Sunday, August 3, 2008

Bukit Tinggi via Janda Baik..


Another day, another nice ride. Just the outskirts of KL on the way to Genting Highlands, there's a eatery or locally known as "medan selera". Here's where we parked. Our ride this time was ambitious, not that we've never done crazy killer hills before, but this time, it was a 'double' killer. We were going to attempt an off road trail up to Bukit Tinggi, towards the Berjaya resort.
We started with a fast downhill for 8km to Janda Baik, probably some have heard that this place has tons of "team building" or "training" spots. A nice quaint kampung area with happy people and kids running around, not on their feet but on "cup chais", as many as 3-5 on a bike is quite normal. A quick picture of them was enough to get their wide wide smiles.
The loop around Janda Baik is a nice ride and a trip on its own if you plan it for a family. Full tarmac, short ups and short downs make it a nice nice ride. Quite cooling too and very green. You'll pass some cow pastures and the like.
After a quick loop around Janda Baik, we headed downhill again towards Bentong. From the starting point and at about kilometer 28, there'll be a very steep hidden 4-wheel off road on the left. Here's where we took our break of some kaya buns; psyched up for the long climb up this 25-30degree hill.
The climb was good ONLY if you're mad! It was slightly overgrown, gravelled mixed with earth, bumpy from wear and tear, slippery from loose broken stones and gravel. But we managed to do all 3km of it.
If you're familiar with the "steroid Hill" of Frim, running at about 15-20degrees incline, and the Gunung Nuang at 30-40 degrees, well, this one is midway.
We passed yet some nice ... hmm... lets see... radio towers... urmm... giant astro-like dishes (digi actually)... urmm...helipads (what on earth are they here for me wonders)... and finally, the horse ranch in the middle of nowhere. .. and WITH a horse. (check out picts at picasa link). And oh yes... a very territorial dog, added to the flavor of fun and adventure. We escaped unscathed.
Coming back was another adventure on its own cos we tried downhilling from another part where there was a proper tarmac road made probably cos of the radio tower.
Unfortunately, on reaching the bottom we found it was linked to the main Karak Highway! Bad mistake! but no choice, we werent going to climb back up the hill so we took the highway.
Managed to find the "old" road off the highway again after 2 km and literally climbed down the hill from the highway and back to the "old" road to Bentong.
We headed on back to a famous chinese spot... hungry like never before and time was already past 1pm. Hot and hungry... not good combination.
Finally, we arrived the little town of bukit tinggi for our lunch at "Mei Shi Ka". A plate of "wah tan Hor" and "fukkien mai fahn".... and drinks of coconut, iced coffee, katchai soomui... and bliss... burp!
We were on our way again...
The road back was tediously HOT and gradual uphill again !! 20km worth.
Full ride touching 60km.
Tired, worn out, feverish bods, sun tanned... but what the... it was good !!

1 comment:

Unknown said...

Hello MTB Team, we are from Penang Rancak Rider MTB team and plan to ride from Janda Baik to Bukit tinggi, Do you have any plan to repeat your journey? We'll will joint your team to make it fun ride.
plz email fadzilayob@yahoo.com for any info and update.