SG - Kenyir - Cameron - KL - SG

[Buzz]

After reading about Tasik Kenyir I yearned to pay it a visit. Finally have this opportunity to spend 2 days there. Followed by a night each at Cameron and KL before heading South. I am using a i-Blue 747+ GPS recorder as my Holux do not have any tracking capability. This is how my whole trip looks like.

 

Left Singapore at 5.45 am on Saturday trying to beat the jam at the causeway but unfortunately still got caught. Spend 1 hour crawling and i mean really crawling before getting to the immigration counter. I think the government is trying to keep Singaporean on island . Those Aetos rent a cop didn't help with their hap hazard traffic directing as well.

 

In contrast the immigration at the Johor side is a breeze even though they were changing shifts. From there took route 3 towards Kota Tinggi and Mersing. Stopped at a popular spot to fuel up before heading North again. It was delicious! Just wished they cooked the meat longer

From there onwards juts followed route 3 towards Kuantan, did't take the GPS "advise" of using Route 63 as i feel using the costal highway is more scenic. Just after Pekan hit a series of road works till Jalan Tanah Putih or route 2 in Kuantan.

 

From there and uneventful trip to Lake Kenyir Resort & Spa. Only things is that as we near Tasik Kenyir it started to rain and did not stop till we left on Monday.

 

So total distance covered to the trip up was 568 km and actual driving time is about 7 hours.

 

End Part 1

Edited March 21, 2009 by Buzz

[Maroon5]

wow the bak kut teh looks authentic and delicious!

[Siewss]

Very adventurous. You took the route 3-4-5 circuit. I did the opposite about 1.5 yrs back, route 5-4-3 with stops at Port Dickson -> Ipoh -> Langkawi -> Lake Kenyir -> Cherating spread over 11 days.

 

The Bak Kut Teh is mouth-watering.

[Buzz]

Part 2

 

The rooms we got were excellent and have an uninterrupted view of the Lake. I got 2 chalets that were joined so the kids have a bigger area to run about, if not it would have driven me nuts!

 

As I sat on the veranda sipping tea and reading it dawn on me what i was missing in the concrete jungle that i lived in. It is the sound of rain drop falling on leaves, really reminds me of the days when i was young and living in a kampong.

Just can't describe the serenity, the tranquility of that moment, before it was broken up by the kids fighting.

 

Here the supposed angle before picking a fight with his sister.

 

The next day though drizzling we went on a lake cruise to see the Soak waterfall and visit the Herbal Island. Din enjoy much as it started to pour while we were on the lake and everyone got soaked. Highlight though is a couple of cups of Tongkat Ali tea Very bitter i must say, contary to popular believes i din feel anything, maybe i just need more cups

 

We saw monitor lizards swimming in the water, i think a sea eagle perched on a tree, swallows swopping and diving, ouch i wish we are able to live so close to nature in Singapore.

 

End Part 2.

Edited March 21, 2009 by Buzz

[Buzz]

wow the bak kut teh looks authentic and delicious!

 

Yup that's why go through stoopid casueway just for the BKT

 

[Buzz]

Very adventurous. You took the route 3-4-5 circuit. I did the opposite about 1.5 yrs back, route 5-4-3 with stops at Port Dickson -> Ipoh -> Langkawi -> Lake Kenyir -> Cherating spread over 11 days.

 

The Bak Kut Teh is mouth-watering.

 

my 11 days trip would be to Phuket, provided i can convince the wife to drive rather than fly.

 

 

[Buzz]

art 3

 

Left Tasik Kenyir with a heavy heart on Monday, will miss the peace and tranquility of the place. Time to head towards Cameron via Gua Musang.

 

Route 156 West is generally good with some very nice view of the Lake.

 

Like mentioned by some bros, the road conditions can changed between states. Check out the contrast.

Nice

Need some work

 

There's a stretch that is pretty bad, full of pot holes but you won't need a 4 wheel drive to get through. Just need to drive slowly around some of the worse ones. Lucky for me my wife was driving and she was crashing through them pot holes like rally driver.

 

Between Lat:5.123560, Lon:102.616255, Ele:194.222946 and Lat:5.073388, Lon:102.584349, Ele:190.872177 go slow.

 

After a fuel stop in Gua Musang it was a smooth drive to Cameron. There was a couple of land slide but nothing major and repair works were in the progress.

 

The scenery was spectacular, my crappy photography skills cannot do it justice.

 

Did the usual stuffs at Cameron like having scones and tea, steam boat dinner (shiok when it is cold), and of course plucking strawberries for the kids.

 

Looking at the vegetables that is on sale, just could not resist buying some especially the Jagong, sedap! So sweet and can eat on the spot without cooking.

The trip from Tasik Kenyir to Cameron took 3 hours and covered 270 km.

 

End Part 3

[Buzz]

Part 4

 

Left Cameron at 9am heading towards KL via Route 181 to Simpang Pulai and E1 to KL. The drive down to E1 is a slow one, necessitate by the winding road (though not as winding as Route 59 from Tapah to Cameron ) but more importantly by the stunning view of the mountain ranges.

I think Malaysian are really blessed to have this natural wonder at your doorstep. Please take care of it.

