samosaurus

Hey folks!

Just want to share my recent trip to Taiping in Northern Peninsular Malaysia and a short ride to Port Weld.

FYI: The Taiping-Port Weld train line was the first ever built in Malaysia in 1885. The tracks were removed in the 80s, however, you can still re-trace its trail in a straight line to Port Weld.



Waiting to board the KTM intercity train to Taiping, which is roughly about five hours ride from Kuala Lumpur



Getting comfortable in the train..



Arrival at Taiping train station..



At the country's oldest train station..



You don't see these anymore.. Track controls..

samosaurus

My lil bike in a cosy lil motel room..



A nice tall glass of iced black coffee during tea break..



This is also one of the wettest towns in Malaysia..



Rice packed in banana leaf..



Taiping town at dusk..



Ride along the town area..

samosaurus

Samo's trusty lil bike..



A place to eat..



Rice stall..



Chicken rice..



A simple and delicious treat..

samosaurus

The ride to Port Weld..



Nice place to rest..



Busy road



A resident of the mangrove..



A beautiful morning..

samosaurus

At a charcoal processing factory near Port Weld..



One of the charcoal kilns..



This is how the mangrove logs are transported.. Nearly a century-old process..



The Canal..



A typical charcoal kiln.. You don't see these anymore in the cities..

samosaurus

Processed charcoal packed for distribution and export..



Mangrove logs being hand carried into the smoking kiln where they are left for a month-long curing process...



Inside the kiln..



Interior of the oven..



The funnel..

samosaurus

The raw material is sourced from a mangrove forest which is re-planted and managed by the state forestry department..



It takes roughly about 30 years for the logs to reach maturity..



A scene from the mangrove lumber yard..



Processed charcoal being transported for storage..



This is where the commodity is kept..

samosaurus

The mangrove is linked to the livelyhoods of the people here... Seen in this picture, is a boat graveyard..



Fishery is the main economic activity in Port Weld..



Even the wildlife blends well with its surroundings..



Big shrimpin! - a fisherman sorting his haul..



Shrimping is big business here..



These are sold at RM5 (USD$1.70) per kilogramme..

samosaurus

Port Weld was renamed 'Kuala Sepetang'



Salted seafood being dried as a means to preserve it..



At a commemorative marker stone where the Port Weld train station once stood.



Street food at its best..



Riding down the fisherman's wharf..



Flags for the Chinese Gods..

samosaurus

An early lunch break..



Shrimp noodles..



Oooohhh yeah!



Time to hit the road..



Its 13-kilometres to Taiping..

samosaurus

The Matang museum, here, seen at an old fortress, is a place worth visiting..



Its a place steeped in history..



The North-South highway.. Connects Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand..



The busy traffic..



Getting closer back to Taiping..

samosaurus

The Taiping Lake Gardens.. One of the oldest and most well-maintained parks in Malaysia..



Just look at the raintree cover in this place! Amazing..



Taiping Lake Gardens..



There are many historical buildings in this town..

samosaurus

'jailbirds', a scene from the Taiping prison..



The War memorial..



Riding around the Lake Gardens..



The town's famous hawker centre..

samosaurus

This town is also very cyclist-friendly.. Here are some cyclists I met along the way..



My dinner menu on the wall of a famous coffeeshop in town..



Iced black coffee..



Chicken chop...



With two of my buddies..



The coffee shop..

samosaurus

After an awesome ride to Port Weld and around Taiping, its time to go..



At a coffee shop, awaiting my awesome breakfast..



A lady frying my noodles...



Fried noodles! Ohhh yeahh!



Food for thought..

samosaurus

Riding to the train station..



Getting hot..



The train station in town is slowly transforming as the new electric rail commuter system is expected to be ready in a few year's time..



My lil bike with the old stations fassaud as its backdrop..



All packed up and ready to go..



Waiting for my ride home..

FoldingLawrence

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

Cyclist0383

Lovely! Thanks!

tds101 

Excellent!!! Thank you,...

JosephLMonti

Those fried noodles look delish

Dynocoaster 

Thanks, very nice and all that food made me hungry.

keke

Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the ultimate pootler, the pootle king, samosaurus!!!

Foldable Two

Like all the pictures - get a feel of what the places you travel are really like.

Excellent, thanks.

Lou

vmaniqui

samo boy - as always - love the FOOD !!!!

ro-monster

You always ride to the most interesting places!