Returning After the Long Lockdown
Happy National Recovery Plan (NRP) Phase 4, Kuala Lumpur!
We had not been to Bentong since the first lockdown way back in March 2020, so a visit to see my parents was long overdue. They live on their own and, apart from necessary errands, have kept very much to themselves for almost two years. Thankfully, they are surrounded by a close knit network of neighbours who look out for one another and stay in constant contact.
People often describe my parents as reclusive, but in this case, that very trait served them well during the pandemic. Now that everyone has been vaccinated, they finally allowed us to visit.
A Morning With My Parents
We left Kuala Lumpur at 9:30am and reached Bentong within the hour. We spent the entire morning catching up before sitting down for lunch together. After a lazy, comfortable afternoon, we bade them farewell and drove into town to check in at Hotel Kristal.
An Afternoon Walk Through Bentong
After settling in and taking a short nap, we headed out for our usual Bentong walkabout.
We crossed Jalan Ah Peng, walked northwest past TF Value Mart, then turned onto Jalan Masjid. From there, we continued northeast until we reached the main street, Jalan Loke Yew, and turned left.
We walked past Bentong Gallery, all the way to the intersection with Jalan Padang, before looping back onto Jalan Ah Peng and heading southeast. We crossed the road again and entered Jalan Wayang, then continued along Jalan Chui Yin, passing the Bentong Chinese Town Hall.
At Bentong Walk, several stalls were selling cakes and pastries, and of course, we bought our fair share. We continued southeast along Jalan Chui Yin until we reached the hotel, stored our goodies, and headed straight to Aik Kee for dinner.
Rain, Dessert, and a Little Sadness
After dinner, we wanted to continue our walkabout, but a drizzle quickly turned into a downpour, forcing us back to the hotel.
An hour and a half later, craving dessert, we headed out again. We walked northwest along Jalan Chui Yin, only to find The Hall Coffee Bar fully occupied. We tried First Cup along Jalan Wayang, but it was closed. So we crossed Jalan Ah Peng and continued southeast until we found a place that served desserts only.
It was clear that Bentong Coffee House had been ravaged by the pandemic. As an iconic landmark in Bentong town, we can only hope it survives and finds a way to revive itself.
We had Cendol and Air Batu Campur (ABC) before walking back across Jalan Ah Peng, turning right onto Jalan Chan Siang Sun, and returning to the hotel.
Ending the Night
We turned in early — tomorrow will be our market hunt, and we want to be ready.
(Do visit our YouTube Channel Have Perut Will Travel)
📍 Locations:
TF Value-Mart Bentong (Jln Ah Peng) - https://goo.gl/maps/snr66AZz6Dta1dtP9
Bentong Gallery - https://goo.gl/maps/de2zzFvfuUGNAkji7
Bentong Chinese Town Hall - https://goo.gl/maps/QzUq3ro4tbs8zAsF9
Bentong Walk - https://goo.gl/maps/egYww7P7Fj8SKugW6
The Hall Coffee Bar - https://goo.gl/maps/DuyPJPVKexXNJ8bCA
First Cup - https://goo.gl/maps/W1FqaRmCGAmjEWga7
Bentong Coffee House - https://goo.gl/maps/2FudSUr9zVL2kHM59
We do what we can to support local businesses, and it's always good to know that everyone here observes all related SOPs, it helps make us feel safer and reassured.
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