2015 - Cycling 1,659km around peninsula Malaysia

1,659km Charity Cycling Ride around peninsula Malaysia (10th-23rd Mar. 2015)

Congratulations to all the four Sitiawan cyclists (L-R: Dato Doh Jee Chai, Ting Kong Hing, Tan Chee Seong aka Ah Choii and Sam Tian Hoong) who have all achieved incredible success in finishing the gruelling 1,659 km road journey around peninsula Malaysia in 13 days from 10th to 22nd March 2015. Well done to you all and for kindly raising RM13,932.00 for Persatuan Kebajikan Orang Cacat Manjung (PKOCM) Sitiawan,Perak. This is the fifth year that Tan Chee Seong (team leader) has cycled for charity. Last year they raised RM6,000.00 for PKOCM.


The Chairman of PKOC, Dr.Manjit Sandhu and PKOC staffs were there to cheer the cyclists.






Members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team.


Members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team.


Members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team.



Day.01 (10 Mac 2015) – Sitiawan to Lenggong, Perak (130km)

The cyclists were flagged off at TKC Southern at about 8am in front to the Tesco Supermarket, Jalan Lumut, Sitiawan. There was a large crowd that gathered to witness the flagging off of the four cyclist duly accompanied by members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team. The Chairman of PKOC, Dr.Manjit Sandhu and PKOC members were there to cheer the cyclists.

For the first day, the cyclist cycled a total of about 130km and passed through the following towns: Ayer Tawar, Beruas, Manong, Kuala Kangsar, and Sauk before arriving at Lenggong. Lenggong is a town in Perak, Malaysia. It is situated about 75 km north of Ipoh.

Time of departure: 8am
Time of arrival at destination: about 3pm
Stayed at Soon Lee Hotel (Mr Ng 013 4294545)





Kuala Kangsar is the royal town of Perak, Malaysia, located at the downstream of Kangsar River, where it flows into the Perak River. It is the main town in the administrative district of Kuala Kangsar.





The road to Lenggong is surrounded mostly by oil palm estates and jungles. As cows and buffalo are part of the agriculture, they are often seen along the road. The jungles (about million years old) are now in danger of heavy illegal logging.

Day.02 (11 Mac 2015) – Lenggong to Pulau Banding Gerik, Perak (90km)

This morning the cyclists waited for JC and from Sitiawan to join them in the 90km ride passing through Gerik before getting to a floating hotel in Pulau Banding for the night. Gerik is a district capital town of Hulu Perak district in Perak, Malaysia. It is approximately 130 km north of Ipoh city and 120 km east of Butterworth, Penang.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 12.30pm
Stayed at a floating hotel in Pulau Banding


L-R: Dato Doh Jee Chai, Tan Chee Seong and Ting Kong Hing.




 



The Pulau Banding Bridge.


Banding Island (Pulau Banding) is an artificial island within Lake Temenggor, Perak.


Stayed at a floating hotel in Pulau Banding.


The event was published in "My Sinchew" newspaper the next day.

Day.03 (12 Mac 2015) – Pulau Banding Gerik to Tanah Merah, Kelantan (130km)

The 130km road journey was passing through Ayer Lanas to get to Tanah Merah. Tanah Merah (meaning Red Land) is a territory and town in the state of Kelantan in northeast Malaysia. The main town is Bandar Tanah Merah situated nearby Sungai Kelantan. It is bordered by Pasir Mas in the north, Machang to the East, Kuala Krai to the South East, Jeli to the South West and Thailand in the West.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 3pm
Stayed at Homestay Tanah Merah










Historically Tanah Merah used to be a capital of a kingdom called Chi Tu. In the Chinese Sui Dynasty annals of the 7th century describe an advanced kingdom called Chi Tu ("Red Earth") in the area now called Kelantan. The ancient name for Kelantan was "Raktamrittika", meaning "Red Earth" — this was later changed to "Sri Wijaya Mala".


