I attempt to write on how to get to Cukai if you do not have a GPS to guide you and I highlighted those dangerous stretches of roads and also those confusing cross roads in bold letters, where you have to exercise extra careful or make decision to make the right turn to get to your destiny:
If you are travelling along the Federal highway to KL city center direction, just at the end of the yellow lane specially reserved for taxi and buses, you have to turn immediately left up to Ipoh and Kuantan or KL Sentral direction, and this road will pass by the Muzium Negara. All the way keeping to the left on this road, you will cut in to Jalan Duta. If you miss this junction, drive straight on, you will go into Jalan Kuching instead. At the end of Jalan Kuching, there is also a side road where one could turn into DUKE again.
On the left of Jalan Duta, roughly in the direction opposite the Indian embassy, just after a traffic light for turning to the Damansara direction, there is a road leading to NKVE to Ipoh, that is the normal way whenever I head back home to Kampar; just follow that towards the NKVE toll direction. Just about reaching the NKVE toll but on the left hand side, there is a sign board on DUKE (Not very obvious as it always gives the impression that the road will only lead you to the NKVE toll and you get a little bit panic whether you are on the right direction to Kuantan).
Once you enter into the DUKE highway and I suppose you will travel along the Sri Hartamas and also the nearby Mont Kiara areas, and drive towards Kuantan direction. Just after Sentul along the way, you have to keep to the left to turn to Kuantan direction, if not that road will take you all the way to Zoo Negara. Pay Rm2 for the toll and go straight and you will pass by Batu Caves and then drive pass a flyover and join back into the normal road which lead you to Genting and Kuantan. You will see some petrol kiosks on your left hand side. Very soon you will be at the RM5 toll to Genting.
After that toll, you will head straight to Genting Sempah, after climbing a stretch of hill before reaching to the uphill road to Genting Highland. Just keep to the right to Kuantan (Do not go up the Genting road). After that you will pass by a tunnel, and then the Genting Sempah rest area with Petrol Kiosk and Mc Donald on your right hand side of the road, I normally do not stop there unless on the way back to KL. If you are not stopping over, before long you will be heading a downward slope, very steep and dangerous for 1st time driving to east coast. Just keep to the left and put on low gear to slow down the vehicle if you are driving a manuel vehicle.
You are about to pay another Rm3 toll before reaching Karak after passing Bentong. If there is no traffic jam, I normally reach this toll roughly within an hour or slightly more. This stretch of road is very winding especially after the 70.o Km milestone mark before reaching Kampung Sungai Dua. Be extra careful as this is an accident prone area especially on rainy days. Very soon after that you will be approaching the East Timur highway toll, and the road then is in much better condition to drive. Within 30 minutes of driving you will probably be reaching Temerloh rest area, where you could take a break or fill up your tank in the Shell station. And the next available gas station is Gambang, which is roughly about 60-70Km away from Temerloh. Gambang rest area is famous for its "nasi lemak" and in this place Petronas gas station is the last fueling station before you hit Jabor toll. From Gambang to Jabor toll, is roughly about 30 minutes and you have to pay RM21 for this east coast highway travel. Vehicles are few and it is nice to travel on this highway. This highway is supposed to connect all the way to Kuala Terengganu but is yet to be completed. Therefore there is a slight detour near to the toll but with clear direction indication for you to reach the Jabor toll, you will never miss!
Getting out from Jabor toll, short distance away, there will be a flyover, just go below the flyover and take the "Kuala Trengganu & Kemaman" direction on the right side of the lane. And you travel about 15 minutes after passing a small inverted U shape arch, and then climb onto a bridge and within 5 minutes, you will reach a direction pointing you to Kuantan or Kemaman. Just take the extreme left lane and turn slowly into the trunk road to Kemaman as this is almost a 90 degrees turn. From here, you will take 15 minutes to reach Cherating and also the famous Club Med. Another 15 minutes more you will reach Cukai town.
Have a safe journey and God bless.
The bold letters did not turn out!
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