Cherating-Gerik-Genting Trip (part 3)

Day 2 (18 Apr)

From Ah Seng's blog I heard that Gerik Highway was the so called Bikers' Paradise. And although I tried the 1/4 of it in my Feb's trip to Betong, I still did not have enough kick out of it. The 3/4 stretch of Gerik Highway which I left out was actually the more challenging part. So, I think... and also wish to complete the loop before I venture further out to Thailand... so here I go... and this was quite a last min decision. Preparation? Almost none... and I am glad that my bike could survive the journey.

We left our hotel early at 6am. It was just nice enough so as when we reach route 4 (a.k.a Gerik Highway) then it will just be dawn. From Kota Bahru, one can hit the main highway to connect to R4. But we chose to ride to Rantau Panjang and skirting along the Thai border to reach R4.

This is a very special area. There is one Duty Free Zone and once entered... we were so so close to the Thai border. And along the way there were many police and army checkpoints.

The route was quite winding and narrow. It was just like normal kampung area road but the bends were challenging as if u misjudged the curve u will just run into the opposite car. And on my right side it is actually Thai territory. So close! Yeah, the road was simply the border! I think if u wan, u can easily enter into Thailand illegally from here.

This kampung route lead us to Jeli which was our first stop. And strangely the weather getting cooler while approaching Jeli. It seems to be very misty like Betong.

We stopped at Jeli for our breakfast. It was the self-service malay econ rice and the food was okay. However koh found a big cricket inside his vege and I could see him really pissed off. Well, this is Malaysia lah... although I wanted to console him, but to avoid adding oil to fire I just quietly finished my own vege... diff people diff taste... and to be frank these things dun really bother me much.


After makan, we found one motordiam for hr to fix his footrest. After asking one off duty policeman to get some directions, I was surprised to find one presentable motordiam at Jeli. The location was just turn left at main junction into Jeli town, then ride for 500m and can see many rows of shophouses there. The motordiam just located at one corner and u cant miss them. It will be good for anyone going Gerik next time in case of breakdown.

Seeing that they selling Shell Fully Syn engine oil for just RM24 per bottle (in SG, one bottle of full syn at least SGD20)... I asked them to change my oil too... cos my servicing was way overdue. And it worth the money cos my engine felt much more smoother at later gerik and genting journey. And being able to talk rubbish in Malay also help... cos I manage to get some further discount from them :P

Once it is out of Jeli, the route became very scenic. And the bends also became tighter as it goes. It just like our North Buona Vista turns and bends... but 100km long only... and it was up and down the mountaineous road. We need concentration to ride along here. And therefore I did not ride very fast, at most only 80kmh round the curve. It is also because I wanted to enjoy the scenery slowly and did not like to just rush tru the route.

It was quite some time till we finally reached the highest peak there. The view was magnificient and it just made the trip really worthwhile. At that moment I just felt that I am on top of the world...

Me and my trushworthy bike, which go everywhere with me every since he was born.

After that it was time to descend down to the route.


We passed by a lake... Banding Lake. It was very big and I heard that it was a man-made lake... actually I hope to find some R&R there but couldn't seem to locate it... well...

Once passed the lake, very soon we reached Gerik to have some rest... and then photo time with the famous Gerik icon... and both koh and hr seems to be very excited about it... again they climbed up to the sign and play with the flag somemore...



From gerik, we took Route 76 to Kuala Kangsar. R76 is a very easy-going route, mainly straight and with nice curve... the view was nice as well... and the photo was in my previous journey post...

Later it was NSHW. At first we planned to stay at Tapah, but when we reached there it seems to be nothing much exciting, and since the time still early, hr suggested that we went to Rawang which was much nearer to Genting. We reached Rawang at night and the traffic was very heavy inside the town, which seems to be a busy residential area. After our dinner at Ulu Yam... feeling tiring and exhausted we proceeded back to Rawang to look for a hotel because we couldn't locate one in Ulu Yam.

The hotel we found in Rawang was very budget type (RM50). But we had no choice because it was getting very late. All I wished was to park the bike and went up to have nice shower and sleep... while waiting for long upstair at the hotel lobby, I came down to look for them and koh and hr suggested to me to park inside the police station. My initial reaction was... wah why so kiasi one... just park here in front of hotel enough wat. And somemore I also not sure can really park inside station not (cos I always having very bad impression of Malaysian polis). But since they insisted so I just let them go to ask first and I went up to have a nice shower. Later I found out that they really parked the bikes into the station! Omg! First time I encounter like this lor. Well, I also became kiasi and joined them later. And it gave me peace of mind too cos at night I heard so many alarm sound goes off including my remote control... which meant someone even attemped to touch my bike inside the station! So this is the experience... when time come, even no choice have to make it a choice...

Day 3 (19 Apr)

Next morning we left the hotel at 6.30am. hr wanted to try one mountain in this trip so he suggested to go up genting on our way home. Since we were from north down, I suggested to use the Batang Kali route which in my opinion more scenic and lesser traffic too.

The first stretch of route from Ulu Yan was quite easy and smooth. I had no problem to go up at 3 or 4th gear. It was only at last stretch near to the Genting hotel then the ride became more jialat. I had to ride up with 1st gear at some slope. Worst, at one part there was a junction and I stopped there as marker because I worry them will go holland. But when I about to move off I found myself stuck there. Cos I using stock sprocket so the torque was not good enough, and coupled that my bike is heavy too. The bike just keep dying off the engine there... partly due to the low oxygen too... being panic I just tried to ram it higher and at the end the battery flat. It was lucky that hr turn back and helped me to push up the bike and it gained momentum again... (thank you bro)... later on I learnt that maybe it is better for me to half-standing on bike at this situation to start the bike... well, something new to learn...

Eventually reached Genting and we had fun time walking around there... and I donated RM10 to Uncle Lim again :( din take much photo with my bike there cos I been roding up before... so Genting is like my 2nd home liao... abit sianz... haha...

And after Genting, I OTOT back at 1pm because I had something urgent to attend to at home... while Koh and Hr went to recee at Port Dickson... reached SG at 5pm and it was a tiring but fruitful journey for me.

Well, some say Gerik is bikers' paradise... actually it is pretty subjective and just depends what u wan from the route. If u wan nice weather, stunning scenery, nature wilderness and to explore your soul and mind, yes, Gerik is for you. Gerik has enough turns and bends which make u alert for the whole 100km. But... if you looking for those super tight hairpin turns, up n down gear kind of bends, then this is probably not very suitable... probably mae hong san is better than Gerik then...

Anyway I am glad that I make a move to go for this trip. If I procrastinate and think twice, maybe I would not complete this trip and wont even know what is Gerik because by looking at the map it seems to be daunting. Well, alot of people worry this and that, and eventually they just sit at home. I understand their concern, but to go touring meant to have risk... it just depends on biker himself how to minimise the risk. And I always believe that the strengh come from rider, not the bike. Any bike also can go touring one, right...

And I am proud of myself to complete the round Malaysia trip. It may not be 100% trunk road, but my main focus is on Gerik Highway, so the rest is not that important and I don't really care. And if next time got people suan me for going too easy touring... maybe I can ask them back with... where did you go for touring with your 2b bike then? hehehe *evil*

So, journey completed...

total distance - 1800km

total cost - priceless

And alright... see u guys for the next trip!