Malaysia road trip - Day 6 (Sunrise Hill - Hot spring well - Pasir Putih - Rainbow Bridge - Sungai Lembing town - Kuantan town)

Day 6 began with an early start. Despite a poor night’s sleep, I was up by 5.30am and ready for the first activity of the day. We waited at the Super Heroes Cafe from 6.10am for Uncle Wong to bring us to Sunrise Hill. Jlo gave him a wake-up call, and it seemed he had only just gotten out of bed. While waiting, I spotted the International Space Station (ISS) gliding across the dawn sky, an unexpected highlight of the morning. Although Uncle Wong was due to arrive at 6.15am, he only turned up ten minutes later at 6.25am.

He arrived in an open-back 4WD, and the four of us climbed aboard. The vehicle was surprisingly spacious and could accommodate up to 14 passengers. There were no seat belts, so we had to hold on to the bar in front of us as we made our way up the hill. It felt a little adventurous, but also great fun, with nothing between us and the cool morning air.

Our first stop was the hill's famous sea-of-clouds viewpoint. We were the first to arrive, and it was still quite dark. There was a public toilet at the site, but it was in a very dirty condition. Jlo had intended to use it, but after taking one look inside, he quickly changed his mind. As dawn broke, more open-back 4WDs began arriving, bringing groups of visitors eager to witness the sunrise. Before long, the once-quiet hilltop was dotted with people finding the perfect spot to take in the view.

The valleys below gradually disappeared beneath a thick blanket of clouds, while the hilltops rising above them resembled islands floating in a vast white sea. Unfortunately, the sky was too cloudy for us to see the sunrise itself, and the sun remained hidden behind the clouds. Even so, the sea of clouds was spectacular, and together with the crisp morning air and the changing colours of the sky, it made the early wake-up call well worth the effort.

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Sunrise Hill

Open-back 4WD

Our open-back 4WD

Sunrise Hill

The drive to Sunrise Hill

We left at 7.15am and Uncle Wong drove us to a nearby hot spring. The journey there was an adventure in itself, as the open-back 4WD had to cross a shallow stream along the way. The ride was quite bumpy, but the cool morning air and beautiful countryside made it an enjoyable experience. The hot spring consisted of two wells filled with naturally warm water, with a mild sulfur smell in the air. Surrounded by lush greenery, the area was quiet and peaceful, providing a relaxing place to unwind and enjoy the tranquil atmosphere for a while before continuing our journey.

View from the open-back 4WD

Gravel road

Our 4WD drove through a stream

A rough gravel road to the hot spring well

Hot spring well

Hot spring well

Hot spring well

Hot spring well

Our next stop was Pasir Puteri. The stream there was flowing quite strongly, with a brownish tint from the recent rainfall. Swimming is not allowed here, as the current can be dangerous, and Uncle Wong mentioned that there had been drowning incidents in the past. Even so, the place still had its charm. The smooth river rocks, shaped naturally over time by the flowing water, added to the beauty of the surroundings.

On the way, we also passed an Orang Asli village and saw a rubber tapper at work, offering a quiet glimpse into the simple daily life of the local community. Children were playing in front of their houses, and as we drove past, they waved at us. I waved back, a small but warm exchange between strangers along the journey.

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Pasir Putih

Open-back 4WD

Open-back 4WD

Our last stop was the Rainbow Bridge, but before Uncle Wong drove us there, we stopped at Food Arcade Sungai Lembing for breakfast and arrived around 8.10am. We walked to Tokong Thean Hou behind Restaurant Yee Tai 2 for a toilet break, and just after that, it started pouring heavily. Luckily, we managed to make it back to the food court just in time before the heavy rain.

The food court was a lively open-air space filled with many different stalls, each offering a variety of local dishes. The setup was simple and casual, with plastic tables and chairs arranged under a sheltered area, giving it a relaxed, local breakfast vibe. Despite the rain outside, the place stayed warm and bustling with people enjoying their morning meals.

There were many stalls to choose from, and I ended up having dry kueh teow with fish balls, tofu cake, quail eggs, bean curd stuffed with fish paste, and egg stuffed with fish paste. My partner ordered curry noodles. Overall, the food was fairly average, though the fish balls stood out as the highlight. The curry lacked spiciness and didn’t have enough “kick.” My partner also ordered a pancake with crispy edges, which reminded me of the ones I used to make at home when I was younger.

Food Arcade Sungai Lembing

Yong tau fu stall

Dry kueh teow

Fish ball, tofu cake, quail eggs, bean curd stuffed with fish paste and egg stuff with fish paste

Curry noodles

Iced kopi O, warm water and teh ice

Pancakes - RM 1.40

We waited until the rain stopped around 9.30am before heading to the Rainbow Bridge. Uncle Wong dropped us off at Kolong Pahat Hanging Bridge, a suspension bridge stretching across Sungai Kenau, where a calm, green-coloured stream flows beneath. From above, the water could be seen moving gently over the rocks, giving the whole place a peaceful and refreshing feel.

