Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Day 8 & Epilogue

As promised, my friend Mr. Yeoh arrived at my accommodation on his bike. Given the close proximity and the bike friendly infrastructure, it is not surprising to see him commute on bike. And it was a fine sunny day to ride on Sunday!

First on the menu we cycled into the back lane where the noodle stall located. Our breakfast orders are our own bowl of noodle soup, filled with handmade meatball as well as fishball. And the side dish of boiled chicken. A very refreshing breakfast I would say.

After breakfast, Mr. Yeoh wants me to flavor one of the best egg tarts in town. However when we reached there, the shop was already full of people, and there was quite a long queue outside. And unfortunately the stall had sold out (and it only 10.30am). Crap.....

But since we were in the old part of the town, my friend decided to become my tour guide and guide through the colorful history on this particular street. And soon after we push our bike through the busy street of morning wet market.

After the short exploration, we arrived at one of the famous cendol street, and if I not mistaken, the stall that sells one of the best Assam laksa in town. As one of my Penangite friend commented:

“This coffee shop has stall selling Char Koay Teow with duck egg quite nice. Not sure still around or moved, Laksa here is so-so. If you like to have cendol I suggest take it at the roadside stall, firstly cheaper and secondly that's the authentic way of having it under the sun with limited shade and traffic moving millimeters from your skin.”

It was quite unbelievable that I was full by the time I finish the dessert, and I decided to stop bloating myself with more goodies. To exercise all those excessive calories, my friend bring me to the location of the best Thai dishes, which was build on the wooden platform on top of the swamp.

When it was time to start preparing for home, I bid my friend goodbye at the motel I staying. Finally, after spending eight days on the road, it was time to head home.

Loved the humour on his T-shirt =P

I have book a train ticket home, which means I will have to take a ferry back to the mainland. During the journey, I spotted a Caucasian tourer and I went over to say hi. From our conversation, he’s from Belgium, and he has been touring for more than three months cycling already. Starting from Singapore, cycled the whole east coast of west Malaysia, ventured into Thailand, then cycled back to Penang, and now making his way to KLIA to take a flight to Indonesia.

After the short trip and making our own way out. We met again, this time with one local rider who had just completed the round isle ride and were heading home as well (he was on the same ferry but were on the far side of where we were). The tourer was asking for direction where the local cyclist decided to show him the way out of Butterworth and onward to Taiping. We were glad that we had met each other that we exchange our email.

It took me five minutes to reach the train station, which is temporary moved to current location (as the station was going renovation). Since I had plenty of time to wait for the train to arrive, I had to find ways to murder the time (it sound so guilty).

When it was time to board the train. It was time to show you why I choose a folding bike for this touring trip. I can simply fold my bike and stuff it into the stowaway bag, which I won’t have to pay for oversized luggage, or get kicked out by the train conductor.

It is the last photo before my memory card is full.....

Shortly after, Mr. Yeong also boards the train at Bukit Mertajam, where he bought over the unused ticket by mike (who had returned home a day earlier). And we prepared for eight hours trip back to Kuala Lumpur, marking the end of our touring trip.

Total Distance: more than 610km!!!

EPILOGUE...

Time do travel fast, especially when thought one week touring is a bit long. I was wrong, but nevertheless I enjoyed the whole trip. Since it was my first touring expedition, I decided to set my expectation low.  Without any experience to depend on, and was cycling with good mate of mine, who is also very green in touring. In fact I thought that if we keep our expectation low, we will not be highly disappointed if the outcome is not favorable to us.

Mr Yeong, Mike & myself posing after we completed the Langkawi tour...

But one week before the touring start, we were lucky that Mr Yeong decided to join us, not only quite knowledgeable on places we were visiting, but also very patient waiting for slow tortoise like me. Without him, I don’t think our touring will be so much fun. So a very big thank to him!!! And also to my touring buddy Mike who is brave & sporting to join my touring trip as well!!!!

One thing I really regret not doing was to change a saddle to tour-friendly type one. When touring, one of the most important thing was to have very comfy saddle. From day one onward I was having the saddle sore to the max that I thought my butt has disintegrated at the end of the trip. So guys and gal, please invest in one so that you won’t waste time resting your sorry butt with unnecessary stops.

We are lucky we did not face any major setback or equipment failure. Just two punctures for the whole trip. And despite multiple detour to visit some places of interest (such as Lumut, Pulau Pangkor, and Fort Weld town etc), we still managed to fit all into our one week schedule.

Overall I was very satisfied with my touring trip, and will look forward to other trip in near future..... And next time I would like to bring my passport.

And finally thank you for reading!!!

