It was more than a month since my last ride and camp for a break during Ramadan and Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration and the urge to return is snowballing. I have come up with plan to ride to the headwaters of Sungkai River, about 100km north of Kuala Lumpur. The river flows from the southern side of Gunung Batu Putih (2132m) which is also the source of water for at least 2 other rivers which are Sungai Gedong (to the west) and Sungai Bembam (to the north) of the peak.
Rancangan Penempatan Semula (RPS) Jernang is a government program to gather all orang asli folks which are scattered in the forest area to live within a place where government will build facilities like schools, road, clinics and basic amenities like electricity and water.
There are a few settlements of Orang Asli at RPS Jernang which consist of 5 villagers which are Kampung Sat, Kampung Kejau, Kampung Ras, Kampung Gamus and Kampung Tidong of about 2000 people. Entrance to this area is through Pekan Lama Sungkai from Jalan Sungkai Route FT1 and into Jalan Menderang Route A133 towards Kampung Guntong.
This ride will also be a special one as this is the first time I will be joined by rider friends from Singapore, along familiar local circle of riders. Ross, Saini, Jalil & Bernard will join from Singapore, Ejoy from Puchong, Jezz from Shah Alam, Jimm from Sungai Buloh and Cikgu Jasni with Cikgu Joe Min from Perak. The plan is to meet at R&R Rawang before making a move towards Jalan Terusan Utama, Erong and Besout before we will be joined by the two Cikgu at Nasi Bamboo Sungai Klah for lunch.
It was a sunny Saturday morning with ambient temperature around 25°C and after a week of rainy days I am a bit nervous to start the ride. Navigating through plantation trail can be tricky in the rain but that morning I was blessed with a sunny morning to start the ride.
I have arrived at R&R Rawang around 9.50am and read the news about fatal accidents on the Singapore's causeway. Ross texted the group informing that they will be slightly delayed as traffic was very bad on the causeway heading to Johor Bahru after the incident. Jimm and Ejoy arrived slightly after 10am and we chatted while waiting for the rest from Singapore. Jezz has confirmed that he won’t be joining this morning and we will depart without him.
first rendezvous point at Tol Rawang
Ross, Saini, Jalil & Bernard arrived 17 minutes to 11am and we have a quick chuckles among us as this is the first time we have met and all previous interactions were on Facebook and Whatsapp. Before the departure, I have gathered the riders for a small briefing on safety and do & don’t during the entire ride.
We departed towards B27 Jalan Batu Arang around 11am and the traffic was heavy heading towards Emerald. After a quick refill at Petronas Jalan Batu Arang, we rode towards Bestari Jaya and after Selangor Fruits Farm we turned right towards B74 Jalan Timur Tambahan towards Bestari Jaya passing Universiti Selangor (Unisel) and B42 Jalan Raja Musa heading to Tanjung Karang.
The route surface is in good condition although most of the bridge on the route curved upwards posing hazards to speeding bikes. After a right turn we rode towards Jalan Mawar to enter the start of the Ban Canal (Jalan Terusan Utama) and the group has their first offroad section here.
The canal that serves as water irrigation system for Selangor paddy field, is filled with water and at certain areas overflown into the road shoulder. The weather was hot with normal traffic of local people making their way on the road.
We then turned right at Sungai Panjang junction towards B44 route towards Behrang.
15km into the road we’ve turned left to Erong Estate to make a shortcut to Felda Gunung Besout.
Shortcut Erong Plantation Waypoint
GPS N3.69823 E101.22303
We took 15 minutes of rest to drink and reduce out tyre pressure at the junction. The plantation road is made of compacted gravel with sands and quite a number of tractor and lorries making their way on the route. We were stopped at a security gate just before the plantation area and I told the guard on duty that we were on our way to Besout and he let us past.
Bridge over Sungai Bernam
Bernard & Jalil waiting for Ross & Jimm
At the plantation, 2 of the riders were separated from the main group after a few junctions and Saini went back to look for Ross and Jimms.
We were regrouped shortly after and we rode to the 2nd security barrier just after the plantation landing strip. I told the guard on duty about our plan.
Photo Credit to Ejoy
He told us that we were on the wrong direction and we made a u-turn towards kampong orang asli for a shortcut towards Besout.
Shortcut through Kg Orang Asli (Erong to Besout) Waypoint
GPS N3.78275 E101.22056
The route through the orang asli settlement is a tarmac surfaced but eventually get worse as we entered Felda Gunung Besout palm oil plantation. We passed a group of plantation workers with a puzzled gaze towards us and I thought they’re wondering what we are doing in the area. I have nodded with a smile and hand wave although I doubt that most of them noticed it under the smoked screen of my helmet.
We made it out to Jalan Gunung Besout and made our way to Jalan Pekan Lama Sungkai. By now the weather was really hot and my bald head was dripping with sweat.
By 2pm, we have arrived at Restoran Nasi Bamboo and Cikgu Jasni was already there while Cikgu Joe Min arrived about 10 minutes later from Seri Iskandar. There are not that many customers in the restaurant and they’re plenty of empty tables. I have grilled mutton with Kerabu Pucuk Paku on top of my Nasi Bamboo with lemon coconut water.
Nasi Bamboo Sungai Klah (Lunch)
GPS N3.99185 E101.31305
Photo Credit to Ejoy
After lunch and much needed rest, around 3pm we made a move towards Kampung Guntong Route A133 and RPS Jernang. The road towards the settlement is a tarmac surface until Sungkai National Wildlife Rescue Centre and loose rocks with compacted dirt afterwards until we reach the village.