He mentioned there were two tau fu fa shops at the end of the bridge, recommending that we try the second one. The tau fu fa was smooth and silky, with a slight hint of sourness. We had it with black sugar syrup. We also had a jelly dessert topped with blue pea flower jelly. It was interesting to try, though a little too sweet for my liking.

Sungai Kenau

Sungai Kenau

Kolong Pahat Hanging Bridge

Jia Chuan Ser Pu Sg Lembing tau fu fa and coconut biscuit

Tau fu fa (black sugar syrup) - RM 2.50

Blue pea flower jelly - RM 2

Address:

Jia Chuan Ser Pu Sg Lembing tau fu fa and coconut biscuit

376, Lor Pahat,

Kampung Kolong Pahat,

26200 Sungai Lembing,

Pahang

Opening hours: 8am to 7.30pm

We then took a short walk to the Rainbow Bridge just to have a look before heading back. It was a pleasant stroll that let us take in the surroundings and slowly wind down our visit. At the bridge, we noticed motorbikes passing through the narrow walkway, so we stepped aside to make way for them. 

That marked our final stop, and Uncle Wong later picked us up and brought us back to Casa Hill Resort, where we arrived at about 10.30am. My partner handed him RM 150 for the four of us, including an extra RM 10 as a tip. We had a short chat with Uncle Wong, and he shared that he owns seven open-back 4WD vehicles and also helps arrange barbecue sessions for guests.

After that, we packed our belongings and checked out at 11.50am, marking the end of this part of the journey. Basically, our RM 35 per person Panorama Hill package included a 4-hour guided trip covering Sunrise Hill for the sea of clouds, a natural hot spring well, Pasir Puteri stream, a drive-through rounding of an Orang Asli village, and a stop at the Rainbow Bridge. The package also included a stop for breakfast at Food Arcade Sungai Lembing, but the meal was at our own expense.

One of the best parts of this package was riding in the open-back 4WD with the cold wind blowing against us. It did get a bit chilly at times, but it was such a refreshing and enjoyable experience, especially as we moved through the hills and countryside.

Sungai Rimau Village

Sungai Rimau Village

Kampung Seberang Hanging Bridge (Rainbow Bridge)

Kampung Seberang Hanging Bridge (Rainbow Bridge)

Sungai Kenau

Sungai Kenau

Kampung Seberang Hanging Bridge (Rainbow Bridge)

Kampung Seberang Hanging Bridge (Rainbow Bridge)

Kolong Pahat Hanging Bridge

Kolong Pahat Hanging Bridge

Uncle Wong with his open-back 4WD

After checking out from Casa Hill Resort, we stopped by The Noodle House Sungai Lembing for lunch. We ordered two set A, one dry and one soup. Each set came with the same toppings: one piece of fried wantan, two pork meatballs, one piece of white tofu, and a stuffed fried tofu puff. We also added extra sides, including fried tofu and roasted pork belly. We tried the beef brisket noodles as well, which came with beef balls, beef brisket, tripe, and celery. The soup was flavourful, but I wasn’t a fan of the celery, as it slightly affected the overall taste for me. Apart from that, the beef brisket was not very tender.

Overall, the dry noodles tasted better than the soup version. The soup was quite flavourful, but the noodles had a slight alkaline (lye) taste. The fried tofu was enjoyable, especially when paired with the sweet sauce. The roasted pork belly was a bit disappointing, as the skin was slightly tough and not very crispy. The restaurant itself was quite warm and stuffy, which made the dining experience less comfortable despite the food being decent.

(Total bill - RM 54)

The Noodle House Sungai Lembing

Soup noodles (set A) - RM 8

Dry noodles (set A) - RM 8

Fried tofu 2pcs - RM 5

Beef brisket noodles (soup) - RM 13

Roasted pork belly - RM 12

Address:

The Noodle House Sungai Lembing

(Zhou Jia Pu Mee Sungai Lembing 林明面 周家铺)

C4, Jalan Kuantan,

Sungai Lembing,

26200 Sungai Lembing,

Pahang

With our tummies full, we continued our journey towards Kuantan. We departed from Sungai Lembing around 12.45pm, and about an hour later we arrived at Cendol Air Putih. The last time we were here was 14 years ago. How time flies. There was a long queue when we arrived, so I went to queue first while my partner looked for parking. He later took over the queue, and I went upstairs to join Jlo’s wife, where there was a seating area. They have since expanded the place to include upstairs seating, which wasn’t available during our last visit. I waited there for them while they continued queuing. It’s a self-service system where you pay and collect your order yourself.

My partner ordered durian cendol, ABC (mixed shaved ice) , curry puff, and temosa. The durian cendol was the highlight. It was rich, creamy, and sweet, with a texture and flavour similar to D24 durian. It has now become my new favourite. The ABC tasted just as we remembered, not too sweet. The curry puff was alright, but I didn’t really enjoy the temosa, as the filling was a bit dry.

