Take a Drive to Kluang

If you have some free time and don't fancy going to Sentosa or Orchard Road, and you enjoy driving, take a day drive to Kluang in Johore, Malaysia. An hour and a half away via the Tuas Second Link, Kluang is often seen as one of the many "sleepy" Malaysian towns. However, if you know what to do and where to go, it can be an interesting place to explore with really great food to enjoy.

My sister has made Kluang her home and over the years, I have visited her and been acquainted with her "home town". In the early years when her children were growing up, having their Singapore aunty visit was a big deal. The older girls would plan to take me to their only cinema in town and I must say it was a very real experience for me watching a horror movie with them. Rats and cockroaches run around the cinema hall and often you will hear very real screams from the audience and it would have nothing to do with the movie! Bats fly around and add much "atmosphere" to the whole horror movie experience. It was simply great!

My nephew on the other hand would plan to show us the hiking routes in the forest and we would go and explore and often end up having to piggy back him out either because he had sprained an ankle or was too tired. To be fair, he was only about 7 years old at that time.

That was then. Now, there are no more "authentic" cinemas in Kluang. Instead they have movie complexes in shopping malls. But, the hiking trails are still there.

Gunong Lambak at 510m high (about 5 times the height of Bukit Timah Hill) in Kluang remains our favourite out-of-Singapore training ground when preparing for any of our mountain or trekking expeditions. The climb is exciting and the rugged terrain with its badly eroded slopes increases the level of difficulty. On any morning, you will be climbing with many of the locals. On Sundays, you will be invited to some tea and snacks at the first stage of the climb. You will be able to identify the "foreigners" who are usually all decked out in proper hiking gear armed with proper ski poles. The locals climb in their local rubber shoes or even in slippers!

Kluang's railway station coffee and nasi lemak is well known and for the real feel of the old town atmosphere, eat at the station. Ignore their other outlet in a modern shopping building. The nasi lemak packets are really small so be prepared to down more than two at a time. The coffee is a must for kopi lovers. The aroma is out of this world.

Star Lounge is our favourite makan place in Kluang. It is a proper restaurant with fantastic crispy duck with steam buns. The deep fried cod fish is a must! Crispy on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. Served with garlic and light sauce, it has a lovely"cheng" taste to it. Romaine lettuce fried with garlic is refreshing. Sometimes, you can get the long beans fried with dried prawns and belachan. For a sinful meal, order their te ka bak (pig's trotters). The other dishes are also good but not as outstanding as those named. Ask them for their vegetable crackers for starters. Forget the peanuts.

For kopi tiam eating, Teoh Heng serves really good bak kut teh. You have a choice of "fatty" meat or lean meat, and all the innards from kidneys, liver, large and small intestines and stomach. Yikes! We normally keep to the meat and at most add on some liver and small intestine. Toppings include fried dry bean curd skin, black fungus and button mushrooms. Side dishes are yew char kuay (fried flour rods), kiam chye (preserved vegetables) and white or yam rice. Wash it all down with lovely chinese tea of which they have a variety. I like best pu er tea as it does not leave an after taste in your mouth nor coat your tongue or teeth.

If you still have the time, you can visit their organic farm (there are some good buys), goat farm,

handkerchief factory and their many malls for "cheap" shopping. I have found this website to be the most informative: www.kluangonline.com/

So, if you have time to spare and nowhere to go and yearn for some good food, get into the car and drive to Kluang. For a smooth drive, it is best to go on weekdays. You will breeze through the checkpoints. Don't forget your passports, white immigration cards, Malaysian Ringgit, Touch N Go Card for faster clearance at toll gates and your hiking boots!

Selamat Jalan!