2016 – North-Eastern Peninsular Malaysia Road Trip - day 3

Malaysian Outward Bound Youth Association
1,611km North-Eastern Peninsular Malaysia Road Trip
KL > Marang > Kota Bharu > Taiping > Cameron > KL
A 5 day road trip from 30.09.2016 – 04.10.2016


Ah Fatt, Catherine Navamani, Catherine Oon, Cecilia Thavamani, Chan Nam Hong, Ching Jin Wei, Ching Neng Bin, George Ling, JP Anandan, Kalaiarasy Subramaniam, Lim Ka Tin, Michelle Yeow Pik Mui, Ray Lee, Shahrul, Siva, Song Poh, Tan Chee Seng, Tan Chwee Lan, Wei Wei
 
Day 3 (2.10.2016) – 334km long drive from Kota Bharu to Taiping, Perak

The Route:
> by road 8 to Kopitiam Kita, Taman Desa Jaya, Kota Bharu
> by road Jalan Pintu Pong to Siti Khadijah Market, Kota Bharu
> by road D1, D111 till roundabout and take road 130 until crossing Sg. Kelantan
> by road 3 towards Rantau Panjang turning of at Kampung Banggol Kulim
> by road 196 Jln Rantau Panjang to meet the East West Highway road 4
> on road 4 East West Highway we stopped at Petronas Bukit Bunga for petrol
> on highway until we stopped at Hentian Titiwangsa and Pulau Banding
> on road 76 to Gerik for lunch and on road 76, A6, A113 to Batu Kurau
> on road A5 to Jana View Condotel, Kamunting
 
 
JP’s brother Mr. Karunan brought us for a fantastic breakfast at Kopitiam Kita, Kota Bharu which he booked earlier. We then visited the Siti Katijah Market, Kota Bharu to buy local fruits. At 10.20am we departed KB for Gerik on Jln Salor passing by Pasir Mas and Rantau Panjang. After Rantau Panjang we stopped at Petronas Bukit Bunga for petrol which is the last station on the East West Highway until you reach Gerik. From Petronas station we continued our road passing by Ayer Lanas, Jeli and then stopped at Hentian Titiwangsa at 1065m above sea level the highest pass on the East West Highway.

We then stopped at Pulau Banding to take photos. We then passed by Belum Forest Reserve, Belum Rainforest Resort until we stopped at Gerik for lunch at Chau Y Restaurant. We then continued our road journey passing through Jelai, Batu Kurau and finally arrived at Kamunting. Dinner was at food-court beside Taiping Lake and followed by beer fellowship at our condotel room till midnight.

Sleeping: Jana View Condotel, Kamunting


The view of Gn Budget Room & Homestay, Kota Bharu, we stayed for a night.




From the roof top, I took this picture of a village house beside us.


Wisma Persekutuan is the federal building of Kota Bharu.


Wisma Batik & Songket, Kota Bharu.


JP’s brother Mr. Karunan brought us for a fantastic breakfast at Kopitiam Kita, Kota Bharu which he booked earlier.


Kopitiam Kita is really d place for a taste of the best of food that Kelantan has to offer where you can find numerous types of pre-packed rice being sold.


They sell all the famous type of cooking in Kelantan, hence a one stop centre to try out all the dishes around Kelantan.


The very crowded shop is none like it anywhere else. Very popular joint for breakfasts n brunch...crowded but ample seating.


L-R: Siva, Karunan, Karunan's son, Catherine Navamani. This is the place where you can find a wide variety of local breakfast menu called ‘”nasi berlauk”.


Nasi Berlauk Air Dingin looks like a simple rice with fish.


The nasi kerabu is mix of herbs, the rice is cooked with many types of herbs. There are also finely sliced "daun kesom" a strong, minty, and peppery flavor laksa leaf, sliced "bunga kantan" torch ginger flower, sliced small onions, slice cucumber, beansprout, fish floss and fish crackers.


Nasi dagang ayam (chicken dagang rice). The Nasi Dagang is made from aromatic or glutinous rice which is cooked with coconut milk (santan), blended onions and garlic and some spices such as fenugreek seeds.


The main reason I believe people frequent Kopitiam Kita is for their Roti Titap a French toast bread with half boiled egg and coconut sauce/kaya.


The managing director of Kopitiam Kita is Mr N.H.Wong standing between Ray Lee and Wei Wei. Mr. Wong is very friendly and always seen greeting customers and cleaning the tables. We are happy to take a photo with him.


