Saturday, November 26, 2016

Felda Besout 5

One weekend apart, that is we skipped one weekend for our (now) almost routine "breakfast" ride. Our ride two weekends' ago saw Zack leading us to a totally new experience.  And today, the "exploring" mode is still strong...

Although we have pre-decided that the ride will be to Bidor to re-visit the mee kicap shop, the after-mee-kicap plan was not really discussed.

The traffic was quite heavy along the north-bound Plus Hiway when we got out of the usual RV place - RnR Sungai Buloh.   In fact, when I arrived at the RnR , it was packed with cars and bikes alike.  It is of no surprise as today was the start of the year end school holidays.  People travel during school holidays.

Thus I proceeded to the service station to fill up, and messaged the group (Mzac was waiting at the rest area).

"Do you think I'm still sexy?... "  :-)
After a short wait, Druze drove up... and a few moment later, MZac came to join us to wait for Zack or any other riders (sometimes, one or two would turn up unannounced.. :-))

Druze... still fresh from his recent trip to the land of the rising sun.
It has passed 8.30am, our cut off time for flagging off... but... we would always wait for confirmed riders :-)
And the confirmed riders for today was:  Mzac, Druze, Zack and me-self of course.  Four riders, one each of Suzuki, BMW, KTM and Yamaha... two Japs, two Conti... one DP, two sports, one Street. Collectively, UOMO Bikers... hehehehe..

Zack - our designated ride lead... everytime :-)

It does not matter what type/brand of bike you ride... what matters is... you ride!
It has been ten months since we last rode to Bidor for the Ramli Mee Kicap Bidor.  Since then, the original shop that we frequented, has "branched out" with Ramli still operating the old shop and his wife operating this new restaurant, Mee Kari Lina & Tomyam.  So today (Saturday, 26th Nov 2016) we rode to the "branch".

Location: further up from the old shop, on the right hand side, before the KFC and the traffic junction.
We were told that the mee kicap served here tastes slightly better than the original shop... and the verdict is...?

As Idrus' testified, the capati was excellent - fluffy and soft... what more when dipped in sardines sauce... yummy!

The Mee Kari - delicious!
And the star of the shop... excellente!
So, the verdict was out.  We would definitely go here for either mee kari, mee kicap, mee kuah or even capati!

After two cups of kopi-o, teh tarik, and whatnots each, where to next?  Go back home of course... :-) But which way?  Zack was busy charting out the return route when Mzac and Druze was tag-teaming to membahan me on certain things (too xxx to mention here... hehehehe).  And finally we agreed to go back via a new route.... I was not sure what it was but it was definitely a very good route. Well done Zack!

Basically, from Bidor (refeulled somewhere in Sungkai), the route took us into Felda Besout 5.  There was supposed to be a route from there to Behrang.  But there was no connecting road yet.  So, we double back to Slim River.

Felda Besout - 49km from Sungkai.

This is what riding is all about, yeah?


The route to Slim River offers some exciting bends.... I for one enjoyed taking 'em slow and easy.  Not as "brave" as I was before...

It was already close to 1:00pm when we stopped to quench our thirst in Slim River.  The gerai makan than Zack chose offered yet just the right (in the taste and serving department) cendol to wet our throats.  And this gerai also offered a new-to-us type of drink, the air A.D.O - didn't bother to ask what that stands for :-)

Air A.D.O - main difference from ABC? lychee and kismis...
Gerai Mamak Mydin.
at Slim River...

Where to next?  Solat of course, as it was already past Zuhur (1.30pm).  We headed to the town's masjid, just nearby this gerai makan.  And fate has it, it rained heavily as we were performing our solat... so, it gave us good reason to take a break for a while... :-)

Rain rain go away... come back again another day... :-)
The rain stopped about half an hour later (around 2.30pm)... good timing for us to head back.


From Teluk Intan, we headed towards Behrang where we exited the truck road into the NS Hiway. The traffic was still heavy.  It was exceptionally so as we get closer to KL, and when we hit the NKVE.  Anyhow, everyone arrived home safely at around 4.00pm today, with some of us drenched from the rain (Zack and Druze) to the South of KL....

Yet again, a swell outing.  Timing, pace, food, route and most importantly, company was excellent!

Till our next ride, keep the rubber on the road guys!

