It connects 4 Orang Asli villages (KOA) which are KOA Chincin, KOA Sungai Sempat & KOA Titom that has about 700 people mostly from Semai ethnic. Most villages nestled by the riverbank of Sungai Jelai Kecil with elevation above 800m from sea level has a mild high altitude tropical weather with temperature ranging from 30°C to 10°C and 80% relative humidity.
The ride plan is to ride to Pos Betau through Karak,
Bentong, Sungai Koyan and camp at a site about 1km from Pos Titom. This is
my first ride after more than two months of break during Ramadan & Syawal.
During this break, reading and watching ride reports from my ride colleagues
honestly is really painful and I am so relieved to back on the bike. Joining me
were Ijal, Abang Jani, Ivan, Ali, Zaidi, Ibrahim, Haza, Rein, Zam & Uncle. At
least four of these bikers will ride out on the same day and the rest are
camping at Pos Titom.
Ijal who was riding on 1986 Honda C70, departed from Puchong
around 4am and waited for the rest of us at Petron Sungai Koyan. Abang Jani,
Ivan, Zaidi, Ali & me met up at BHPetrol Lebuhraya Karak around 8am and we
departed soon after. The temperature that Saturday morning is around 26°C
and the weather was clear. Traffic on Karak Highway is normal and smooth
heading to Karak toll and we ride smoothly to Bentong.
We arrived at Petron Sungai Koyan around 10.00am and RS3
riders (Haza, Rein, Uncle & Zam) with Ijal has already arrived earlier.
Ibrahim who was riding from Bertam, Penang alone and he hasn’t arrived yet when we
departed around 10.35am. At this point, I have concluded that Ibrahim was
unable to join us.
When we arrived at Pos Betau rest area to have lunch, RS3
riders were separated from us and they went straight to Pos Lenjang. We departed
around 11.20am and it was scouring hot and humid when we entered the road
leading to Pos Lenjang.
Waypoint 1 Pos Betau
GPS 4.250585, 101.707721
The GPS signal wasn’t so clear and I led the team into a few
wrong junctions. It took a while, after a few stops and asking direction from
the villagers and we were finally on the correct path.
Halfway through the
route we met all RS3 riders. They suffered a few falls and the morale was very low. We took a rest on the road for a few minutes. The more experienced riders were soon ahead and I
stayed with Uncle and Rein.
Ivan giving his tips on offroad-ing
Nongkrong kang?
The road were very small, with a lot of uneven
holes and overgrown canopy of trees.
Despite the absence of rain and hot
weather, there are at least 4 mud poles and it was a lot of fun passing through
them!
Uncle dropped his RS3
Around 1am and 5km from the Lenjang – Titom junction, we
were regrouped again and rested under a big tree. A few local children joined us.
I shared my
kitkat with them and they were very happy. After a much need rest and replenished
energy, we continued and finally arrived at Pos Titom around 2.45pm.
We went to
meet Tok Batin Ramli to distribute used clothes that I brought in and asked for
permission to camp. The noon was hot and the weather is around 28°C
Photo Credit to Rein
Photo Credit to Rein
We hang out with Tok Batin Ramli and his children
(Photo Credit to Rein)
There is a school at this village powered by hybrid solar
energy and the villagers are relying on solar energy for the power supply.
We made it!
The campsite is an opening on the riverbank of Sungai Ineik,
with steady stream of crystal clear & cool water flowing from Ulu Jelai
mountain ranges.
Campsite Pos Titom
GPS N4.28155 E101.51645
The road leading to Pos Titom crosses Sungai Ineik on a nice
flat concrete block and flowing river water on top. Abang Jani, Ivan, Zaidi
& Ali departed soon after they finish cooling down in the water and we
began setting up camp.
Photo Credit to Ivan
Uncle RS3
Around 4.30pm, our camp were shocked when Ibrahim arrived
with a villager. He said he got a problem back home and unable to depart earlier.
He arrived at Pos Betau waypoint around 2pm and began riding alone until he
found a local man on a cub, whom agreed to lead him here. We were relieved that
he has arrived safely despite this is his first offroad ride.. Kudos Cikgu
Ibrahim!
the river was very cold & refreshing
a local man with his new bike
We aren't the only one excited by the river
a tiger in its habitat
I began cooking oxtail curry and white rice around 5pm and
the temperature began to drop. This is my first time preparing curry in a
jungle, as we normally brought canned food for dinner. Thank you Abang Jani for bringing Ayam Pansuh for us.
Photo Credit to Haza
tonight's menu is oxtail curry & ayam pansuh
After sunset, we began chatting and eating by a fire pit under
the clear night sky.
Rein shared his work experience testing radio with the
navy on the sea. Around 9.30pm, Haza prepared coffee and uncle begin to prepare
his sleeping bag. I retrieved to my tent around 10.30pm and it was a very cold
night. From the initial four guys sleeping under the stars, uncle was the only
man sleeping outside through the night.
The temperature continues to drop and
it was 12.3C when I checked around 6.05am.
The next day we prepared our own breakfast and I have
instant noodle with coffee. We began clearing our campsite and everything were
packed around 9.30am. I took Ibrahim to the village school for pictures and
regrouped with the rest soon after.
Photo Credit to Ijal
We made a move around 10.00am. On the way
out, we stopped by a suspension bridge for photo session.
Photo Credit to Rein
It was 11.00am when we arrived at the raft river crossing
junction. Ijal’s was the first to cross the river on a raft maneuvered by 3
local boys.
All of us followed soon after and it was a really great experience.
Raft river crossing
GPS 4.31355, 101.63584
Photo Credit to Ijal
Photo Credit to Ijal
Photo Credit to Ijal
The road after the crossing was a different road from yesterday and it was 10km
of logging road with red soil base and compacted rock.
We were fortunate that it didn’t rain that day as there are a lot of steep sections that will be difficult to pass if it was wet. Only one mud pole area on this road and on dry condition, it was easier than yesterday’s.
We arrived at the waypoint around 1.30pm and everyone was
very happy to complete the offroad sections!
Waypoint 2
GPS 4.36381, 101.65105
We headed to Shell Ringlet to refill
petrol and tire pressure and to Brinchang food court for lunch. The temperature at Tanah Rata was 24°C and the weather is cloudy. I said my
goodbye here and head back to Rawang through Tapah and North South expressway.
I made another stop at Behrang and arrived home around 6.00pm.
It feels great to be back riding after a short break and a
good company to ride and camp is an added bonus. I hope that the jungle
surrounding place will be preserved and the river will still be crystal clear
for years to come. With the fast diminishing forest reserve in Peninsular Malaysia,
I can only wish that I will be back at the same area after 5 years and still be
amazed by the fresh atmosphere and lovely people that I met during this trip.
Ride snippets
Ride & Campers:
1. Rashidin Kawasaki Versys 650
2. Ibrahim Triumph Tiger 800 XRx
3. Ijal Honda C70
4. Haza KTNS RS3
5. Rein KTNS RS3
6. Zam KTNS RS3
7. Uncle KTNS RS3
Day-riders:
8. Abang Jani BMW F800 GS
9. Ivan Aprillia RVX550
10. Zaidi Yamaha XT660R
11. Ali BMW F800 GS
Distance: 450km
Duration: 2 days
Petrol: RM70
Date: 29th - 30th July 2017
Average moving speed: 51km/h
Lowest temperature: 12.3°C (Campsite Pos Titom)
Highest temperature: 36°C (Petron Sungai Koyan)
