Coffee at Janda Baik! whoever thought of that! In
the middle of the Jungle. Well it sound enchanting indeed. For those who love a
little adventure Janda Baik which is just thirty minutes away from Kuala Lumpur;
it so near and yet so far. Jump into your car and get there folks. The highway
passes through one of the oldest forest in the world; a tropical jungle that
have been there since times. Lush and lush of greens and at Janda Baik you can
get closer to those magnificent trees; touch and smell it. The flora and
fauna is fascinating as well. It worth a day trip there to sample the uniqueness
of the rain forest. A night-stay would be lovelier where you can enjoy the cool
morning air of the forest and of course get to watch the morning birds that comes
around to feeds. Seeping hot coffee and having breakfast at the hotel coffee
house would be a little of heaven.
After attending a wedding at Bentong on Sunday 29
of last month we decided to go and have coffee in Janda Baik. It was our
daughter Lin's idea. So, since Janda Baik is along the road on our way back to
KL we decided to go there and have coffee in the jungle. It was late afternoon
of that beautiful Sunday. I drove the Honda and with Lin guiding we eventually
found the place. The road leading to the place was not paved but laid with
concrete slabs all the way up the hills where the main building is. Thus, the
road blended well with it surrounding. I like it. At first I was rather worried
whether I could drive the Honda up the hill but try it anyway. Lin suggested
that we stop halfway, park the car and walk up another 100 meter up to the main
building. I did just that, just follow her idea and walk up. As we
approach the main building I saw other cars park just outside; that mean we could
have driven all the way up. Anyway, that short walk was a good exercise for
folks like us.
Anyway, we walk up to the building and saw many
people are already there even at this hour, just after 5pm.We found a table and
ask for the menu; then relax a while looking at the ambiance. The architecture
of the building was simple. They had construct an open space supported by
tall wooden column as well a few made of concrete thus giving it a rustic look.
The furniture was of wood too, I notice that the table were of recycled
wooden roller container where cable was rolled. They had placed the wooden
roller container on its side; the top they have put plank to give it a smooth
surface and serve as a table for four. Real tree trunks that had been saw
neatly and turned into comfortable chairs can be seen in the restaurant. I like
that instance I saw it; it my kind of furniture for such a restaurant in the
middle of the jungle. 
The surrounding has been preserved with greens
including a large open space of green field, kept perhaps for camping or games.
We ordered Coffee, Rice combo and Keropok Lekor with the dip; how I wished we
had the traditional Malay Cekodok. But I later found the owner prefer to served
Western cakes than traditional fritters like Goreng Pisang or Cekodok. Anyway,
the Coffee was good and I did enjoy it; it worth coming for the
Coffee alone to this in the middle of the jungle cafe.
As we sat to enjoy our coffee I saw more and more
people began to arrive and soon almost all the tables were occupied. Amazing
indeed that folks would venture this far to have some sort of an excitement in
the Malaysian Jungle. That good Coffee does make the trip worthwhile.
Have a nice day.
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