A few days ago my wife and I decided to go for a short drive to Janda Baik, Pahang and that too on a working day. I last went there some 10 years ago for a corporate training and had an open idea about the place. I felt that it offers limited value for day-trippers. We never gave much time to plan for the trip. As it was a day trip expected to be anywhere from 3 to 5 hours. We did not have to pack anything at all and were clothed in comfortable cotton clothing.
At about 9.30 a.m. we headed off to Janda Baik armed with Google Maps as our direction guide. My wife had also searched for some places to have coffee and lunch. She had developed a good knack for picking out good ones. We drove through Jalan Kuching and exited into the Jalan Genting Klang. We found the exit to be a little confusing, perhaps due to unfamiliarity with the area and raids. We paid a one-way toll of RM6.00. After a short 45 minutes of easy drive we were surrounded by a lush jungle and the cool refreshing air was inviting. The roads can be better and were not as good as the Karak Highway. The turn into Janda Baik was immediate via a U-turn overhead ramp that come after the famous Karak Tunnel.
We were pleasantly surprised that such a peaceful place is only a 45 minutes drive from the City of Kuala Lumpur. We drove for about 10 minutes and took a turn to this place known as Pineyard Café. The car park was almost full and had many cars that had Singapore number plates. We got off our car after parking, stretched a little, and made our way towards the café. The café was full and we waited a little to get the prime seats with a view towards a man-made lake and hill with lush greens.
The first place we stopped was the Pineyard Café. This place had a café surrounded by Pine Trees and a man-made lake. The neat café is set overlooking a green lush forest on a steep cliff. The café offers coffee, pastries, local food, western selections and some unique local menus. The price was affordable and we decided to enjoy coffee, fried chicken wings and pastries overlooking the hill. The chicken wings are exceptionally good and fit the description ‘fried to perfection’. As we were sitting and watching nature I can feel how much stress was dissolving from my body.
After that, I felt like visiting the Cherengin Hill Resorts where I went for a corporate event 10 years ago. It is located on a hill that overlook a valley that appeared blue in color. It brought back memories of the Blue Mountains, a short drive from Sydney, Australia. I did not realize this 10 years ago when I was in Cherengin Hills the trip was work-related and was busy in the conference rooms working out a corporate strategy. The resort looked okay for a day or two’s stay. We toured the resort got some pictures and left. This was after 2 hours and we decided to check out another place with the name Pinto Café.
As we came down we saw a river and decided to explore. There are some chalets that appeared abandoned. Perhaps this was due to the Covid-19 lockdown and movement restrictions. The flow of the river was loud and fast giving a sense of vivid sounds and sights. We were thinking that there are opportunities for those wanting to operate a budget homestay. We walked in from the main road further in to find a spot to sit for a while. As we were walking we saw a leading towards the river and had a beautiful big boulder for us to sit. As the river was fast it provided a good “white noise” effect that felt so nice and relaxing.
Pinto Café is located on top of a Hill and surrounded by thin forest and wild trees. The name Pinto is derived from the Malay word " Pintu" which means door. In the settings, it appeared like a door into the forest in Janda Baik. We had to drive up a steep cemented road to park and walk another 100 meters towards the cafe that was constructed using wood only. We saw a few bookshelves with many different titles stacked neatly. Piano music was playing in the background. It was very cooling and the entire care is made up of wood giving a rustic jungle-like feeling. The lunch menu was simple and did not offer anything heavy. The staff was friendly. Apparently, they have a weekend menu that is more extensive. We got some sandwiches, pancakes and fruit juice. I would describe all three as decent. Above that, the ambiance was well worth it. It is a good place for one to do reading or spend some time reflecting on life and self.
At about 2.15 p.m. we decided to drive back to the city to avoid the rush hour traffic. The day was fulfilling and rewarding. We plan to make this a once-a-month event. Day trips enrich our lives and what if it comes with an affordable budget of about RM100 and can be done in less than 5 hours? We came home and continued with our chores feeling happy and relaxed.
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