Highway Rest Stop of Malaysia

As most roads and highways in Malaysia is of good quality, we like to drive when we go on holiday. So naturally Reststop or in Malaysia we call it Rest & Relax Area is an important part of our travels. Nowadays with the addition of the little one, good and clean Rest and Relax Area is a must. I think that our Malaysian Highway consenneir is doing a great job as the reststops are well maintained and well equipped. There are large clean toilets, diaper changing rooms, food outlets, praying rooms and petrol stations. And some even Fast Food Outlets like KFC and also little Highway Hotels.

Bukit Gantang Rest & Relax Area

I discovered about this Rest & Relax Area while driving on the road heading to Taiping, we planned to visit the Taiping Zoo. It was a real letdown, I feel the Melaka Zoo is much better.  This Rest & Relax Area is not like all the other stops that you find on our Malaysian highways. It still has the same comforts of clean toilets, ample parking & clean food outlets as other R & R areas have. PLUS is doing an extraorfinary job in upgrading their R & R areas. My favourite pick is still the one in Tapah. It has large clean toilets, lots of food courts. As for the one in Bukit Gantang it is actually picturesque similar to a mini park with lots of greeneries and a small fountain. The difference between this R&R against the rest, is this has stalls selling our topical Malaysian fruits. Since we stopped by in the midst of the Malaysian fruit season, we saw a lots & lots of fruits like durian, langsat, duku & far more. So on the way to Taiping drop by here.

Tapah Rest & Relax Area

This is the most stunning Rest & Relax Area on Malaysian highways. The place resembles a holiday resort. There is natural brickworks, tropical trees, water fixtures decorate with water lilies, playground, huge airy toilets, fruit stalls, cafes, Dunkin Donuts and Baskins & Robbins. The fruit stalls selling chiefly rose apple (jambu air) and guava. In the event you stop by in the middle of the Malaysian fruit season you will come across durian, rambutan and mangosteen. There are Rest and Relax Areas on both sides of the highway in Tapah. But we like to stop by the one heading South towards Port Dickson or Melaka for lunch. There is a stall at the food court that serves a great bowl of mee curry, the one with the coconut milk in it. There is ample parking space around for cars as well as busses.

 Sungai Perak Rest & Relax Area

We normally stop here on our way to Kuala Kangsar. This place has all the things needed for a long journey. There food outlets, clean toilets, ample parking, fruit stalls and a Petronas gas station. Its also equipped with an escalator from the carpark leading to the main area. As it is located next to the Perak River they have built a 20 metre high observation tower. You need to climb 27 stairs up to get a beautiful view of  the Perak River and its surrounding. There is also a shop selling jungle products made by the orang asli.

R & R Jejantas Air Keroh

Whenever we travel to Melaka or from Melaka heading north, we will usually stop at the R&R Jejantas Air Keroh.  What’s unique about this rest stop is that the some of the restaurants are on the bridge over the highway. The restaurants are KFC, A&W as well as Restoran OB. I believe OB stands for Over the Bridge. Being typical Malaysian, we look for rice for most of our meals. So we usually head to Restoran OB. They have the normal Malaysian Fare such as Nasi Lemak, Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng and so on. Prices are also reasonable around RM6. 00 for a plate of Nasi Lemak with a large piece of Ayam Rendang. And my kids  usual had the chicken rice. As the restaurant is above the highway you will have the full v
iew of vehicles plying the highway. So this keeps my sons occupied. They will sit by the window and watch the cars as well as lorries go by. Thus keeping them quiet while daddy and mummy eat.

Also to the restaurants, there is also souvenir shops. Also located  infront of the Restoran OB is the Al Ikhsan Sports shop. As with other rest stops in Malaysia, there is enough parking and toilets are clean. There are also many food outlets located near the car park. And also a Baskin and Robbins.