Cycling Touring Kuantan ---> Pekan ---> Rompin ---> Mersing ~ NOTTY BY NATURE LIFE-CHAPTER 2

Recent Chinese New year Holiday , i took opportunity follow my others 4 friends from DET-C group cycling from Kuantan to Mersing from 9th February until 13th February 2013 (5 days 4 night). This is my first time for long journey in cycling touring. At first I doubtful to follow them because of limited holiday and never done this before. But after a long thought without delay I went to the bus station even this is also my first time doing this and bought 3 bus tickets for others 3 members that took the bus from bus station at Jalan Pekeliling near Titiwangsa Star LRT station.
I bought bus ticket from Bulan Sutera Sdn Bhd with prices RM22 per person also the bus has big compartment under it without any separator. I really concerned at first either bicycle can put in the compartment or not but because of friend of mine done this several time before it should be ok. I really feel grateful everything went smoothly nothing problem happened .
Our bus from station move about at 9.30am and arrived at Kuantan Bus Station about 1 pm. Once the bus arrived, we took out our bicycle fro bus compartment and at the same time we noticed that everyone around look at us, it is something like we are done something wrong. We quickly assemble our bicycle and go find food court for lunch.

Day One

" This is the bus that we took from KL to Kuantan which from Bulan Sutera "

We are stop at Restoran Insaf Indah for a lunch while waiting for Bro Nazry and Haris , they took a bus from Putrajaya and Shah Alam respectively.

This beautiful mosque is Masjid Negeri Sultan Ahmad 1(Sultan Ahmad 1 State Mosque) located in Kuantan and pray here before we start our journey to Pekan.
This is a few history about Kuantan . Kunatan is the state capital of Pahang , the 3rd largest state in malaysia and situated near the mouth of Kuantan river and faces the South China Sea.Kuantan in the 1st century was a part of Shih-Tu empire. in the 11th century, this piece of land was conquered by another smalla empire called Pheng Khen before being taken over by the siamese during 12th century. During the 15th century , Kuantan was ruled by the Malacca Empire. Kuantan is said to have been founded in the 1850s. The word Kuantan was mentioned by Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir (Munshi Abdullah) .

After about 3:00 pm and all members had arrive and gathered. We start cycling from State Mosque of Sultan Ahmad 1 to Pekan, it take about 51++ km from the mosque.

In our paddling we cycle through Kedai Makan Paksu and Maksu (Maksu and Paksu Food Court), that shop really packed with customer and famous with it Sata. We stopped and rest and take this opportunity to taste the Sata and other foods , time we stopped here is about 5.44 pm and we still have a long journey to Pekan.

After our stomach fulled we start cycling back to Pekan and pass through Bandar Putra *** (Sorry i forget the place name)

After 40++km we take a rest at roadside stall and this time about 6.30pm almost near Pekan.

Finally we arrived at Pekan but still have a few kilometres to town , at 7.40pm we search for the Surau/Mosque to Maghrib Solah before continue to Pekan Town and we pray at Surau Kg Tanah Putih , Pekan.
Pekan located on the banks of the Pahang River 50km south of Kuantan. Pekan is the royal town of the Malaysian state of Pahang Darul makmur. Its name comes from a flower, the Bunga Pekan.
According to the old folk, the Bunga Pekan flower grows wild at the banks of Pahang River, The rive at the Pekan town (near Mengkasar Village) is also called Pekan river. However there is no source for the clain that Pekan got its name from this river . Other sources say the name Pekan came from the word Pekan Sehari for easier pronunciation, the locals simply called it Pekan and the name sis till used. Pekan town is said to have existed since 17th century, but no exact date has been verified. Several Arab and Chinese writers mentioned Pekan

Finally at 8.52 pm we arrived at old mosque called Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah at Pekan Town , our distance until this Surau about 57.41km and also we will overnight here after got permission from Surau AJK.

After got permission and everybody feel hungry we go out to search for food stall and we stop at BP Tomyam Restaurant.

DAY TWO

Early 8 am we are ready to continue our journey to Kuala Rompin which is about another 70++km from Pekan and thanks to Mosque people let us overnight here.

Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah was officially opened in 1932 as Pekan Mosque until 1976 when a bigger mosque, masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah was built nearby to accomodate the growing number of Muslims in the area and it still stands proud as a town landmark by the riverside. It was officially opened by Pahang's crown Prince at the time in 1929, yang Teramat Mulia tengku Abu Bakar ibni Sultan Abdullah on behalf of his father the Sultan of Pahang, on 8th January 1932. The mosque reflects a mixed Mugahl-Moorish style with Moorish outline forms and simple hemispheric domes but embellished with Mughals style chatris or small circular structures on the roof and a top the minaret - credit by Pak Habib-

Nearby the mosque that we overnight , there is Sultan Abu Bakar Museum, the museum displays many artifacts which are important in the state's history and the local malay culture and it was officially opened by Sultan Ahmad Shah in October 1976. It is located in the former residence of British resident, thich was built in 1929 and was acquired by the Sultan of Pahang in 1948 and was renamed Kota Beram Palace. In 1965, the Sultan moved his residence to a new palace (the Abu Bakar Palace) , where the current Royal Palace is situated.