 
Day.04 (13 Mac 2015) – Tanah Merah to Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu (150km)

The 150km road journey today was passing through Machang, Jerteh, and Setiu. Machang is a territory of Kelantan bordered by the districts of Kota Bharu to the north, Pasir Puteh to the east, Tanah Merah to the west and Kuala Krai to the south. Jerteh is a town in the state of Terengganu and is a commercial town in Besut district. It is near the border with Kelantan. Setiu is one of the districts in Terengganu bordered by Besut to the north, Hulu Terengganu to the west, and on the south, Kuala Nerus.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at Kuala Terengganu China town at 2.30pm
Stayed at Inn Hotel








Viewed from the hanging bridge to Pulau Warisan towards Chinatown. The area had been reclaimed from Terengganu River between 2009 -2011.


KT's Chinatown is located along Jalan Bandar (formerly known as Jalan Kampung Cina) at the river mouth of Terengganu River that empties into the South China Sea.


The town is small but charming with colorful shop houses along both sides of the road that carries traditional flavor. Morning mini markets, butcher shops, kopitiam shops, cafes, restaurants and so on can be found in this humble little town which offers local delicacies from mostly Chinese food.

Day.05 (14 Mac 2015) – Kuala Trengganu to Cukai, Terengganu (157km)


The 157km road journey today was passing through Dungun and Kerteh. Dungun is a coastal district of Terengganu. Kuala Dungun used to be an iron mining town in the 1940s.

Kerteh is a town in the district of Kemaman in southern Terengganu, about 30 km or 20 minutes' drive north of Chukai. Kerteh is the base of operations for Petronas in Terengganu, overseeing the oil platform operations off the state's coast as well as petrochemicals production and crude oil refining in nearby Paka. Kerteh is served by the Kerteh Airport, a small airport catering mostly to helicopter flights to offshore oil platforms and charter plane flights for Petronas staff to Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah Airport near Kuala Lumpur.

Chukai is the administrative town of Kemaman District, in the state of Terengganu. The name "Chukai" means 'taxes' in Malay. The town is so named due to its position near the estuary of the Kemaman River, whereby taxes and levies were imposed on riverine traffic, especially during the British colonial period.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 2pm
Stayed at Kemaman Seaview Hotel Tel:09-8596337


This 2014 beautiful turtle statue at a shop here was duly sponsored by the Terengganu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.












Dungun is a coastal district of Terengganu. Kuala Dungun used to be an iron mining town in the 1940s. Iron ore was mined in a small town inland called Bukit Besi located to the west, while Kuala Dungun served as the port where the ore was transferred onto ships.


Beautiful sunset view of the South China Sea.



Day.06 (15 Mac 2015) – Cukai to Pekan, Pahang (106km)

The 106km road journey today was passing through Balok. Balok beach is one of the finest beaches in the East-coast located 15km north of Kuantan, Pahang. For surfer lovers Balok Beach is a good choice as this place is known as the paradise for avid wind surfers.

Pekan located on the banks of the Pahang River is the Royal Town of Pahang. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan. Pekan is also the hometown of the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and the current Prime Minister of Malaysia; Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is also Pekan's current Member of Parliament.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 12.30pm
Stayed at Pekan Budget Hotel tel: 09 4223727
















Day.07 (16 Mac 2015) – Pekan to Mersing, Johor (150km)

The 150km road journey today was passing through Endau. The cyclists had lunch with Ting Kong Hing’s friend at Endau and then continued cycling to Mersing.

Mersing town is one of only two major towns situated in the eastern half of Johor state (the other being Kota Tinggi), on the main trunk road that connects southern as well as eastern Johor with the east coast of Pahang state including Pahang's capital Kuantan (part of Federal Route 3), and it is the main departure point for ferries to the nearby offshore islands such as Pulau Tioman.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 3pm
Stayed at Embassy Hotel




Endau is a small town on the northern tip of east Johor and the southern tip of Pahang. It is known for being one of the largest fishing ports on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia.


Had lunch with Ting Kong Hing’s friend at Endau and then continued cycling to Mersing.







