The 24 months of MCO era really got everyone stressed up, confined to an " Lock Out" environment. By now, in November 2021, the situation is clearer but has not gone back to a safe mode, For us, just enough to leave the house and for a "go out": level. We needed to break free!.

To be honest, we had not being meeting up that often anymore, even under the "old "normal". But the enforced separation made us feel inability to meet up more deeply. To make ourselves feeling free, we risk an outing. Hey! seek a worthwhile theme! Something fresh,, fellowship as well as makan makan. So we hunt! For a good cause/
Found it History! some background to it too.

 The real story.

Part 1 - A very Old Mansion

This day, we were drawn to a mining town of Rasa. Its history is intertwined with that of Kuala Kubu and Ampang Pecah. The cut off point was the year 1883. A 1.6 kilometer dam built by Orang Asli, broke and destroyed the entire settlement of Kuala Kubu. Just before that, around the period 1874 the British who had taken over the administration of Selangor showed their interest on Kuala Kubu as the place being the 3rd most prosperous mining town in Selangor. 

Despite of contingencies, more flooding continued to be notable events until the new township Kuala Kubu B'haru was commissioned in 1931. But before that date by1921 the British finally confirmed this place Kuala Kubu would never be safe enough. As a temporary measure, the administrative function of the town was shifted to the nearby town of Rasa.

It was in this town that  mining tycoons like Loke Yew and Tan Kim Boo made their presence in Rasa felt. In that same year 1921, New Zealander Charles Compton Reade was commissioned to plan for a new township. Construction started in 1926 and upon completion the administrative centre was once again reverted back to this time to Kuala Kubu Bharu in 1931.

Back to our story for that day!

Part1 -Rawang By-Pass

Pix #1 - Memory Lane - The Rawang By-Pass
This is a glimpse of Bukit Kauri. Its significant? Sounds greek to most people

Pix #2 - Memory Lane Trip
Bukit Kuari viewpoint

From afar, could see that cleared landing where most hikes end and the spot for making picures

Pix #3 - Memory Lane Trip
Bukit Kuari viewpoint

There a close up showing the landing with flags and hikers

Part 2 - Highlights of our trip

Pix #4 - Memory Lane Trip -The "Mansion"
The town had another grand mansion that stood right at the entrance of town, by now was demolished reused as hardware shop. I asked around, those younger set had no idea of its existence. So, there this only one solitary monuments left.
We spent some time snapping away at the gate and shown. You would see that  that the mansion was built by one Tan Boon Chai while the famous one in that early era was Tan Kim Bee. How and why? My research ends there

First picture a topo view that I borrowed from the net.

Pix #5 - Memory Lane Trip
Bird eye's view

Pix #6 - Memory Lane Trip
Closer look building and compound

Pix #7 - Memory Lane Trip
Then with the entrance added in

Pix #8 - Memory Lane Trip
We parked out car at the entrance

Pix #9 - Memory Lane Trip
The frontage is the under pass to Rasa town

Pix #10 - Memory Lane Trip
Sorry Lock Out!

Pix #11 - Memory Lane Trip
The frontage speaks much about its Chinese heritage and its cultural value. This shows the origin of the owner - county in China. Such practice belongs to the first generation migrants  it is handled down to the 2nd generation, maybe. By now 3rd generation so-called Chinese had no inkling at all to ponder where their roots in China could have been

Pix #12 - Memory Lane Trip
The couplets reflecting the owner's aspiration. More so if the family had been a successful one.

Pix #13- Memory Lane Trip
Can we go in for a look?

Pix #14 - Memory Lane Trip
Shots and picture made through the grille

Pix #15 - Memory Lane Trip
Draw in - a closer view of the building proper

Pix #16 - Memory Lane Trip
Yes! more details now

Pix #17 - This hybrid Bougainvillea

Pix #18 - Memory Lane Trip
Yes, the name of original owner - boldly mounted over the main door

Pix #19 - Memory Lane Trip
That's the house and the short drive way

Pix # 20 - Memory Lane Trip
Also a View from the garden

Pix # 21 - Memory Lane Trip
The abandoned garage - an odd car out - a Mercedes left there by the current owner

Pix # 22 - Memory Lane Trip
Looks like a Humber from Rootes as BMC don't make such large car

Pix #23 - Memory Lane Trip
This must be an Austin

Pix #24 - Memory Lane Trip
Poor wifey at the gate snapping away

Pix #25 - Memory Lane Trip - rare plants
Outside the house at the perimeter fencing, premier plants were selected. This is a variegated Hibiscus. The current hype in town. Variegation now is for yuppies who seek rare and oddly develop plants, which a 100 years plant specialist had introduced for this owner. Species of Hibiscus then was of course very basic to the original found in the wild. Even in the present age, variegated Hibiscus is very rare, but the plant itself is outdated and not fancied by modern days gardener

Pix #26 - Memory Lane Trip
Then "Copper-leaf" trees lined the perimeters fencing. It is also commonly known as European Beech, Fagus sylvatica f purpurata - non native planted as bushes for those sprawling compound. An ancient tree which is no longer popular. This plant is again non native to Malaysia and imported

Pix #27 - Care taker gathering materials for lunch
Yes, he can just harvest young shoots from a tree to prepare his soup for the day

Pix #28 - Memory Lane Trip
I still have to ID this plant. In conclusion, the owner and people doing the landscaping [ exclusive task] those early dyas to have exotic plants installed in the garden. To bring out the exclusive tatse.

Pix #29 - Memory Lane Trip
Lastly before we leave, a modern contraption

Part 3- WK Restaurant 旺记咖哩鱼头

Nothing to shout about! These days urbanites likes to leave town head out the the rural area to seek out taste of original cooking and get it at VFM prices.

Here in Ulu Yam Bharu village, there's good food when you see a queue. But, just be warned if you're sitting under the zinc roof in mid day you'll have to pray for gusts of wind to pass through. Besides that the food runs out fast and on unlucky days, your order may take an hour to be ready. The prawn and fish curry was good This restaurant is simple.  Must try their famous coconut spicy prawn, fresh and sweet. 2nd recommendation is their 东坡肉，not oily and very tasty. Curry fish head is ok too

Pix #30 - The Restaurant itself
View under mid-day sun -car park full/ I called this a "Genting Canteen". A must stop over for those going up and coming back from the hill.

Pix #31 - Memory Lane Trip
Assam Curry with Grouper fish meat. It all started with Fish head. Cut the crab, less exotic  just give us the meat instead

Pix #32 - 东坡肉, after the name of famous Chinese poet
Reasonable serving but good matrix of lean meat with lard.

Pix #33- Memory Lane Trip
Prawns in thick Coconut milk

Pix #34- Memory Lane Trip
An array of choice veggie

Pix #35 - Memory Lane Trip
Another group photo for the Gang of Four - what is vital here? The date - we are all well and doing fine and being together

Pix #36 - Brownie's point.
A locally prepared VFM basic Butter cake to bring home.

There is nothing new to be discover anymore in our back yard.  Most important that we all understood to be together and doing something. The mission is to keep our bond renewed What else? Do and go somewhere to that we are familiar with, enjoy the outing Enjoy the company.

Everything worked out as planned though not turning up as in100% right. For starter, we couldn't enter the compound of the house for a closer look Never mind got all the needed picture to complete this day's story. Over al! - Good trip should be doing it again, No - not ,24 months away