On Thursday had to go over to Kuantan to meet the Bomba officer there. Had a project in Bukit Tinggi Pahang which required a little clarification on the fire-fighting system. The plans are submitted to Bomba Pahang, hence the need to drive all the way there.

yup, drove over 600km from SJ to Kuantan and back to SJ in 1 day. So here was the timeline:-
6.00 am left home and refuel car
6.15 left SJ by Kesas, then using MRR2 to go to Karak Highway side
6.45 Karak Hwy, Gombak toll RM 5.00 toll
7.00 Karak Hwy, Genting Sempah tunnel
7.30 East Coast Hwy, Lanchang toilet stop
9.30 Reach the Kuantan interchange, RM 19.20 toll from Karak to Kuantan. almost 10 cent per km!!
10.00 in Kuantan, lepak a bit to 2.00 pm coz the officer is only in afternoon
So 10.00am to 2.00 pm went to Teluk Cempedak, lepak at Kuantan Megamall
2.30 Left Kuantan, heading back to KL
5.00 pm, went up to Bukit Tinggi from Karak Hwy to see my site, located at almost 800 meters above see level. The location of the site on top of the hill will make any structure and infra engineer sweat. Fortunately I'm doing mechanical services :P
6.00 back on Karak Hwy to head back to KL
7.00 back home

So its 300km to get there, 300km to get back. The toll tally is like:-
Kesas Hwy RM 2.20 X 2 = RM 4.40
Karak Hwy MR 5.00 at Gombak toll , RM 3.00 at Bentong (Pahang side)
East Coast Hwy RM 19.20 from Karak to Kuantan
East Coast Hwy RM 19.20 from Kuantan to Karak
Karak Hwy another RM 5.00 and RM 3.00
Kesas Hwy RM 2.20 X2 = another RM 4.40

So total cost for toll only is a whopping RM 63.20 both ways, excluding petrol!!!!

But I must say, the Karak Hwy and East Cost Hwy is very nice to drive and if you are willing to risk saman (I didn't) you can speed all the way to Kuantan, though the Karak Hwy have a lot of sharp corners and the road is very undulating and steep. There were countless times whereby bigger cars (even kancil) overtook me. The speed limit for east coast Hwy is 110 kph.

The East Coast Hwy the transit ticket is very unique whereby it is a card unlike the Plus ticket which looks so outdated (still using magnetic strip!!)


Kuantan is pretty well run and clean I must say. Telok Cempedak, a popular beach spot was very clean and well maintained. Then in Kuantan got no toll road unlike say here there are tolls everywhere!!! No wonder BN still in Pahang, they are doing quite a good job there!

So this is kinda like my first out-station trip on my own using my car. Last time went to JB by bus or tumpang contractor or colleagues. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

Then for my car it is the first time it went out-station too. yes, 14 years old and the furthest it has ever been is Nilai. Never been to Pahang, never been to Genting, never been to Perak even. Even though it is 14 years old the ride is smooth at 105 kph and the steering is straight. Of course, I just had it serviced less than 48 hours before, but on such a long trip a service would be necessary.

Oh, I must add that I have upgraded by phone to N95 from N80. Dad got a N95 but the battery life of the N95 couldn't keep up with the amount of calls he makes and receive every day. So I exchanged my phone with his. So far battery life is ok for me since I do not have many calls, but on this trip to Kuantan I only left bout 25% at the end of the day coz I took photos and surf wifi for almost and hour.