K M Cheng-Travel Journal: Malaysia (Covid 19 - Transition to Endemic Phase - My Staycation No 28 to Semenyih, Selangor & Broga, Negri Sembilan) Sept 13 2022

Sun Wukong Statute, Sak Dato Temple
Broga, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan

Semenyih Dam, Hulu Langat, Selangor

Sungai Lalang Hotsprings, Semenyih
Hulu Langat, Selangor

" Friends that travel together stay together "

" My Staycation No 28 (Transition to Endemic Phase) free & easy visit together with my travel buddies, KF Wong, Thompson Tham & wife, travelling by KF Wong's vehicle from Subang Jaya to Semenyih, Selangor & Broga Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan; my 61th 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 + wife

Total expenses incurred (day trip, a group of 4): Rm43.50 (US$9.70) per pax

Food: Rm23 per pax (quad sharing)

Petrol & toll: Rm20.50 per pax (triple sharing)

Travel itinerary (08.30 > 18.30): Subang Jaya > Semenyih (Selangor) > Broga, Lenggeng (Negri Sembilan) > Subang Jaya (mileage 260km, aborted our visit to Kuala Klawang & Titi due to road closure)

My travel buddy, KF Wong was keen to visit Titigong (approx 110km from my home place, Subang Jaya) hence this day trip covering a few towns along the way ie Semenyih, Sungei Lalang hot spring, Kuala Klawang, Titigong & Broga in one go ! Unfortunately due to unforeseen circumstances, my group had to abort the Klawang & Titigong leg of visit as a section of the hilly stretch of roads between Semenyih & Klawang was closed to traffic as the road is currently under repairs caused by recent landslides in that area ! In travelling you win some you lose some but my group shall return & make a visit to Titigong & Kuala Klawang in a near future !

Despite the setback, my group was able to accomplish our visit to Semenyih New Village, Setia Ecohill Walk, Sungai Lalang Hotspring, Semenyih dam & Broga Shak Dato Temple & a "lovely" lunch in Restoran Kari Ikan Liew, Jalan Broga, Semenyih !

My last visit to Titigong & Kuala Klawang was in Dec 2020 during the MCO (Movement Control Order) period & Broga in Sept 2018 (a lapse of 4 years !), hence my keen interest in joining my travel buddies to revisit these places one more time ! Another great outcome as this was my first visit to Semenyih New Village, Setia Ecohill Walk & Sungai Lalang hotspring !

Travel Highlights:

1) Semenyih New Village, Selangor

2) Setia Ecohill Park, Semenyih, Selangor

3) Setia Ecohill Walk, Semenyih, Selangor

4) Sungei Lalang Hot Springs, Semenyih, Selangor

5) Semenyih Dam, Selangor

6) Broga Shak Dato Temple, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan

7) Orchid Hill, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan

Semenyih, Selangor - a town in Hulu Langat District in south-eastern Selangor along the Kajang-Seremban road, 28km south-east of downtown Kuala Lumpur & 8km south-east of Kajang.

1) Semenyih New Village, Hulu Langat, Selangor

2) Setia Ecohill Park, Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor - a brief stopover & morning stroll !

3) Setia Ecohill Walk, Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor - my 1st time visit, a new shopping mall, just a walkabout inside the mall & took a few pictures for remembrance !

4) Ecohill Taipan, Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor

5) Sungai Lalang Hotspring, Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor - 1 small recreational facility to serve locals, admission fee Rm5, my 1st time visit, a brief stopover & closed to the public at the time of our visit, as for me, it was a sort of been there & done that !

6) Semenyih Dam, Hulu Langat, Selangor - built in 1985, supplies a major portion of drinking water to the Klang Valley population, breathtaking sights, scenic view, lovel lake surrounded by green forested hills !