Prologue
Day 1: Klang to Telok Intan
Day 2: Telok Intan to Pulau Pangkor
Day 3: Lumut to Taiping
Day 4: Taiping to Penang
Day 5: Penang to Langkawi
Day 6: Round Langkawi isle
Day 7: Langkawi to Penang

And thank you very much for your patience, for it took me a leisurely 5 months to complete the journals. (I promise to complete it faster in my future blog....if time allows =P)

Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Day 7

After spending 4 days to travel from Klang to Langkawi, and spent another 2 days touring Langkawi, it was time to prepare our trip back to Penang.

Since we don't have any plan to follow, we adapted an free-and-easy way on getting back to Penang today. We have two choices: one to take ferry back to Penang (the easiest and the fastest way, but the least frequent trip), or to take ferry to Kuala Kedah, then cycle back to mainland Penang (the not-so-easy but most frequent trip by ferry).

However, Mike received a phone call, decided to cut short the trip by flying back to attend some urgent business. Lucky for Mike, he have achieved what we have intend to do in the first place.

After knowing that the ticket office (for ferry trip back to Penang) only opened at 9am, and then the first trip only set sail at 2pm, we took our own sweet time enjoying the scenery offered by the seaside hotel, enjoying the breakfast slowly, before returned back to the room and enjoy the TV shows. And before Mike left for the airport, we took a group photo with the T-shirt we bought yesterday to commemorate the touring trip.

Checking out of the hotel, we had plenty of time to waste, since it only took us less than 5 minute to reach the Jetty Point. So we took our own sweet time consuming the (rather bland) lunch, explore the shopping mall before warming the bench at the waiting lounge.

After 3 hours journey, we finally arrived at the dock on the Penang island. Since Mr Yeong wanted to meet up with his friend in Butterworth, and I decided to stay in Penang to visit friends, we went on their separate ways.

I decided to check into the Friendship Motel (which we stayed on Day 4 of our trip), as it was affordable, and easily accessible to some of the tourist attraction.

Since there were plenty of time before the appointed time with my friend, I decided to have my own little tour of Penang. Ever since Penang has started integrating bike lanes into their town, you can actually follow the bike lanes to visit many of the tourist attractions with ease.

Weirdly my stomach was already groaning, even though the evening sun was still shining brightly. So I went to the Chulia St and ordered a plate of wanton mee. After a quick meal, I cycled to the direction of the Esplanade.



It was quite relaxing to watch the evening sun setting down in the distance......

 It was certainly good to catch up with old times with my cycling friends during the dinner time, in which I was more than happy to tell them my first touring adventure first hand =D











Since I was leaving for Butterworth to catch a train back to Kuala Lumpur in the afternoon, my university mate decided to bring me around Penang to try out some of the best food, on bicycle in the morning.... Oh boy oh boy, can't wait to fill my stomach with more penang food!!!! After all, Penang is also known as a food paradise!!!

Ride data of Day 7

Distance: less than 10km
Average Speed: no need to know
Max Speed: just fast enough to avoid the traffic
Total cycling time taken: maybe 1hr?

Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Day 6

Had a very lazy morning, knowing that we will be touring the isle of Langkawi without our pannier. So after a hearty breakfast in the hotel restaurant, we set off about 8am.

Nearby the building there was a mock-up Mango of enormous size....

The first destination is the Mari Research Station, however when we reached there (after some climb), it was closed. So next we decided on Kampung Buku (Village of Book) which is just a few km away.

Once we cycled into the entrance of the Kampung Buku, I was puzzled why they stopped halfway on the road. As it turns out, they spot a bronze-back snake on the road.

At that time I had no idea if the snake is poisonous, but they have no fear and keep taking photo of the snake. Mike was so fearless that he placed the snake on top of his bike for more photo opportunity.

Next time bring a camera with long zoom lens..... imagine my pounding heart as I tried to take this photo.

After spending a good deal of time on our serpent friend, we proceed into the Kampung Buku. But alas the attraction was closed as well…..

It was getting close to late morning, which they decided to cycle to one of the best beach on the northern side of the isle. Weirdly today I feel so damn tired. Discussed this with my mates and Mike concluded that I have too many rice last night, which induced sugar overload. Crap

Since the only solution is to cycle off all the excessive energy, I virtually struggled to keep up with them. Not to mention that I suffering from butt-pain since day 1 of the tour.

After some serious pedaling, I reached Tanjung Rhu Beach, remarked as the best beach in Langkawi!!! Clean sandy beach, scenic view, and the lack of commercial container ship that spoilt the look. And it is a clear blue sky tops it off nicely.

After admiring the view of the beach, we proceed our way to view the Black Sand Beach.