The route runs along Sungkai River between mountain ranges along the river delta all the way to the village.
Photo Credit to Jezz
We have arrived at SK RPS Jernang around 3.30pm and took a group photo.
We've made it
I have met the local guard at the front gate to inquiry about Tok Batin and he has agreed to help us to locate him. We’ve met Tok Batin Ramli shortly afterwards and after an introduction of our group and objectives, he has agreed to bring us to his house to meet the villagers.
Tok Batin Ramli (first on the right) giving a thumb up
Tok Batin Ramli brought us to Kampung Ras which houses about 35 families and a small convenient store. We distributed our gifts of chocolates, biscuits, soccer balls and children books to the local community. We then asked permission to camp by the river and received consent by Tok Batin to proceed.
Left to right: Ross, Ejoy, Cikgu Jasni, Tok Batin & Jimm
The last hurdle to the campsite is a rotten wooden bridge on 4 rusty i-beams across Sungai Sungkai. Seems scary but all of us made it across safely and we set up camp beneath palm oil trees by the river. It has started to drizzle when we began setting up camp but soon the weather clears.
Photo Credit to Cikgu Joe Min
Campsite Sungai Sungkai (Risda Estate)
GPS N4.06306 E101.42520
Bernard brought a queen size air mattress with pump
Jimm's tent setup, fit for one
Photo Credit to Jimm
Cikgu Joe Min's hammock setup
Photo Credit to Cikgu Joe Min
By 5pm, most of us were dipping in the icy cold and clear river beside our tents which has a steady & strong current.
Photo Credit to Cikgu Jasni
The water also remains clear after the rain, an important indicator of the health of the river. Bernard was busy collecting firewood from surrounding area with little help from others and managed to lit the wet and damped woods by using a special tepee heating technique.
Photo Credit to Cikgu Joe Min
Photo Credit to Saini
Dinner that night was on our own and I have a Nasi Lemak Brahim while the rest have instant noodles and Cikgu Jasni brought smoked meat with freshly cooked white rice. We chatted around the campfire and by 10.30pm everyone retrieved to their tents while Cikgu Joe Min set up a hammock between two palm oil trees.
Photo Credit to Saini
Bernard was not there when we took this photo as he went to sleep very early.
It was a cold morning with ambient temperature around 23°C and the weather was clear all night. I have prepared instant noodles for breakfast and Cikgu Jasni cut an apple.
Photo Credit to Saini
Sungkai River
To our surprised Jezz finally showed up while we were having breakfast. He said after he managed to fix an engine problem, he have departed from Shah Alam around 5am.
Jezz in full riding suit back facing the camera
Photo Credit to Sani
Photo Credit to Sani
Left to right: Jezz, Jimm & Jalil
Left to right: Sani, Jezz & Bernard
After breakfast, we took a dip in the river and for some of us it is posing time. Jimm was reluctant at first to join but after being assured of the risks, he had joined for a dip & pose. Abang Jalil managed to stack 8 stones on the rock despite he was dipping in waist deep chilled river water.
Photo Credit to Saini
By 10am, we have finished packing and gathered for a group photo and gravity-defying moments.
Left to right: Jimm, Bernard, Sani, Jezz, Cikgu Jasni, Ejoy, Ross, Cikgu Joe Min, myself & Jalil
We stopped on the way out to distribute the remaining gifts to the local community and spend a brief moment with them waiting for Jimm. Jimm had missed the main group when we made a u-turn and climbed up a junction to a kampung. He went all the way back to Kampung Sat before meeting Ejoy on a mission to rescue him.
Photo Credit to Jezz
We departed soon after and stop by Petronas Sungkai for a refill and another break. Around 11.16am we departed to Bidor through Route FT1 to have lunch at Mee Kari Ramli. We were very lucky to arrive early as we were the last group to be accepted as the food has runs out of stock for the latter group of arrivals.
Mee Kari Ramli, Bidor
GPS N4.10666 E101.29537
Around 1pm, we said goodbye to Cikgu Jasni & Cikgu Joe Min whom will ride north while the rest of us will ride south. As we entered the North South Expressway E1, Jimm and Ejoy were leading and disappeared while I trail the lion group to Rawang.
The ride and camp trip was completed without any untoward incidents and everyone made it back safely. Although we didn’t made it to the targeted campsite, to prevent any unnecessary conflict or issues, we have camped at the area told by Tok Batin nearby the Risda plantation worker. The journey through Ban Canal, Erong Plantation and Felda Gunung Besout was also smooth and the road condition were immaculate and pose no unmanageable threat even to our green offroad riders.
It is a good comeback and I do enjoyed every second of it. I wish all the participating riders enjoyed as much as I did and created their own sweet memories from this ride.
Ride snippets:
Riders:
1. Jezz – Honda RS150R
2. Cikgu Jasni – Kawasaki Versys 650
3. Cikgu Joe Min – Kawasaki Versys 650
4. Ejoy – Yamaha FZ150
5. Jimms – BMW F800GS
6. Bernard Ling – BMW GS1200LC
7. Roslan ‘Ross’ – Suzuki Vstrom 1000
8. Corporal Saini – Honda NC700X
9. Tuan Jalil – Honda CB400X
10. Rashidin – Kawasaki Versys 650
Distance: 335km
Date: 30th June – 1st July 2018
Average moving speed: 69km/h
Lowest temperature: 23°C (Campsite)
Highest temperature: 37°C (Sungkai)
Expenditures:
Petrol: RM60
Food: RM18 - Lunch
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