And please do not stop pondering on "where to next?"... :-)  :-P

Saturday, November 12, 2016

All new route...

All new route... at least for everyone else.... but not for Zack.  Apparently the route is his secret playground.  Well after today, its no secret no more.  :-)

So, again... this was how the story goes.

After last week's last minute (so, what else is new... hehehehe) breakfast unplanned ride, I thought I'd give everyone a head start of the yet-another-weekend-outing with the boys.  Thus, on Tuesday a blast in the WhatsApp group attracted favourable response - from the usual riders of course.  The only request was to go South instead of our past few rides whereby we went North.  It was agreed that we RV at RnR Dengkil South bound as usual (by 8.30am).  And tentatively, we will be having breakfast at Port Dickson.

Saturday, 12th Nov.  As usual, Mzac was early.


Me... had a bit of trouble with the GSA.  The battery was weak and I could not get it to start. Alhamdulillah after a bit of effort, she purrs.  But I was already late :-(

Zack, Mzac and Nox was waiting quite a bit when I got to the Shell station.  And Faizal informed the group that he would meet up with us after Nilai's exit. Errr.... wait... Nilai exit?  And I thought we were going to PD via Sepang?  Apparently not, as I learned.

And so, Zack led the pack through the new LEKAS hiway, exiting at Ampangan if I remember correctly... then again, I maybe wrong as I was merely following the leader.... hehehe...  anyway, at around 9.30am, we arrived our destination (of which I had no clue at all while following Zack's lead), the Lomang Apak stall located in Kuala Pilah.

 


The only thing was, they did not have any lemang... the lemang guy wasn't around today... hahahaha... but the other food was good though... everyone had a fair share of itek masak lemak cili api, pisang goreng, pau, keli goreng... of course with nasi puteh or nasi lemak.  Later, we had penganan basah and wajik basah... for desert.... superlicous !!! 




The roundtable late breakkie a.k.a brunch

The roundtable talk revolves around the food, in particular the itek masak lomak cili api, as well as our common interest, food... hahahaha... but seriously, we would always exchange thoughts on general matters, mostly subject related to biking, life, health and friends.... err.. ata least that's what I think we talked about... hehehehe...

Since there were no lemang at this place, we stopped at another stall along our return leg of the ride. This Lomang Waris is located in Terachi, Kuala Pilah.


The only concern if anyone would have with this stall is, they do not really cater for eating in.  I guess most customers do a take away.  But, their lemang and rendang was quite tasteful.



There was only this one table, and that many chairs as can be seen here in the photo - apparently not enough for the five of us.  but, we could still enjoy the lemang with rendang just fine... Not sure how the next group (of more than ten bikers whom stopped here as we were finishing up) managed the set-up...
"I've got your six bro.."

Right opposite the lemang stall is this historical wonder - the Megalithic Site


It is however in a sorry state.  Though (seemed) gazetted as a historical (maybe) site by Malaysia's Museum and Antiquity Department, the site looked as if it is abandoned and could also have been vandalised (I see a few broken stones).  Obviously if is still "active", the site is not maintained - grass and overgrowth not trimmed, the fencing is... rusted and unkept... does not serve any purpose at all. Maybe this place does not have that big of a historical effect?  I would really like some archaeologist or historian do some research on it... this place could hold some historical significance...

Anyway... back to our weekend bike outing story.

Zack suggested we stop by the "donut and soup kambing" stall near Kota Seriemas in Nilai on our way back.   The last time I was here (on a breakfast ride) was three years ago (my oh my... how time flies...).  "We could also meet up with Ghaz there...." remarked Zack.

So, just before Zuhur we arrive at the stall.  After a few calls unsuccessful call, Ghaz finally answered. However he was on his way to Penang... so no meet up this time around.  Next time Ghaz... :-)


Everyone was already "full" after the nasi with itek and lomang and whatnots....  full to the point it was a bit hard for us to finish one donut cut five ways.... hehehehe...

however, one of us ordered this tasty mee soup and really enjoyed finishing it...

The day was getting scorching hot suddenly.... and it looked like rain was coming.  So we waited it out, and it really rained for a good half an hour or so.... As soon as the rain stopped, we bid adieu.... until our next ride, of course...

the fresh oren dgn asamboi was really refreshing...

