Dinner @ Betong

Consider as one of the best Thai food in Betong, this is my favourite place for dinner whenever I come here. Although by name it say Chinese food, to us this place is very much a Thai restaurant which maintain its local taste bud.

You do aware Thai serves very cheap beer right? For dinner we go easy with Sugar Cane (Left) and Green Water (Right). The green water is not any green tea alike, it is a local drinks that helps to cool your body down after a hot day. 

Fried Ikan Haruan serves with charcoal underneath

The spicy sour soup base for Ikan Haruan

The final output of the dish spicy sour soup with fried Ikan Haruan the restaurant signature dish. Very yum yum to go with Thai fragrance rice!!!

Spicy Chicken Feet Salad really spicy with the chili padi 

Pork slice Salad

Fried Sotong

Seafood Tom Yam - really really spicy 

Lastly stir fried Kang Kung

How to get here: 

Go behind Sri Betong Hotel. You see a signature above- an alley between the hotel with a fruit stall.

Follow the signature @ turn to the alley 

You soon see the restaurant with the same signboard. This restaurant does not located by main road. This is what people usually said hidden gems are rare and hard to find - even this restaurant also so hidden within the town.

Piyamit Tunnel Betong

From Winter Garden we continue our journey to Piyamit Tunnel which is about 10 mins drive away. The road lead to Piyamit Tunnel was windy and steep and we met two enthusiastic cyclist attempt to conquer the hill with their bicycle.  I feel so warm hearted seeing them carrying a Malaysia and  Thailand flag behind their bicycles.

This probably as the result of rock erosion after hundred of years.

The entrance of Friendship Village 1.

Piyamit Tunnel is just 1km ahead

The pathway lead to the entrance of tunnel entrance

Local durian on sale while the dog guarding the fruit :p

Shell posing with her best friend Monkey!

An open air Kuan Yin temple for local and tourist to pray

A write up on Piyamit Tunnel history

The journey of climbing staircase begin

The collapse old tree is huge- even taller than a human!!

We reach the first stop of the kitchen of the communist village 

This is the entrance of the tunnel

Tunnel has been 'renovated' to for easy walking 

@work room

@sleep place

@seat

If you afraid being in the tunnel you can opt for a nearest exit

This is the original tunnel before renovation- one need to really bend down to walk the path

As we exited the tunnel we stumble this beautiful ginger flower. I never know ginger flower is pink in color!

There is a Museum that explain the their life during their stay in this tunnel. Just imagine living in jungle without electricity, water supply, 24/7 on your guard ..not any person like you and me can withstand. They come a long way and I wish them all the best :)

Piyamit Tunnel, Betong

Entrance Fees: RM5 per pax ( if I remember correctly...) 

Betong Thailand

Betong is a small town located near Malaysia - Thailand border near Grik, Perak.

The town is small with only 30,000 populations.

One of their main source of income is through tourism.

 One of the way of Thai doing business - feeding the elephant

Betong Mongkollit Tunnel, connecting the township with the housing area. People here could opt to use the tunnel or via mountain road to access to the town.

 Children sitting by the road side coloring while their parents operate the night market.

Traveling to Betong

If you were travelling by car, it takes about 5.5 hours from Kuala Lumpur.

From KL enter PLUS highway to north

Exit at Kuala Kangsar.

Follow Grik - Pengkalan Hulu - Felda Nenering- Betong (Thailand)

Toilet break

Before exiting Kuala Kangsar, it is wise to do a toilet break and refuel as there is lack of rest area or petrol station from Kuala Kangsar to Grik. The journey from KK to Grik takes about 2 hours. From Grik to border will takes another 45mins

Pengkalan Hulu @ certified vehicle registration card

It you plan to drive over to Betong, do ensure you get a photocopy of your vehicle registration card. You need to certified your vehicle registration at Pengkalan Hulu police station before you can pass the border. You need to show certified copy of vehicle registration card to what-I-called as Border Patrol Officials (Malaysia). Failing to do so, they simply ask you to turn back and go to the nearest police station to get it  certified.

Malaysia Custom 

Get your passport Chop and Go.

Thai Custom

Park your car, go and obtain Arrival/ Departure pass at the table next to the Arrival Counter. The girls there will help you to fill up the details and you need to pay them RM1 per passport.

Arrival Counter

Go to Arrival Counter and get your passport chopped. You need to pay RM2 per person here.

You also can inform the Custom Officers that you driving your car over. He will instruct you go inside the office and to see another Officer. This Officer will help you fill up an Import Declaration Form and you will be ask to pay RM4 as processing fees.You will be given a receipt.

Now get back to your car and drive pass the booth that look like condominium security booth. Car Owner - park your car by the side and go to the booth. Bring along your vehicle registration card (either ori or photocopy also) and your passport. Here the Custom Officers will process your import permit (for your vehicle). You are require to pay RM2 per vehicle (if I remember correctly). You will be given the Import Permit, keep it and you need to return this permit when you exit the country.

Now you can drive over to Betong which is just about 5 mins away from the Custom.

Pengkalan Hulu Custom Operation Hours

8am  or 9am - 10pm (Malaysia Time)

Bukit Berapit aka Pengkalan Hulu Custom Coordinates:   5°44'41"N   101°1'27"E