14 Route 12: Kota Bharu

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends...” - Martin Luther King

(Narathiwat Fishing Village)

Day 14: 01 May 2025 (Thursday)

Route: Narathiwat - Kota Bharu

Distance: 110 km

Hotel: Tune Hotel, Kota Bharu

This morning we had breakfast at Restoran Akhoo by Nasir, a short distance drive from our hotel. This restaurant offers a serene ambience and has indoor and outdoor seatings. Menu includes local Malay and Western dishes. The atmosphere is pleasant and the prices are reasonable.

(Breakfast at Akhoo by Nasir)

(Nasi kerabu and nasi dagang for breakfast)

(Full house on Labour Day holiday)

After breakfast we drove to Narathat Beach crossing Preda Narathat bridge, one of Tambon Bang Nak concrete bridges. Narathat beach is on the Gulf of Thailand about 5 km long. The white sandy beach is shaded by rows of pines and coconut trees. It is a great place to relax and enjoy the views.

(Driving to Narathat Beach on the Gulf of Thailand)

(A beautiful yellow white sandy beach)

(Many eateries and food stalls along the beach)

The Narathat beach ends at a cape at the mouth of Bang Nara River where the annual kolae boat races are held. Nearby are fishing villages spread along the river and the bay is full of kolae boats of fishermen.

(Fishing vilages along the river)

(Fishermen's Kolae boats)

(The Bang Nara River)

On the way back to the hotel we passed the new Central Mosque at Ban Bang Nara, just across the bridge to Narathat Beach. The mosque is Narathiwat province's second central mosque. We visited this mosque during Ramadhan in March this year and had iftar and solat tarawih with the locals.

(The 3-storey Narathiwat Central Mosque)

We rested in the hotel room until it was time to check out. By 10.30 am we were already on our way to the border. Drove on highway 4084 towards Sungai Golok, 36 km from Narathiwat.

(Leaving the town of Nara)

(Driving on highway 4084)

We reached the junction to Sungai Golok and decided to detour to Tak Bai. Tak Bai town is situated on the western bank of the Golok River estuary, which is the natural international boundary between Thailand and Malaysia. Visitors can enter Malaysia via Pengkalan Kubor, Kelantan with a ferry service. Many years ago we tried to cross Thailand with our motorbike by ferry via Pengkalan  Kubor/Tak Bai but unsuccessful because the ferry was out of service.

(The junction to Sungai Golok)

(The small town of Tak Bai)

(Parking the bigfoot near the Bridge to Koh Yao)

In Tak Bai we visited the 100-year-old bridge that crosses Tak Bai River to Koh Yao. The Centennial Bridge is 345 m long. It was originally a long wooden bridge that crosses the Tak Bai River from the mainland to Koh Yao. But now a strong and beautiful cement bridge has been built along the old wooden bridge. It has become the main travel route for the villagers. The name of the bridge comes from the fact that the villagers of Koh Yao used to travel to and from by boats until the bridge was built 100 years after. That is why this bridge is called "Bridge Waiting for 100 years'. This story put a smile on my face...

(100-year old Waiting Bridge)

(The new and old bridges, side by side)

(A nice view of Tak Bai River)

(Learning about history and local culture)

We passed through Tak Bai Border Check-point and noticed that there were only a handful of people queueing. There are two choices to cross to Malaysia, either on a car ferry or a small boat which is faster. We did not plan to take either so we drove out of Tak Bai after buying some durians from the roadside vendor.

(The Immigration office is at the end of the road)

(Speed boats as a form of transport)

(Malaysia is on the other side of the Tak Bai River)

(Not as sweet as our durian kampung)

After we had lunch at Restoran Haji Hussin King in Sungai Golok town, we crossed the Thailand border checkpoint into Rantau Panjang. Border Crossing process was fast on both sides. Immigration procedures were swift and efficient. Even customs clearance was fast. Alhamdulillah...

(Murals on the wall in Sungai Golok)

(Sungai Kolok ICQS Complex)

(Our passports are stamped separately)

(Crossing Sungai Golok into Malaysia)

(Welcome to Malaysia)

(Entering ICQS Rantau Panjang)

In Rantau Panjang we performed our jamak prayers at Masjid Beijing. On the way, we detoured to recce Kedai Kopi Pok Hok in Pasir Pekan. This eatery is located by the Sungai Kelantan and quite popular. It opens from 7.00 am to 2.00 pm daily. We plan to have breakfast here tomorrow.

(Masjid  Beijing Rantau Panjang)

(Kedai Kopi Pok Hok Pasir Pekan located by the river)

(Tambatan Di Raja viewed from across Sungai Kelantan)

Quite a short distance from Kedai Kopi Pok Hok is Makam Tok Janggut. His real name was Haji Hassan bin Panglima Mat Munas. He was an anti-British colonialist who was killed while fighting the British during the Tok Janggut War in Kelantan. He was also a Muslim religious figure who attracted the support of many followers in Kelantan. The title Tok Janggut was given to him because of his long beard that reached chest level.

(Visiting Makam Tok Janggut in Pasir Pekan)

(A brief history of Tok Janggut)

(The makam up close)

(Musolla Tok Janggut, opposite the makam)

We checked in Tune Hotels in Kota Bharu for Rm103/night for two nights. After maghrib, we drove to Restoran Colek Bini in Salor - Wakaf Che Yeh for a late dinner. This eatery is the 2nd branch, the 1st is in Machang.