After half an hour cycling from Sultan Abu Bakar Museum, we found roadside stall and stopped for a nasi lemak and nasi dagang breakfast. A lot of people came here to buy breakfast and its reallt pure village food.

On the way to Kuala Rompin, felt like rain began to fall and we stop for a while at Warung Aishah Jasmi at Sungai Miang. After about almost an hour rain still has not stopped and we decided to continue cycling in the rain and ready for the rain coat.

After 30km cycle we stopped again at food stall for drink and it is still raining.

This is the food stall in the Kg Nenasi and have a lunch here at this time was at 13.17 pm this food stall nearby Kg Nenasi Bus Station.

After one and a half hour we stopped again at Masjid Al Iman at Kg Leban Chondong, Kuala Rompin.. The distance until here about 76km and left another 10++km to go.

Finally at 5.28 pm we arrived at Kuala Rompin Town and straight to the Restoran Cemara for dinner before search for overnight place. Because time we came here is in Chinese New Year a lot of food stall close and only eat at restaurant that we had seen when cycling.

After dinner we cycled around Pantai Hiburan to find a place for overnight and we found Surau As'syifa at Taman Tasik nearby Pantai Hiburan.

DAY THREE

For the third day we are ready for the next route from Kuala Rompin to Mersing and we had breakfast at Restoran Cemara, at first we went there because of Lempeng Kelapa but unfortunately they not made it that day and we just replace with nasi lemak and its really good.

"The wrong route seems to Tioman Jetty but it is not "

" This is the real Jetty to Pulau Tioman"

Along the way to rompin we across the bridge border of endau - rompin , we can see many people spend their time fishing at this bridge.

" Here is the border between Endau (Johor) and Rompin (Pahang) "

We take a rest after 20km from the border at Kedai Infas Cahaya, kg Teriang besar Johor. To find this shop/cafe use route to Jalan Pantai, a lot of foreigner cyclist follow this route.

By using Jalan Pantai route we will go throughTeluk Sari Penyabong and this time at 12.19p.m, along the way by using Jalan Pantai Route we will cycle through the beachside.

There is two alternative way cycle to mersing, first way use the road to Pantai Air Papan which is just go straight and another way cycle through Gunung Arong area which is turn righ after climbing and see the signboard to Mersing. For cyclist want to use way to Gunung Arong area better before 4 pm because along the way about 20-30km before see village all the way is forest.

Finally after went through along the forest at Gunung Arong area and long hill , we arrived at Tenglu and stopped here for lunch at 14.11pm, from here just left 8km to Mersing.

Now we at top peak Masjid Jamek Mersing at Mersing town, to went here you must climb and bicycle that I used not enough to do that so just push until the top. We can see a beautiful scenery on top of the mosque and its really cozy. After a few minutes then the heavy rain fall and we shelter in the mosque until the rain stops.

After the rain stops as usual we search for overnight place and found Surau Sri Bayu at Kg Bahagia and have dinner at Warung Pak Jamal.

Day Four

At 8.30 pm we cycled to Kedai Makan Siti near the Jetty of LKIM and surprised the dishes ready like having a lunch, I may not hold myself when saw big squid dish and the really surprised was the price one squid RM15.

After that we straight to the Mersing bus station to buy ticket to kuala Lumpur and lucky still have ticket with Transnasional bus with RM33 also the compartment fit to put the bicycle.

" This is Kompleks LKIW mersing"

At 11.00 pm we cycled to chill out at Jetty to Tioman Island and breathe the fresh air near the beach almost 1 hour and a half we enjoy and sleep there until we feel need to have a lunch.

Food stall that been suggested from people here is Kedai Ucu Selera Kita at Kg Seri Lalang at Mersing Kanan area. Like what the people said as soon as lunch time pack of people in that stall and various type of dishes been served.

" This is Masjid Jamek Kg Seri Lalang that we stopped for Zohor prayer"

Pantai Mersing at this time receded and we can walk to the next island but I didnt when at one stage I stepped my feet immersed in soil so I returned.

"This man using the traditional machine to find mussel (kepah) "

" At roadside Pantai Mersing we can see a lot of stalls and I tried Air Cendol Sarawak, the taste was really sweet and good"

I never knew that Mersing also famous with Keropok Lekor along the way cycled at Mersing Beach we saw a lot of Keropok Lekor Stall here and the taste quite good too"