Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Day 5

Today as usual, Yeong, the early person type, decided to explore the Penang by himself in the wee early morning while both of us still smug in bed.

Once Mike and I were ready, we checked out of our motel and head straight to the ferry ticket office.

While Mike went in and check if there is any tickets available, I'm admiring the old clock tower which was just outside the office. Then Mike bought out a good news that they have tickets available, but his fund was dangerously low, so I went in to pay for it. Thou there are two morning ferry to Langkawi, we were only allowed to buy the 2nd and the last ferry, due to our bikes. With 3 tickets at hand, we called Mr Yeong and we headed out to a hawker center where Mike used to patron as a kid.

Having a breakfast was certainly important, but strangely I did not have any appetite for it. Perhaps I was too exhausted that the last night rest wasn't enough? Despite the mood, I made myself finish the meal, knowing that I need to replenish my body with carbohydrates.

After breakfast, we head back to the jetty. When we arrived, there are many holiday-makers already crowding the small boarding room. Lucky for us, the very same person that sold us the ticket allow us to enter the premise first. Felt like VIP there.

It was quite a scary sight when we saw how they put our bikes on the deck of the ship. There is no ramp nor lift that facilities transport. Just a bunch of porters who just carried our bike over the railing and onto the deck. Heart-breaking sight indeed.

As with all other ferry we have took, the seating arrangement was open-seat style, so we chose the upper deck. Weirdly when the ferry started it engine, I suddenly feel very very excited. Instead of cycling, I will be spending 3 hours just relaxing my tired muscle. What a big relieved.

Once out into the sea, the next obvious thing to do is to head outside and enjoy the view of the landscape. As it was a public holiday, there are many holiday-makers crowding the deck.

Weirdly, despite the breakfast, I was already hungry way before lunchtime. Since there is no meals to be purchase on the boat, I took out my chocolate bar (which is my emergency food bar) and consume it without guilt. (Or maybe I underestimate my food intake for the touring)

When we disembarked from the jetty in the afternoon, we basically walked straight into commercialized shopping center. With funding running low, we have to withdraw some cash from the ATM. It is a good thing we do it fast, as there was only one out of four vending machine still have cash in it.

Exiting the building, I went ahead to tourist information center (which is just the opposite the entrance of the mall), grabbing a map and inquiry on hotel. Oh by the way the staffs were very friendly and speak well.

The first thing we must do when arriving at Langkawi, is to visit the famous landmark, a huge statue of Eagle overlooking the archipelago. On the way out, I spotted a fallen sign which had fall onto the parked cars. Since the ground was still wet, perhaps earlier there has been a heavy storm.

Just only 1km away from where we are. We reached the bay shortly. YEP, the eagle is there.... but there is something else as well. The scaffolding!!!! Bloody hell..... of all time it needed maintenance, it choose to do it when we arrived. Spoilt the look...BEH

After the photo session, we went back to the Jetty Point Shopping Center to have our lunch. And then I made a startling discovery, Mike opened up his camelbak and revealed two bottle of beers!!! Maybe that's his secret of his powess!!! After lunch, we went on to look for hotel.

With one fully-booked hotel, and rejecting two hotels that doesn't have a lift, finally we found a resort hotel which is well-hidden behind the row of shophouses (and where we rejected 2 hotelish). Not only it have one of the best sea view from the windows, we're happy that we can roll our bikes into the room on the ground floor.

Wanting to escape the hot afternoon sun, we leisurely relaxed our muscles in cooling room, enjoying the TV show, while I studied the map I got from the information center. After lazing for few hours and the day become late afternoon, we decided to explore the island via eastern road.

I saw an opportunity to use the kampung road instead of the main road, and it was a good call. If not we won't be able to come across a green field full of the wandering buffalo, a farm of dragon-fruit, ponds full of freshwater crabs, with backdrop of the forested mountain.

I have no idea why Mike was so interested in catching the crab. Never mind that the crab have claws that can pinch real pain, but trying to get the crab out of the water can be tricky, especially if you are a noob...