(Restoran Colek Bini, 2nd branch)

(Sharing a big portion of mixed colek)

👈RT 13: Hat Yai - Narathiwat

         RT 15: Kota Bharu Free & Easy👉

15 Route 12: Kota Bharu

"There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure..." - Paulo Coelho

(Breakfast at Kedai Kopi Pok Hok)

Day 15: 02 May 2025 (Friday)

Route: Kota Bharu Free & Easy

Distance: 50 km

Hotel: Tune Hotel, Kota Bharu

Kelantan has a lot of delicious restaurants and are always crowded especially during long holidays. This morning we drove to Kedai Kopi Pok Hok in Pasir Pekan, hoping that they will be less crowded. But to our surprise the crowd was earlier than us and parking was quite limited. The parking area was muddy after last night heavy rain. There was a long queue but the service was quite fast and the food was finger-licking.

(Nasi dagang and gulai serati)

After breakfast we drove to RTC Tunjung and bought a few pots of bromeliads from one of the many nurseries in the RTC. 

(One of the sections of the RTC)

(Choosing a few species of Bromeliads)

From RTC Tunjung, we drove around to look for car wash, but because it was a Friday, most were closed. We stopped to wash our muddy bigfoot at a 24-hour automatic car wash. Lava Auto Wash claims to be the first in Kelantan with touchless self-service automatic wash with water wax coating.

(Drive through automatic cash wash)

(Washing our car in less than 10 minutes)

After a short rest in the room, hubby went for his solat Jumaat at Al-Ismail Mosque in Pasir Pekan. I continued napping in the room.

(Masjid Al-Ismail Pasir Pekan)

(Jemaah listening to the khutbah)

Later, we had lunch at Yati Ayam Percik at Jalan Long Yunos. The weather was very hot. Even the air-conditioned room was not cool. The food was not as tasty as it used to be. Maybe our taste buds are not as sensitive as before.

(Used to be our favorite eatery in KB)

(Full house in the air-con room)

(Nasi ayam percik with solok lada and jeruk bawang)

Tonight we visited Pok Ding at his house in Taman Mutiara Kg Baung. Pok Ding is our biker's gang who is recuperating after his eye surgery. Jimmie and Chon were already there when we arrived. Both bikers rode from Betong to KB via the East-West highway and they were staying a night at Pok Ding's.

(Pok Ding and Aizan's new house in Kg Baung)

(Having mee celup for dinner)

👈RT 14: Narathiwat - Kota Bharu

RT 16: Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur👉

16 Route 12: Kuala Lumpur

 “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin...” – Tony Robbins

(A life reflections)

Day 16: 03 May 2025 (Saturday)

Route: Kota Bharu - Kuala Lumpur

Distance: 540 km

This morning we had a hard time to decide where to have our breakfast. We drove passed Restoran Ayang and there was long queues both for seats and packed food. Next we drove to Restoran Nasi Kerabu Panji located quite a distance away. The queues were  long too and the parking spaces are limited.

(A simple breakfast of nasi dagang and nasi lemak)

At last we had breakfast at Salamku Kopitiam. Not much food left and the service was slow. All viral eateries were swarmed with tourists. That is the reason why the locals would queue as early as 6.30 am to avoid the crowd, especially on weekends and public holidays.

(At Ubai's new chalets in Padang Bongor)

By 11.30 am we checked out and drove to Ubai's place in Padang Bongor to attend Epul's wedding reception and a small reunion with my childhood friends from SMKB and my hostelite sisters from SIC. Our shared beautiful memories had create a strong bond berween us. Some of them I have not met since the 70's.

(A group photo with the pengantin)

(With my seniors)

By 1.30 pm we were already on the way towards Jeli, driving on an alternative road passing through Felda Kemahang. Stopped for jamak prayers at Masjid Raudhatul Iman Batu 11.

(An alternative road through Felda Kemahang)

(Masjid Raudhatul Iman Batu 11)

It rained heavily when we passed Jeli to enter the East-West Highway. Traffic was heavy from both directions yet some drivers were not very cautious when driving on the mountainous and winding road especially when it is raining. There was a major accident on the highway which caused quite a congestion.

(Heavy rain as we enter E-W highway)

(The accident on a bridge)

(A smooth traffic afterwards)

Stopped for coffee break at Titiwangsa R&R. The R&R was crowded with  travellers coming from both directions of the East-West highway. There are washrooms and a surau at one end, and a cafè on the other end. Visitors can enjoy the cool weather and the panoramic view while having a hot cup of coffee and light snacks.

(Aman Jaya Forest Reserves)

(R&R Amiza Setiawangsa)

(Bikers stickers on the wall)

(Full house at the dining area)

(A windmill at the summit)

We drove on and stopped at R&R Sungai Perak for comfort break. Another stop was at Petronas Simpang Pulai for solat jamak. Stopped at Ulu Bernam R&R for a very late dinner of Zul famous mee curry and mee rebus Pak Tam.

(Two sleepyheads having a late dinner)

After 16 days on the road covering 4,850 km, we reached our Bidara house way after midnight, feeling exhausted and drowsy. Ahamdulillah...

(Home sweet home)

👈RT 15: Kota Bharu Free & Easy