Medan, Sumatera Utara

Medan is easily accessible via air and sea link to Malaysia, Singapore, Jakarta and other major ASEAN cities but of which, many places are not known to the foreigners. I went to Medan, Indonesia a long while ago, over a year back actually on a working road trip for business purposes and somewhat I miss the place.

Flying from Subang Airport in Kuala Lumpur via FireFlyz , the journey took less than 90 minutes and landed in Polonia Airport, right smack near the city center itself. Of course, like any other major city in Indonesia, it is more of a cowboy town, but abeit more subtle and managed, compared to Balik Papan or even Batam.

This photo was taken near the city center, just off the train station and the post office. Of course, everywhere I go, I must get some stamps ( Franko here) and send a postcard or a few to others. Right smack in the middle of the city is the Tugu Merdeka Medan. In the mornings, there will be some hawkers there offering local foods like Mi Bakso ( meatball noodles) and others, which I am not that very enthusiastic.

The picture tells a thousand words, so what does this say to you?

Muara Kuala Sungai Baru, Melaka

Kuala Sungai Baru Melaka is one of the least known places by the Malaysian Tourists unless they are just the locals who know where to get a great deal when they see one. Situated on the Masjid Tanah - Port Dickson route, off Highway 5, this place is a jewel among the locals of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka alike as it offers catch fresh from the sea just as the fishing crew pulls into the yard.

Unlike Umbai Fishing Market (Medan Ikan Bakar), the prices are fairly competitive since the locals won't pay a dime more than they should as the property is owned by the state and the fish market , of the West Malacca Fishermen's Association which hosts a sizable restaurant and chalets, and mind you, the sight is a real steal.

Of course, you may see the odd Singaporean once in a while with their fancy cars and red vampire plates (Red vehicle plates/tags-Off Peak Vehicles) especially during weekends and long holidays. Where you see Singaporeans, that place is either dirt cheap, or very tasty or both!





Getting there is a breeze. Follow Directions to Kuala Sungai Baru (ALAM / Sungai Linggi if you are from Port Dickson, don't miss the junction!!!) from Malacca town , off Masjid Tanah (Not LUBUK CHINA route!!) or if you are from KL/, follow the Port Dickson way or PLUS Expressway Linggi Exit (which is a pain in the bum...pot hole riddled roads), but many prefer to take the Tampin Exit to get to Masjid Tanah and then to this place.

The entrance to the location where I took the photo is a bit odd, there is a market just before the river (taxi stand) where this small village road will lead into directly, otherwise, after you hit the hamlet town (note of the BSN!) turn LEFT after the small river from Malacca, using the small medan selera (food center) as your bearing, hitting left into the street there.

Do be careful! You are entering village roads, where townfolk have disregard to traffic laws, with kids running about. Drive straight for about 400 meters, where you will see a road heading right, just keeping your path straight. There will be a high humped bridge where you can get to the new Medan Ikan Bakar or straight on for the old restaurant cum Chalets.

It's worth it..the evening is calm and peaceful. Everything shuts down after dark though..so keep plenty of cash. There is only a 7-11 and a Shell gas station, open up to 9pm! Next service station will be in Port Dickson or Masjid Tanah (if you are lucky!)..with trunk roads riddled with animals and even the occasional elephant or tiger!

Phone reception is GOOD there, Maxis and Celcom giving good signal strength, with 3G coverage by Celcom only. No WiFi as far as I can recall, or fast foods! Breakfast there will be the norm, Roti Canai (that's Roti Prata for Singaporeans) or Nasi Lemak.

Swimming is allowed on the beach, though it's AT YOUR OWN RISK as there are NO LIFEGUARDS!

Do have fun!

BTW, the GPS GeoLoc on Google Maps is at http://goo.gl/maps/jAks with the SatNav location at
 2° 21' 9.98" N  102° 2' 4.78" E  

Batu Kikir Jembatan Besi.......

One of the things I love to do in my freetime is to travel and taking pictures, such as this one off Jeram Tengkek near Batu Kikir, Negeri Sembilan , where the Ujang song of Nogori sounds off with a lyric of Batu Kikir Jembatan Besi (Iron Bridge off Batu Kikir).

This was taken a few days back during my road trip, moving along here and there to get things done and is about 15 Km away from the Batu Kikir Police Station, which is not mapped on the normal maps, other than the Orang Asli village of Kampung Guntur, off a state road on the way from Tampin - Kuantan highway (Federal 9) in Batu Kikir.

The place is quite secuded. Really secuded that the path to the waterworks is quite a tight squeeze, with marsh and reeds all over, and the road going to Kampong Guntur was riddled with potholes and cow poo. Yes, load of cattle and sheep roam about the streets , which surprisisingly is under the jurisdiction of Kuala Pilah municipal council or MDKP. But then, what do you expect when you are in rural Malaysia, it's the price you got to pay.

However, the way going to the stage one waterfall is quite good, with new bridge and walkways as compared to others, which are riddled with pebbleways or tree stumps. I did not manage to snap a good photo off the second stage waterfall which is a very treacherous cement path which is just poured over some blocks of granite which formed naturally there.

I have mapped some of the photos from my Panoramio account, and do have a look see...it's worth the wait. Do not that there are NO FACILITIES there, shops or otherwise, cell phone reception is terrible (none for Maxis)....and well, it's particularly CLEAN!

I'll load the panoramic photo here later on..have fun..

Done!Direct URL is http://www.panoramio.com/photo/42394284

Walking back to SIngapore

Don't get me wrong, looks are deceiving. It's VERY BAD if you got to walk from JB Sentral (City Square / Old Johor Baru KTM Station) to the checkpoint in the Johor Baru side.
It's a twining long route..and it's a killer, almost 300m .

That's the bridge that is supposed to be the crooked roadway to Singapore but nah..I think it will be out of comission for a very long while , at least till 2011 August when the KTM station is moved back to Johor Baru, terminating at JB Sentral instead of going into Woodlands and into Tanjong Pagar station.

What else is not new? Messy eh?