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?
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
