Weekend ride to Pos Kuala Mu

Pos Kuala Mu is a settlement of Temiar tribe, located about 70km from Sungai Siput, Perak. It is strategically located near the convergence of Sungai Mu and Sungai Perlus which consists of 4 villages, Kampung Besrah, Kampung Gepeh Hulu, Kampung Gepeh Hilir and Kampung Kuala Mu.

In 2013, a project undertaken by Angkatan Tentera Malaysia was completed that upgrades the 16.7km road connection between Pos Legap and Pos Kuala Mu. This upgrades has shorten the travel time from this settlement to Sungai Siput from 8 hours to about 2.5hours and since then, it has become a tourist destination for off-road enthusiast from 2 wheeler to 4x4 wheels.

A series of downpour throughout that week has given me a doubt on the selected date. Weather forecast that weekend was also expecting an overnight rain.

Despite all odds we have decided to proceed as planned and riding with me to Kuala Mu are Syahril and Sallehuddin, both are on Versys 650. We met at R&R Rawang at about 8.30am and departed around 9am on that Saturday morning.

The weather that morning was good and we have plenty of sun along the way up north.

We arrived at Sungai Siput around 11.00am and took an early lunch at Selera D Kebayan restaurant in Chemor.

After a quick petrol refill in Sungai Siput, we head towards Kampung Bawong, where the nice tarmac road ended. It is noon when we started rolling into the off-roads here.

The road leads to Pos Legap is about 65% flat with a combination of loose gravel, red laterite and concrete surface on some climbing section

Land clearing in this area is massive and active logging sites are visible along the road

We stopped and asked for direction as the stretch is unavailable on gps and no signboards

From Pos Legap to Kuala Mu, the road started climbing, a signpost says it’s at 25degrees but it felt more in reality.

Climbing and descending road proven difficult to ride in our road tyres with heavy load of chocolates and clothes for the villagers plus our own supplies.

Sallehuddin first tumble as his rear wheel skidded into soft mud

After the first tumble, Sallehudin took a few more down the road. At this point we are all exhausted and dehydrated as the weather is really hot.

There are small villages along the road

Despite the hardship, all smiles are on board

We arrived at Kampung Besrah around 3.30pm after a lot of stops and rests.

Although this is the first time we met, Tok Batin Hadu greeted us with a big smile.

This was the second big bike expedition here (after SPCT in 2014) and this chief is loving it!

All smiles in Kampung Besrah when we began distributing clothes, chocolates and candies

Tok Batin Hadu then ushered us to the camping site and we camp by the river. The river is very cold as its flows down directly from the mountain range between state borders of Perak and Kelantan.

Unpacking process started and base camp was ready around 5.00pm.

The river is very cold indeed

We started to prepare dinner. On the menu tonight is rice with meat curry and tomatoes.

Setting up camp was swift but I personally felt like a one man circus as we have a flock of children sitting nearby to watch the entire process.

We did share our dinner with local children that night

We toast black pepper sausages as our night snacks

That night around 9pm Tok Batin Hadu came to our camp site with fried tapioca and we started chatting.
He said in the late 70s he used to work in Gombak as a house builder (tukang rumah) with daily salary of RM90. He came back to this village when he was 24 years old and stayed ever since.

He leave us around 10.30pm and we retrieve to our tent.

Morning in the jungle is carnival-like as birds and insects chirping can be heard as early as 6am.
Our breakfast that morning was instant curry mee with coffee.

Our children fans came again this time to watch our packing process.
We gave them all the remaining supplies and all smiles are on their faces

We make a move around 10.30am and toured the village for a quick photography session

Streams of cold water flows in the middle of the village

Sekolah Kebangsaan Kuala Mu is complete with its teacher quarters, which runs on hybrid solar system

Football field with school building and quarters in the background

Entrance leading to Kampung Besrah

Tok Batin Hadu Bin Long house, he has 9 children with a wife

A brand new musolla is under construction

We moved out from this settlement around 12pm

Climbing and descending section.. again

With reduced weight of the bike, riding the same road as yesterday seems much more easier than
before

We arrived at Kampung Bawong around 2pm and after a quick check on our ride before we continue to Chemor.

Despite suffering from a very bad first day, Sallehuddin's bike has suffered only a few minor damages such as bended brake pedal and handle bar.
He is still able to continue the second half of this ride back to KL and that was a commendable feat for both man & machine considering a very bad first day.

Lovely bends between Kampung Bawong and Sungai Siput

 We had a quick lunch in Naina Mohamed restaurant in Chemor.

Journey back was a slow one as it is raining and the traffic is very bad. A hand score of drivers took the left emergency lane and driving dangerously in the slippy highway surface.

We had arrived in Rawang rest area around 5.20pm and said goodbye to each other.

It has been a very memorable journey despite all the hardship during the off-road section.

We are also blessed with good weather in Sungai Siput throughout the weekend which also made this possible as I could not imagine how would heavy bikes on road tyres can climb those over 25 degrees inclination in wet conditions 

Ride snippets:

Rider: Mr. Shahril Zulkifli, Mr. Sallehuddin Aziz & Myself

Distance: 520km

Duration: 2 days

Petrol: RM90 per bike

Date: April 4 - 5, 2015

Update 19th July 2018
The place now has opened a few chalets for public. Please refer below contact details to make reservations:
 En. Saidin: 019-4117281
(Chalet Kg Bersah).

En. Wali: 013-5873847
(Chalet Dusun Kg Kuala Mu).

En. Dah Nan: 011-35807057
(Tapak Perkhemahan Kg. Gapeh)