500 miles to Betong - Part 3
500 miles to Betong - Part 1 | 500 miles to Betong - Part 2 | 500 miles to Betong - Part 3 | Map of entire route | Map of places in Betong
Tallest Mailbox in the whole of Thailand
[I am not actually sure if I got the right place. From the photos that I have seen, the letter box seemed a lot bigger. It is supposed to be 3 metres tall]
Is this the one or not? Hmmm..*scratch head*
Ok, I think the mystery is solved. What I have taken is the original letter box. The bigger one is a recently built box to be found at the City Convention Hall.
From http://wikitravel.org/en/Betong
"The Largest Mail Box in Thailand (ตู้ไปรษณีย์ใหญ่ที่สุดในประเทศไทย) used to be located at the Bell Tower intersection of Betong. It was built in 1924 before World War II as the communication post for the townspeople, through the radio implanted on top of the box, and the mail slot below it. At present a new box had been built in a larger size (nine meters tall), and is located at the City Convention Hall (Sala Prachakhom). The new mail box attracts a large number of tourists who come to take the photograph."
Chicken rice stall for our breakfast
The Watch Tower in the morning
This Kueh thing is good
Hmm. One of the best chicken rice I have eaten. The chicken here is lean and juicy
Day 3
We woke up around 7am and I got everyone out at 8am (7am, Thai Time) for our last tour of Betong. But finding food was the first important thing to do. I decided to drive to the town centre and see if there was any decent food around. Indeed there were. We spotted a clean looking coffee shop selling chicken rice, just beside the famous big red letterbox. I took some pictures of the chicken rice stall and overheard a local chuckling that "even chicken rice stall I also take photo". Food was surprising good. the chicken was lean and tender, unlike the fatty ones that we get in Singapore. After breakfast, I pored over the "secret" map that I had, and decided to go find the temple that we spotted from Vision View. After driving a few rounds, we realized that the temple was in fact very near to the town center.
A big snack shop
Betong wet market (we just drove pass)
There are road blocks at every exit from Betong. But they were not manned
Arriving at Wat Phutthatiwat
(Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Buddha Dhamma Prakat)
Information about the place
Wow. Like disney don't you think?
More pictures with the golden stupa
View of the city from the top of the temple
Standing at the top
Hmm. Quite a number of tiles have fallen off. Or was it taken by tourist for good luck?
Touch the eyes and the mouth and make a wish
The statue was huge!
Overlooking the welfare of the city
Betong X'mas tree
Another shot with the statue
Wat Phutthatiwat
I was immediately impressed with the architecture and the workmanship. The building was indeed very grand and very beautiful. I took plenty of pictures and hope that my camera battery could hold. Luckily it did.
Streets of Betong
Leaving Betong. At the custom
Now at the Malaysian Custom
Long Q as a busload of passengers from a tour bus just unloaded
Return the Car declaration form here
My trip meter just outside of the Malaysian Custom
Stopping at the Gerik junction for lunch
This was amazingly good!
This manmade pond..
Is filled with these
Back at Ipoh Parade, where I made my second postings
Leaving Ipoh
Back to Ipoh
After that, we checked out of the hotel at 12am and started our journey back into Malaysia. On the drive out, I saw a sign that said "Ancient Wall" and went looking for it. But after driving on a small road for 15 minutes and not seeing any more signage, I turned back and headed to the custom. At the custom, again we had to park the car, queue at the custom line, return our car document before we can proceed on. At the Malaysian side, it was new Custom papers to fill up. (Same as the one for JB). Here, we could just stay in the car and drive through.
Just coming out from the checkpoint, I ignored my GPS and turned into another way towards Gerik. The way here seemed to have less cars, and the time to arrive at Gerik was about the same. At the main Gerik to Butterworth, To Jeli junction, we saw an eatery and stopped by for lunch. Although it was just a road side stall, the food was good.
After that, it was the hour or so drive back into Ipoh. We arrived in Ipoh at around 2pm. In fact, if I wanted to, I could probably drive all the way back to Singapore and be there by 9pm. But we decided to go back to the same hotel and do some more shopping at Ipoh Parade. We also wanted to catch the show "Avatar" there. Avatar was nice and had a refreshing storyline even to a Sci-fi fan like me. But I had to watch the show amongst a camera full of indians (for some reasons, the Ipoh cinema is filled with Indians. I am not sure why), and many inconsiderate people that had incoming calls. One even had the cheek to talk on the phone.
Busy traffic on a Monday morning
Got on the expressway and made a first stop at the rest point for breakfast
Standard malaysian nasi lemak. (only chilli, small bits of ikan bilis and a half egg)
My Pica mascot got his hands tied up as it was hitting the wire and causing the phone to lose the charging connection
Long drive ahead. Time to snooze
Day 4.
