East Coast Holiday – Day 1

So the day came, 3 June 2009……..we were to gather at BHP petrol station after Gombak Toll before 9am. All was punctual having breakfast together at the mamak restaurant there.

About 9:30am, 3 cars was heading east to KT. All was well until I felt my car, a Chevrolet Nabira, something wrong somewhere near Lancang…….it wobble on the left front tire. Call my mechanic and he inform me that probably the drive shaft or tire balancing was out. At the same time, have ask my 2 sisters(and their family) and parent (2 cars) to go ahead first

Got into Lancang and found a tire shop to do my balancing. The car felt better and so we continue the journey. As I press the accelerator to go above 100KM/h, it started again to wobble with rattling sound. Don’t want to take the risk, decide to turn back…….which was at Temerloh……..what a U-turn.

As I was driving towards home to get another car, the car broke down near Selesa Hill home (42KM Karak to be precise). The car refuse to move as I press the accelerator. There was just a rattling sound. So I call my mechanic for advise, he told me that you have to tow back to his workshop to get it repair. Lucky thing he advise me to get my insurance to tow it for free. At this time it was about 12:30pm.

So I call up my insurance and they inform that they will cover only RM100 and the rest you have to paid. What……no free towing. The insurance agent make the call to the tow truck services. They ask me where is the exact location and inform me what kilometer. There must be a number somewhere……how on earth should I know. The only landmark I see was Selesa Hill Home.

Lesson learn……on the highway there is lot of number on the side…..it indicates what kilometer from somewhere. That is the number you have to give if the insurance agent or the tow truck ask where you are.

The insurance agent call back for confirmation, informing the charges……..RM250 and they will cover RM100 only. What choice do you have.

After the call from the insurance agent, came a call from the tow truck asking where I am. I told where I was and he inform that he was on the way. Lucky thing the car engine was running with the aircon on…….or else all of us will be sweating.

Finally, around 2:20pm, the tow truck came. It was a tow truck where the car go on top of it. The front of the tow truck was lift up so that the back has a lean angle to pull the car up.

It was a bumpy ride……my wife and 2 kids was having scary ride of their life…….imaging a car on a lorry……how high it is.

We reach the workshop at about 4pm. After requesting to check and do the necessary repair, my wife’s niece came to pick us up and drove back to our house. At the same time, my dad call informing that they have reach KT and waiting to check-in into the hotel.

Got a call from the workshop after reaching home, informing that the left drive shaft was broken, the right-hand shaft cover need to be replaced, break pad and disc also need to be replaced. Why the break disc need to be replaced I asked……the answer it was thin.

Typical of a workshop trying to take advantage of you telling to replace this and that. I just inform to replace oem drive shaft(original cost double), shaft cover on the right-hand side and front brake pad…….cost me RM1600…..

Inform the workshop will pickup the car once I came back from my trip.

Lesson learn….if your car refuse to move after certain speed and hear a rattling sound…….your drive-shaft is broken.

After freshen up, around 5pm we start our journey again, stopping at Petronas Karak R&R for a late lunch. They have a lot of varieties, buffet style but the only problem, the food was cold.

We continue our journey, driving as fast I can until Jabor where the highway ends into a single lane using the coastal road. Had a quick dinner snack along the way. Still full after that late lunch

Reach the hotel at 11pm plus…….what a day. Thank god it that we reach safely.

Along the trip, I have my GPS to guide me and keep a track log of the travel. So distance travel that day was 770 km………..actual distance will be 456km if not for the break down.

East Coast Day 1 at EveryTrail

At the hotel, met my sister who gave us the key to our room. Ask her where did you all go. Told us that it was raining………just stay at the hotel. So we did not miss anything.

As we got into our rooms, we freshen up and got to sleep. Tomorrow is another drive to Pulau Redang.

Continue…….

East Coast Holiday

It started somewhere in late April 09, when my dad asking where to go for the school holidays. My dad was hinting to see the east coast for the last time.

My sister and I was shock when he said that…….how do you feel if a 76 old father said that. Furthermore, he was the pioneer in planning the town in the east coast during the 60s. My dad was a town planner at that time.

So to full fill my parent wishes…..my 2 sisters, wife and I start looking for hotel reservation and places to go. Some how there was a lot screw up with a travel agent making the reservation. Imaging looking for hotel rooms to cater for 15 adults and 3 kids(now days kids above 12 is consider adult) during the school holidays. Finally, manage to get hotels  from 3 to 7 June 2009 – 2 nights in Kuala Terengganu(KT) and 2 nights in Kota Bahru(KB)……thanks to my wife’s travel agent who also screw up the reservation at Redang Island for 3D/2N there…….but it was a blessing in disguise…..more on it later.

Have ask a lot of friends where/what interesting places to go in KT and KB………most of the answer

Thanks to Mr. Google……manage to find many interesting places to go there.

Here is where I start to blog on East Coast since there was not much travel guide for it. Hope this will be a reference/guide for the rest who wants to go there.

Continue.......