Segamat @ 21 Jul 07

This was a trip that was almost cancelled. There were too many options with who coming later, who meeting where, who joining us later etc.. that I had felt that the trip was quite impossible. But PFs are full of surprises, and last minute, an emergency meeting was called at Kallang Mac. It was then unanimously decided that ALL would meet at 6.30am, Woodlands swimming pool. And the plan to was follow our Green Devil to Durian Land aka Segamat.

So, early the next day, all turned up. Black was a little late. But that wasn't a problem as the custom was smooth as silk. A very stress free experience to cruise through the custom. We made a turn, changed some money, and we were on the way to the fuel stop ie Breakfast.

I brought them to the "nice" place that I had promised over at Molek. All were quite delighted with the nice ambience and the good spread of food. After some chit chat and phototaking, we headed up to Tangkat at around 8.30am.

The way to the highway, was quite a convoluted one. I had to head back to the main kota tinggi way and to make an u-turn into the slip road to the NSH. But the U-turn was not allowed and I had to turn right into some small roads. I toyed around with my GPS *ahem* for this route, and managed to guide the whole convey through dirty muddy road kumpung roads just outside the highway. It was almost magical.

Drive up
Reaching TangKat


Green led the convoy of 7 cars up North at breakspeed and we reached Tangkat in a very good time of around 11am. However, it started to rain quite heavily and we hung around the small town, browsing through the stores selling cloth and other amenities. Some people got hungry (thot they just ate?) and we decided to have lunch there and then since with the rain, we couldn't head for the Durians just yet.

In TangKat
Tangkat fearsome security force


TangKat Line Dancers


In the Hong Kong Roast eating place


Outside the Hong Kong Roast eating place


Authentic Chinese Clan


Tangkat KFC


Around town
Durians at a Fruit shop


Giant Pineapple


Cloth shop


Katek Fire Hydrant (For short firemen)


View of Street with Mount Ophir at the backdrop (Gunung Ledang)


Tangkat version


Pica Frnz Private Parking Lot


We lunched mainly at a hong kong roast shop, while Green and family did their at the local KFC. The food wasn't too bad, and was a hearty meal. Around 1pm, the weather turned for the better, and we decided to go for the main course, Durians.

Green led the way back towards the highway, scanning through all the roadside durian stalls. But the one he was looking for was closed. He made a 1.5 point turn , and headed back the road to Tangkat. Midway, the whole convoy stopped abruptly in an attempt to make a right turn into a Durian plantation. The stopping was rather sudden, and as I was the tail man, I saw the incoming MY car slammed his brakes and skidded with a loud screeching sound towards me. Argh...my heart skipped a beat. The car behind him also did the same. But both slided a bit on the road without hitting any metal. Close shave! The irate driver filtered out and blared his horn at us.

At the Durian Plantation


I.WANT.MY.DURIAN!


Durian Plantation Pia Kia..Don't park properly, I scratch your car




Who prettier?


Quick! Let's go one corner to eat


When the whole team was safely in the plantation, it was time to feast. For some unlucky few, so were the mozzies. (not sure if got dengue or not?) The durians were ordered and open one after the other. Some were good, some were not that great. But overall, it was quite enjoyable. The man and wife team were quite friendly and chit chatted with us while we were enjoying their produce.

After having our fill. We next plan where to go. Our Yellow wanted to meet us back in JB in the evening for dinner. Through some miscomunications, we had thot to head for Moffiz. But since we were already here, we decided to visit the legendary Mt Ophir, which was just around the corner.

7 Pica convoy to Ledang


At Gunung Ledang
The Ledang acrobatic team


The audience


Out of the way...arrrggghhhh...


He was the fattest...and the Landing...splashiest


Hey, is that a dengue Mosquito?


Hmm...this angle nice. will send this to National Geographic


Ledang Terrorist Hideout


Resort


Ledang shopping


Ice Mountain


Green again led the way, and very soon, a large and tall mountain loomed before us. However, the place had been quite commercialized, and there were quite a bit of activities there. There was a bunch of young boys making a leap of faith into the shallow waterfall stream. It was good to see young free spirited boys enjoying themselves.

Serious Accident ont the other way


Around 4+pm, we made a move to head back to JB to rendezvous with Yellow. The speed on the way back was very fast. So much so that some of us had difficulties to catch up. Average speed was like 130km/h. Furthermore, with such a long convoy, it was hard to maintain rank and order. I thot it was quite foolish to take such a risk, especially since we were not familiar with the traffic polic activity around here. On the way, we saw an accident of a long container truck lying across the entire E2 highway on the other direction. The whole highway was locked into a massive jam.

Vicky at Moffiz


Moffiz


We touched down at Moffiz at around 7.15pm. Very good time. But alas, Yellow as waiting for us at Jusco instead. Darn. Anyway, it was a good chance for the newbies amongst us to look for accessories and parts.

Around 8+pm, we headed to Jusco to join up with Yellow team. Surprisingly, Red and Green left us without biding goodbye, leaving our poor Dark Blue to continue the saga with us. Road up to Jusco was pretty bad, and we reached Jusco with some difficulites. We splitted due to the heavy traffic, and my HP just died after sending an SOS to Black. Luckily Black got the instruction and managed to meet us at the Jusco Parking lot.

We had dinner at Kenny's and after that, some shopping time for the ladies. At 11pm, some of us still didn't have enough of the shopping and wanted to continue till 12am. Ok then, it was only Black and I to head back to Sin via 2nd Link. Little ducklings all grown up. I left Sin this morning with 6, and went home with 1.

It had been quite a tiring trip, spanning 2 days in the process. (I returned after 12am). But I was glad that the turnout was so good for a distance so far. The lure of Durian , a powerful thing.

Irene's secret friend secretly following us to Tangkat.

Small Durian Party @ 7 July 2007

Some of us were eager for fish soup at Semb Hill this Sat. In fact, this was to be like the biggest turnout ever. The 2 new girls were quite kaypoh and wanted to join us for the fishsoup that we kept talking about. Andrew and Elyn also dashed all the way for the 500 mile journey to join us in this strange PF ritual. The plan was to proceed later to Woodgrove to get our Durian Fix. But Vicky, Gary and Irene had some prior appointment and would be missing it.

Vicky "showed off" her poor scratched rims. But most of us thought it was quite alright. (Wait till it happens to us!). She got some sand paper to do some carpentry work to reduce the damaged look. Her BF would be in for some DIY duties.

We were a tad early for the Durians and had to do some waiting. It was originally slated for 1.30pm, but due to the rain and the Jam and falling killer branches, it would be at 2pm. It was interesting to see the Lorry load of pricky fruit arriving. The stall was a popular one and the minute the Durians were unloaded, it immediately sprang into business.

We duly got our styrofoam boxes of the addictive yellow stuff and proceeded to my home for the Party. All agreed that the Durians were good stuff and eagerly tucked into the succulent flesh. We ate till we all got too much of it, that there were quite a handful left that nobody wanted to touch. Talk about too much of a good thing.

The guys had fun with Burnout3 in the hope of burning some durian fats, and did some destructive driving. Hopefully on the way back, they could remember not to drive like what they did. Already Vicky scratching the rims was just a heart pain affair.

The fish soupers


Strange posters...Shermaine and Shan were here.




The "long" queue


I had never seen so much Durians in my life.


Burnout!