We checked out of the hotel around 8am and made our way back into KL. Along the way, we had a simple breakfast at a rest stop after coming out of the busy traffic at Ipoh. From there, it was all the way down the NSH. At that time, we were thinking to drop by Malacca for chicken rice ball.
Malacca Chicken Rice Ball
Turning off from the Ayer Keroh exit, we quickly discover that it was a mistake. The traffic into Malacca was notoriously bad, and I was grumbling away why people are flocking here?? Just 2 more Km to reach our chicken rice ball, I made an U turn and decided to head back to the Malacaa Jusco for lunch instead. We parked at an open carpark and didn't have any coupons. But a kind malaysian man refused our payment when we asked if we could buy some from him. He gave us an hour of coupon for free. Kind fellow.
Then it was all the way back to Permas Jaya. Along the way, it rained very heavily on the NSH. At some points, the visibility of the cars were like only 100m. Some of the cars would turn on their hazard lights to make themselves more visible.
At Malacca, some kind soul gave us an hour coupon
Heavy rain!
Woah! The tire came out of this car!!
Flying tire!
Just after Pagoh, I was day dreaming on the straight road when a sudden thud woke me from my stupor. Something had hit my car (lightly). I looked ahead and saw a Malaysian car filtering to the left. And then to my horrors, I saw a running tire just ahead of it. It was spinning fast but rolling ahead and towards the left edge of the expressway. Then I realized that the tire of the car ahead had come off and it was balancing on 3 wheels! Fortunately, it was able to control the car and managed to stop it at the side of the road. I was thinking whether to stop to help, but decided to move ahead as there was nothing I could do about a tire running amok on the NSH. :). A managed to take a shot of the car as I whizzed by it.
Food and tea at Permas. Hmm..Harry Lee Tailor...
Pumping ptetrol before heading back. Ok, the 20L rule is in place
Haiyoh, should have gone the 2nd link
Final destination
We arrived at Permas around 5.15pm. But it was too early for me to return to Singapore as mine is an off peak car and could only return back to Singapore at 7pm (w/o tearing a OPC coupon). We shopped around Permas Jusco till 7pm and then headed for the woodlands checkpoint. For some reasons, the custom was packed with cars. Not sure why but the traffic was heavy from Malaysia to Singapore at that time. Shouldn't everyone be working? But luckily the queue was moving and we spent like half an hour in the jam and arrived home safety around 8pm, concluding a momentous 4 days journey up north.
Route of the journey
To and fro to Betong
Places we visited in Betong
Tallest Mailbox in the whole of Thailand
[I am not actually sure if I got the right place. From the photos that I have seen, the letter box seemed a lot bigger. It is supposed to be 3 metres tall]
Is this the one or not? Hmmm..*scratch head*
Ok, I think the mystery is solved. What I have taken is the original letter box. The bigger one is a recently built box to be found at the City Convention Hall.
From http://wikitravel.org/en/Betong
"The Largest Mail Box in Thailand (ตู้ไปรษณีย์ใหญ่ที่สุดในประเทศไทย) used to be located at the Bell Tower intersection of Betong. It was built in 1924 before World War II as the communication post for the townspeople, through the radio implanted on top of the box, and the mail slot below it. At present a new box had been built in a larger size (nine meters tall), and is located at the City Convention Hall (Sala Prachakhom). The new mail box attracts a large number of tourists who come to take the photograph."
Chicken rice stall for our breakfast
The Watch Tower in the morning
This Kueh thing is good
Hmm. One of the best chicken rice I have eaten. The chicken here is lean and juicy
Day 3
We woke up around 7am and I got everyone out at 8am (7am, Thai Time) for our last tour of Betong. But finding food was the first important thing to do. I decided to drive to the town centre and see if there was any decent food around. Indeed there were. We spotted a clean looking coffee shop selling chicken rice, just beside the famous big red letterbox. I took some pictures of the chicken rice stall and overheard a local chuckling that "even chicken rice stall I also take photo". Food was surprising good. the chicken was lean and tender, unlike the fatty ones that we get in Singapore. After breakfast, I pored over the "secret" map that I had, and decided to go find the temple that we spotted from Vision View. After driving a few rounds, we realized that the temple was in fact very near to the town center.
A big snack shop
Betong wet market (we just drove pass)
There are road blocks at every exit from Betong. But they were not manned
Arriving at Wat Phutthatiwat
(Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Buddha Dhamma Prakat)
Information about the place
Wow. Like disney don't you think?
More pictures with the golden stupa
View of the city from the top of the temple
Standing at the top
Hmm. Quite a number of tiles have fallen off. Or was it taken by tourist for good luck?
Touch the eyes and the mouth and make a wish
The statue was huge!
