Malaysia road trip - Day 2 (Bentong town - Bentong Gallery - Kechara Forest Retreat - Taman Eko Rimba Chamang - Club Med Cherating)

We started Day 2 in Bentong quite early as we wanted to explore a bit more before heading to Club Med Cherating after lunch. We headed out around 8.20am for breakfast at Chow Sun Yuk Cheong Fun, a simple zinc roof food court style place next to the Gelanggang Bola Keranjang Daerah Bentong. There was already a steady morning crowd when we arrived around 8.30am, and a queue had formed at the stall, showing it is quite popular with locals.

We ordered chee cheong fun with fish ball and fu chuk, along with two glasses of barley drink. The drink did not really taste like barley, with a faint taste similar to onion. The chee cheong fun came slightly thick and not very smooth, served with a mildly sourish sauce. I liked both the fu chuk and the fish ball. The fu chuk (fried bean curd skin) was soft with a slight chewiness, while the fish ball had a nice bouncy texture. Overall, a simple and affordable breakfast stop, more for the local Bentong morning experience than anything else.

Chow Sun Yuk Cheong Fun

Chow Sun Yuk Cheong Fun

Chee cheong fun, fish ball and fu chuk - RM 6

Barley - RM 1.90 each

Address:

Chow Sun Yuk Cheong Fun

Food court-style setting in Bentong town

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 4am to 12pm. Closed on Saturday

Yuan Kie Kopitiam has two wantan noodle stalls, one operating in the evening and the other in the morning. After trying the evening stall yesterday, we came back this morning to try the other one. The bowl came with char siu, two fried wantons, and three wantons in soup. The green chilies were fresh and crunchy. Although the noodles were slightly salty, the overall flavor was quite similar to yesterday’s. My partner ended up preferring this one.

Next to the wantan noodle stall, there was a yong tau fu stall, and my partner ordered a plate of chee cheong fun with fish balls and stuffed chili. The fish balls were nice, and the chee cheong fun had a smooth, soft texture. The stuffed chili was average, with a mix of meat and vegetables inside. The sauce was better compared to Chow Sun Yuk Cheong Fun, but still nothing particularly impressive.

Yuan Kie Kopitiam and barley without sugar - RM 2

Wantan mee (small) - RM 9

Wantan soup

Yong tau fu stall

Chee cheong fun with fish ball and stuffed chili - RM 5.20

Address:
Yuan Kie Kopitiam
57, Jalan Chui Yin,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 6am to 9pm

Tauhu Auntie Mok is just a 1-minute walk (about 65m) from Yuan Kie Kopitiam. We were supposed to try it yesterday, but it was already sold out. This time, we ordered tau fu fa with herbal jelly and white sugar. The herbal jelly had a mild bittersweet taste, while the tau fu fa was smooth and quite nice overall. The place does feel a bit touristy, as we noticed a tour guide bringing in a group of visitors.

Tauhu Auntie Mok

Tau fu fa with herbal jelly and white sugar - RM 3.50

Address:
Tauhu Auntie Mok

No. 90, Jalan Pasar,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: Monday to Friday - 7am to 4pm / Saturday & Sunday - 7am to 5pm

Our next stop was the Bentong Gallery. Entry was free, and there was a small cafe as well as a souvenir and snack shop inside. The building was not air-conditioned, so it could feel quite warm. The gallery was fairly simple, with displays of old items and exhibits showcasing the history of Bentong.

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Bentong Gallery

Snack shop

Address:

Bentong Gallery

17-18, Jalan Loke Yew,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 9am to 6pm. Closed on Wednesday

On the way to Kechara Forest Retreat, we passed by Dataran Bentong, a large open public square in the town centre. It is often used for local events and gatherings. The area is spacious and simple, with the Bentong sign as one of the main photo spots. It felt like a central landmark where locals and visitors often passed through or stopped briefly.