After Mike tried to hunt for crabs (for dinner later) unsuccessfully, we made our way. But very soon they shouted to stop me. A look behind and one person have another tyre flat. Yeah again Mike got another lottery! A curious look at the tyre and the apparent problem is the already-bald tyre, with sharp object poking the thin-walled inner tube. After fixing the problem (and broke my tyre level in the process....#@$#^&$), we headed our way.

I didn't know they stopped at the Langkawi Wildlife Park, nor I didn't saw them due to towering bush which may hide them, I decided to carry on cycling to the Perdana Gallery. However when I reached there, they were nowhere to be found. So I gave them a phone call.

There's a miscommunication which I thought they went further up, so I decided to go further north, instead to the south. So after a while I was getting suspicious when I didn't see them after some distance. A final phone call confirms my mistake, but a good thing was they asked me to wait while they cycled to my waiting spot. Not before long I can see them from the horizon. Since the sun is starting to set, we decided to head back to town for dinner. Yippee!

While I trying to catch up with my touring partners, they came across a local cyclist who was on his routine training, where he told them of a bike shop on the same stretch of road. So after we regrouped we decided to pay an impromptu visit to the LBS.

However we got lost in the midst of finding that shop and we wandered into the housing area. Since my GPS does not have the location of the bike shop, it will be a blind search for them (since I'm more interested to fill my growling stomach).

While Mr Yeong went ahead to search, Mike and I waited and explore the surrounding, where Mike spotted more freshwater crabs and freshwater snails and began his shooting assault photography. Meanwhile I was busy trying to smack all the vicious mozzies trying to suck on my precious blood. After a fruitless search we abandon the idea and went on our way.

That's the signboard..... which I tweak the camera to make the shop disappear =P

Immediately just turn into the main road and cycled ahead when we spotted a LBS!!! And to add salt to the wound, the shop has already closed. Damn.... (AHEM to my two touring partners.... you own me a few litres of blood I 'donated' to the mozzies).

Once we arrived at Kuah town, we explored our option and decided on a simple Chinese cuisine meals. Interesting, a good look around the town is full of shops selling tax-free goods. And only Mike is extremely happy to shop in Langkawi for one good reason.... alcoholic beverage.

While today was the shortest ride ever and without our loaded pannier for majority of the ride, my body and I decided to have an early night. Hopefully tomorrow it will be a fantastic day to tour langkawi. It will be damn bad if we encounter this...

Distance: 45.45km (Penang and Langkawi ride)
Average Speed: 13.8km/hr
Max Speed: 36.1km/hr
Total cycling time taken: 3h 17min

Merdeka Folding Bike Touring, Klang to Langkawi: Day 4

Today I woked up and my leg still in pain. Again two of us are quite reluctant to get out of the cozy bed. By the time we finished packing, the sun was already burning outside. Arh crap..... I can predict hot day ahead.

For the first time since we started touring, we were able to read newspaper thanks to the compliment of the hotel we are staying. After checking out of the hotel, we proceed to a popular local eatery (which Mike knew of).

We ordered each of us a bowl of rice noodle in soup, with side dishes of pig blood curd and braised chicken foot in dark sauce. It was a heavenly meal and we finished it in no time.

After breakfast we had a short tour of Taiping. One of the important landmark we visited is the Taiping Clock Tower. Built-in 1881, this monument have become a tourist information center. Not far from the clock tower is the impressive 19th century Victorian architecture building, which is now the District Land Office for Taiping Municipal. Pity we couldn't spend more time exploring the town.

Before we set out to Bukit Mertajam, we have to stop over a LBS (Local Bike Shop) at Simpang. Mike had an arrangement with the owner of the LBS during the dinner last night, which he wanted to install a low-profile rack. The owner was kind enough to open his shop even though it is an off-day for him. How nice of him.

A visit to his shop was an interesting affair. From the outside it look like any ordinary bicycle shop. But once we stepped into it, the LBS houses numerous surprises. If you scan everything, you are bound to find items that are from the 50s to the 90s. You will be forgiven if you mistake this shop as a museum.

After finishing exploring the shop & the owner finish install the low profile bar. We bid the owner farewell, and we head out to Bukit Mertajam via Federal Road 1.Since my left leg still hurt from the cramp. Look like I gonna take it easy and hopefully I can make it there in one piece.