L-R: Siva, Tan Chee Seng, Chan Nam Hong, Karunan, Ching Neng Bin, Catherine Navamani, JP Anandan saying farewell to Karunan.


The 3-storey Siti Khadijah market was opened in 1985 by the Sultan of Kelantan and was known simply as the Buluh Kubu Market. It took its present name in 1997 after of the wife of the Prophet Muhammad, a businesswoman who embodied perseverance.


A large photo painting of Siti Khadijah at the market.


I was at the top floor and check out the activities below, so lively with people selling and buying.


This is a market where you can find fresh goods like seafood, poultry, vegetables and wide variety of fruits being sold.


The centre dome is designed whereby sunlight gives good lighting inside the market.








11.26am - Passing by the Rantau Panjang immigration and customs complex.


Rantau Panjang is 40km from Kota Bharu located near the Malaysia-Thailand border. For bargain hunters and shopaholics, this is a place worth going to.


Rantau Panjang is the major border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand for the East Coast of Malaysia. The town on the Thai side across the Golok River which forms the boundary between the two countries is Golok.














Driving onto East West Highway road 4.


The sign board says: Be-careful, land slide in-front 150m.




An overhead roof was built to prevent rock fall.






1.32pm - We stopped at Hentian Titiwangsa which is 1,065m above sea level as shown on my GPS, the highest pass on the East West Highway.


1.32pm - We stopped at Hentian Titiwangsa which is 1,065m above sea level the highest pass on the East West Highway.


Hentian Titiwangsa rest area and view point.


Shahrul our route plotter and planner. Shahrul our route plotter and planner.




The north peninsular highland view at Hentian Titiwangsa rest area.


The north peninsular highland view at Hentian Titiwangsa rest area.


The beautiful Kalaiarasy Subramaniam at the Hentian Titiwangsa rest area flower garden.


Fauna and flora at the Hentian Titiwangsa rest area flower garden.


The passion fruits.




















There are frequent land slides on this east-west highway.




This east-west highway is one of the most dangerous road in peninsular Malaysia. I captured some of the dented and damaged railing due to accidents.


Damaged railing due to accidents and I wonder how many lives lost on this road.


Dented railing due to accidents.




Crossing the Temenggor Bridge onto Pulau Banding.


The boat houses in Temenggor Lake.


Another boat house in Temenggor Lake.


This is the newly built Hentian Royal Belum rest area yet to be opened to the public.




The Temenggor Bridge.


The Temenggor Bridge.






Car No.1 (WB 8776K) L-R: JP Anandan, Catherine Navamani, Cecilia Thavamani, Kalaiarasy Subramaniam, Mohd Shahrul, Siva, Chan Nam Hong, Ah Fatt, Michelle Yeow and Tan Chee SengCar No.1 (WB 8776K) L-R: JP Anandan, Catherine Navamani, Cecilia Thavamani, Kalaiarasy Subramaniam, Mohd Shahrul, Siva, Chan Nam Hong, Ah Fatt, Michelle Yeow and Tan Chee Seng


Car No.2 (AKL 1502) L-R: Ching Neng Bin, Catherine Oon and Ching Jin Wei




Car No.3 (BEM 1993) L-R: Ray Lee Chow Foh, Wei Wei and George Ling


Car No.4 (BNS 8939) L-R: Song Poh, Tan Chwee Lan and Lim Ka Tin




My GPS map of Pulau Banding and the route.


The Temenggor Lake.


Crossing the Temenggor Bridge out of Pulau Banding.




More of dented and damaged railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge.


More of dented and damaged railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge.


More of dented and damaged railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge.


More of dented railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge. Just wondering how many people might have been killed on this road.


More of dented railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge. Just wondering how many people might have been killed on this road.


More of dented railings due to accidents after crossing the bridge. Just wondering how many people might have been killed on this road.




This is Ray's pickup with the durian plants he bought in Kota Bharu.


This is the Hentian Gerik rest area near Gerik town.


This is the country road A6, A113 to Batu Kurau.


On country road A6, A113 to Batu Kurau.


We checked in to Jana View Condotel, Kamunting to stay for the night. 








Expenses Per Pax
Day 3 Breakfast -Restaurant Kita (K.Bharu) $190.00 $10.00
2/10/2016 Lunch - Rest ChauY (Gerik) $163.50 $8.61
(Sunday) Condotel (Golf) Apt. Kamunting $808.00 $42.53

Own dinner - Free & Easy (Taiping) $0.00 $0.00


$1,161.50 $61.13