|
|
Topic History of: My X\'mas Dec 2005 Trip
Max. showing the last posts - (Last post first)
| andrewtc |
It's good to be back. |
| andrewtc |
Ivy
Yes, Simpang Pulai route is much less winding. SP route also takes you straight to the top end if you look at a map of CH. You will reach Kampung Raja, Tringkap, Brinchang and Tanah Rata followed by Ringlet. Ringlet will be the first town to reach if you start from Tapah. The travelling time is also much shorter to Brinchang and you need not stop halfway to rest and take a breather unlike the Tapah route. You will also get better panoramic views of the mountain range ahead. Equatorial Hotel is in Kea Farm just before Brinchang town from Simpang Pulai route. The recent landslide occurred further up halfway before reaching the top. You should check for any road closures before you depart even if from Tapah route. It is better to travel at daylight as traffic will be extremely low during nightfall and there are no handphone network coverage along this virgin jungle route until you reach the plateau at the top. Will you be driving and how many pax ?? Regards. |
| Ivy |
Dear andrewtc,
Was the road leading up to CH from simpang pulai way winding like the old road fr Tapah way? My elderly mother gets bad car sickness from the old winding road way up to CH from Tapah.Your journal about your CH trip is so useful and informative that I have printed out a copy to refer when I make the trip in September.Thank you for sharing the information, it's better than the lonely planet book! |
| andrewtc |
Hail the Chief for correction to my subject year. Thanks again. |
| andrewtc |
I made an impromptu trip to CH on 16 Feb 9.00pm from Spg Pulai and left for Ipoh early 17 Feb morning. It was just a crazy spontaneous decision to drive that extra hour up to CH, as I was coming from Teluk Intan, and stayed the night there instead of Ipoh for business.
Some updates:
1)The major road diversion before the ascend is almost completed as that stretch of road has been straightened and open to traffic.
2) Thinking that I could get an extra low rate for late check-in and early morning check-out as it was low season proof futile. No doubt the were quoting at promo rate, almost half of rack rate, the rates were still high at above RM100. The hotels I checked: Rosa Pasadena (RM128 nett incl 2 BF), Casa Del Rosa (about RM199), Strawberry Park, Century Pine and Heritage. All were rather quite and the night reception could only refer to fixed promo rate.
3) At 9.00pm I took slightly over an hour to reach Brinchang. Traffic both ways was almost zero and the air very cool.
4) I therefore ended up back in Brinchang at Hotel Chua Jin at 11.30pm and paid RM50 nett for a 5-pax bedroom at the old block top floor. The 4th floor looks like a converted roof floor for the extra rooms and it is half cement and plywood walls so it is not noise proof. I met a man who paid RM35 for a room with bathroom/toilet sharing outside. Luckily mine was special as I could lock the extra bathroom/toilet door for access to my room only. The fitting may be abit old as the power plug does not work. TV is wire from an external extension line from a sharing plug outside the corridor. Hot water is gas burner controlled for bathroom and once used may have to wait 15 min to heat up again. Drinking water is just an old thermo flask. Bedding was clean and comfortable. Nothing fancy. Remind to bring a multiple plug for various electrical devices.
5) For breakfast, I intended to head to Gerai Opah famous Nasi Lemak in Tanah Rata but ended up at some food stalls opposite Kavy Hotel. I picked the centre stall that had 2 menu boards displayed. The nasi lemak was delicious. Hot santan rice, tasty sambal, fried egg and some long beans vegetable served on plastic banana plate at only RM2/. Drinks are probably standard priced at RM1.20 for tea, coffee or horlicks. I told the malay lady earlier, I was looking for Gerai Opah and she told me it was at the other end of town and that somebody else had taken over the stall, indicating that it was not the same original Gerai Opah nasi lemak any longer.
6) On the way out of CH, traffic was almost zero. Only a stage bus, some cars, a few CH pick up trucks was all I encountered. On exiting I went to the same place to look for the corns I bought in December. The stall signboard is "NO. 18". It has a vegetable farm behind, a cactus display in the centre rear and nursery at the front left. The vegetable, corns and some souvenirs are on the front right. It was one of the few that had opened early for business as I was the only customer that morning. In Dec 05, it was displayed RM2 for a corn. Now it is RM10 for 6 corns. Anyway I got them without any hassle at the same price I first bought, RM1 per corn and bought a plastic bag full for my family back home. Yummy and juicy they are.
7) Left Tanah Rata at 8.45am, stopover at Kpg Raja and arrived Spg Pulai at 10.25am.
8) Again, traffic downhill was almost zero. Almost reaching the bottom, I saw a Waja police patrol car stopped by the road checking a box truck coming up hill. Even when you may think traffic is very little and it is not the touristy season, police are present on this quite road (especially in the morning).
End |
| andrewtc |
Chua Jin Hotel which room I stayed has only a 21 inch colour TV. Not 29 inch as mentioned. That was something else...... |
|
Forums