Sungai Long Ride.

It is a New Year...time for changes. Weird changes...
That i can tell you for a fact. Never ...and I mean NEVER in my years with this bunch of old clowns that i ever had Western Food as post ride meals. I probably have had eaten my share of squirrels and durians for post ride meals. But chicken chops and pasta as post ride meals. Uh Uh...Never in my small little brain did it remotely cross my mind. I am shivering still from the thought of it. I thought it was a bloody joke.
I actually had Bruschetta and Grilled Chicken Breast for chow. ( Mind you, it was good. Bruschetta could do with more garlic in it though..ok. We are headed elsewhere now.Chicken was spicy. A wee bit dry but huge portion. I HAD to put that in ...:P Will address this issue lower down the blog. )
The Yellow Manta was a different man altogether this time around... He ate like an old goat. He had SALAD for chow. How weird is that? Should we start calling him Eco Goat from now on instead? He had Dot and Choi! flanking him with a plate of seafood pasta on each side. How is it possible to focus on the salad? It is not right.
At some point later during lunch. Flash mob!!! Out of the blue. Old people started doing Tai Chi  moves. They were sharing the same table as us. You could hear them count watermelons. Please dont ask me why they were doing that.

"Pass one half to the right. Take a deep breathe... Pass the OTHER half to the right."

Yep...I did not hear things. I had Ice Lemon Tea then. And nope, there wasn't any real watermelons being passed. Only old people pretending to pass watermelons.
The lady cafe owner was getting a wee bit concerned.Its one thing to get business walking in. Its a huge cause for concern when a bunch of dirty looking people come calling. Then start conducting Tai Chi class right smack in the middle of your joint.
Combined age of Tai Chi group. A couple of hundred years old.

Sungai Long ... I rode the trail once. That was probably 7 years back. Back then , it was different. We had to hike in the river for a couple hundred meters before being shepherded into the jungle for a track skywards. In Sungai Long, the uphills can really be pointing skywards. Short steep uphills. I mean steep... It was not funny then, Not funny last Sunday as well. Man... It was steep and hot. Monkeys were laughing at us. I was expecting monkeys to start throwing twigs at us and calling us names. But i had Bulldozer for company, I knew i was safe.
Ride started well enough. Danny's attempt to inherit a Harrier failed miserably. His newbie friend wised up to his con. He walked away from it after 40 minutes. He knew for sure Danny was trying to give him a heart attack. Then steal his Harrier. Smart man... He lived to ride another day. Did i mention he is Teochew? Never ever pull that kind of stunt on a Teochew man, they can tell.... He was still at this car when we returned. Good man he is...All patient and calm. With a smile.
He tried to return Danny's favor. Only guy that nearly choked to death on his teochew cake was Alesi.
Never mess with a Teochew man...
I would know. My Grandpa is Techoew.

Riding trail pointed up mostly. We had plenty of time to catch up with each other. The future Dragon In Laws showed up. Have not seen them in a bit. They will be getting their upgraded title by February. Watch this space. There will be a review on that. With or without their consent.
Trails continue upwards from jungle tracks to tarmac.
Chit chatted with Bulldozer. Laughed at birds. Monkeys laughing at us in return.
More uphill.
Bulldozer still right next to me. Walking now.
Yep. You read that right. He was walking. I was witness to it.
Then came redemption from all the walking. Almost 10 minutes of downhill through rubber plantations, orchards, single tracks...Pure bliss. You ride pass stone bridges with moss growing by the side. Take corners with the river roaring by your side. Cross a couple of mini streams. Sweet...
Group gathered at the bottom . Head count done. No lost limbs. No leeches this time around.  Time for food... :)
  The ride was excellent. Kudos to the host. The tall dude with the jelly cakes at the end of the ride. Well done! The other dude with the 29iner bike. Well done as well.. Excellent host. And the rest of the Sungai Long boys. Leaders Sweepers and all in between. We had an enjoyable ride thanks to their hospitality. Note to self- Must return again. Wonderful host . Even better trails...

Feeding time

Post ride lunch.

Cafe in Mahkota Cheras. Its called Susan's Cafe i think. Lovely place. Simple. No fuss. Sit , order, eat, burp, do Tai Chi, pay. Thank you very much. Please come again.
Parking is a mess though. Good luck trying to get a spot. Food is worth the trouble.
Recommended.