 

Arrived in KL after stopping for lunch at 3pm, many thanks to the patient KL drivers to let me cut in at the last minute cause the roads are really confusing!

 

We stayed at the Corus Hotel and basically just hit KLCC and my must have Char Kway Teow at the Little Penang Cafe with their Chendol, cause still cannot compared to the one at Lebuh Perangin in Penang

 

So after a 5 days trip it was time to head home. Total distance traveled is close to 1500 km and this trip is really worth it.

 

The only disturbing thing about this trip is on the way down from Cameron we were behind this B plate Wira and when he saw a monitor lizard crossing the road he just change direction not to avoid it but to run over it! I saw the same thing a year ago on my way to JB from Kota Tinggi, this truck just aimed for a monitor lizard by the road side and ran over its tail! Are monitor lizards considered a menace in Malaysia?

 

Oh ya another funny thing happened just after i left KL. I saw this white Nissan GT-R AXX 18 (awesome car btw) overtook me at high speed with its sweet exhaust blaring in my ears! Then again near Melaka another white GT-R overtook me again, i thought "Wow today is the Malaysian GT-R outing arh?" But wait a minute it is the same car! Ok maybe he ran out of gas and stop to pump. Nearing JB before the Senai toll / exit the same GT-R overtook for the 3rd time! Man either this car is a true gas guzzler or someone in the car have tummy ache!

 

Next up a trip further North to the land of smiles

 

End of Report

[Sir8]

Very nice trip indeed.

[Mlsk]

this is a great field report!!

thanks for sharing.

[Buzz]

Pleasure is all mine

[Voodooman]

The trip from Tasik Kenyir to Cameron took 3 hours and covered 270 km.

 

Thank for the FR, the above should help me to plan a Cameron-Lake Kenyir-Redang/Perhentain trip in the future.

 

 

[Voodooman]

Where did you put up while at Cameron?

[Siewss]

my 11 days trip would be to Phuket, provided i can convince the wife to drive rather than fly.

 

Yeah, that particular long trip became a pain for the passengers, especially the drive. Needles started poking on ass, as the saying goes.

 

Driving to Phuket is a dream for me too, and would likely remain so considering how my 11 day trip went....

 

[Siewss]

Thanks for sharing - an enjoyable read of your enjoyable trip. If you're into lake resorts, try Bukit Merah Lake Resort, or Pedu Lake Resort next time.

 

Is your Forester < 6 months old? Nice ride. I must say the paintwork still sparkles despite the arduous journey across Gua Musang. I just spent 1.5 hours this afternoon removing all the insect carcass / body sap / blood and other gruesome stains from the bumper, no. plate, bonnet, windscreen and wing mirrors using detailing spray. A real chore, I must say, but that's the price for driving through forestry roads in the wee morning hours.

 

Talking about carcass, I didn't know that Malaysian drivers have this morbid bloodlust for roadkills. I observed dead monkeys, snakes, dogs, cats, and a wildboar in my recent 2 day trip on Route 3, and these poor critters could have fallen victim to sadistic drivers, but then again, between running off the road and running over animals or reptiles, I'll also choose the latter.

Edited March 21, 2009 by Siewss

[Buzz]

Where did you put up while at Cameron?

 

Century Pines, booked the Duplex unit can squeeze in 3 adults and 2 kids

 

[Buzz]

Thanks for sharing - an enjoyable read of your enjoyable trip. If you're into lake resorts, try Bukit Merah Lake Resort, or Pedu Lake Resort next time.

 

Is your Forester < 6 months old? Nice ride. I must say the paintwork still sparkles despite the arduous journey across Gua Musang. I just spent 1.5 hours this afternoon removing all the insect carcass / body sap / blood and other gruesome stains from the bumper, no. plate, bonnet, windscreen and wing mirrors using detailing spray. A real chore, I must say, but that's the price for driving through forestry roads in the wee morning hours.

 

Talking about carcass, I didn't know that Malaysian drivers have this morbid bloodlust for roadkills. I observed dead monkeys, snakes, dogs, cats, and a wildboar in my recent 2 day trip on Route 3, and these poor critters could have fallen victim to sadistic drivers, but then again, between running off the road and running over animals or reptiles, I'll also choose the latter.

 

Are those closer to the border with Thailand? If so will fit my next trip just nice

 

Mine is just 6 months old and the bonnet is the only one that sparkle, the rest of the car is like.......... . That's why i stop in JB to have my car washed on a ramp to remove all the mud, etc.... I think i was pissing the car wash car guys off as i was next to the car pointing here and there. But they were quite professional as in they wet the car and let it soak before rinse off and then shampoo and wash off. Not like our petrol station types

 

I agree that between me and my family versus animals they would surely lose, i had a couple of colleagues that went to the states was driving at night to Yellow Stone when they swerve to avoid a deer, car ended upside down and one of them was in the hospital for 2 months. Could not turn his head for close to 6 months after that.

 

[Boyboy]

nice resort.. i stayed there too when i went for my cameron-kenyir trip. i believe it's the only resort which doesn't require u to take the boat out to some 'island' in the middle of the lake

Edited March 22, 2009 by Boyboy