Get naturally high on Kluang coffee, nature
Sanusi Abdul Ghani; Interview and pictures by Sim Bak Heng
I WAS posted to Kluang seven years ago and settled down at Kampung Dato’ Abdul Rahman Yassin.
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| SERENE: Gunung Lambak is popular among the local folk. |
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| LANDMARK: A monument of Kluang erected by the local authorities along Jalan Mersing. |
The village is located at the foot of Gunung Lambak, and the mountain is a tourist attraction in the land-locked district.
As my house is located about 100 metres from the entrance to the mountain, I enjoy a good mountain view and fresh air.
Every morning, especially on weekends, the road in front of my house is choked with cars. The cars belong to mountain trekkers, most of them local people.
The mountain is not that high. It takes an average person between 45 minutes and 60 minutes to reach the peak.
Mountain-trekking is a favourite pastime among the town folk, as Gunung Lambak is the nearest place they could get close to nature.
When I first moved to Kluang, I was always fascinated about living a healthy life by climbing the mountain as often as I could. But saying is easier than doing. Despite the proximity, I seldom climb the mountain due to long working hours.
However, I do make it a point to take my wife and children to Gunung Lambak Resort, which is within walking distance.
The resort has a swimming pool and other facilities. It is another popular attraction, especially among the non-trekkers.
My village is about three kilometres from Kluang town. It has a fair mix of Malay and Chinese villagers.
The Malay settlement is at one side while the Chinese live on the other side.
In between the two settlements are a mosque and a temple. Despite the cultural differences, both communities have lived in peace and harmony for years.
As I am from Kelantan, there is always a tendency to miss Kelantan food. Of course, I mean delicacies like nasi kerabu, tom yam, nasi dagang, among others.
It is possible to find such items in Kluang. For instance, there is a stall next to the Prime City Hotel which is my favourite spot whenever I have a craving.
When my friends visit Kluang, I will take them to this stall. Of course, I will also take them to Kluang train station.
Oh, I don’t take them there to send them off, but to savour the famous coffee, toast, nasi lemak and mee goreng in a stall at the railway station.
The owner of the stall, who has built his empire of the Kluang Rail Coffee in many corners in the country, is the pride of Kluang. A trip to Kluang is not complete without visiting the stall, which is packed the moment it opens for business in the morning.
Other souvenirs one could pack home is our big and juicy dragon fruits, and our Television brand coffee, which I was told is a favourite of the Johor royal family.
Compared with seven years ago, Kluang is easily accessed from other parts of the state by express bus and train. There are at least three bus services to Johor Baru every 30 minutes.
The next time you run out of ideas for a short retreat, think of Kluang!
Sanusi Abdul Ghani is attached to a statutory body and has three children.
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