Along the way I spotted an terrible accident, where I suspected the driver drove too fast, lose control of it, crashed into the muddy drain before landing on a piece of stab which served as a driveway. Fortunately no one was injured in the accident. When I shared this incident with my partners, none of them never spot this accident. Guess all of us were lucky to avoid this accident.

We had a very long break at Bagan Serai town. And Mike decided that he wanted to do some more shopping and purchase a wide leather saddle with string suspension. Hmmm, retail therapy to ease touring stress?

Since we are not familiar with the local food cuisine, we simply random choose a hawker center for our lunch. And we head off soon after.

Taking a break at the T-junction before making a turn toward Bukit Mertajam, Mike had an idea that instead of stopping at Bukit Mertajam, and continue the journey tomorrow, we should cycle to Butterworth, or Penang Isle, and then took a ferry to Langkawi on the next day. After 4 days of continous cycling, I think Mike was exhausted, and I do agreed on his plan as well. Lucky for us Mr Yeong also agreed to the plan. And so we make our way to Butterworth.

The final leg of the journey was the worst I ever felt. Not sure if I forget to replenish myself with food during the tea break, or already have reached my limit of the day, but I was already struggling to complete the last 20km. Not only that, the road toward Butterworth was full of speeding vehicles that I have to be extra careful not to slow down abruptly. Otherwise I risk fish-tailing my bike and have a crash.

Surprising, while we are climbing the last bridge to the jetty, suddenly the traffic just sort of disappeared. Peaceful as last! On the top of bridge we took a breather and enjoying the evening view of the strait toward the Penang Isle.

Taking the ferry from Butterworth is an interesting affair. I didn't know there is a road lead toward the entrance of the jetty, and I didn't know how much I have to pay. And so you can see me scrambling looking for exact changes at the ticket booth (which look like any other toll booth in Malaysia).

Once we aboard the iconic ferry at the vehicle bay, we took up what available space after the 4-wheel vehicle finished boarding with motorcycles.

While admiring the evening sun and enjoying the sea breeze gently massaged my face, I have time to ponder over the journey so far and couldn't help feeling emotional about it . Four days of hard riding with barely adequate fitness, with one leg kinda cramping from day 2 onwards, facing the prospect of sleeping under the sky, the journey so far have been kind to me, without suffering any kind of setback.

By the time we reach the Penang Isle, it was already past 6pm. We quickly made our way to the ticket office and see if there is any ferry to Langkawi on the next day. Unfortunately the ticket office was closed.

So the next thing we do is to hunt for accommodation. After some bargain hunting we found a very budget hostel. Though it was a communal bathroom and toilet, we were fine with it. And for the first time we actually get to use the public PC with the internet access. Finally we can catch up on the happening around the world the past 4 days we been touring.

We're certain that we won’t be able to starve in arguably the food capital of Malaysia, but it's a pity our local friends couldn't meet up for dinner due to our impromptu visit. My good friend Turbosnail was kind enough to send me the GPS co-ordinates on where are the good places to eat. Cheers mate!

Very lucky it was a walking distance to the Chulia St, as I was liternally limping and dragging my left feet, which is on the verge to give up on me...

The wide variety of hawker food doesn't disappoint, but the crowds there is certainly overwhelming. It took us a while before we managed to find an empty table. And because the portion is so small (comparing to our starving stomach), we quickly finish it and continue on eating spree. Good thing the price is quite reasonable as well.

Finally we have reached Penang, thus fulfilling my first part of my touring plan. Now the next thing to worry about is getting to Langkawi.With double holiday peaking, I'm quite worry about lack of ticket going to Langkawi. And so even if we get to Langkawi, I have to worry about getting accommodation, as my friends have repeating warn me to do advance booking at least 3 months. Well I suppose unpredictability is part of the exciting parcel when you do touring. But since we already set out, no use worrying now. So let see how the day will turn out tomorrow.

By 10.30pm, I was sleeping like a dead log.

Distance: 98.98km (excluding the ferry ride)
Average Speed: 14.8km/hr
Max Speed: 39.2km/hr
Total time taken: 6h 40min