23 Julai 2019

Experience Balik Pulau by Cycling, Balik Pulau Festival 2019

It's just last two weeks that we went to the Audi Dream Farm in Balik Pulau, and we were there again last weekend to join Let's Rock Balik Pulau programme, in conjunction with Balik Pulau Festival 2019.


There were two activities offered through the Let's Rock Balik Pulau programme - cycling at Balik Pulau or mangrove boating and hiking. The event is organized by Tourism Malaysia together with Matahari Cycle Tours and Travel.


The inaugural Balik Pulau Festival 2019 was held for three days from 19 to 21 July 2019, offering various programs including running events, cycling, traditional orchestral performances, services from government agencies, games, food and handicraft.


Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

When we found out about the event and the organizers, we Google Matahari Cycle Tours and Travel as we never heard of them before. To our surprise, they have a 4.96 rating on Tripvisor (from 365 reviews pheww!), awarded Tripvisor's Certificate of Excellent and listed as #1 of 21 outdoor activities in Georgetown. They are also rated solid 5 stars on their website and on Google too! Wohooo!

Just reading that already made us excited waiting for the day to cycle with them in Balik Pulau!

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang
Let's Rock Balik Pulau programm briefing by Mr Syed Jaafar Ghouse or fondly known as SJ, founder of Matahari Cycle Tours & Travel.

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang
Briefing on mountain bike and cycling by Ms Princilia Lee.

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang


READY. GET SET. GO!

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

We started our cycling tour from the Kompleks Sukan Balik Pulau at about 9.30 am. We went through different type of path, mostly off road.

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

The first stop we made was at the mangrove forest reserve. To be honest, me myself have never heard about mangrove in Penang, let along in Balik Pulau. The reserve is located near Malindo Beach.

Balik Pulau is the ultimate destination of conservation and preservation of mangrove trees that are the destination of shelter to about 200 species of birds, capable of reaching 300 to 400 species during migration season.

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Then we continue or journey just a few meters to the Malindo Beach or Pantai Malindo. Pantai Malindo is one of the fisherman jetty and market in Balik Pulau. Locals come to buy fresh seafood products like prawn, squid and fish. There are also food stalls selling local food like cendol and banana fritters, usually open in late afternoon.

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang

We also got the chance to cycle on the paddy field. And for some (read: ME) even experienced fall into the paddy field. Yeahh. Once in a lifetime, kan.

And to make things sweeter, I was even recorded. Do check out the video (I will put at the end of this post ok) hahaha!

Cycling Balik Pulau, Balik Pulau Festival, Matahari Cycle Tours, Penang
The beautiful combination of green and blue of Balik Pulau, Penang.

My biggest mistake was that I did not take photos of me, on the bicycle, at the paddy field. Damn! In fact not even along the cycling journey. Haishhh.

So I kinda thankful for the video jatuh dalam sawah padi as my precious memory of the activity.

After we finished with the cycling tour, we were brought to nearby homestay area in Pulau Betong. We were welcomed by kids playing kompang in traditional Baju Melayu and we served delicious meal.


YB Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik Parlimen Balik Pulau

We were joined by YB Muhammad Bakhtiar bin Wan Chik, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture who is also the Member of the Parliament for the Balik Pulau. YB Bakhtiar said the Let's Rock Balik Pulau program was part of the efforts to introduce the unique Balik Pulau to the world as a tourist destination.

Wished to become a successful annual event like the Georgetown Festival, YB Bakhtiar said that while the Georgetown Festival is more 'westernized', the Balik Pulau Festival, on the other hand will have a more traditional setting, promoting what the villages have and the beauty of nature.

And well, it would not be complete if you come to Balik Pulau during durian season, without eating durian, isn't it? So there we were, served with baskets of durian and rambutan.

Durian Balik Pulau
Durian feast!

Met another blogger who came from KL, Zharif of Jejakakula.com.

Cycling in Balik Pulau for the few kilometers, seeing the other side and the hidden gems makes me feel like taking a full cycling tour with the Matahari Cycle Tours & Travel.

Why?

Because even my husband is a born and bred Penangite, and his kampung is in Balik Pulau, he himself has not really seen this side of Balik Pulau either and was just as excited as me! And we know that there will be a lot more to discover with a full cycling tour. Masuk bucket-list!

Oh, kalau sudi, jom la tengok video ni juga.


Special thanks to Tourism Malaysia (Northern Region) for the awesome experience.

Let's Rock Balik Pulau!



di Labels , ,

21 ulasan:

  1. Cik Min23 Julai 2019 pada 9:39 PG

    Wah menarik jugak aktiviti macam ni. Boleh tengok tempat, makanan dan budaya di sana ye

    BalasPadam
  2. Marina Bashah23 Julai 2019 pada 9:50 PG

    Seronok dapat join aktiviti-aktiviti macam ni. Daripada tak tau tempat tu wujud, sekarang dah tahu. Hopefully Marina pon dapat join aktiviti macam ni in future.

    BalasPadam
  3. CC Kak Fas23 Julai 2019 pada 10:04 PG

    Sebuah festival tang tentu sekali dinanti-nantikan anak muda yang gemar dengan aktiviti-aktivit luar spt berbasikal dan sebagainya. Event tahunan ke ni?

