Mentakab, a small town exactly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Kuantan, has become one of the most densely populated towns in the state of Pahang. In fact, if you step into the town, you can feel its vibrancy instantly.

There was a romantic coffee advertisement in the 1980s that captured the hearts of many young people craving for love. Here is how the ad went:

In a quaint little train station, a girl slowly walks out of the train, sitting on a long bench waiting for the arrival of her boyfriend. In another scene, in a green pasture, an open-top jeep moves slowly as the way ahead is blocked by a herd of slowly moving cattle. Meanwhile, the rail fence has also blocked the advance of the vehicle...

And just when the girl is waiting at the station, a caring station master hands over a cup of aromatic Nescafe coffee. The anxious young girl instantly presents a sweet smile on her face...

The romantic scene has made the railway station a hit among tourists. Did you know that the station was situated in Mentakab?

Although not very well known to outsiders, Mentakab is nevertheless the most vibrant commercial centre in Pahang after state capital Kuantan. The journey from KL takes about one hour and 45 minutes.

Mentakab is one of the five major towns in Temerloh district. Not too long ago, Mentakab merged with Temerloh to become a municipality, and since then, Temerloh has become the administrative centre of the municipality while Mentakab its commercial hub.

Mentakab has experienced tremendous changes over the past 100 years since its founding. According to old local residents, the town used to be known as Pasir Lawa, and was later changed to its present name by the British.

The town has experienced two major floods during the past century, first in 1926, and next in 1971.

The two floods submerged a large part of the town as well as its outlying areas, especially the one in 1971.

The rainy season started at the end of 1970, and carried on for seven days until the New Year day, resulting in the flooding of both Mentakab and Temerloh.

Even to this day, Mentakab is still flood-prone, as the town's drainage system is unable to cope with excessive rain water.

There are still plenty of old shops in Mentakab, including Tai Heng Ah, a coffee shop much loved by local residents of different races.

In business for almost four decades, Tai Heng Ah is located along Jalan Tun Razak. The "kopi-O" is the shop's signature drink.

Shop owner He Dayu, 66, takes pride in his family-inherited "kaya" recipe, which he said he wouldn't reveal to anyone now.

"Maybe after I retire, I may reveal the recipe to anyone interested in it," he said jokingly.

The half-boiled egg, meanwhile, is another signature item of the shop.

Among the countless streets in the town, the "Food Street" is perhaps the most unforgettable, with its numerous hawker stalls at night, 365 days a year.

In 1992, the hakwer centre was moved to a site adjacent to the railway station. (Sin Chew Daily)