Dataran Bentong

Dataran Bentong

Address:

Dataran Bentong

740, Jalan Tras, Kampung Chamang,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 10am to 10pm

Kechara Forest Retreat is a peaceful spiritual site surrounded by greenery, offering a quiet and reflective atmosphere. We started our visit by getting a map from the staff at the Relic Temple Memorial Hall before driving over to see the world’s biggest Dorje Shugden statue. Shoes were not allowed in the area. A staff member briefed us and guided us to walk clockwise around the statue three times, as it is believed in Tibetan tradition to bring positive energy and good karma. We were also invited to do a candle-lighting offering, but we chose to just observe this time.

Relic Temple Memorial Hall

Kechara Forest Retreat

Buddha Shakyamuni and world’s biggest Dorje Shugden statue

Lama Tsongkhapa

Address:

Kechara Forest Retreat

Lot 3189, Jalan Chamang,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Tel: +609 - 221 5600

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm

We then drove to Taman Eko Rimba Chamang to visit the waterfall. Entry was RM 3 per adult for Malaysians and RM 10 for non-Malaysians, but there was no one at the ticket counter when we arrived. Inside, there was a hanging bridge that adds a nice touch to the surroundings, with views of the river below. The waterfall was flowing strongly, filling the area with a loud, refreshing rush of water that made the whole place feel cool and lively. It was a simple but scenic spot, especially if you enjoy being close to nature.

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Address:

Taman Eko Rimba Chamang

Pejabat Hutan Daerah Bentong Bentong Pahang,

28700, Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 8am to 12.15pm / 2.45pm to 5pm. Friday - 8am to 12.30pm / 3pm to 5pm 

We headed back to the hotel around 11am and checked out by 11.30am before making our way to Bentong’s Kopitiam for lunch. We ordered chee cheong fun along with a selection of yong tau fu, including fish balls, fu chuk with fish paste, stuffed chili, stuffed bean curd roll, and stuffed brinjal, which came to a total of RM 12.80. The chee cheong fun was smooth but still had a firm bite, though the sauce came across quite sourish. The fish balls were good, but the rest were just average. Overall, I didn't enjoy the meal very much, as the sour sauce was a little overwhelming for my taste. After three meals of chee cheong fun in a row, I think I'm officially chee cheong fun-ed out.

For drinks, we tried their third signature blend made with tea, cocoa, Milo, Nescafe, and condensed milk, along with iced water. It was smooth and mostly tea-based, with a slight salty note and a rich, kaw finish that made it pretty interesting. We also packed some chicken rice to go with roasted chicken drumstick and char siu to have later during our drive to Club Med Cherating. Just in case I got hungry again, since I barely finished the chee cheong fun.

Bentong's Kopitiam

Yong tau fu

3rd signature drink - RM 5.80 and iced water - RM 0.60

Fish ball, bean curd skin or fu chuk with fish paste, stuffed chili, stuffed bean curd roll, and stuffed brinjal

Chee cheong fun

Chicken rice stall

Roasted chicken drumstick with char siu - RM 11.50

Address:

Bentong's Kopitiam

No.83, Jalan Chui Yin,

28700 Bentong,

Pahang

Opening hours: 6am to 4pm. Closed on Wednesday

After lunch, we made our way to Club Med Cherating and started our journey at 12.10pm. We stopped for petrol before leaving, and the drive took about 2.5 hours. Along the way, we had chicken rice in the car. The rice was fluffy and soft, and the chicken was tender and juicy. The char siu was alright, nothing special. I actually preferred the one we had yesterday at Restaurant Golden Court, but my partner preferred this one. I took over driving from 1.10pm to 1.50pm so he could rest for a bit before continuing the rest of the journey. We arrived at Club Med Cherating at 2.50pm.

The moment we arrived, we were stopped at the guard house for checks. They asked for our booking number, then double-checked our names on the list before letting us in. The whole process felt quite strict, with every detail properly verified before entry was allowed.

