Day 9 of my solo trip: Kulim - Taiping-Kuala Kangsar

Friday, December 2, 2010: Kulim, Kedah, Malaysia:

I woke up at my auntie's house in Kulim, as I was made to put up a nite by my cousin. She is my childhood friend and continues her father's (my late uncle, youngest sibling of my father) profession as a police sergeant at the place where her father retires. Three more of her 12 siblings end up in the police force. I used to spend my long school holiday in my uncle house at the old barrack of Kulim police station. My late uncle is well known as Tok Mat.Yesteday, I cycled through Baling and took the highway to Kupang and later divert to Kuala Ketil to meet with Jep KP, my fellow Pujmac team mate, who happens to be on the way to Langkawi for holiday. I also met my colleagues Izam and Zamzurina in Kuala Ketil as they went back to their hometown. From Kuala Ketil, I cycled through Merbau Pulas, Padang Serai and reached Kulim town at about 5.00pm. My cousin hauled me up into her car and took me to my uncle house. I had good diner.

Jep KP

Izam, bro  and sis

Baling, categorized as black area same as Pengkalan Hulu, even few years after emergency. In September 1955, the famous Baling Talk was held in Baling, the talked between our Tunku Abdul Rahman accompanied by David Marshall and Tan Cheng Lock with the Communist Party of Malaysia which was led by Chin Peng accompanied by Rashid Maidin and Chin Tian. Tunku made firmed and perfect decision as he dismissed all demands from Chin Peng. Baling also was known for the caused of student demonstration in the 70s, where there were rumors of people died in Baling due to famine that inflicts students in Kuala Lumpur to demonstrate and riot against the government. The student leaders at that time were Anwar Ibrahim, Ibrahim Ali and Hishamudin Rais. Both Anwar and Ibrahim were sentenced into ISA whereas HRais fled oversea to escape ISA. HRais, an undergraduate student of Malaya University, majoring in History returned to Malaysia in the early 90s after long stayed in middle east, Europe and India and remained as rebel without caused but giving no harm at all, like toothless tiger. Should he docked in the ISA, he would probably be somebody by now, just like the two asses (DSAI and Abe Ali). I called them asses as DSAI had been through enough trouble with someone's asses, whilst Abe Ali kisses someone's ass to rejoin UMNO. Another incident that happened in Baling was a demonstration led by a religous leader, Ibrahim Libya in 1982. The clashed with the police claimed many casualties among the peoples. Ibrahim Libya and many of his followers died in the incident. PAS claimed that the the act was jihad and those people who died are martyr. For me, only god knows. Baling remained calm and quiet, the town is equipped with loudspeaker at four corners and played music, probably the idea came the new state government. I continued my lone journey after having lunch at my auntie's place, it was Friday and I missed the prayer again, taking full advantage of privilege of being a 'musaffir' (traveller) heading to Junjong, Kg Valdor, Nibong Tebal , Parit Buntar, Bagan Serai, Gunong Semanggol  and Taiping. The ride through malay villages, rubber estates, rice fields, palm oil plantations on a very flat land. Its kind of monotonous as for the past few days I went through serious mountainous ground.

OTW

I pass through Taiping and just after Bukit Gantang, I experienced intense climbing at Bukit Berapit. It was not that long, but it steeped enough for me to make deep inhaled through mouth. The climbing end up once I saw the YTL cement quarry on my left and its busy chopping down Gunong Pondok. We cant really blame them, Perak has limited resources and probably the poorest state though the former Chief Minister's (MB) son was flying on private helicopter for a date with local celebrity. I reached Kuala Kangsar when it was about getting dark. Had myself a room the in the famous Double Lion hotel which cost me RM 50 per nite and shared bathroom.
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My solo tour: Day 8 : BETONG (Thailand)-Pengkalan Hulu-Baling-Kuala Ketil-Kulim

Thursday, December 2: Betong: 0800 hrs.

I checked out from the chalet and cycled towards the border, its moderate uphill slope from the chalet to the border check point and as I was heading towards Pengkalan Hulu. I stopped for breakfast at the stall not far after the checkpoint. Tuan Fadil (Farhoud's father) and a few of his friends from Pengkalan Hulu cycling group were there to treat me for breakfast. BTW, Tuan Fadil is the OCPD of Pengkalan Hulu.

Tuan Fadhil

 

After breakfast and thanking Tuan Fadhil, I continued towards Pengkalan Hulu road until the junction to Baling. I took Baling road through Gunung Inas. It was nice views, mountain and tropical jungles all along the way. I was cruising on a long downhill freeride until almost reaching Baling town. 

