Kuala Lipis new town

I have been to Kuala Lipis many times but it was only in the latest trip made in May that I've learned they have opened up the new town.

In my previous visit sometime last year the shops here were still empty lots. Now I have no choice but to come as the bus station has been moved to new town. After the train trip from Tumpat, I need to get a bus to return home to Kuala Lumpur.


A look at the new town...

Another look from a better angle.

At one corner towards the south you could see the old town situated at lower grounds across the Jelai river. For the record this is the 505th article here.

Kuala Lipis train station and its cute old town

Soon we arrived at the Kuala Lipis train station...

After a brief walkabout we started going out...

By the way this station was built in 1926.

The town however was started earlier. A look to the right...

A look to the front...

A look to the left.

We had lunch at a stall in Medan Tangga (literarily "The staircase avenue").

From there we could walk down the stairs and come out the other said where the river Jelai flows in the background.

The limestone hills from Dabong towards Kuala Lipis

An interesting thing I note about Dabong is the existence of limestone hills...


Such hills continue to dot the landscape up to Gua Musang.

This big limestone hill besides the Gua Musang train station is the most obvious one.

But wait till you see there's more coming after it.

Further south there's this hill...

Then there's this one...

As one continues travelling down south it is hard not to notice limestones hills at nearly every corner...

If only every one of it is connected, you could say there's a limestone hill range...

This is the one near Merapoh station which is in the state of Pahang.

Afterwards such hills still feature prominently in the background.

It is only after reaching Padang Tengku that I failed to see anymore limestone hill. So I think it's fair to say the hills are a natural feature from Dabong down to Merapoh and on just before Kuala Lipis.

Kelantan stations early morning

So we spent the night at Tumpat. Came early morning, 6 am to be exact its time to return homw to Kuala Lumpur via a local train up to Kuala Lipis.

Unlike the previous day's train, this one made stops at more locations including this one at Kampung Kok Pasir.


Next stop is Wakaf Baru...



Obviously every train have to stop here as it is a major station, the closest to Kota Bahru, the capital city of Kelantan.

I was intrigued by these loads of vegetables being transported. Believe it or not it is the old lady who moved it around... with some help of course.

At Pasir Mas the sky has lightened up...

Next is the station of Tok Uban, another station 'ignored' by previous day's train to Tumpat.

It is interesting to see schoolboys taking the train to school...

Next station of interest to me is Bukit Panau.

It could be just a small rural station but the fact that it is named after a nearby hill said to have mystical qualities interests me...

Soon enough we arrived at Tanah Merah...

Here is where the old woman from Wakaf Baru unloaded her veggies...

And here is where the day starts to get noticeably bright.

On to Tumpat, the furthest point on the East Coast route

After a few minutes stop at Dabong the journey is continued. Here is a signboard telling us we have travelled 399.5 km from Gemas.

While that is already quite a distance away, we still got another 130 km or so to cover before we could call it a day. Here's the next stop at Bukit Abu.

This is followed by the one at Manek Urai.

After that only we arrived at the next significant town after Gua Musang which is Kuala Krai...

After Kuala Krai we crossed the Kelantan river.

Soon we arrived at Tanah Merah, another major town in Kelantan.

Here we have to spend considerable time waiting to give way for an express train...

Then our train practically charged full speed as if to make time.

By the time we arrived at the next major town, Pasir Mas it was already dark.

Next stop is Wakaf Baru, the closest to get to Kota Bahru, capital city of Kelantan.

Surprisingly we managed to arrive at Tumpat, the furthermost stop just after 8 pm. Originally we were scheduled to reach here at 9.