Pictures taken by Thompson Tham

7) Our group's lunch in Restoran Kari Ikan Liew, Jalan Broga, Semenyih, Hulu Langat, Selangor - ordered 4 tai chow dishes ie red tilapia fish in clay pot with Chilli (Rm38), tafu in pumpkin paste Thai-style (Rm12), bitter gourd with salted egg (Rm18), sweet potato leaves fried with garlic + rice + a pot of Chinese tea = Rm91 (US$20.20)

Red Tilapia Fish Claypot
With Chilli Rm38 (US$8.45)
Fried Bitter Gourd With
Salted Egg Rm18 (US$4)
Tofu in Pumpkin Paste Thai Style
Rm12 (US$2.70)

8) Entry to Broga Shak Dato Temple, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan

9) The scenic Broga Hill as viewed from the Shak Dato Temple, Lenggeng (Negri Sembilan), the weather was cloudy & gloomy & a slight drizzle at the time of our group's visit ! Broga Hill Park is a popular hiking spot & is located in Semenyih (Selangor) side

10) Broga Shak Dato Temple, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan - a Taoist temple located in Broga Village, the temple worships the famous Monkey God, Sun Wukong, a major tourist attraction, especially during weekends & public holiday ! My last visit to Broga was in Sept 2018 !

11) Guan Yin Court, Shak Dato Temple

12) Fruit gardens, pavilions, Koi pond, small park, statutes of gods, goddess & deities, words of wisdoms, tropical fruit statues etc

13) Herbs Garden, Shak Dato Temple

14) Dragon Gate, Shak Shak Dato Temple

15) Suspension Bridge, Shak Dato Temple - this bridge links the Shak Dato Temple side to the Monkey God statute located on the opposite side.

16) The giant Sun Wukong Statute, Broga Shak Dato Temple, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan - awarded by The Malaysia Book of Records as the "Tallest Sun Wukong Statute", a National Record ! Completed in May 2010, built at a cost of Rm880,000 (US$196,000), a bit strenuous especially for elders to walk uphill to visit this Sun Wukong statute, roads can be wet & slippery especially after a rain - so beware & walk carefully !

17) Orchid Hill, Jalan Tanah Pinggir, Jalan Broga, Lenggeng, Negri Sembilan - after the Shak Dato temple visit before heading home, I made a brief visit to the Orchid Hill Cafe (just a minute walk) to get a feel of the place, the open cafe is surrounded by a durian orchard, a glamping spot for guests etc, KIV for a future visit !

Wednesday Sept 14 2022 Makan Makan (Eating) - lunch with wife in Go Noodle Restaurant, Damen Mall, USJ 1, Subang Jaya; ordered a bowl of Bursting Meatball mixian soup (Rm15 = US$3.33)) & 1 set meal of Pork Ball & Port Tendon Ball mihoon soup + hot herbal drink + fried fish nuggets + fried fucuk (Rm20.40 = US$4.50) totalled Rm41 (US$9.10) inclusive of tax.

Sunday Sept 4 2022 - MATTA Fair, Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur - together with my travel buddies, KF Wong & Thompson Tham, I made a visit to a MATTA Fair (Malaysian Association of Tour & Travel Agents), local media reported overwhelming response from both visitors (seeking value for money travel packages & air tickets, 28,000 visitors expected to visit this event) & exhibitors for this premier largest consumer travel fair in Malaysia, normally held twice a year ! After the visit, our group adjourned for a lunch at a Food Court in Sunway Putra Mall, located opposite of the Putra World Trade Centre.

Saturday Sept 3 2022 Makan Makan (Eating) - attended my ex-colleague (Irene Tay)'s son (Jeremy & May Ling) wedding dinner in Hao Xiang Chi Seafood Restaurant, Ballroom 2, 9th Floor, Top Glove Tower, Setia Alam, Selangor; a happy & joyful occasion & a reunion with 5 of my ex-colleagues who were also invited to this auspicious wedding function !

Appetiser in Four Combination Platter

Braised Shark Fin Soup with
Crab Meat & Dried Scallops

Steamed Tiger King Grouper with
Superior Soy Sauce

Barbecued Village Chicken
& Duck Planted

Baked Fresh Prawns with Garlic
Mixed Herb Spice

Braised Fish Maw
with Blossom Mushrooms

Nyonya Pandan Coconut Rice
with Abalone

Chef's Special Double Pastry

Double Boiled Honey Dew
& Pear Gum with Red Dates

August 31 2022 (Merdeka Day) Makan Makan (Eating) - lunch with my wife & sisters Inn, Peng & Mei in Restoran Family Noodle House, Jalan Equine 9D, Taman Equine, Seri Kembangan, Selangor; our group ordered 2 bowls of ginger wine pork noodles (Rm10 x 2), one fish ball noodle (Rm8), one Tomyam lala noodle (Rm11) & one white pepper spicy pork noodle (Rm10) & one signature pork noodle (Rm8) totalled Rm57 (US$12.70)