Charity Ride to Kampung Kerawat & Kampung Tonggang (with VOG)

This ride is a charity ride organize by Versys Owner Group (VOG) and Tim Sehelai Baju. It was a visit to aboriginal settlement of Kelawat in Simpang Pulai and Tonggang in Tanjung Rambutan in Perak.

The ride from R&R Rawang were joined by 5 other fellow riders from VOG and we are scheduled to meet with other riders from Ipoh (IVOG) in Simpang Pulai.

Since it is fasting month of Ramadan, the challenge to ride under scoring sun heat and humid condition were greater than any other riding time, we stop once to refresh and relax our feet.

From Simpang Pulai, more riders have joined us before we ride to the settlement

(Credit to Mr. Rizal Jawe Fb Page)

the ride from Simpang Pulai

The event was to hand out traditional malay dresses (baju melayu & baju kurung) to the children of aboriginal people who has converted to Islam. It is a joy seeing these kids with the colorful clothes.

 Their small ones are cute!

We brought them for a short ride around that village and everyone seems delighted

The program finished around 4.00pm and we moved on to the next aboriginal settlement - Kampung Tonggang

scenic view on a bright sunny day in Perak with main range of Titiwangsa in the background

The road leading to the aboriginal settlement of Kampung Tonggang is 95% on tarmac but it is small and with steep slope in some areas

and at last we made it to the village!

and the program begins right after Asar prayer

while most of the riders gathered to listen to the speeches, some of us ride out to check on Kinta river that flows behind this settlement

and I am truly out of word to describe this refreshing 'virgin' river

the original plan was to iftar with the people here but we have decided that the small road was too dangerous to ride at night and head back to Tanjung Rambutan for our iftar.

I would like to thank our organizer (Datin Siti of Tim Sehelai Baju) and VOG for this opportunity to give back to the society in this holy month of Ramadan.

Ride snippets 

Date: 5th July 2014
Rider: About 20 riders from VOG (https://www.facebook.com/groups/293394424031121/)
Distance: 400km
Duration: 10.30am to 11.30pm 
Petrol: 2 x RM30
Meal: RM10 (Iftar)

Kembara Mimbar Warisan V2 2014 (with Pielang Bikers)

I have joined a ride organized by pielang bikers group which visits 3 historical mosque in Melaka. 21 bikers rode in a convoy from Serdang to three different mosques for this program.

The route for this ride:

A briefing on safety and program tentative given by Mr Dzul Taufek before the convoy started.

We exit the NSE at Pedas Linggi and was treated with a beautiful winding road at Lubok Cina

We've arrived at Masjid Qaryah Lubok Cina, Rembau around 11am and a small opening speech and gift ceremony follows. We were then treated with yellow glutinous rice and some condiments. Later we had all the hosts appreciating our convoy

By 12.30pm we started to regroup and move to our second mosque, Masjid Tanah.

This mosque was closed since 2005 and is now currently under the maintenance of Museum Body of Melaka. It is from this mosque that this place has its name, because the original mosque building is built from clay (tanah liat).

After a quick historical briefing and photo session, we moved on to the last mosque, Kampung Hulu Mosque (Masjid Kampung Hulu), which was more than 300 years old.

it was built in 1728 by Samsuddin Arom, assigned by the Dutch administration at that time before it was renovated by Al-Sheikh Omar Hussain Al-Attas.
Riders regroup and ready to head back home

Long stop in between traffic light in Melaka has become our place to take a selfie..

the weather was hot and humid but luckily no showers and thunderstorms throughout the ride.

Ride snippets 

Date: 15th June 2014
Rider: About 21 riders from Pielang Bikers group (pielangbikers.com)
Distance: 370km
Duration: 6 hours 
Petrol: 2 x RM30
Meal: RM0 (Meal was provided by visited mosques)

Ride to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang)

It is the second ride for my wife and this route is a famous day-trip route for riders from Klang valley as many rider group will converge to this small town on weekend.
Instead of heading through a direct route via north south expressway, I am taking a slight detour and exit earlier at Tapah

This exit is one of the entrance to the famous getaway - Cameron Highland but we are heading towards opposite direction

Journey through central Perak is full palm oil plantations and rubber estates and kampung. So roads are small and winding, expect cows laying in the middle of the road 

Tronoh is a small town which had past glory in tin mining. With a cease in mining activities in this area it seems so quiet and empty, so does the town.

We had passed a supposedly tin dredging museum but look like it was a rundown

Nordin Bridge riverside in Parit, Perak. This place was once a place for eating with a good view of Perak river

Passing through the foothills of Gunung Bubu, a lot of durian orchids were in its season so my side pannier is now a fully multi-task carrier transporting all kinds of goods from groceries, supplies and now..durian

Ngah Ibrahim is the man with a glorious past and that is proven with this big mansion just before the turn to Port Weld (Kuala Sepetang). It is now turned into a museum, but still you can appreciate its size, mind you this was built in early 1900s.

We made it to Port Weld just in time for lunch and had a lunch at the famous Mak Jah Mee Udang (still don't get what so special about it)

the small town of Kuala Sepetang is a fisherman village, almost similar to the fishing town of Pulau Ketam

the route going back was a direct route through small towns of Trong and Sitiawan

Raja Permaisuri Bainun bridge entrance is an indicator that you are near Lumut

We made a stop at Teluk Senangin beach and since it is school holiday, many parents are here with their kids. This is a very good place to stroll and relax.

We pass through Sitiawan, which has seen a lot of development, thanks to neighboring Lumut and its shipping industry

Route leading from Sitiawan to Teluk Intan (5) is a straight road with plantation and paddy field

Entrance to Sultan Yusuff bridge, before a junction between Teluk Intan and Bagan Datoh

and finally we ended our ride today with a cold and refreshing cup of cendol - Cendol Durian Borhan of Pasir Penambang

Ride snippets 

Date: 12th June 2014
Rider: Sweetheart & Myself in 1 bike
Distance: 574.8km
Duration: 9 hours 
Petrol: 2.5 x RM30
Meal: RM80

Ride to Temerloh

This ride is initially called the tri-state ride but giving the consideration that I'm in this for a long run and will be crossing a lot more states, I've change this ride name.
This ride route:

 I am familiar with the route up until Raub but beyond that is a new territory. So without a gps, it is a quite a long shot because it isn't a straight one main road all the way until Temerloh.

So I took a wrong turn, instead of heading towards Benta & Jerantut, I'm heading south through Sungai Ruan towards Lanchang. In reality, trunk roads look more confusing than a simple format on google map. Hence, the route is slightly changed and my goal to go into Temerloh along Pahang river is gone and i'm too far out when i realized that i've deviated from the original plan

the weather was scouring hot when i finally reached this restaurant

which only serves this set at lunch

This set cost me about RM12 and believe it or not, this restaurant only serves Patin gulai tempoyak as their lunch menu

Temerloh with Pahang river as a background

road through Bera and Sungai Lui was straight and free from traffic

the journey back trough the winding road of Kuala Klawang was in a heavy downpour with a visibility almost 50m

Ride snippets 

Date: 24th May 2014
Rider: Myself in 1 bike, 2 other riders did not show up that morning
Distance: 480km
Duration: 7 hours 
Petrol: 2 x RM30
Meal: RM50