Day.08 (17 Mac 2015) – Mersing to Johor Bahru, Johor (137km)

The 137km road journey today was passing through Jementah, Kota Tinggi and Ulu Tiram. Sam Tian Hoong had his bicycle rear tyre tube punctured. And also today JC stopped cycling as he had to go back to Sitiawan to work.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 2pm
Stayed at Fern Lodge Hotel, Johor Bahru




















Kota Tinggi is a town in the state of Johor located around 42km north-east of Johor Bahru, on the road to Mersing. Kota Tinggi can also be reached by ferry from Changi terminal in Singapore where tourists need to pass through the immigration check point at Tanjung Belungkur ferry terminal before their arrival.



Day.09 (18 Mac 2015) – Rest Day in Johor Bahru
Day.10 (19 Mac 2015) – Johor Baru to Muar, (151km)


The 151km road journey today was passing through Pontian and Batu Pahat. Batu Pahat enjoys the name of "Northern Johor Shopping Paradise" due to the rapid development of those shopping malls and hypermarkets.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at Muar Parit Jawa at about 2.30pm
Stayed at Petron Petrol Kios Hotel





Pontian is a small town on the south-western part of Johor. There are in fact two towns by that name, Pontian Kechil and Pontian Besar to the north of it. In general, Pontian refers to Pontian Kechil, which is the administrative centre for Pontian District. Both towns are named after the rivers that flow through them, Sungai Pontian Kechil and Sungai Pontian Besar.











Day.11 (20 Mac 2015) – Muar to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan (145km)

The 145km road journey today was passing through Jasin, Tampin and Rembau. While passing through Masjid Tanah, Sam’s bicycle rear tyre tube punctured again.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: about 2.30pm
Stayed at Arang Inn




Malacca, dubbed "The Historic State", is the third smallest Malaysian state after Perlis and Penang. It is located in the southern region of the Malay Peninsula, next to the Straits of Malacca.






While passing through Masjid Tanah, Sam’s bicycle rear tyre tube punctured again.




The capital of Negeri Sembilan is Seremban. The royal capital is Seri Menanti in the district of Kuala Pilah. Other important towns are Port Dickson and Nilai.




Port Dickson, or PD to locals, is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia.



Day.12 (21 Mac 2015) – Port Dickson to Kuala Selangor, Selangor (163km)

Today the road journey of 163km was the longest and passed through Sungai Pelek, Tanjong Sepat, Pantai Morib, Banting, Klang, Jeram and Asam Jawa.

The cyclists arrived at Banting and had lunch with Mr Lim a friend of Kong Hing and he contributed Rm500 towards the funds. Mr Lim is the owner of Farmasi Banting. In Kuala Selangor, the cyclist had dinner with members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team who came to join in the last leg ride to Sitiawan the next morning.

Time of departure: about 7am
Time of arrival at destination: 5pm






Morib was formerly a popular beach located in Selangor. Morib Beach (Pantai Morib) is a quiet seaside tourist attraction which is historically noted for being one of the first landing points on the west coast for the British and Indian Army liberation forces during end of World War II in 1945. It is a small but suitable beach for swimming.












In Kuala Selangor, the cyclist had dinner with members of the Sitiawan Cycling Team who came to join in the last leg ride to Sitiawan the next morning.

Day.13 (22 Mac 2015) – Kuala Selangor to Persatuan Kebajikan Orang Cacat Manjung (PKOCM) Sitiawan, Perak. (150km)

Today is the last leg of the 150km ride passing through Tanjong Karang, Sekinchan, Sungai Besar, Sabak Bernam and Hutang Melintang.

In the morning, the cyclists waited for more of the Sitiawan Cycling Team members like Dr Goh, JC and friends to join in for the last leg of the route back to Sitiawan at 7am. On the way, Tan Chee Seong’s rear tube punctured again. And along Batu 10 near Lekir there was a very heavy rain, however, the cyclist continued cycling and it was the only day that the cyclists encounter rain.

The cyclists who were all in high spirit finally arrived at PKOCM at about 2.10pm as there was already a big crowd to cheer and welcome back the cyclists after 13 days (f 1,659km ride around Peninsula Malaysia. We were all there together with staffs of PKOCM to take photographs and to pat on the back of the cyclists.