    BalasPadam
  4. Nhazla Fikri23 Julai 2019 pada 10:19 PG

    Best jugak event macam ni ek. Pengalaman yang sebenar berbanding tengok orang je. Keluar peluh lebih baik dan menggunakan aktiviti fizikal sepenuhnya. Kalau ada di tempat saya, konpem saya join

    BalasPadam
  5. Atul Hamid23 Julai 2019 pada 10:29 PG

    Wah menariknya aktiviti ni, best betul kalau dapat join ni. Selain dapat sihatkan badan, dapat jugak tengok tempat orang, kenal budaya mereka. Saya suka aktiviti camni. Akan datang pasti nak join jugak!

    BalasPadam
  6. Muhammad Naim Abdullah23 Julai 2019 pada 12:16 PTG

    Assalamualaikum.

    Melihat tempat yang aman dan damai. mesti seronok sertai aktiviti sebegini kan. Semoga lebih menyihatkan badan kan. :)

    BalasPadam
  7. Ahmadi23 Julai 2019 pada 12:37 PTG

    Bila sebut je negeri kat utara mesti akan rindu nak ke sana semula. 3 tahun bermastautin kat Kat utara dan mendapat keluarga angkat time program jati diri kat Tasek Gelugur. Rindu dengan penang bila lihat gambar2 kat sini..

    BalasPadam
  8. Lin Liena23 Julai 2019 pada 12:49 PTG

    wah seronok giler cycling ramai2..dapat tengok pemandangan cantik2..bestnya kalau dapat join jugak

    BalasPadam
  9. Hanny Abdullh23 Julai 2019 pada 1:23 PTG

    Bestnyaaa...syiok dpt join aktiviti mcm ni, tapi tu lah..sis ni dah tak larat nk cycling dah, cpt pancit n lutut pun dh tak kuat so tgok org cycling je lah :)

    BalasPadam
  10. Cik Lily Putih23 Julai 2019 pada 1:50 PTG

    wow cantiknyer mangrove ni, seriously tak tau pun kat Balik Pulau padahal keje kat situ dulu lama gak huahauhaua

    BalasPadam
  11. adianiez AIDA23 Julai 2019 pada 7:27 PTG

    terbaik aktiviti ni.
    sambil-sambil boleh tgk kiri kanan. sawah padi. saujana mata memandang.
    hutan. jeti. ohsem, julia.
    aida tak brape mahir cycling gini. kalau jogging or walking, ok ok la :)
    and if yes join, sibuk lah aida & the geng amik gambar sepanjang aktiviti ha ha ha ha ha...
    rugi tak amik gambar, kan :)
    ke balik pulau dulu kala masa kecik. semata-mata gi makan durian.
    adik-beradik ada yg blaja di USM.

    BalasPadam
  12. AyuArjuna BiGoshh23 Julai 2019 pada 8:02 PTG

    Wow serius best. How i wish incan join this kind activity. Bukannya selalu dapat peluang macam ini. Dapat mengenali lebih dekat tanah kelahiran sendiri sesuatu yang amat manis sebenarnya

    BalasPadam
  13. budakbandunglaici23 Julai 2019 pada 8:52 PTG

    bestnya ronda-ronda naik basikal pusing kampung. dah la tepi sawah macam tu..seronok amat. aum sedapnya makan durian..

    BalasPadam
  14. Fadzi Razak23 Julai 2019 pada 10:09 PTG

    This is actually a very great activity to join. We don't always get to cycle around the town, right? Plus the places you guys visited were awesome.

    BalasPadam
  15. Kekanda Hawa23 Julai 2019 pada 10:24 PTG

    assalamualaikum... salam kenal dr sis hawa dot com... sis suka tau baca entry yg mcm ni... sbbnya aktiviti gini mmg best sangat! kayuh basikal kat kampung plak tu.. dpt kenal2, dpt dpt rasa sawah mcmana, dpt makan menu kampung yg sedap... sgt awesome!! bertuah badan

    BalasPadam
  16. Wai Yee aka Rane23 Julai 2019 pada 10:59 PTG

    wah I like this kinda event! Let's Rock Balik Pulau programme - cycling at Balik Pulau or mangrove boating and hiking sounds so much fun! More importantly there's Durian feast, so nice la!

    BalasPadam
  17. Aerill Hassan24 Julai 2019 pada 12:10 PG

    teringin nya nak sertai aktiviti2 macam ni.. tapi tu lah, susah nk luangkan masa sebab busy sngat. in shaa Allah kalau ada yg terdekat, nk joinlah :) btw terima kasih share

    BalasPadam
  18. Nadia Johari24 Julai 2019 pada 1:23 PG

    best betul aktiviti macam ni...berbasikal lepas tu pergi tempat yang jarang orang pergi..haishh..bila la dapat join macam ni

    BalasPadam
  19. Zharif Azis26 Julai 2019 pada 3:42 PTG

    tak sangka dapat berjumpa kat festival nie =) memang best aktiviti cycling macam nie. lama tak berbasikal, bila dpt join aktiviti berbasikal keliling Balik Pulau nie, rasa macam nak berbasikal lagi je.

    BalasPadam
  20. Tekkaus7 Ogos 2019 pada 1:09 PG

    This is truly a different kid of experience that one should attempt to join. Cycling amidst mother nature is really awesome. :D The mangrove forest looks beautiful.

    BalasPadam
  21. Vitamin Syaza (VS)16 Ogos 2019 pada 6:27 PG

    Aktiviti sihat, cycling! :) Seronok keluarkan peluh despite of bersilaturrahim dengan semua orang kan? Oh btw, durian balik pulau is the best xD

    BalasPadam

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