Thursday, August 25, 2022

Malaysia (Covid 19 - Transition to Endemic Phase - My 6 Days Cuti Cuti Malaysia & Staycation No 26 to Endau Rompin, Mersing, Pulau Tioman, Desaru & Kluang, Johor) Sunday Aug 14 2022 Day 1

Berjaya Tioman Malaysia Resort
Pulau Tioman, Johor
Mersing Monument, Johor
Saint Louis Church (1928)
Kluang, Johor

" If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far go together "

" My 6 Days (Aug 14 > 19 2022) Cuti Cuti (Vacation) Malaysia & Staycation No 26 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy visit together with my travel buddies KF Wong, Thompson Tham & Maggie Lim to Kuala Pilah, Kuala Rompin, Endau, Mersing, Pulau Tioman & Kluang, Johor, travelling by KF Wong's vehicle from  KL Sentral to Johor; my 59th outdoor trip after a National Lockdown (Movement Control Order / Emergency) imposed by the Malaysian Government on May 6 2021 due to a spike in Covid-19 cases; a National Vaccination campaign is currently being implemented by the Malaysian Government (Phase 1 started in Feb 2021), as at Feb 5 2022, a total of 22.9 million individuals or 97.9% of the adult population in Malaysia have completed their Covid-19 vaccinations; Malaysia is now under the Transition to Endemic Phase starting from April 1 2022, an exit strategy that could allow Malaysians to return to near-normal life after nearly 2 over years of battling the pandemic "

My travel buddies: KF Wong, Thompson Tham & Maggie Lim


Travel itinerary: KL Sentral > Kuala Pilah > Kuala Rompin > Endau Town > Mersing > Pulau Tioman > Desaru > Kluang > Subang Jaya > KL Sentral (mileage 1,172km round trip)

Total expenses incurred (6 days 5 nights, a group of 4): Rm683 (US$152) per pax 

-Hotel: (5 nights): Rm227 (US$50.50) per pax (triple / quad sharing)

-Food: Rm241.50 (US$54) per pax (quad sharing)

-Petrol & Toll: Rm86.65 (US$19) per pax (triple sharing) 

-Parking: Rm4.50 (US$1) per pax (quad sharing)

-Ferry: Rm124 (US$27.60) per pax

Exchange rate:US$1 = Rm4.50

This Johor trip (Aug 2022) is my 3rd Cuti Cuti Malaysia vacation with my travel buddies (KF Wong, Thompson Tham & the newly joined Maggie Lim). It was a great outcome as in this trip I had fulfilled my dream of first time visiting the beautiful Pulai Tioman & re-visiting Kuala Pilah, Kuala Rompin, Endau, Mersing, Desaru & Kluang ! Touristy, historic, religious, iconic landmarks & natural landscape places our group had the opportunity to visit & feast our eyes in this Johor trip were Mersing Monument & Geopark / natural beaches, Hard Rock Hotel (Desaru) & Saint Louis Church (1928) & the oldest railway Kopitiam (coffee shop) since 1938 in Kluang ! As for food, our group had the opportunity to savour homestyle tai chow (big fry) Chinese dishes in Kuala Rompin, Endau Town, Desaru & Kluang; a curry fish & seafood lunch in Mersing; Paskistani puri & nan cheese in Desaru; Indian roti, vadil, & thosai in Kluang & bought home in particular the famous Kluang made Shanghai moon cakes !  A fabulous outcome & fruitful visit indeed for our travel group ! 

My 2nd Cuti Cuti Malaysia vacation was in April 2022 covering places like Kuala Lipis, Temerloh, Mentakab, Sungei Lembing, Kuantan, Pekan & Kuala Rompin. 

It was in Jan 2022 that my travel group embarked on our 1st maiden Cuti Cuti Malaysia vacation - a round the Penang island trip for 5 days using mainly public transport & a hired car ! 

The 4th Cuti Cuti Malaysia is lingering in our mind at the moment, hopefully could be realised soon in the coming weeks ! Wishing you all a happy & safe travelling bearing in mind that Covid-19 endemic is still lurking around in our backyard  ! 

