02/11/2025
Bentong, 20251102
Bentong is a small town. In the past few years, tourists have been flocking here for durian and Yong Tau Foo. But there’s slightly more to explore in Bentong.
For example, my friends once came to visit with their bikes, and I helped them wander around the kampungs. The village scene was something new for folks from the city. When my sisters came back from overseas, I played tour guide and took them for a leisure hike in the hills surrounding this valley. One of my sisters told her kids, “We grew up in a town where, when we look up, it’s all hills.” I had a thought after hearing her say that — I was like a frog trapped in a well.
Anyway, these little experiences spiced up visits to my town.
There’s also a nearby attraction — the Karak Sea of Clouds hiking trail. It’s only about 20 minutes from home. But the challenge of waking up “7 early 8 early” (which actually means 4 or 5 a.m.) and having to book a guide and pickup truck kind of kills my anticipation.
In Malaysia, a man can have four wives — so naturally, we also like having second choices! My “second wife” in this case is an alternative trail, just 6 km from my home. An easy trail along plantation roads, no guide needed. But waking up early in the morning is still not encouraging. I just wanted to recce it first — to make sure I know the trail inside out before playing tour guide. So I picked a time that suited me.
I left the house before 11 a.m. and arrived at the taman, only to find that the kedai kopi I wanted to visit wasn’t open. I ended up at a Malay restaurant next door. Uhhh, life sucks — and you can guess what that means.
After eating, I moved on and found my entry trail after a bit of confusion. It was just a plantation road — gravel and mud. Luckily, there hadn’t been rain for the past few days, so the path was fine. A bit steep, but manageable with a slow walk. After all, I wasn’t in top form. Reached the top — 1.3 km in 27 minutes! I expected more.
The summit was a flat area, big enough to fit a school of people. But there were no trees — the whole hill was replanted with young durian trees. It was scorching hot. I reached my destination, but what came to mind was, “It could be better if it were tougher.” Well, I paid for that thought shortly after.
I had done some research online. There were a few forked roads — just keep right, and you’ll be on the right track. So I kept right all the way up. The clock always turns, and naturally, going down means turning left for the right path. But I made my first “right,” which turned out wrong. And yes, I’ve done many “right” things in life that turned out wrong too. So I paid the price — 1.5 km, 30 extra minutes of walking. That really pushed my limit since I wasn’t in good shape.
I went back up to the peak, made the “right” turn — which was actually left — and finally got it right. Back to my parking spot: 4.1 km in total, 80 minutes! If I could split myself physically, I would have whacked myself hard — after a 10-minute rest first, of course.
Anyway, I finally got the route “right,” with a few left turns. The first thing I did — opened a can of beer I brought along to celebrate my “achievement.” Then I drove home, completely exhausted. Wrong timing, poor stamina (self-diagnosed influenza?), and the scorching sun. And worst of all, I shouldn’t have wished for a tougher trail — my wish was granted, and I regretted it.
So, if any of you plan to visit Bentong, I might just be your tour guide. I’ve done the hard work; you can enjoy your vacation without the fuss.
My services include ferrying up to three people in my pickup truck, hunting for local food, produce, durians, ginger, Yong Tau Foo, and more. You can stay at my Malay-themed villa in a fruit orchard with durian, papaya, mangosteen, pineapple, rambutan, and mango trees. It’s surrounded by greenery, facing a misty hill in the morning. A fish pond just a stone’s throw away has ikan tilapia, ikan tongsan, ikan keli, ikan sultan, and ikan buang.
The villa has all the facilities you need: fan, aircon, radio, water heater, warm decorative lights, plenty of power plugs, fridge, portable stove, induction plate, double-deck bed, camping bed, hammock, tables, chairs, parasol (big umbrella), and occasionally, beer in the fridge.
There’s also a river nearby for picnics and dipping in the cool, natural stream water. Check into the villa, drop by the river to refresh yourself before dinner — BBQ or hotpot at the villa. Then maybe a relaxing soak at the nearby hot spring before you doze off.
If you still want more, a few beers or a whisky on the deck — with imported wood flooring — will definitely complete your day.
PM for more details. It won’t cost a fortune to bathe in nature. Just a few beers — or a few more — will do the trick.
My number: 01beer-more-beer-and-beer