Cendol Air Putih

Temosa and curry puff - RM 1 each

Cendol

Cendol

ABC (mixed shaved ice) - RM 4.50

Durian cendol - RM 15

Address:
Cendol Air Putih
Jalan Air Putih,

Taman Berserah,

25300 Kuantan,

Pahang

Tel: +6016 - 933 3111

Opening hours: 12pm to 6.30pm

The timing was just perfect, as after finishing our dessert it was already time to check in at AC Hotel Kuantan at 3pm. After checking in, I worked from the hotel room until 5.30pm before we headed out to do our laundry at Eco Green Laundry, just a 2-minute drive (about 600m) from the hotel.

At Eco Green Laundry, we washed a 10kg load using 5 tokens, which took about 24 minutes. Each token costs RM 1. The laundry also provides automatic detergent and softener dispensers at no extra charge. After that, we used the dryer for a 14kg load using 7 tokens for about 28 minutes. It was a convenient and efficient stop to get everything cleaned and ready for the next part of the trip.

Eco Green Laundry

Eco Green Laundry

Address:

Eco Green Laundry

A1138, Jln Teluk Sisek,

Teluk Sisek,

25050 Kuantan,

Pahang

Tel: +6012 - 989 3038

Opening hours: 24 hours

After finishing our laundry, we headed over to Ana Ikan Bakar Petai for dinner. It’s a zinc-roof, open-air restaurant, and we chose to sit outside. However, it turned out to be quite noisy, with motorbikes constantly passing by and revving loudly. There was an RXZ Fighter 3.0 gathering happening over those two days (1st to 2nd May), which explained the lively and somewhat chaotic atmosphere.

We were waiting for Jlo and his wife, but they ended up going to the wrong restaurant, so we went ahead and ordered first and started eating while waiting for them. Our order included fried squid with salted egg, ikan siakap bakar petai, ikan siakap tiga rasa, kailan ikan masin, telur bistik, and mee goreng.

The mee goreng was a bit too salty for my liking. The chicken was tender and tasty, though the noodles were slightly firm. The fried squid was spicy but nicely tender. The siakap tiga rasa had a strong, bold flavour, while the grilled fish was fairly average. We also tried the otak-otak, which my partner said was just okay. I didn’t try it, as I once had a bad experience with otak-otak that caused severe diarrhea, and it has made me a bit phobic about it since then. We also had watermelon juice, which was simple but very refreshing and naturally sweet.

(Total bill - RM 141)

Restaurant Ana Ikan Bakar Petai

Restaurant Ana Ikan Bakar Petai

Restaurant Ana Ikan Bakar Petai

Restaurant Ana Ikan Bakar Petai

Iced water and watermelon juice

Mee goreng

Kailan ikan masin

Ikan siakap tiga rasa

Telur bistik

Ikan siakap bakar petai

Ikan siakap bakar petai

Fried squid with salted egg

Otak-otak - RM 1 each

Address:
Restaurant Ana Ikan Bakar Petai
Jalan Tanjung Lumpur,
Perkampungan Tanjung Lumpur,
26060 Kuantan,
Pahang

Tel: +6019 - 987 8155

Opening hours: 12pm to 11.30pm / Friday: 2pm to 11.30pm / Sunday: 12.30pm to 11.30pm

Our next stop was Terminal Satay Zul. The place was packed, and we only managed to get a spot at the corridor. Not long after, it started raining heavily, and water began splashing into the seating area. Luckily, there were seats available inside, so we moved in halfway through our meal.

They only had satay ayam, itik, perut, hati, and batang pinang available, so we went with the chicken, duck, and batang pinang satay, plus a set of nasi impit with cucumber and onions. For drinks, we had iced lime and apple asam boi. The satay ayam was good. It was lean and tender with no fatty bits. The duck satay had a bit of fat but was flavourful. The peanut sauce wasn’t spicy but had a nice, nutty taste. The satay batang pinang was also enjoyable. The apple asam boi stood out for its salty-sour kick, making it very refreshing.

That ends our food journey for the day, starting all the way from Sunrise Hill and ending with satay at night. It was a full day of eating and moving around, with each stop bringing its own little experience along the way.

(Total bill - RM 48.65 including iced lime RM3.75 and 6% SST)

Terminal Satay Zul

Satay gravy

A set of nasi impit with cucumber and onions - RM 4

Satay ayam - RM 1.45 each

Satay itik - RM 3.50 each

Satay batang pinang (daging premium) - RM 2.60 each

Apple asamboi - RM 6.90 and iced water - RM 0.40

Address:

Terminal Satay Zul

A-2600, Lorong Alor Akar,

Kampung Alor Akar,

25250 Kuantan,

Pahang

Tel: +6012 - 933 4799

Opening hours: 4.40pm to 12am