Sunday, February 1, 2009

Batu Arang

Me and my colleagues tried out a new route today, venturing into the area around Batu Arang. Initially we plan to go to Kuala Selangor but we took the shorter one instead since it was nearning noon and it will take probably another 3hrs to complete if we had gone to KS.

I'll write more about it and post up the pics once i get my hands on them ;]

[Edit] 3.FEB.09 - Here's the full story!

Wer' supposed to be riding at Hulu Langat that weekend, doing the usual route that starts from the base at Lookout Point heading towards Sg. Gabai waterfall and back. But since BigD and B couldnt make it, we decided then to try a new route. This time...doing one of the common PCC's route around Ijok.

The actual route starts from Centrepoint to Batu Arang. That in all takes 117KM! It's too much for us to dig in currently, so we plotted an alternative route and decided to do a loop around Batu Arang which will take us to Batang Berjuntai where we will have the 'infamous kopi-ais to die for'.

The day started early with everyone arriving on time...yes, for the very first time!!! I wonder if the meetup point had anything to do with it. *We had dimsum that morning :D

Just right past 7, we drove straight towards to our starting point at Batu Arang. There are a few ways to get there but I've chosen to go on the route that the cyclist would take and not suprisingly we saw few pockets of cyclists on the way there. I was quite amazed to find that the route it's actually quite nice, especially this one particular section in Jalan Kuala Selangor which is a few kilometers prior the intersection to Batu Arang town. That stretch there was hilly and we can see rolling hills of palm oil trees! Too bad MH dint take any pictures of those! I thought he would had snap afew! arff...

< I'm sorry ppl, but you will have to picture that place I speak of in your mind, i'll promise to replace this spot with that picture whenever I do get a chance to come by there again. Think of BOH plantation except that it's not teas but palm oil ;p >

Probably this could help you visualize...


Anyhow here's the route we took that day.


Btw I'll like to thank MH beforehand for the pics. I left my old chunky camera at home since I was just too lazy to dangle it over my neck. I'll have to get a new compact one day! In fact I almost got myself a Lumix Fx180 a few days back. I was contemplating then; having a difficult time to bring authority back to a mind that is split in two as one side gives into desires while the other half is trying convince me that it's something i dont need. But I guess it's just too bad/lucky that the shop dint have the color I wanted. So that sealed my decision! hahaha. i know i could always jump right off to another shop, but the thoughts having to haggle my way through again, tires me.

Btw, here are some of the select pictures taken that day. Unfortunately, the lens was filled with moist thus ealier shots from the day turned out very foggy.


Us right before start at Batu Arang. It took us abit to decide on a place to park. Being here the first time, we were left clueless but we ended up parking in front of some food stalls which is at the roundabout which is also just right in front of the police station. But anyhow the next time if we do come here again, we'll park at the school nearby. There's much more space there.


The first 10meters!


There is a web of roads here that’s not on google maps, so I had to triangulate my location to make sure I’m going down the right path


Something stands out in this picture


Here’s generally how the road looks like from Point B to C


It’s a long stretch


Us again




KY: You both look odd here.


Me running over to take my bike


Better now? :D


While waiting for KY to setup for the next few shots, we wondered off to look at the scene behind us. I wonder what we were looking then, perhaps the small trees/bushes that I kept asking what fruit it grows


Suppose to be a dusun…I don’t see much except for banana trees


Sadly the Selangor Fruit Farm was closed that Sunday…else it would have been a great refreshing pit stop. We’ll definitely have to come here one day to taste the fruits


That’s a hugeeeeeeee beeeeeeeeeee hiveeeeeeeee. A hive that size…do think a zillion times before you throw a stone at it


@Batang Berjuntai Town. It's just too bad i'm not sure where the "infamous kopi ais that is to die-for" is located so instead we settled for mamak to have another round of breakfast!

From Batang Berjuntai town, we were suppose to head towards to Kuala Selangor before making our way to Ijok before ending the ride back at Batu Arang. That in all checks in at 78KM. However, we decided not to take the intersection off to Kuala Selangor since it was getting close to noon and we estimate that it'll take us quite some time to complete it thus we cut straight right back to Ijok which brings us to a mere 38KM which it took us 2.2Hrs (ride time) to complete.


As far as the eye can see…this is a 7km straight-flat road down to Ijok


Reaching at the intersection before turning left to Batu Arang


That’s the back view of the current route…that means wer’ not going downhill. This route lacks downhill rides :(


I personally like this shot.






Ok…admittedly we were just snapping away since there’s nothing much else to do


Definitely making this as the album cover


Just 4 more KM to go before Batu Arang!

Just abit further from the last point we stop, we snapped away again! Hahaha, here are some more!





“Say cheese!”


The brick factory at Batu Arang town


Finally back at the starting point and it’s time to pack up! I remember I used to struggle trying to take out the front, back tyres before placing them back in the car but I’m getting quite efficient doing it already without breaking a sweat. Anyhow I’d still want to get the bike carrier one day. Too bad the one I wanted doesn’t fit nicely on the back of the satria or on any hatchback cars for that matter


I’ll always have this ‘tattoo’ of the chain on my right leg. At times, it’ll be still there a few days later since I’m lazy to scrub it off


Two bikes at the back of the hood! It could fit three. I tried that once before, a puzzling Nightmare.

Ok, that's the end of it. I'll like to come back here one day and go all the way to Kuala Selangor to visit the lighthouse and the fort!! Till then! Kringg Kringgg

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