I almost went the wrong way, instead of going to route 113, I took the route 112. Luckily my mate calls me just in time when we waited too long for me.  So I went back to the correct route and meet them at the Black Sand Beach.

The Black Sand Beach is truly what they describe on the brochure. Unlike many beaches I went, the sand here is mostly black-grayish in colour. Of three theories to explain the black nature of the sand, I believed that it was the chemical reaction caused by large amount of tourmaline and ilmenite in the granite. The other two theories are local-folk legend & the petroleum buried underground.

After admiring the black beach, we had a short break, cooling ourselves with coconut juice. Also we spotted one t-shirt which we loved it so much that each of us bought one. It was getting late then, but we took our own sweet time to cycle to Langkawi Craft Complex.

“Setup in 1996 to promote Malaysia’s cultural heritage and houses a wide array of handcrafted items reflecting the diverse cultures and lifestyles of a multi-racial Malaysia. It also houses a Royal Museum, an Islamic Museum and a Heritage Museum” (http://www.fun-travel-malaysia.com/Langkawi-Attractions-Craft-Complex.html)

After exploring the complex (and enjoying the cool air in the aircon complex), it was time for lunch. Since we don’t have any idea where to eat, we decided to find one eatery randomly as we head toward the Oriental Village.

After struggling with the distance, I finally reach the meeting point at the Perdana Quay, with the backdrop of expensive looking yacht docking behind the row of shophouse.  Looking at the limited option of the eatery, we decided to try out the café which is just opposite of where we stopped.

The owner of the restaurant is an expat who have worked around Kuala Lumpur, before setting up a café in Langkawi.

When our food arrived, we were extremely pleased with the appearance of the order. The order of the beef burger is big! The beef looks like overflowing of beef sweetness, and not to mention the freshness of the salad, which give an impression of well-balanced meals. (I can only drool on their thickness of their meat burger since I do not take beef)

During our dining, the owner noticed of our bike and started a conversation on our journey, and he was certainly impressed with our travel so far!

After a hearty meal, and generous ice-cold water refill from the chef!!! We have to head off to the Oriental Village. But not before that we visited the pier where all the expensive yachts dock!

When we reached Oriental Villages, we weren’t allowed to bring our bike in, so we chained our bike to the railing near the guardhouse (lucky I was the only one bothered to bring bicycle lock for the trip), then proceed to the village.

There were many attractions you can try out while in the village, but we are only interested to take the cable car up to the peak of Gunung Machinchang.  Paid Rm30 for the cable car ticket and up we go!!!

The cable car ride was an interesting affair. There is two stop in which you can stop either at the middle station or the top station. If you alight at the lower station, we are standing at 652.5 meter above sea level, and you can use the sky-bridge as well. But to my frustration the management seal off the sky-bridge for maintenance… #@$%^&*(*&

After admire the view, we can continue our ride up to the top station, which you will be 708m above sea-level. From there, you have the commanding view of the isle of Langkawi.

Nearby the Oriental Village, there is a natural waterfall called the Seven Wells Waterfall (aka Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls). Despite the initial steep climb to the waterfall, it is quite accessible with our bikes.

One of the well-known spot in Langkawi, the Seven Wells Waterfall doesn't disappoint. Green and clean environment, with refreshing cool & clear water does certainly have it charm. And already my mates have jumped into the water without wasting any second.

I was about to jump into the pool when I got a phone call from work (Crap!). As it turn out they couldn't solved one of the technical issue on their own. So during the 20 minutes conversation I have missed out on the fun. And that really take the fun out of the holiday.

It was getting late in the evening, so decided we should go over to the Mahsuri City (Mausoleum & Museum) as the last stop of the day.

By the time we reached the Mahsuri Tomb, the museum was closed and the sun was already halfway from disappearing from the horizon.  But at very least we arrived at one of the more intriguing legend of the Langkawi. You can read more about the legend here.

Since the sun had already disappeared, the most common thing to do is to cycle back to Kuah town for dinner. Cycled around the town for a while before we settled for another round of Chinese cuisine.

To end the night with our fantastic tour of Langkawi, Mike went on the drinking spree with his special frozen can of beers, which I quietly declined his offer for a nice cup of hot Japanese green tea. Despite in good spirit, I'm already dreading that we will be coming to the end of our touring trip. After spending six days on the road, I couldn't help but feel that the time travelled very fast, especially when you were enjoying every minute of it...... Well since we still have 2 more days before returning back to reality, we will make full use of our time to enjoy it while we can... night

Ride data of Day 6

Distance: 85.5km
Average Speed: 14.1km/hr
Max Speed: 47km/hr
Total cycling time taken: 6h 13min