Drove to Kuantan on the long weekend

[PNGMK]

It's so good to get out on the open road for awhile. And as always Malaysia shocks - the endless palm oil monoculture ("ooh - look - some rainforest - quick - cut it down and plant palms!"), the competent drivers (seriously better than Singapore), the cheap petrol (even in a 2.5XT Forester), the cheaper food, the beaches (covered in plastic - those people have zero pride in their country if you equate pride and littering), the lovely run down resorts (I have a serious fetish for finding the most run down resort that you can still rent a room in - I love them!). As always I am reminded driving through the far flung parts of MY that it is still a developing nation (and hence why spend money on a fast train from Singapore to KL?).

We built fires on the beach, got the mighty forester stuck in the sand (not fun) and had a great time. Saw some stars, practiced some bahasa and left happy.

[sundaymorningstaple]

covered in plastic? Singapore would be identically the same if not for the army of foreign cleaners picking up behind the local population.

[bloodhound123]

I happened to visit Japan last year and I noticed something very conspicuous with regard to the law - In Japan it is a social obligation for someone to obey the civil law. If you litter in public/smoke in the open areas, you get stared at by the public. Whereas in Singapore it is the opposite. The civil law is strictly enforced by the pertinent governmental bodies and the public tries to be as lax as possible until they come face to face with the law.

[yogaloungeforever]

Made me depressed reading your post but glad you had a great time. Was holed up in as usual in the tiny dot over the long hol stretch

[PNGMK]

covered in plastic? Singapore would be identically the same if not for the army of foreign cleaners picking up behind the local population.

True enough - the south china sea stretches this far.

The Hyatt (we ate lunch there) had a pristine beach thanks to an unseen army but of course we wouldn't have been able to light a fire on it nor race up and down in our SUV's on it.

Another thing I love about Malaysia is the level of stress - it drops noticeably once you cross the border. The MYR is at a very low level (2.45) - a good time for a visit.

The coast road north of Rompin is very special to me - a great road and very quiet.

[Max Headroom]

Not to nitpick, but the MR is at a whopping 2.56+ to the SGD. In fact, last weekend it even flirted with 2.60.

Currently: 1.00 SGD = 2.56705 MYR.

I agree with it being a nice country to be. But, wow, progress isn't wasting any time. It's amazing to me that not so long ago it was all primary jungle dotted with kampongs, most people walking along the road clad in baju and sarong, half-naked kids in tow.

Feels like last week to me...

[ScoobyDoes]

Another thing I love about Malaysia is the level of stress - it drops noticeably once you cross the border. The MYR is at a very low level (2.45) - a good time for a visit.

It is crossing the border that is the stressful part. On a Sunday in June it took three hours to cross via the Second Link, stuck on the JB side with absolutely nowhere to run.

Years back I drove up to KL during the CNY break and it took me 7-8hours, which is quite different to the 3-4hrs it normally takes.

The E.Coast road up to Kuantan is great. Can really get back into a 'normal' driving habit, passing cars again.....trying to avoid 12yr olds on scooters belting down the wrong side of the road, avoiding chickens and cows.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Has anybody driven northwards say starting from early on a Monday morning, say 6ish heading well north of KL on the west coast? Would it be better (living in the North east of Singapore) using the causeway and through the middle of JB during the peak hours or heading across the top of Singapore using the SLE/BKE/KJE to the 2nd link and avoiding JB altogether? I see, using Google maps only a 15 minute difference longer using the Tuas Link from my place in Serangoon North. Reckon it would still be quicker by avoiding the rush hour in JB?

I'm looking at an 8 hour run up the west coast to Penang. Looking to return on a Wednesday night (leaving there around 2 pm in the afternoon) so I'm hoping I can be heading away from the traffic in both directions.

[PNGMK]

Has anybody driven northwards say starting from early on a Monday morning, say 6ish heading well north of KL on the west coast? Would it be better (living in the North east of Singapore) using the causeway and through the middle of JB during the peak hours or heading across the top of Singapore using the SLE/BKE/KJE to the 2nd link and avoiding JB altogether? I see, using Google maps only a 15 minute difference longer using the Tuas Link from my place in Serangoon North. Reckon it would still be quicker by avoiding the rush hour in JB?