Overlooking the welfare of the city
Betong X'mas tree
Another shot with the statue
Wat Phutthatiwat
I was immediately impressed with the architecture and the workmanship. The building was indeed very grand and very beautiful. I took plenty of pictures and hope that my camera battery could hold. Luckily it did.
Streets of Betong
Leaving Betong. At the custom
Now at the Malaysian Custom
Long Q as a busload of passengers from a tour bus just unloaded
Return the Car declaration form here
My trip meter just outside of the Malaysian Custom
Stopping at the Gerik junction for lunch
This was amazingly good!
This manmade pond..
Is filled with these
Back at Ipoh Parade, where I made my second postings
Leaving Ipoh
Back to Ipoh
After that, we checked out of the hotel at 12am and started our journey back into Malaysia. On the drive out, I saw a sign that said "Ancient Wall" and went looking for it. But after driving on a small road for 15 minutes and not seeing any more signage, I turned back and headed to the custom. At the custom, again we had to park the car, queue at the custom line, return our car document before we can proceed on. At the Malaysian side, it was new Custom papers to fill up. (Same as the one for JB). Here, we could just stay in the car and drive through.
Just coming out from the checkpoint, I ignored my GPS and turned into another way towards Gerik. The way here seemed to have less cars, and the time to arrive at Gerik was about the same. At the main Gerik to Butterworth, To Jeli junction, we saw an eatery and stopped by for lunch. Although it was just a road side stall, the food was good.
After that, it was the hour or so drive back into Ipoh. We arrived in Ipoh at around 2pm. In fact, if I wanted to, I could probably drive all the way back to Singapore and be there by 9pm. But we decided to go back to the same hotel and do some more shopping at Ipoh Parade. We also wanted to catch the show "Avatar" there. Avatar was nice and had a refreshing storyline even to a Sci-fi fan like me. But I had to watch the show amongst a camera full of indians (for some reasons, the Ipoh cinema is filled with Indians. I am not sure why), and many inconsiderate people that had incoming calls. One even had the cheek to talk on the phone.
Busy traffic on a Monday morning
Got on the expressway and made a first stop at the rest point for breakfast
Standard malaysian nasi lemak. (only chilli, small bits of ikan bilis and a half egg)
My Pica mascot got his hands tied up as it was hitting the wire and causing the phone to lose the charging connection
Long drive ahead. Time to snooze
Day 4.
We checked out of the hotel around 8am and made our way back into KL. Along the way, we had a simple breakfast at a rest stop after coming out of the busy traffic at Ipoh. From there, it was all the way down the NSH. At that time, we were thinking to drop by Malacca for chicken rice ball.
Malacca Chicken Rice Ball
Turning off from the Ayer Keroh exit, we quickly discover that it was a mistake. The traffic into Malacca was notoriously bad, and I was grumbling away why people are flocking here?? Just 2 more Km to reach our chicken rice ball, I made an U turn and decided to head back to the Malacaa Jusco for lunch instead. We parked at an open carpark and didn't have any coupons. But a kind malaysian man refused our payment when we asked if we could buy some from him. He gave us an hour of coupon for free. Kind fellow.
Then it was all the way back to Permas Jaya. Along the way, it rained very heavily on the NSH. At some points, the visibility of the cars were like only 100m. Some of the cars would turn on their hazard lights to make themselves more visible.
At Malacca, some kind soul gave us an hour coupon
Heavy rain!
Woah! The tire came out of this car!!
Flying tire!
Just after Pagoh, I was day dreaming on the straight road when a sudden thud woke me from my stupor. Something had hit my car (lightly). I looked ahead and saw a Malaysian car filtering to the left. And then to my horrors, I saw a running tire just ahead of it. It was spinning fast but rolling ahead and towards the left edge of the expressway. Then I realized that the tire of the car ahead had come off and it was balancing on 3 wheels! Fortunately, it was able to control the car and managed to stop it at the side of the road. I was thinking whether to stop to help, but decided to move ahead as there was nothing I could do about a tire running amok on the NSH. :). A managed to take a shot of the car as I whizzed by it.
Food and tea at Permas. Hmm..Harry Lee Tailor...
Pumping ptetrol before heading back. Ok, the 20L rule is in place
Haiyoh, should have gone the 2nd link
Final destination
We arrived at Permas around 5.15pm. But it was too early for me to return to Singapore as mine is an off peak car and could only return back to Singapore at 7pm (w/o tearing a OPC coupon). We shopped around Permas Jusco till 7pm and then headed for the woodlands checkpoint. For some reasons, the custom was packed with cars. Not sure why but the traffic was heavy from Malaysia to Singapore at that time. Shouldn't everyone be working? But luckily the queue was moving and we spent like half an hour in the jam and arrived home safety around 8pm, concluding a momentous 4 days journey up north.
Route of the journey
To and fro to Betong
Places we visited in Betong
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