My young Padawan, Haziq has started his semester break this week. He asked me to take him for breakfast at the famous Roti Canai Gemas Road, Penang.
8:15am
I fetched Haziq at my ex-wife's home with my Yamaha 135LC. We went to Penang Island via the first Penang Bridge.
There's a Road Transport Dept a.k.a. JPJ roadblock at the motorcycle lane after the toll booth. I don't understand why JPJ need to do such roadblock during rush hour when people were rushing to go to work? Why don't they do it on every Saturday nights where there are lots of illegal racing going on at certain areas?
As for me, I got nothing to worry as my bike is factory standard with no modifications, my road tax & licence are valid. The JPJ personnel just let me pass through without any inspection.
The traffic is quite heavy as everybody on the road is rushing to their office.
8:45am
We reached the famous Gemas Road Roti Canai. There was a crowd and fortunately, there's an empty table for us.
We ordered the roti canai + egg + cheese with 'kuah banjir'. Even though there were lots of customers but the service was quite fast. We received our roti canai & teh tarik in just under a few minutes.
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| Roti canai + egg + cheese. |
While I was eating, a gentleman approached me. It was Zahari Zachariah, an Old Free. What a pleasant surprise. He's the Vice President of Old Frees Muslim Association (OFMA).
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| With Zahari Zachariah, an Old Free |
After having our breakfast at Gemas Road, we went to the flea market at Rope Walk, Lorong Kulit near the City Stadium. I replaced my phone screen protector film (glass type) for RM10.
10:00am
After strolling around, I told Haziq let's go to Kulim, I saw an advertisement in Facebook about a bike spa and cafe over there. I just wanted to try their service. Then off we rode to Kulim.
10:40am
We reached Lunas, Kulim. Unfortunately, the outlet was closed. I guess they're closed on Tuesdays.
I asked Haziq, "jom pi Baling?" (let's go to Baling?)
He answered, "jom pi Pengkalan Hulu terus lah." (let's go to Pengkalan Hulu, instead)
Okie dokie. Pengkalan Hulu, here we come!
We stopped at BHP station at Karangan to refuel the tank (RM5).
We rode through Baling. Upon reaching MRSM Baling, Haziq's former school, we took some photos at the main gate. Then we proceed to Pengkalan Hulu.
12:00pm
We stopped by at Gunung Inas rest area. It was an abandoned rest area. The road was formerly the main route to the east coast but was later replaced by a shorter route through Gerik highway.
We took some photos there and then proceed to the border.
12:30pm
At the border we had to go through Malaysian Immigration and I told the Immigration staff that we're just going to the shopping areas. No need to use passport.
There were a few small shopping outlets at the border area. Unfortunately, only 40% of the outlets were opened as today is a weekday. All shops are normally fully opened during the weekends.
After visiting some of the outlets, we had our lunch there. It was a small stall selling some Thai foods with reasonable prices.
After we have had our lunch. We proceed to the Thai Immigration building. We just took some photos there and turned back towards Malaysian side.
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| Royal Malaysian Police personnel manning this checkpoint were fitted with flak vest. |
On the Thai side.
I noticed there's a new Memorial erected to commemorate the fallen heroes during the 2nd Malayan Emergency. During the Malayan Communist insurgency, Royal Malaysian Police had placed a battalion of the Polis Hutan (Police Field Force) deep inside Betong, Thailand in the 1970s. However, due to the pressure by the Thai locals that were unpleasant with the presence of Malaysian Police Field Force in their area (perhaps the locals were being influenced by the Communist insurgents), the Thai government had asked the Malaysian Police Field Force to withdraw their men back to Malaysia in 1976.
Below are some photos from the Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia related to the withdrawal of Royal Malaysian Police Field Force from Betong, Thailand back to Kroh (now Pengkalan Hulu) on 06.06.1976.
2:20pm
We stopped at Petronas Baling to refuel (RM4) and rode back to Seberang Perai. The sky was cloudy in Baling and looks like it was going to rain. We were lucky that we remained dry throughout the ride as we did not bring any raincoat as we didn't have any intention to ride this far.
Well, that's our ride from Gemas Road, Penang to Thai border at Pengkalan Hulu. The initial intention was to have a roti canai in Penang but rode 224km (both ways) instead. hahaha!
As usual, when I planned something, it usually didn't work out but when I did it on a last minute decision, well, it happens. I called this 'Father & Son Ride'.
Perhaps one day when my budget permits, I'll try to get another kapcai for Haziq so that we can ride together-gether in future. Pray for our dreams to come true. Insha'Allah.
Allright then, till the next ride.
Note
Fuel cost:
RM6.00 @ Prai to Penang to Karangan
RM5.00 @ Karangan to Pengkalan Hulu
RM4.00 @ Baling to Prai
Total: RM15.00