Once inside, we were welcomed at the reception by the staff, who greeted us warmly and immediately took over our luggage while my partner went off to park the car. From there, I was guided to the theatre area for check-in. A welcome drink was served, which tasted like ribena with a hint of plum. It was okay, but nothing particularly memorable. While holding the drink in one hand and cold towels in the other, I was asked to present my identification card. It was a slightly awkward moment since I didn’t really have anywhere to put the drink, so I just stood there for a bit before being told to finish it first.

My partner joined me after parking the car, and we watched a short briefing video before the staff finally escorted us to our room. We were given wristbands to wear throughout our stay. The wristband can only be removed by cutting it, and it also functions as the room key. It’s mainly for security since the beach is open to the public as well. 

Welcome drink

Welcome drink

Club Med Theater

Wristband

We walked over to Enak Restaurant for a tea break, where our friend Jlo and his wife were already waiting. This trip was actually planned by Jlo, so we joined them since the timing worked out. The restaurant had eight items on the menu to choose from, and I went for the smoked chicken sandwich while my partner had the tuna salad. Both were quite good. I had iced lemon tea to go with it. There was also free-flow drinks and beer available. I also ordered the fruit of the day, which came with watermelon, honeydew, and pineapple.

Enak Restaurant menu:

1. Enak green salad - semi dried tomato, toasted walnut, mix green salad, refreshing vinaigrette

2. Tuna salad - tuna, capers, chickpeas, boiled egg, olives, mix green salad with coriander, refreshing vinaigrette

3. Smoked chicken sandwich - smoked chicken, semi dried tomato, cream cheese

4. Spicy curry noodle laksa - chicken dumpling, fish balls, bean sprouts, long beans, sambal shrimp paste

5. Noodle soup with shredded chicken & shrimp - shredded chicken, vegetables, shrimp, pickled green chili

6. Nasi goreng enak - fried rice, vegetables, dried anchovies, egg

7. Vegan char siew dry noodle - vegan char siew, noodles, pickled green chili

8. Fruit plate - selection of fruit of the day

Enak Restaurant opening hours: 

1. Late breakfast - 9.45am to 11am

2. Late lunch - 2.30pm to 5.30pm

3. Late dinner - 9.30pm to 10.45pm

Dinner ala Carte *under reservation - 7pm / 7.30pm / 8pm

Enak Restaurant

Free flow of soft drinks, beer, coffee or tea

Ice lemon tea

Tuna salad

Smoked chicken sandwich

Fruit plate

After our tea break, we continued exploring Club Med Cherating. We checked out the facilities, including the pool tables, which were RM 15 per game. Drinks are free flow, including beer, mocktails, cocktails, and wines. I ordered a strawberry milkshake and peach shaved ice, but both were quite disappointing. The milkshake was overly sweet and tasted artificial, while the shaved ice had coarse ice and was also too sweet. The pastries didn’t impress either as they were overly sweet and not very enjoyable. The only thing we actually liked was the toast with cheese and ham.

Club Med beach

Peach shaved ice and strawberry milk shake

Tea break

Tea break

Fruits

Free flow of grape fruit & lemon drink, cold water and coffee

Orange juice

Pastries

Pastries

We then walked around the resort before heading for the short train ride to the private beach. We caught the last train at 6pm from Enak Restaurant to the beach, and the ride took about 3 minutes. We spent a short while on the beach before taking the 6.15pm return train.

Train to Club Med private beach

Club Med private beach

Club Med private beach

Train

Club Med private beach

We had some time before dinner at Mutiara Main Restaurant, so we wandered around the resort and relaxed at the main bar. There was a selection of snacks available, but we were still full and didn't feel like having anything.

Club Med

Club Med

Club Med beach

Snacks

Snacks

Snacks

Buffet dinner at Mutiara Main Restaurant was served from 6.45pm to 9pm and offered a wide variety of dishes catering to different tastes. The spread covered Malay, Asian, Italian, Japanese, Western, and Indian stations, along with vegan options. Homemade gelato and sorbet were also available at the dessert section.

