www.motobiking.com Northern Malaysia mini Tour 2 2
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14 to 16 Dec 06
With more Bagsters joining in this time making the ride more merrier, we finally would cover most of Malaysian scenic motobiking-friendly roads. Who says we don’t have good biking routes to show off to the world. Sure, we may not have roads with the Alps in the background nor snow covered roads, but we do have easily accessible fantastic motobiking roads cutting through the oldest rain forests, running alongside the coolest beaches.
As it was December, our traditional monsoon month which usually promises lots of impromptu rains, we expected to get really wet along the way. On the bright side, it would be a little blessing in disguise as generally with us fully suited up for rides, it can get a little uncomfortable.
Again, we met up at Sungai Buloh Overhead Bridge R&R to proceed to our first day destination, Gerik. I had no idea what to expect of Gerik as I have not been there in before. I was told that the eateries serve good fresh water fish from caught from nearby Temenggor Dam. We see if we get to sample some fresh catch in the evening.
The day started well with morning looking crisp and clear. As in most days in December, the betraying clear morning could be transformed to one hell of a wet mid afternoon.
It’s almost 850am and we were still not on the road.
Mr Vulcan took too much sleeping aid the night before and subsequently over-slept. We were supposed to group up at 7am and hit the road by 730am. We finally get to hit the N-S Expressway with enthusiasm intact at about 9 am
Phang lead at sub 150 km/h with Mr Vulcan struggling to keep up in the only cruiser in the pack. As we happily scorched the relatively clear highway, incoming cars flashed us of pending speed trap ahead. As we slowed down to legal speed to avoid free PDRM photos, Mr Vulcan picked up his pace and past us like a possessed demon. He thought we were giving him a chance to stay ahead. Never consume any sleeping aid before a ride. Thankfully, the traffic officer holding the silly red flag waved us to carry on riding. And with a huge relief, off we sped again to Kuala Kangsar with Mr Vulcan trailing behind once again.
We turned into Kuala Kangsar to join
into Route 76 to Gerik.
Geographically, this historic Bukit Larut area receives the most rain falls in Malaysia. Bukit Larut is also the oldest hill resort in this part of the world. Formally known as Maxwell Hill, it was founded by William Maxwell in 1884 as a gateway to reminisce British cool country side. Sadly, this hill has been over-taken in popularity by the likes of Genting Highlands and Cameron Highlands.
passing through royal KK town
Kwong Chow Association cum beef-ball noodle
restaurant
Kuala Kangsar was the site (1897) of the first conference of rulers of the Federated Malay States. Now a collecting centre for a rice- and rubber-growing area, Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak state with the Sultan's seat at Istana Iskandariah. The Ubudiah mosque, one of the most beautiful in the peninsula, is located here. We managed to find the restaurant dishing out tasty Kuala Kangsar beef balls noodles
Morever, it was almost lunch and Mr Vulcan did not have the luxury of having an one and a half hours of breakfast earlier in the morning.
the grand Sultan's gallery (Muzium Diraja)
we got permission to ride into the premise for a group pic. Andy was hiding under a tree somewhere
A 115 odd km riding through rubber plantations and padi fields, we arrived Gerik in the late afternoon. With nothing to expect, we nodded straight to the Gerik Rest House to check out our accommodation for the night. Comparing to motobiking touring in other parts of the world, we do not need to camp out though Andy suggested that we camp out here.
