Road trip to east and north Malaysia 5

I have heard about Betong and was so curious to see the place. A couple of Chinese ladies planned to go there and so we thought we should do the same. So we left Belum Rainforset Resort in the morning after saying goodbye to the sweet receptionist, Illya. We asked for direction to Betong but failed to jot it down. The drive was so picturesque with mountains as background and the road was dotted with small Malay villages.

When we arrived in Grik we couldn't see any singnage to Betong. We stopped and a guy told us to take the Pengkalan Hulu road. It was quite a long way to Pengkalan Hulu but at arriving there, there was still no sign board for Betong. What next? Suddenly we saw a sign indicating Kompleks Bebas Cukai and thought that must be it. How ignorant we were!! Then only we found out that Betong is in Thailand, across the border from Pengkalan Hulu and Pengkalan Hulu is the furtherst town north in Perak near the border. No wonder when I looked at the map the night before there was no town called Betong at the border in Perak. We were grateful anyway that we went there and found out for ourselves even though we felt stupid. So for those who wish to shop at Betong or Pengkalan Hulu, please don't waste your time. It's OK if you just want to see the place like we did.

We stopped for a while at the Kompleks Bebas Cukai (photos above)to buy a knapsack cum wheeled overnight bag at a cheaper price compared to Rantau Panjang. There was nothing much there except pathetic little bazaar selling clothes and fruits. Anyhow we were glad we detoured to this place which was not in our original plan. We debated whether to take the road to Sg Petani or to take the Grik road again. Since I was driving, I got to make the decision, so Grik way we went.

I have noticed along the way to Pengkalan Hulu, there awas a Heritage house and from far it looked beautiful. I wanted to see it at a close distance. With slow driving, fearful that we might miss it, we stopped and entered the compound. We gave salam but nobody responded even though windows were wide open. We took the liberty to take photos from the outside. Pn. Mariah, the owner came out later. She was praying when we arrived and we chatted for a while about the house which belonged to her father and restored by her brother, a former UKM professor and was a member of parliment. it's called Rumah Warisan Penghulu Wan Teh. I was really taken by the Malay architecture and the weaved wooden wall of the house. We didn't see anything like it anymore now.

The next town was Lenggong (above). I was amzed at the development here. As I remembered, This was a God forsaken place before when I passed through. Noe the scenery was beautiful as if Lenggong is a valley surrounded by green-blue hills and mountains. We stopped at the resthouse for lunch but unfortunately the restaurant was closed on Sunday. So we kept on driving towards Kuala Kangsar.

I have been to Kuala Kangsar in July with Najidah but didn't mind stopping there to take some more photos. We stopped at the most photographed mosque - Masjid Ubudiyah, Muzeum DiRaja Perak, passed the Royal Palace and took photo at the entrance, and finally we entered Galeri Raja Azlan Shah. We were impressed by the impressive collection and the rustic beauty of the complex. Since the Galeri was closing, we didn't get to see everything closely. Finally we paid a visit to Malay College Kuala Kangsar. Sharipah's brother went to school there. The little surau has chamged to a big mosque nearby.

By this time it was rather late and we had a long way to Taiping. I didn't make any hotel reservation in Taiping, confident that we would stay with Shahabudin and family as I did in July. I wanted to surprise him. But the surprise fell flat on my face! When I called there was no answer. Later I received a text message that he was in Hanoi, Vietnam. What a let down. It was still Ok as we were confident that we would get a room semewhere in Taiping. A huge surprise awaited us. Taiping Lake was brimming with people. We forgot that it was a long weekend - Deepavali! There was no room available. Disappointed that we had to forgo walking in the most beautiful and historic public park in Malaysia we had no choice but to drive to Ipoh.

The road signs were no help when it was dark. We lost our way several times and finally reached Ipoh and stopped to get a room at Sri Malaysia in Ipoh. What a relief! This is a lesson to me, not to take things for granted even though traveling in your own country. Check the public holidays, never go on school holidays, it would be a nightmare. Anyway Sri Malaysia too was packed with people but we were fortunate to get a room for RM 130 a night.

27 Oct 2008 we checked out from Sri Malaysia to go to Kellie's Castle. I have heard a lot about the love of a husband to his wife and he built her a castle. But unfortunately, he passed away before the castle was completed. His wife never got the opportunity to see the castle. What a pity! I think his kins should make a special trip to see this magnificent castle. I was glad to see that the government made the attempt to restore the castle and make it a tourist attraction. It is fair to pay entrance fee because it will help to pay the maintenance of the castle. I hope the people who come to see it will respect the effort to keep it clean. Rregular monitoring should be done by the officials to see that noone deface it.

Of course finding our way to Kellie's Castle was quite a hassle. The signage was so poor. We found a signage indicating straight on to Kellie's Castle but at the traffic light there was nothing to indicate straight on, left or right. It was the most irritating oversight done because of the inefficiency of the tourist board. We have to stop several times to ask for direction until a group of school children pointed to us the right direction. When will the tourist board in every state listen to public's complaints about signage? I highly recommend for every one to visit this meloncholic castle and read the story there. Anyway, the story and the pictures are faded and need change.

One of the pleasant highlights of our travel in Ipoh was on the way back from Kellie's Castle. We stumbled on Clearwater Sanctuary. We thought it was a housing estate. Out of curiousity we ventured in. To our surprise, it was a golf course club which has retained part of the natural surrounding. The lakes are for fishing and quite generous to anglers. Driving through the Golf course was a pleasure passing green patch of woods, so green and sheltered. It was so beautiful.

We stopped for a while talking to a few young men who fished and had accumulated a caseful of fresh fish. They came from KL

Going to the Lost World of Tambun was a breeze. Signages were averywhere. We didn't waste time enqyiring or loosing our way. Why this can be done? It is because The Lost World of Tambun is a commercial venture. They attract people to go there because that's where money is made. It's expensive to enter the complex - RM 25. Why can't this be done by other tourist spots in the country? Why can't we charge tourist a little to help upkeep the spots? Of course Malaysians like everything to be free but they don't appreciate it. they litter, deface and dirty the places with an attitude that there is somebody who will do the cleaning.

The Lost World of Tambun also was brimming with people. The place is small and not challenging as I expect it to be. However the backdrop is so breathtaking with limestone hills and greens. I just love it. We just spent time walking around enjoying the scenery. There were 4 tigers there. To me they look unfed. Their stomochs were kempis. I don't know, maybe the keepers purposely keep them that way. Poor tigers, they should be in the jungle.



This is our last lapse in our journey this time. At about 5 pm, I drove back to KL. I dropped Sharipah in Bangsar, waited for her to ge a cab to go home in Balakong. I went back to PJ - tired and happy. I showed Ika and Justin the photos I took, some turned out good but some not but it doesn't matter. At least I have some record of my journey which will be in my memory as well as in my albums.

I already have a plan inj mind. before I go for my self-drive holiday in north island New Zealand in March next year, I must do the road trip around terengganu or Johor. I would like to see the countryside and the tourist spots in all the states in Malaysia. This blog and my travel journal will be handy in case a book is written.

I went back to PD on 28 Oct 2008. I know some of my potted plants would die off though there is housekeeping to take care of them. I have enjoyed this trip tremendously. Thank you Sharipah for the company though sometimes we didn't see eye to eye. We will do this again in future for you are my old friend and my traveling company.