Happiness is not self made but come from our own actions ! One for the album in memory of our 3 Cuti Cuti Malaysia in 2022 - the 4th is still in the making ! 

My 3rd Cuti Cuti Malaysia - August 2022
Mersing, Johor

My 2nd Cuti Cuti Malaysia - April 2022
Kuantan, Pahang

My 1st Cuti Cuti Malaysia
Jan 2022 - Penang

Travel Highlights:

1) Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan 

Group's breakfast in Kuala Pilah
Negri Sembilan

2) Kuala Rompin, Pahang 

Group's Lunch in Kuala Rompin, Johor

3) Endau, Johor 

Endau Town, Johor

4) Mersing, Johor

Tanjung Penyabong, Mersing

5) Pulau Tioman, Johor

Berjaya Tioman Malaysia Resort, Johor

6) Desaru, Johor

Hard Rock Hotel, Desaru Coast, Johor 

7) Kluang, Johor 

Kluang Coffee, Johor

Day 1 Sunday August 14 2022 (KL Sentral > Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan & Endau Town, Johor) 

The start of my Rapid KL LRT train ride from SS15, Subang Jaya > KL Setnral


KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur - our group's meet up point at 08.30 before heading to Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan. 


KL Sentral Kuala Lumpur > Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan (approx 105km) - a brief stopover for breakfast !

KL Sentral > Kuala Pilah (105km)

Kuala Pilah Town, Negri Sembilan


Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan > Endau Town, Johor (approx 220km) - overnight homestay in Kuala Rompin.

Kuala Pilah > Endau Town (210km)

Endau, Johor 

1) Che Ru Kho Buddhist Temple, 18, Jalan Haji Ariffin, Endau, Johor


2) Pantai Tanjung Kempit, Kampung Belukar Juling, Endau, Johor - our group enjoyed very much walking on this beach & also captivated by a rock formation resembles that of a sitting bulldog ! 


3) A local beach, Endau, Johor


4) Pantai Teluk Kerengga, Endau, Johor

 
5) Pantai Penyabong, Endau, Johor - a beach located near a fisherman village of Kampung Penyabong in Endau, Johor; visitors delight, enjoying the sea breeze, swimming & fishing activities, walkabout on a fishing jetty, beautiful landscape, a picnic spot for locals, musical band, blue sky, scenic view, nice morning stroll, fishing boats for hire to nearby kelong, choice of chalets & resort homes, free admission, resting huts ! What a beautiful outing for our group ! 


6) Mersing Geopark (Pulau Mawar), Kampung Mawar, Johor - the first national geopark in Johor, sunrise & sunset view, night star sky / milky way, hiking, swimming & public campsite, unique rock formation etc, due to time constraints, our group was not able to explore the interior of this geopark in greater depth. 


7) Cemara Indah Beach Resort, Pantai Teluk Sisik, Endau, Johor 


8) Makan Makan (Eating) - our group's light breakfast (toasted bread with butter & kaya, Horlicks drink & coffee Rm15.40 = US$3.42) in Hai Nam Kopitiam & Restoran, Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan (1st stopover).

Toasted Bread with Butter
@ Rm2 (US$0.45)

9) Makan Makan (Eating) - our group's lunch (4 assorted Chinese tai chow dishes ie shark meat fillets in black soya sauce, clay pot ginger pork, steamed taufu & stir fried vegetables + rice + a pot of Chinese tea totalled Rm92 = US$20.40) in Restoran Khun Pang, Kampung Tanjung Gemok, Kuala Rompin, Pahang

Shark meat fillet in black soy sauce
Rm45 (US$10)
Stir Fried Green Vegetables
Rm10 (US$2.20)
Clay Pot Ginger Pork & Black Soya Sauce
Rm20 (US$4.40)
Steamed White Tau Fu in Spring Onion
Rm6 (US$1.30) 
A Pot of hot Chinese Tea Rm5 (US$1.10)


19) Makan Makan (Eating) - our group's dinner 3 Chinese tai chow dishes + rice + a pot of Chinese tea = Rm52 (US$11.55) + 16 Satays (RM16 = US$3.60) in Let's Coffee & Cafe, Endau Town, Johor - cheap & tasty ! 