We tried quite a good range of dishes throughout the buffet. Nasi lemak was enjoyable, though the anchovies lacked crunch. Ayam berempah stood out for its juicy, well-seasoned flavour. The Australian grilled beef steak was flavourful but slightly tough. Beef lasagna stood out as good, and the chicken calzone was also enjoyable. However, the margherita pizza was average, while the seafood pasta fell flat in flavour.

At the live stations, the panipuri was a highlight, and it was my first time trying it. The chef recommended eating it immediately for the best crunch. It was light and crispy, with a filling of potatoes and mint, along with a slight spicy kick. The cumin rice was also good. The mutton curry was tender but had a slight gamey taste, while the chicken shawarma was fairly average.

Dessert was underwhelming overall, with limited variety. The ice cream, however, was decent, especially the strawberry and chocolate flavours, which were smooth and creamy. The caramel and mango sorbet didn’t quite hit the mark.

On the downside, the dining environment could be improved. There were flies around the bread and Vietnamese roll section, which affected the experience in that area. The dining hall also felt warm and not very comfortable, which affected the overall dining experience. Drinks included Coke, but it was served flat with no fizz, which made it less enjoyable.

Mutiara Restaurant opening hours:

1. Breakfast - 7.15am to 9.45am

2. Lunch - 12pm to 2pm

3. Dinner - 6.45pm to 9pm

Salad station

Vegan dish: roasted cajun sweet potato with quinoa salad, beetroot, green vegetable & avocado

Salad station

Cheese station

Bread station

Chef specialty: Prawn Vietnamese spring roll served with sweet chili sauce

Signature dish: Chicken salad prepared with chicken, salad, long bean, lemongrass lime leaves

Fruits station

Dessert station

Peach apricots blueberry cobbler

Choux and pear crumbles cake

Homemade gelato and sorbet

Coffee or tea

Detox water - watermelon, cucumber and mint

Malay station - signature dish: coconut rice with fried chicken and spicy sambal sauce

Ulam and tempeh

Keropok ikan

Asian station - steamboat (choice of chicken and tom yam soup)

Italian station - pizza margherita, chicken calzone and pesto pizza

Vegan dish: deep fried vegetable spring roll

Japanese station - nigiri sushi

Nigiri sushi

Burger patty

Nuggets

Fries

Condiments

Indian station - cumin rice, lamb curry, mixed dhaba dal and mushroom & green peas curry

Lamb curry

Cumin rice

Butcher station - chicken shawarma

Spinach, black bean and corn enchiladas

Australian grilled beef steak station

Australian grilled beef steak served with polenta and mushroom sauce

Coconut rice with fried chicken and spicy sambal sauce

My dinner

Panipuri - fried round bread with potato filling

My dinner

Fruits, desserts and nuts

Dessert

Mango sorbet and caramel gelato

We left the restaurant at 8.30pm and headed for the Fly Show, which started at 8.45pm and ended around 9.30pm. It was quite interesting at first, but it slowly became a bit repetitive and less engaging after a while. After the show, we went back to the main bar where there was a live band performing. My partner ordered a Fanta, while I tried their mocktail, Oasis, which is a mix of orange juice, lime juice, and soda water, but it didn’t taste very good. I also ordered their signature cocktail, Firefly, but it tasted like cough syrup.

We returned to the room around 10.15pm and found a few flying termites inside, including on the bed, which was quite uncomfortable. After showering, the wristband had become wet and uncomfortable, so I decided to remove it instead of keeping it on. The air-conditioning in the room wasn’t very cold, which made the night feel even more uncomfortable. It was a hot and humid day, and we both felt sticky and sweaty throughout the night.

Fly show

Main bar (The Orchid)

Oasis - orange juice, lime juice, soda water and crushed lemon & soda

Fire fly - dark rum, orange juice, passion fruit syrup