Our heartiest congratulations again to all the four cyclists (Tan Chee Seong, Sam Tian Hoong, Ting Kong Hing and Dato Doh Jee Chai) who have all achieved incredible success in finishing the gruelling 1,659 km road journey around peninsula Malaysia in 13 days. They should have the support of the whole cycling fraternity and the nation on achieving this historic milestone. Well done to you all.


Ms Woo Ning Hoe the wife of cyclist Ting Kong Hing was there in the morning to cheer and to give moral support to the husband to ride the last leg to Sitiawan.






















Crossing the bridge over Perak River near to Teluk Intan


Riding through thunderstorm rain along Batu 10 near Lekir.


Riding through thunderstorm rain along Batu 10 near Lekir.


The Chairman of PKOC Dr.Manjit Sandhu was there to receive the cyclists for finishing the 1659km road journey this afternoon.




Ting Kong Hing duly thanked the team leader Tan Chee Seong (Ah Choii) and team mates Sam Tian Hoong and Dato Doh Jee Chai for the fantastic team work and team spirit during the long ride around the country. He also thanked his very appreciative wife Ms Woo Ning Hoe, PKOC, Sitiawan Cycling Team for the moral support and the public for the honorable donations.


Ting Kong Hing was asked by Ching Neng Bin how he felt right now and he responded: “It’s an incredible feeling! It’s crazy! This is my first longest ride around peninsula Malaysia….. The road journey was simply tremendous and very picturesque. We are lucky that we did not encounter any threat, only a few tyre punctures. We all feel strong and healthy right now. I will do it again next year.”


We were all there together with staffs of PKOCM to take photographs and to pat on the back of the cyclists.













Message from Tan Chee Seong (Ah Choii)

To all my Facebook and cycling friends who have kindly contributed funds for this year’s Charity Ride, I Tan Chee Seong (Ah Choii) would sincerely thank all of you very much for your financial support and encouragement in making us to successfully complete the 13 days ride safely. God bless you all. I am pleased to inform as follows:

Rm15,452.00 total amount collected
Rm 1,520.00 total expenses incurred Rm13,932.00 donated to Persatuan Kebajikan Orang Cacat Manjung


 

 

 

 
 
 
 
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9 comments:

  1. It gives me a fright! Thnking that NB Ching has once again proven to the world that he's an ageless Iron Man. Scrolling down to the last pictures only then I see Ching there. Looks like NB has been doing the recording of the event-the 1,659km cycling feat as a support and supply team-mate. (Maybe in a truck). Great team effort, Cheers to the bold attempt-from Perak to Pahang and to Johore and back. Once again I thank NB for bringing us a candid report of an outdoor challenging expedition. Regards from Alan Kok, KL.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi there Mr Alan Kok, I don't think I could cycle that distance. I must humbly admit that I am not getting younger although in my brain I may think that I can do it. Haha I better go backpacking.... Thanks for your comment.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ramakrishna Ramachandran29 March, 2015

    Mr. Ching, Congratulations. Send my sincere greetings to all the cycling members and support members. Thank you. Best regards.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi there,
    Was awesome trips and you did well job from there. well done for all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Lee Kai Eng05 April, 2015

    Hi, Mr. Ching

    I have been following your block on backpacking trips and surprise to see this charity cycling suddenly appeared in your block. Great job and admire your good work.

    Lee Kai Eng/Penang
    President of Apex Club #8

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Ching,
    I read with great interest that you guys are gonna do it again next year...can I join? I'm pretty interested!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hi Terence Teh, sure you can join this fantastic ride. I will connect you with the team leader Ah Chooi and also the Sitiawan Cycling Team. Nice to know that you have taken up cycling as a sport. Take care.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Watson Watt11 April, 2015

    Dear Mr. Ching, Thank you for sharing their Charity Cycling Ride with me. Really take my hat off for these great gentlemen who are so compassionate and thoughtful about the less fortunate. Thank you again and keep in touch.

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete