What a week we had at TRC! We came, we saw but we didn't conquer as much as we would like - especially where food is concerned. This is the first time we took a night bus from Singapore to Tapah. The moment we alighted bus no. 170 at Larkin terminal at 9.15 pm, the ticket agents started to tout for our business - barking to us popular places like KL, Ipoh etc.
When we said "Tapah", one bus agent quickly issued us two tickets and charged us RM 50 each. However, we learnt later from the driver that the bus actually goes to Bidor (a neighbouring town) instead of Tapah. We demanded for a refund but thankfully, they arranged for us to board another bus that goes to Tapah. It turned out to be a very comfortable bus (KKKL) - as shown below. The near-empty bus left Larkin at 10.15pm and we reached Tapah at 5am sharp - a mere 7-hour ride.
Sometimes in order to make a quick buck, the bus agents may issue you a ticket to a neighbouring town and leave you to take another bus from there. So, double check with the bus driver whether the bus goes to your intended destination before boarding.
RM 50 is considered a very good deal for such a comfortable coach. But during peak periods or festive seasons, the ticket price can go up to RM 65 or even RM 75. So if you can, avoid such peak periods. If you can't, you are advised to purchase your ticket well in advance. For the latest update on ticket prices, you can check with some suggested bus companies such as - (i) Elta-Bina: 607-2217422 (ii) Zaman Indah Express: 607 - 2247868 (iii) GSM-Express: 607-2278407
Food is cheap and plentiful in the vicinity of Tapah. Below are some of the food we ate.
Sundara Villas is the Indian restoran (in Tapah) where we had Thosai for breakfast. At only RM 1.20 per piece, this crispy fragrant onion-filled Thosai is indeed value for money - and it's even cheaper than the coffee! (which costs RM 1.60)
Over at Bidor, we tried the famous duck-thigh noodle. At RM 6.50, it is considered a delicacy by many locals. The braised duck meat was fresh and tender, dipped in light herbal soup. A little pricey - but never mind since this is the first time we are trying.
Near the the duck-thigh noodle are many shops selling Malaysian goodies - such as Tau Sa Peng (biscuit), Heong Peah (Xiang Bing), Walnut biscuits etc. You don't have to travel to tourist hot-spots in Ipoh to buy them. Furthermore, popular tourist areas tend to be more expensive as well.
If you like Pau (Chinese bun with meat), try it at Keng Chong Restoran. We didn't eat any Pau on this trip - but because they looked really big & steaming fresh, we took a picture just in case there are some die-hard Pau addicts out there!
To savour food in its local flavour, try buying the food from the wet /flea market in Tapah - which only opens every Thursday morning. Here you can get fresh corn, vegetables, fish, fruits. If you don't wish to cook, look for ready-to-eat food such as chicken, burgers, satay, nuts, etc.
And of course, no trip to Tapah is quite complete without a taste of KFC. This is probably the only place in the world where a 3-piece meal costs only RM 12 and is still served in its traditional flavour, size, thickness, texture - right down to the original white plastic plate as used in the good old days. That's why I say it's finger licking better in Tapah!
Besides eating, we also ventured into the Kuala Woh Recreational Forest (KWRF). From the Tapah bus station, a 30-min bus ride took us to the road just outside the KWRF - where we walked a 1 km road (flanked by lush greeneries on both sides) into the forest.
Soon, we heard the sound of rushing water and proceeded in that direction until we came to a suspended bridge. There we stood, admiring the scene of fast flowing shallow water moving through the rocks and the surrounding thick vegetation. Some locals were having a dip in the water while other youths were splashing and simply having a good time. Just looking at them can be quite therapeutic. Looks like we should join them in the water next time when we are more prepared.
We took a night bus back from Tapah on Sunday night at 9:30pm and reached Singapore Woodlands check-point the next morning at 4:30am. By relying on public transport to move from point A to point B, we were able to explore the places in greater depth - in addition to saving a bundle. Overall, it was a tiring but fulfilling trip.
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