Back to Pengkalan Hulu town, it is formerly known as Kroh probably Thai word as the distance is only 7 km away to the border. The town that is located on the highland discovered by H.N Ridley (British Botanist and Chief of Garden) about 100 years ago. He came to Kroh in searched of land for rubber estate on caravan of elephants from Kuala Kangsar, however he found tin deposit in open outcrop in Kelian Intan and it was a cash cow.They built the town as what we see today. By the way, HN Ridley is the guy who has contributed tremendously to Malaysian modern economic. He helps to transform Malaysian from consuming to producing nation. He brought the first Hevea (biji getah) seeds to Malaysia from Botanical garden in Singapore and planted it on Bukit Chandan, Kuala Kangsar. He promoted British investors to invest in rubber estates in Malaysia, thats how names like Sime Darby, Guthrie and Harrissons & Crossfields appeared in Malaysian economic sorority. He also developed the modern day tapping technique.Thanks to the British who introduced education, administration, technical & engineering and law & order to the Malays or else the the Malays would probably just a food gathering people and good in making baby only.

My solo tour: Day 7 : BETONG (Thailand)

Wednesday, December 1, 2010: River Inn Chalet Betong, Thailand:
I spent most of my time within the chalet or cycled to the mosque. I only went downtown for lunch and dinner. City is no big deal. Given a choice I would chose to live in the village. The mosque here are happening, even during predawn prayer, the prayer hall is quiet occupied, far better than the mosque in my village, which hardly have more than 5 heads during predawn. People in my hometown feared the cursed of the fish more than called for prayer.The mosque which is located on the river bank is not as grandeur as any typical mosque in Malaysia, I saw only equipped with basic necessities. The water supply is from the natural spring that came from the ground exactly below the mosque and piped to be drained at the ablution area.It is potable and refreshing, I consumed bottles of it. The water from the stream is cold and crystal clear. I always forgot to snap photo of the mosque and its surrounding.

I met Farhoud father by accident, he saw me at the front of Butterfly hotel and greeted me in Thai.I was on my bicycle. Perhaps, I look like typical Thai when I put on camouflage shorts and buff. He invited me for drinks, over the table then I came to know that he is Farhoud father, very nice man. He promised to take me to the local bicycle shop.

I cycled back to the chalet and met with the receptionist, she offered to arrange sex companion for me if I am interested. Politely, I told her that I am muslim, and illicit sex is forbidden according to our believes. She smiled and told me that they were many Malaysian muslim who seek her assistance for such services. Well, I cut it short by telling her I wasnt interested.

My solo tour: Day 6 : BETONG (Thailand)

Tuesday, November 30, 2010: River inn chalet, Betong Thailand:
The chant for morning prayer from the nearby mosque was loud and very early in the morning until I noticed that my watch is still showing Malaysian time, we are ahead of Thai by one hour. Its amazing to hear a loud chant, even louder than the call for prayer in the mosque back home, only hardcore sinners would not wake up and pray. It came across my mind again, the incident with the big guy in the mosque at Kampong Pahit, if he really threw punched on my face, I would have shitted in the sarong hehe, Well, one madman would not harm another madman. hehehe

The bridge

The half wooden chalet is nice, it was built on the banks of the clear water stream on both sides and connected to each other by some kind of bridge. The bridge is equipped with chairs and tables and has been the place where I spent my time relaxing(lepak), drinks and cigars while watching the flow of water and beautiful plants and trees.

Last nite, after having dinner I went to the hotel not far from the chalet in searched for Wi-Fi, its available and I was sitting with my notebook at one corner in the lobby. I noticed they were many beautiful women, some were really really damned beautiful, which I thought they are guest, I was curios that they were too friendly and seducive.., how shall I describe them ....like this " say the ladies are all insane there, and they know how to use it, they dont abuse it, never gonna lose it, I cant refuse it"......... hehehe,  I borrowed the words of Waylon Jenning in his song title..Never been to Spain.., W. Jenning  is the icon of the country music of the 70s. Actually,..." I refuse it...", they are hookers. It doesnt took me long there and I cycled back to the chalet and caught me a zzzzzzzzz.


I had breakfast 'nasi berlauk', the malays here speaks kelantan accent, it works well for me as I picked the twang while dating kelantanese girl way back in the 80s, my fluency is still within understandable standard.The town is happening, majority inhabited by chinese while the malays occupied the surrounding villages.A lot of trading and agriculture activities took place in daily life, while some works in public services. Other economic booster probably sex industry, as I saw flocks of Malaysian crosses the border in search of sexual ecstasy.Its kind of hard to distinguish sober woman and prostitute when night comes. Women, karaokes, massage parlors,brothels and pubs are names of the game. This town makes hard man tumble, not much between despair and ecstasy, cant be too careful with your company and I can feel the devil walked next to me.

After had my breakfast, I cycled to Yala road and stopped by the roadside asking information about the road that lead to Hadyaai. A guy in police uniform told me it is not safe to go by road to Hadyai  through Thailand road as he fears the risk of getting gunned down by unknown assailants. Even local people traveled to Hadyai through Bukit Kayu Hitam. Therefore I decided to spent few days in Betong. I love the chalet anyway.