Look look... kerbau lintas jalan :-)


Saturday, November 5, 2016

The search for....

And so... what else is new?  Not much I guess.

The threesome breakfast ride to Yik Mun on Sunday 23rd Oct was a much needed come back for me after almost four months of ride-free weekends.

The weekend of 29th October was an extended weekend, with Deepavali falling on Sunday the 30th.  Three days would have been ideal for a two-nighter across the border.  I had that in mind, but too bad there are no other takers.  So, it was a long weekend at home for me, except for short ride cum get-together to celebrate the wedding of Adi Lazarus (on Satuday evening), a friend from the SBM heydays.  Met up with many old friends and acquaintances from the now defunct SBM Forum.

"Orang Kuat" SBM - Sherman, Syed, Drifter, Datuk K and CJ.

After the wedding reception, some of us re-kindled an old time tradition (which is now few a far apart), the TTS.  Note:  this particular event held us back until 3:00am (Sunday morning).


That was on Saturday 30th Oct.  However, this posting is not about that.  This is yet another "breakfast ride" story... :-)... a week later.

Back to the routine questions on our small chat group - UOMO Bikers on whatsapp.

"Who's up for breakfast ride on Saturday?"

Two responded.  Mzac and Ajizizi.  With me, that'll be three of us.  Again, with no particular destination set, we agreed to RV at RnR Sg. Buloh by 8:00am.  A bit early than usual as I had to be home before noon (to see my dotter off to the airport).

Saturday, 5th Nov.  I was first to arrive at RnR Sg Buloh, few minutes before 8.00am.  There were lots of bikes; with no place to stop, I decided to make another round the parking area and stop to wait for Mzac and Ajizizi near the entrance of the parking area.

Overlooking the parking area of RnR Sg Buloh
Just a few moment later, Mzac arrived.  I told him that I will go to the petrol station to fill up and wait there while he should wait a the RnR for Ajizizi.

As I was finishing fuelling the R1, to my pleasant surprise Faizal appeared at the station.  It was indeed a pleasant surprise as Faizal had said he could not join due to other commitments.  Apparently he has made some adjustments... hehehehe.  A bit later, we welcomed yet another pleasant surprise!  Zack has been silence in the chat group.  But lo and behold, he turned up at this RV place to join us for this short ride.  To top it all, Zack was on duty today... and he said he told to colleagues "I'm going out for breakfast, then will go underground (Zack works with a company dealing with the LRT/MRT and would from time to time go underground, physically, to do troubleshooting tasks).

L-R:  Mzac, Zack, Ajizizi & Faizal
So, there we were.  Five of us with no idea where we wanted to go to, hahahaha....  But after a quick deliberation, we agreed to head to Kuala Kubu Baru and take a chance on any makan place that we come across.



A fellow biker doing a solo ride to Haadyai on his Honda FB6

So there we were, five matured men, on our almost regular Saturday (sometimes Sunday) ride looking for a place to do not only breakfast, but more importantly to meet up and continue with our silaturrahim.

The shootout:  Kawi Z1000SX, Suzi GSX1000RR, Yammy R1, KTM Superduke R, Aprillia RSV850

There was nothing special about the makan place in Kuala Kubu Baru town that we finally stopped to have our breakfast.  It's a mamak restaurant...

Garden breakfast.... hehehe..

Two different person, two different prices... mamak oh mamak.... hehehehe...

Apart from the usual chat... you know, current issues and reminisce on memories, we talked about a particular special subject today - Ajizizi shopping for a new bike :-)  He just sold his GSA recently and is looking for a replacement touring bike.  And as we deliberated on what would the best bike for him, Faizal mentioned that the BMW showroom in Glenmarie was having an open day today with bikes for test ride.  So, after getting back from the ride, three of us (Mzac, Ajzizi & I) headed to the showroom (free ice-cream, coffee, snacks... :-) ).


The R1200RT is high on Ajizizi's shortlist for his next bike.  So he tested it.... his verdict?  Go test a different model... hehehehe...


Well, we'll know what his pick would be, maybe not in a distant future.  My take is, whatever Ajizizi choose to buy, it will be the best bike for him... right?

But... what about this?  :-)


Wait and see.... wait and see..... hehehehe....