Durian @ Kuala Kangsar - Lenggong

Durian ..Durian..Durian..
I seems to hear the King of Fruit is calling me whenever we passing the fruit stalls..
No!! No!!! I must hold..I must contain my needs for durian..
But ...we failed kow kow and finally made a pit stop..

my other half is in charge of selecting the fruits

Pak Awang opening our first fruit

You see the content -  in yellow color..deep in taste of bitter & sweet. 

For a durian kampung breed, this is really yummy!!!

Pak Awang's stall located between Lenggong to Kuala Kangsar route. They provide chill air sungai for you to wash up in you intend to eat on the spot.

Located between Lenggong to Kuala Kangsar route
If you wanted the GPS location please pm me.

Luen Fong Tg Tualang

My first encounter of Tg Tualang prawn was few years ago at Pusing Seafood Restaurant in Ipoh. Ever since then, I have been wanted to visit the home of these yummy Udang Galah until last week when one of our travel mate suggested a stop over at Tg Tualang for seafood on our way home from Betong. My other half instantaneously agreed and he don't even bother to ask if the rest of us wanted to go..hmmm

So we exit Gopeng and follow sign board to Kampar.
After driving for about 10km or so we saw Pekan Udang Galah/ Tanjung Tualang signboard.
From Gopeng exit to Tg Tualang takes about 20-30mins on trunk road.

Restoran Luen Fong was highly recommended by our travel mate's nanny who hailed from Pusing.

It is a hot hot day and we lucky to find a seat inside the restaurant.

Steam fresh Udang Galah

Fresh and meat bouncing against my teeth on  the first bite

Next baby - Fresh Water Soon Hock

The meat is so tender with light soy source

Belacan stir fried with paku

Kicap Udang Galah

It taste much lighted compare to Pusing Seafood

Signature fried rice - almost everyone also ordered this!

Have you tried other seafood restaurant at Tg Tualang?

Luen Fong
19, Jalan Pasar,
31800, Tanjung Tualang, Perak
Open: 11.30am onwards
Tel: 05-360 9267, 012- 533 6166

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...) 

Winter Garden Betong

Winter Garden Betong located about 20 mins drive away from Betong town.

Directions
After you clear Custom, drive straight and you will pass police station and Sri Betong Hotel on your right.
Go further until you reach Clock Tower roundabout. Take 9 o'clock and go straight. Follow the signboard of Piyamit Tunnel then Winter Garden. From here we drove to Piyamit Tunnel which located about 5 mins away (via short cut where road are steep likewise road to Gunung Brinchang of Cameron Highland). Will blog about it separately.

The entrance to the Winter Garden. We, the tourist need to pay RM3 per pax. Do you know Piyamit Tunnel is called Yau Yu Chun in Cantonese literally Friendship Village I while Winter Garden is the Friendship Village II?

The villagers here originated from Parti Komunis Malaya. Do you recall the Baling Talk between Tunku Abdul Rahman and Chin Peng that we study back in school? People in Friendship Village are Chin Peng followers who surrendered voluntary to Thai government and now become Thai citizen. 

 Winter Garden chalet 

Surrounded by jungle and since it located at near mountain the whole place is quite windy.

We notice along our journey to Winter Garden, there are many durian trees nearby. Upon inquired, we were told that their durian season is from July - September. This is the only place in Thailand where they practice picking the fruits after the fruit fall down by itself. It mean the durian here taste as good as Malaysia..yaayyy.  We are coming this weekend for durian fest..heheheee. Can't wait to try out their local fruit and Musang King  :):):)

Winter Garden
Friendship Village II
Betong, Thailand

Night Skiing

Have you ever ski at night?
Is it dangerous to ski at night?
Can we see the ski trail at night?

Actually the whole ski resort is lighted up brightly during night, it is as good as skiing in the morning. In fact it is more comfortable skiing by the night unlike day time you need to fight with the broad day glare.

The expert  is queuing for the Ski Lift- takes you the higher ground of the ski trail and  ski down enjoying the moment of speeding down!!

We took the cable car to venture a bit further.

Before the cable car, we saw many good looking Korean hunks holding their snowboard on the side of their shoulder and walking towards the same direction. Being curious, I took my other half to the cable car to see where these hunks are going. The cable car actually took us to where the snowboarding ground. 

The hunks are in action..

 It look easy huh? Earlier of the day, we meet a Hongkey at the practice ground with rented snowboard. He has difficulty to move around after putting the snowboard on. Further down, we saw a Korean daddy teaching his little girl (in her teens) snowboarding. She is practicing  how to stop the snowboard as and when she wanted. Every time she try to stopped the snowboard she fell down and her daddy run over and get her back on her feet. My point is snowboarding is hardest to learn. It is probably easier to ski than snowboard.

When we were at the Beginner trail, often we saw the parents teaching their little one (5 yro and above) to ski. The parents letting their hands off while the kids will ski down the slope. As the little one picking up the speed they got out of control especially when their A brake didn't not work.. the parents will ski down quickly and rescue them. In my heart, I wish my other half can ski as skillful as the parents and come rescue me when my A brake does not work. Often it is just my day dream cause he always no where to be seen during skiing. Sigh!!

The building further down is where the resort located. This place is really high up and it was very windy and extremely cold.

 The expert were snowboarding down there while beginner like me observing from the cable car. 

How I wish one day I could ski like the expert.... :p

Yongpyong Resort Ski & Snowboard

Gangwon-do Pyeongchang-gun Doam-myeon Yongsan-ri 130
http://www.yongpyong.co.kr/eng/ski/overview.asp