I'm looking at an 8 hour run up the west coast to Penang. Looking to return on a Wednesday night (leaving there around 2 pm in the afternoon) so I'm hoping I can be heading away from the traffic in both directions.

Use the causeway but be there before 7am is the conventional advice. The second link if you can't be arsed getting up that early but it does add a few km (but they're fast km).

I thought you didn't have a car now?

[sundaymorningstaple]

I don't have one of my own, but I've had full use of a friend's car for the past 1.5 years or so. He's on a project in Indonesia for 3 years and rather than letting his car lie fallow in the basement of Parc Vista, I keep it running. I pay the maintenance/road tax/parking & he pays the insurance & servicing (I don't use it enough to use up the mileage between services - so time serviced he pays). I'm also his bill drop, etc. We go back over 20 years here - we were neighbours originally way back during the Mobil Oil refinery upgrade here in the early '90's (Asia Badger).

[sundaymorningstaple]

Thinking about doing a 3 day 2 night stay @ The Golden Sands in Penang later part of September (Mon~Wed) for our 30th Anniversary. (It's where we had our honeymoon - so sweet I am!) IF I can get some other logistics sorted out as well.

[the lynx]

Has anybody driven northwards say starting from early on a Monday morning, say 6ish heading well north of KL on the west coast? Would it be better (living in the North east of Singapore) using the causeway and through the middle of JB during the peak hours or heading across the top of Singapore using the SLE/BKE/KJE to the 2nd link and avoiding JB altogether? I see, using Google maps only a 15 minute difference longer using the Tuas Link from my place in Serangoon North. Reckon it would still be quicker by avoiding the rush hour in JB?

I'm looking at an 8 hour run up the west coast to Penang. Looking to return on a Wednesday night (leaving there around 2 pm in the afternoon) so I'm hoping I can be heading away from the traffic in both directions.

From Singapore to KL, take 2nd Link (for those fast KMs like what PNGMK said) and then once you're closer to the city, if it is still within 8-10am peak hours, take KESAS highway towards Ipoh (that's what the signs will say) instead of NS highway to bypass the city jam.

Penang Bridge is badly jammed during evening peak hours but it is usually more painful on the way out of the island rather than the other way round so you should be OK. Take Jelutong Expressway to get to Batu Ferringhi for your hotel instead of cutting through via Jalan Masjid Negeri (even though the latter is way shorter - but way more congested).

The Golden Sands is a paradise. I'm envious!

PS: Yes I've driven up northwards on west coast

[PNGMK]

Thinking about doing a 3 day 2 night stay @ The Golden Sands in Penang later part of September (Mon~Wed) for our 30th Anniversary. (It's where we had our honeymoon - so sweet I am!) IF I can get some other logistics sorted out as well.

Well that's nice. I'd rather spend my anniversary in highlands (Ye Olde Smokehouse in Cameron Highlands) just to get out of the heat myself.

It's a good drive as well (nice and windy - if you have a decent car you'll enjoy it although the fastest car I've seen there was an old VW beetle being absolutely belted around the corners!).

[sundaymorningstaple]

I've also thought about Cameron Highlands as well. As of yet, I've not committed anywhere and haven't even put it to the other half yet. Trying to see what is what. I drove up to Penang 30 years ago on our honeymoon but have not been back there since. (way before the 2nd link or even the BKE was finished).

Will have to do some investigation on Cameron Highlands I guess as well. Thanks for the suggestion PNGMK!

[PNGMK]

I've also thought about Cameron Highlands as well. As of yet, I've not committed anywhere and haven't even put it to the other half yet. Trying to see what is what. I drove up to Penang 30 years ago on our honeymoon but have not been back there since. (way before the 2nd link or even the BKE was finished).

Will have to do some investigation on Cameron Highlands I guess as well. Thanks for the suggestion PNGMK!

Yes - Cameron - not Genting though!