Best Bak Kut Teh in Malaysia

It is just a ride. 3 friends talked at a coffeeshop and we settled for a fix date and requirement. 

My requirement: not to spend more than S$100 for the 2 days ride. 

Michael's: Go riding and off road, maybe durian at Tangkak? 

Leong: just go!

Any hint what animal left this?

We wanted to explore the offroad in Endau Rompin. For what I remembered, i joined a tour on 4x4 about 10 over years ago and they used the most hard way to enter Endau Rompin National Park, by Kahang entrance. The road was very natural from my memory. We had to get off the vehicle and walk across bridges made of tree trunk, clear fallen trees and pass by a native village before reaching the park. There are 3 entrance to this park and Kahang is the most hardcore one.

Picture taken over 10 years ago.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

ok, since we are talking about the best Bak Kut Teh, this is how it looked like. very laid back restaurant and economical price, compared to the other famous Bak Kut Teh. 

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

But if you ask any Malaysian Chinese about where is the famous Bak Kut Teh, they would tell you that the one in their home town is the most famous one. So, don't meet your friend by telling them: meet at the very famous Bak Kut Teh shop, you will end up having the meal alone.

Other than Bak Kut Teh, we almost tasted the world largest animal waste.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

The road to Mersing was usual. Nice curve and not much traffic on a Saturday morning. Hope 2.0 is behaving well on the corners, it is just me, not having the correct eye line on the curves.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

I insisted on staying in a budget place. The fun part was splitting up in team to look for lodging and back for meeting. In Malaysia towns, when you ask the local if there are any hotels around, they will tell you:

HEN DUO AHHH!

that means a lot.

next important question: Got bike parking?

YI DING YOU! HEN DUO AHHH!

that means sure have, a lot.

the budget hotel are usually fixed into one of the shop houses in a row, that can share with Prata shop, Massage parlor, hardware shop, small office and the hotel will usually located at the end of the row of the shops. There are really lots of hotel for a night.

So parking for bike? by the road side.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

AT NIGHT GOT JAGA ONE! VERY SAFE!

that means: security guard on duty in the night.

I tried to talked to the owner by pushing the bike into the lobby only in the night but was slammed on the face.

Even if we can park the bike in the lobby, i wonder how are we going to tackle the typical kerb, or rather a big step of more than 30cm height. Just a guess, the big step of 30cm is to prevent car or bike from driving into the shop directly, smash the glass, rob and run.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

Things to do before we leave our bike for more than 20 meters.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

Once bitten, twice shy. Making sure Hope 2.0 is holding hand with another friend.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

We were like watching the Dakar Race when Michael rode in front of us.

 Mersing, endau, Labis at EveryTrail

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2221062&code=791952418562fb24752c31dcac14becf

You may click on the map.

Riding the track reminded me of Bolivia and South America, less the heavy luggage that Hope Too had. Sam and I love the new version Hope 2.0 that was performing well on the trail road.

We didn't have proper plan. Before each of us enjoy the ride by going at own speed, my last word to each other was to stop at 530pm and make U-turn out to the main road.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

Cheryl's cockpit view.

Tiger and his partner were very brave. It was kind of Tiger's first off road trip. It was his girlfriend's first motorbike trip and we really went dirty and tired with them.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

It reminded me of my very first motorbike lesson at bukit batok driving center, learning half clutch to hit the tire.

Any hint of what animal with such a big foot print? this guy walked onto the road, poo-ed and pee-ed at the same time, then walk back into the vegetation.

Patrick and Roy joined us on the Sunday morning, meeting us at where we slept. 

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

We had the same Bak Kut Teh at the same shop, at the same time of the day, but with Patrick and Roy, since the ride topic was Bak Kut Teh. They could be disappointed if we had lunch at a prata shop. 

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

What made me wanted to go back was the people in the shop, very sincere and made me feel like one of them. They don't look at us as if we are from 3rd world country. They don't bill us as if like in 1st world country. They just do their job in their way.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

From the play we had with the sparks, I realize that we have to bring our own good practice from our home when we visit other country. Did you notice some of fellow country man goes to another country just to do things that he/she cannot do back at their home? Maybe, like, something like, not obey the rules of home country and want to break such rules at other country.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

Maybe like... littering?

What was most disappointing for me personally was the feel I had 10 years ago was gone.

After 30km of dirt road going thro the oil plantation, perfect tar road was built for the next 20km to the end of the road at the park entrance. Concrete bridges had replaced the tree trunk. 

In a way, it benefited the native that is staying in this area. I counted that there are less than 8 families staying along this new road. this 20km of new tarmac was upgraded for them or for better tourism?

I wanted to bring the fun with the group which I had 10 years ago with Uncle Woo, Choy, Yang, Lawrence and Teo. To experience pushing the bike over the bridge, riding the natural road and enjoy the shade of the tree. But the fun is now only memory, that i have to look ahead. We have to really appreciate what we have around, not to think that it will always be there waiting for us. Even a road and  bridge will not wait for us.

Lucky Singaporedream team, we had great friends with us, enjoying the moment. 

Having the last piece of toilet paper in the hand, that is where the test comes when your friend is asking for help in the next cubical. Will you share the last piece with him?

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

Yes, thank you friends. Glad to have you in our life.

Photo credit to Patrick Ho and Cheryl Peh.

In the end, Sam and I exploded our pocket by spending $60 more than what we budgeted. 

Haze from Indonesia to Singapore, N95

Pictures from my phone.

Just some pictures stored in my phone.

 Found this retro foot massage machine during spring cleaning.

Is this an animal?

Beautiful Jade Vine.

From the museum...