16 Sticks of Chicken & Beef  Satay 
Rm16 (US$3.60)
Satay Curry Peanut Sauce
Claypot Eggplant with Minced Pork
Rm13 (US$2.90)
Lemon Chicken Rm13 (US$2.90)
Stir Fried Bitter Gourd & Pork
Rm15 (US$3.30)

Makan Makan (Eating) - after the dinner, our group bought a bunch of bananas (2 kilos Rm12) & 2 packets of tau sah piah (salty pea cakes Rm9.80) from a sundry shop in Endau town. 

2 kilos Bananas Rm12 (US$2.70)
2 packets Tau Sah Piah
Rm9.80 (US$2.20)

20) Hotel Accommodation - Quan Homestay (Tel 019 7528827) in Kuala Rompin, Pahang - double bed room Rm50 (US$11.10)


Covid-19 Pandemic & Endemic have made my travelling life like a roller coaster in 2020 > 2022  ! It was a topsy turvy world for most travellers in 2020. 2021 was no better. But in May 2022, both my travel buddies KF Wong & Thompson Tham & their spouse were fortunate to sign up a package tour (10 days 7 nights) to Turkey but I did not join them as I had been to Turkey twice (2008 & 2018). I have put on hold my overseas travelling during the last 3 years (thinking less global but acting more local), my last overseas travelling trip was to China in Nov 2019 ! For the time being, I just focused on staycation, day trips & Cuti Cuti (Vacation) Malaysia in order to keep my passion in travelling alive ! 

As a senior citizen, I am overtly pleased with my present style of travelling especially with my family members & travel buddies (using public transport or by self drive cars). Here are some pictures of my memorable days taken during the last 3 years on my travel highlights to farm & factory related visits during the MCO (Movement Control Order) period from March 2020 to the recent months of 2022. These visits were interesting & educational, certainly no dull moment for me in each of my visit to these touristy places ! Malaysia Government lifted all movement restrictions in April 1 2022 allowing Malaysians to return to near normal life ! Hence a New Normal for me in my present travelling life ! For wanderlusts & travel bugs, what's next in your travel plan after the post Covid-19 ? Is it World Cup Qatar 2022, Alaska Cruise, Land of Smiles Thailand or Mother of All Temples Angor Wat, Cambodia ? 

Covid-19 Year of 2022 - farm & factory related visits.

Royal Selangor Pewter Facotry
Kuala Lumpur Aug 2022
Kluang Coffee Factory, Johor
Aug 2022
Taufu Puff Making, Kampung Perting
Bentong, Pahang July 2022
Sekinchan Paddy Field, Selangor
June 2022
Selangor Fruit Valley,
Bestari Berjuntai - May 2022
Kampung Baru Sang Lee
Durian Village, Raub, Pahang
 April 2022
HL Dragon Fruit Eco Farm, 
Sepang, Selangor - March 2022
Ghee Hup Nutmeg Factory
Balik Pulau, Penang - Jan 2022

Covid-19 Year of 2021 - farm & factory related visits.

Aw Pottery, Simpang Reggam
Johor - Dec 2021
Sawah Sagil, Ayer Hitam, Johor
Dec 2021
Mimi Dragon Fruit Farm
Sepang, Selangor March 2021
World of Phalaenopsis, Taman Orchid
Ulu Yam Baru, Selangor - March 2021

Covid-19 Year of 2020 - farm & factory related visits.

Antong Coffee Mill, Taiping, Perak
Sept 2020
Kuala Sepeteng Charcoal Factory
Perak - Sept 2020
Gaharu Tea Valley, Gopeng
Perak - Aug 2020
Boh Sungei Palas Tea Centre
Cameron Highlands, Perak - Aug 2020
Big Red Strawberry Farm
Brinchang, Cameron Highlands
Perak - Aug 2020
Ee Feng Gu Bee Farm, Brinchang
Cameron Highlands, Perak - Aug 2020

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