Tanjung Sepat for Congee

The last time the R@SKLs rode to Tanjung Sepat, we had drinks at the Hai Yew Hin coffeeshop.  While we were there the proprietor gave us sample bowls of their congee (rice porridge).  That porridge was so good that stuck in the minds of some.  Jake, Mark, Martin, Simon and I rode to Tanjung Sepat last weekend just for the porridge.

Starting at 5.30am has caught on with some of the R@SKLs.  Better the pain of getting out of bed at 4.15am than the pain of getting sunburnt after 1.00pm.

We had planned on parking at IJM Land’s The Arc show gallery in Bandar Rimbayu.  I first parked there in June.  It was just Lay and I in my car.  As we were setting up our bikes a security guard came up and told us that parking at The Arc was not allowed before 7.00am.  The security guard then walked away.  I locked my car and we rode off.

The second time I parked there was in early August.  I was with Mark.  Again in my car.  I parked further away from the show gallery building than I had in June.  Security was nowhere to be seen.

I was back there the next day.  This time there was eleven of us spread over ten vehicles.  We parked away from the show gallery.  The security guards were visible but they didn’t approach us.

Last Sunday I was the first to arrive at the road leading to The Arc.  To discover that access to the car park was blocked by these.

IJM Land really do not want us parking at The Arc before 7.00am.

So I went hunting for parking where the Ecoworld development is.  I found a place which would fit four vehicles at the spot circled below.  Hopefully, we don’t get blocked from that area as well.

The five of us set off at about 5.45am.  Once out of the Bandar Rimbayu area headlights were essential.

Photograph courtesy of Martin Low

It is just under 70km / 43.5mi to Tanjung Sepat via the back roads.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

At 8.30am we were riding through the fishing village of Tanjung Sepat.

A few minutes later we were in the Hai Yew Hin coffeeshop.

Photograph courtesy of Jake Sow

This is what the guys came for.  Salted egg, century egg and chicken congee, garnished with yew char kway (Chinese crullers).

Photograph courtesy of Simon Soo Hu

We also had some pau (steamed dumplings) delivered from the shop across the street.  Apparently, the original vendor of the famous Tanjung Sepat pau is Hai Yew Hin.  As demand grew, a separate pau only shop, with a slightly different name, was opened across the street.

Photograph courtesy of Simon Soo Hu

After breakfast, we checked out one of the stalls selling another product that Tanjung Sepat is famous for.  Locally grown and roasted coffee.

Photograph courtesy of Jake Sow

Photographs at the Instagrammable locations were a must.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

It will be Independence Day in less than two weeks.  Malaysian flags are starting to fly everywhere, including at the end of this pier.

Photograph courtesy of Mark Lim

Our route to and from Tanjung Sepat is a bit longer than it could be.  One reason is that we want to avoid riding on Route 5, which is a busy trunk road.  Another reason is we have to take a detour along Jalan Kenangan Baru, Jalan Saga and Jalan Nangka, instead of riding on Jalan Kenangan Lama.

Map courtesy of Ride with GPS

This is what Jalan Kenangan Lama looks like from Jalan Kenangan Baru.  Nothing wrong with the road from here.

Photograph courtesy of Google Maps

And this is what Jalan Kenangan Lama looks like from Jalan Nangka.

Photograph courtesy of Google Maps

Jalan Kenangan Lama turns into an unpaved track somewhere between Jalan Kenangan Baru and Jalan Nangka.  So better to avoid Jalan Kenangan Lama completely than run the risk of having to ride over a stony, rough and muddy trail.

Throw in a cendol stop and we were back at our cars before 1.00pm.  It won’t be long before we will be riding to Tanjung Sepat with other R@SKLs to wreak more damage on the local congee and pau.