 Trying to protect myself from bee attack during work. He said: lets see how it works.

Which part of Singapore?

Today we went for a short ride...

 Morning fisherman trading.

 interesting trees and nature.

Any subtitles?

We didn't let teddy know that we went on a short trip. She is still happily at home.

Picture taken from work. This is a portion of a palm tree which I am still removing. The cuts were not that good. Can you guess the height of this palm tree?

I saw this Malaysia vehicle in Singapore doing business in Clementi Carpark.

I wonder if it needs a hawker license. by the way, caravan or camper vans are not allowed in Singapore.

At a moment, I was thinking what is life. I attended a session of training at Institute of Adult Learning and the trainer made me reflect on myself. I'm 35 this year and half of my life was used. What have I done? Yes, seen the world, can close my eyes when I die, but so what?

On politics, there will never be a dish to satisfy everyone's taste. The trick to the game is to win vote.

On health, what if I can live till 90? Its not important. What's important is the quality time.

On family, shall I move away to a place with more breathing space?

A tiger leaves it's skin after it die, a man leaves his name. So what about leaving a name?

Everyone will grow old, everyone will die.

I had never talked about the big trip to anyone in Singapore, for the past 3 years. Why?

I wanted to write a book about it but I don't even like to read a book, why so?

Guess I need time for reflection now.

My Friend...

i use to work in that place. i have a good colleague that is a good silence worker and do not gossip about anyone else. Ming, comes from Johor of Malaysia, would ride his motorbike from home to join the heavy congestion in the custom to come for singapore to work for less than S$1800 a month, if i'm not wrong about his pay. his job is to do odd job in the nursery/garden that sell plants to do upgrading works. When ever i go to that place to buy plants, he would say hello and continue his work. his hello is sincere. after a hard day's work, he would ride his motorbike to join the busy queue in the custom, to go back home. by the time he reaches home, it would be about 8pm. next day, he got to wake up at 6am. just to work. he passed away recently, falling off from work. i went to his funeral in Johor, Malaysia. I met his 2 children, in their teenage years. Ming is about 40 years old. although he is just an odd job laborer, to me, he is a good employee, responsible worker, good husband and a good father. he contributed greatly to the society. Why? he raised 2 kids that is filial and responsible. The 2 kids impressed me. They are the future of the society. I don't see such kids in Singapore. just a bridge away, they are so mature and understanding. if i compare myself when i was their age, i am just a little boy. Ming: you did a great job and has not let everyone down. You are a great man in my heart. Go... go to the place you wish to go because u have already accomplished what u need to do in this living world.

Mdm Chua Siang Keng, CSK Landscape Services

Today is my mum's 10 years anniversary. she passed away on 2003 April 19. I remember on that evening, it was the SARS period. i couldn't visit her. my sis did. i went to tiong barhu plaza to do my study. i had a very important paper on the next day. it was about late midnight and i receive a call from sis that mum couldn't make it. and she didnt. the whole morning we were arranging the after death stuff.  but the next morning, with 1 hour of sleep, i managed to scored well in my exam.

for what i remembered about mum is about her fighting spirit. Before she pass away, she would plan things ahead for every one. everything really well planned. she fought leukemia very well. i still remember how i listen to her story on her bed when she is having difficulty breathing.

For what she has done for us, i am what i am today.

thank you Mdm Chua Siang Keng.

Your children, Goh Puay Hoon and Goh Mia Chun would deeply love you in our heart.

for the past 10 years, you never appear in my dream. i even went to ask the taoist medium about how are you doing now, thou i don't really believe in them, but they tell me that they couldn't find you.

CSK Landscape Services is named after you. It shows your fighting spirit on life, on what a person should do in their life, not to what others tell us we should live.

I am sorry that at times i bang anger with you. slamming the door to show my unhappiness. now, i realized, you are my only advise to the true heart.

I really wish i had more time with you.

you didn't see me graduate. it's ok because in the end, i didn't use the cert for my job. don't worry.

if you got time, please wake dad up because he is still blur blur....

I love you for what u did for us and for what you are.

always remembered in our heart.

ah di.

Story of my mum from goh mia chun on Vimeo.

Work efficiency in Singapore

What does the petrol attendance in Singapore does?

Im not sure.

I am sure that if one could learn driving, one could top up petrol by themselves. Install a hand washing bay nearby for user to clean after self service. Disposable glove can be supplied.

Topping up of wiper liquid, cleaning of windows? i deemed not necessary. i can do it myself.

we saved 2-3 man power in one petrol station.

Just over our neighbour side, they have this self serve slot where we can use credit card to do payment before topping up our tank.

we saved 1 man power in one petrol station.

what about buying groceries in petrol station? that is not their main business, leave it to the supermarts or market.

we saved another 1-2 man power.

Carwash bay: 4 foreigners washing cars. Can we install good self service car wash bay at HDB (Public housing) carparks? CCTV may be installed to monitor vandalism.

we saved another 4 man power.

total about 7-10 man power saved in 1 petrol station.

so, what about these Singaporeans that is working for the petrol station?

they can be trained to be station manager, assistant manager. what about those foreigners? you tell me.

First few days of Laos.

ok, we use the usual border crossing just like any bikers do...

exiting thailand side, the immigration collects 200B for some extra paperwork to be filled. Pay 500B for  the ferry ride for Hope 2.0.

guess who we met on the ferry?!

they are super season travellers. they do not have a blog, do not carry phone or lap top. have ridden africa to Magadan (russia) and shipped to Alaska and ride americas in late 90s. Andy and Julia from Germany. no advertisement or pictures or facebook. they truly enjoyed their life on 2 wheels.