang was good and situated at GPS : 3.522296, 101.910817, don't miss it whenever you are in Bentong.

Glad to have a local Brommie accompanying us and it was indeed an excellent way to know Bentong better.

We were able to "kidnapped" Kokhway to show us around linking the routes from one Chinese Village to another, it was really a big Chinese village community which were built during the time of Malayan Emergency under the Briggs Plan to cut off communication from the Chinese people and the communist guerrillas.

Lemang To'Ki Bentong is an extra ordinary place, never in my life I have never seen a lemang seller so popular. Thanks to Kokhway for leading us to the place, it's located at the junction between the main road Jalan Tras heading to Raub and a kampong road called Jalan Permai with a GSP ref: 3.545283, 101.899523

The crowd was overwhelming and we did not bother to eat but just to see the amazing eatery.

The last stop was a hidden shed and apparently the favourite place of our Bentong buddies.

"Anchor" is popular in Bentong and cheers to our cold beer before we check into our homestay in Bentong. Photo credit : Jason Leong.

As recommended by Jason a tilapia fish done in two ways steamed on one side and the other was deep fried. Unique and tasty.

Sinful soy sauce pork belly cut in a sinful size just nice to be mouthed.

A delicious dish of tofu with nice fried eggs, it looks simple but the taste was awesome. Besides these dishes we had giant kangkung merely stir fried but another great dish.

Nothing like a simple and delicious dinner with the company of wonderful friends. 

Place of dinner was at GPS :  3.522071, 101.906724 among a cluster of food stalls next to a covered basketball court and a stream behind the stalls.   

Let's Explore Sky Mirror in Kuala Selangor.

For the past 1 year or so we have been inundated with pictures from friends on visits to sky mirror and the word "Sasaran" have been heard. Why not we go check it out and so happened our buddy Kim Aun was planning for one. A group pf cycling friends gathered at Kuala Selangor on a beautiful Sunday at this kopitiam for a sky mirror experience. 

All of us drove to Kuala Selangor from our homes and it was absolutely no bicycle for the day. We were advised to wear as colourful as possible. The jetty is situated at Pekan Lama Kuala Selangor itself but I believe there are other jetties around Kuala Selangor offering such trip.

The group of 22 of us posing in front of the Jetty and ready to check out what sky mirror has to offer. The fare each was RM80.00 with a bottle of mineral water and packet of nasi lemak provided.

Catching up with friends, lots to talk and updates at the jetty terminal.

While some sitting outside the jetty with more other groups waiting to go out to the sea.

The jetty with at least 7 boats moored by the edge waiting for the right time to leave.

Mr. Chew Kim Aun, the organiser with his wife Janet and 2 body guards.

At last we have arrived somewhere at an open sea where the water was still receding and we were actually walking in the middle of the sea on a raised seabed. Timing is crucial for such trip and apparently it only happen within the 1st and 15th day of lunar months. And one by one we alighted and eagerly to have fun.

A rehearsal with their colourful umbrellas while the water level subside and soon the mirror effect will appear at its best. Of course one has to be skillful to get good images.

Up up and the way as Jason was taking off together with the rest.

The ladies and their posing ......

I had my fun too with my kicks.

A bit of drama with Jo.

This kiddo has a powerful kick that can blow off Jason, next time don't try to bully him ... ok!

Kim Aun & Janet for the first time I had the chance to go outing with this couple. Cheers!

Nothing is complete without a good food adventure in Kuala Selangor. Kim Aun has taken tips as to where to eat for lunch. And here we were at Restoran Tian Wai Tian 天外天海鲜餐室 for a late lunch. Location GPS : 3.352895, 101.252625, Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor.

Fried homemade seafood tofu to start off and pacify our tummies.

Then came the aromatic fried oyster omelette or also known as "Oh Jian".

Deep fried squid fritters.

One of the popular dishes in this place is this delicious crabs stranded with beehoon. Everyone of us love this great dish.

Assam gravy fresh prawns with lady fingers and brinjals, yummy and fresh.

Steam garoupa fish head it was fresh, succulent and delicious.

A simple stir fried tapioca leaves with garlic.

Sweet and sour mantis prawns.

So much of seafood to eat and the damage per head was RM26.00, it delicious, worth coming back again for more and pricing was very reasonable. Thumb up to Restoran Tian Wai Tian. All full and a slow drive back to KL after a wonderful outing.

A short video of the day.

半山走地鸡 Ban Shan Zou Di Ji (Ti Ratana Restaurant) @ Salak South Village

It's another Wednesday Ride and this time the plan was to cycle to Salak South Village to search for a elevated village eatery that has an awesome view of the city skyline. There were 12 of us starting from Lake Titiwangsa just before 7.00pm. We rode through the heavy jammed traffic of Kuala Lumpur's Golden Triangle as we moved towards south bound.

After pedaling for about 19km we found the wooden eatery house tucked among the village houses by the hill side with require a little bit of push up a steep road to reach the restaurant. 

The lady boss Ng Mooi behind the stove and preparing our food though we were hungry but we shall patiently wait for her magic.

Poached free range chicken is one of her signature dish that came with an interesting minced ginger sauce and it was indeed delicious. Hold on to your forks and spoons fellow riders let the cameras eat first.

I love this strong rice wine flavoured ginger chicken soup just like those women's food during their confinement. You must not miss this dish.

Vinegar pork trotter is another fabulous dish the taste is simply strong and tasty. Another must try kind of Hakka dish.

Stir fried tapioca leaves is good but nothing in particular to shout about.

Paku veggie stir fried with belacan surely tasted superbly good with its lovely belacan aroma and I like the crunchiness of this fern veggie.

Hakka braised pork belly with black fungus is another yummy dish it is a class higher than most where you normally get from the economy rice. I love to say this again, it is another must order dish.

The thick ginger gravy is gorgeous together with the freshness of the Song fish head it has gained another thumb up dish. Looks like everything we ate here were satisfactorily delicious and could come back again for more.

The view from our dining table is awesome, it was a satisfactorily dinner at a not so fancy restaurant with a superb sight of Kuala Lumpur skyline, Petronas Twin Towers, KL Tower, TRX building (under construction) and the glittering light Genting Highlands are all distinguishedly seen.

This hidden gem is directly facing to Ti-Ratana Welfare Society Malaysia and the pricing is reasonable at Ng Mooi's place. We only have to pay RM23 each for the dinner. This place is less than 2 years and a good place to try it if you are searching for food around Salak South or Desa Petaling.

Ban Shan Zou Di Ji

半山走地鸡

Lot 16106, Jalan 13B,

Salak South Bahru, Kuala Lumpur

Opens 11am-3pm & 5pm-10pm, Tue-Sun; closed Mon

Tel 019 332 8285/016 314 9486/018 275 4161

GPS : 3.085089, 101.710055