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

A stroll by the coast

Day 2
My night's sleep wasn't a pleasant one. Having only slept for only just 2 hours I was already awaken by the shivering coldness~! Unforunately there's no remote...so i had no other choice but to curl myself into a ball but ended up sometime later turning the aircond off instead. *brrrrrrrrr

A few ticks-tocks and shivers, it's finally 6! Emerging from winter's hibernation, we hastily prep our bikes and jump into our cycling gears...for it's RACE DAY!

I went off with the gang to meetup a colleague of mine who also came down to Penang for the ride but wasn't with us on the first day. As we approach the starting point, we should see Penang City Hall lighting up the twilight! It's a lovely sight!


Behold!!


Here's a side shot while I await in line to collect my race number and tee.

Soon after having breakfast, daylight now looms the skies. By now, we can see most of the riders at the starting line but to my dismay, it looks alot lesser than the amount of riders during the AIDS awareness ride in KL the other day. =\

Here's some pics prior before the start of the ride...


Tada! Here's us, four in a line from KL!


Everyone's still waiting, in case your wondering...acrobatic dancers are in front asking everyone to do warmups but the mass just ignored them and mingled away :D


It's not a very well taken picture but take a good look at it. This oldpa registered for the ride only with intents to show off his old bicycles! Vintageeeee! 5 bikes in all! Take note of that dude far left looking at the small-small bike.


Naturally, like him and the many others. They all went yeeha!!!! :D


What a speech? Ok ok, i guess i have time for this. Race number 312, thats me!


No, it's not me taking the snapshot of my final moments before crossing the finish line! I've not even started yet!

Unlike most events, this one started on schedule. Right on the dot at 8...the horn blows away and wer' off!!!!!!!!!!!! I stayed somewhere at the back since I dint want to be a burden and block the rest who is really into this for the race! Furthermore, there's always risk starting out in a big group, since it's such a mess! You'll have riders cutting in from the left, right, back and just about everywhere! But eventually everyone will space out. Thus it's crucial at the start to be extra careful even when your starting at the back. So slowly line by line, I watch the riders take off.

As I carefully make my way through the crowd, just merely reaching a kilometer...here's what happened...


A crash...

Moving on ahead, the first few kilometers takes us past turns and traffic in the heart of georgetown as we made our way past Gurney Drive. In a co-joint effort by marshall on motors with the poilce, they blocked juntures allowing us to break the laws! You definitely wont get this royalty treatment often! ;p

It din't take long before we finally arrive at the road that takes us all the way to Batu Feringghi and to the checkpoint at Teluk Bahang but somehow there is no longer proper escorts. We had to stop for red lights and we had to cycle in single file. It's clear that the road isnt closed at all so we had to cycle by the side of the road inches away from passing vehicles as we took the bends by the coastal pavements! Well, I cant blame them since this is the one and only road, one that stretches for 15km. Closing the road means it had to remain close till noon. Clearly not something they can afford.

Well at least there's the many crazy cyclist on this road and perhaps that's obvious enough for the motorist to be extra careful knowingly that there's a cycling event going on! The hardest stretch along the coast would be the one towards Tanjung Bungah. It's an uphill ride from here and further more the roads are winding; neither us nor the cars from the opposite site can see us taking the corners.. However it eases off once your at BatuFeringghi since the roads are wider.

BUT its not over yet... I still have to paddle paddle paddle...My eyes were focus on the cyclometer, impatiently counting down the KM's before the checkpoint. 3......2......1......Hooray! i finally made it! Reaching the checkpoint in 1hr20mins.


The entrance of the checkpoint at Taman Rimba, Teluk Bahang

Not too long after, Kenan Bible arrives!


The marshall tagging his number to mark his arrival at the checkpoint.


Others awaiting for their friend at the arriaval hall...heh


Time to replenish!


Areeee you readyyy?


Group pic!


Hey unfair! The marshall's cheated...just look at their ride... ;p


Taking a break!


That's the route for those taking the long distance. It's depressing since your greeted with an uphill ride.


And that's the route for those taking the short distance...


Took a detour to the beach on the way back considering that there's alot of time to spare before the cutoff time


Here's one of the shots taken along the coastal stretch. Although this isn't one of the best but it's one of the only few places we could safetly make a stop at the side.


Some more shots...

After taking a few more stops, we finally made our way back; passing by Gurney Drive and then lastly towards Penang City Hall where we crossed the finish line and collected our goodie bags. Inside, there is a medal, certification of participation ,waterbottle, an isotonic drink...nothing much interesting.

We feasted there while waiting for the lucky draw. But sadly we had to wait for two hours since the organizers decided that the lucky draw should only start once the sweepers picked up all the cyclists that did not meet the cutoff time. Since we were all hopeful to win something, we waited. (I was eyeing for the camelbak!) Among the other prizes was 2 bicycles, gloves and tons of helemts...a total of 60 to giveout but i would consider them junk since they are all XL!!!! I doubt anyone there that day could nicely fit in them! It took sooo damm long just to giveout the helmets. The 'winners' dint even felt happy winning the helmet at all! haha

As numbers after numbers was called, none of our lucky numbers was called and we had to resort going back without a prize. It dint matter anyway since we had lotsa fun.

The organizers mentioned that they will do it again next year...will I be coming? Errrr, perhaps. =)