Yellow garden spider spotted in my front yard.Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Day 4 | Oops!
I'm soooo sorry I never updated earlier... I thought no one comes to the blog anymore.
I'm going to clear up some things since I wasn't really clear with my posting.
Even though I posted on that day itself, I actually did the riding a few days back already.
I cycled on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. That's like last Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
I did
Now I'm going to post on how I made it home.
Last Friday, I woke up in Butterworth and planned to cycle to Taiping and call it a day.
On the way out of Butterworth, I changed my mind and wanted to go all the way down to Ipoh on the North South Highway/Expressway. I thought if I did 190km last night, why can't I do 150km today?
So I cycled for about 6 hours on it and the Highway Patrol kicked me off it. As fate had it, the next exit goes into Taiping. I exited into Taiping and told myself I can still do the trunk road down to Ipoh and get there around midnight. So I called Alice to tell her I'm still getting into Ipoh. So I cycled for another half an hour down the trunk. The floor got wetter as I pass Taiping and go deeper down the road.
And so... I stopped by a petrol station to pack my stuff into a plastic bag, not wanting them to get wet. I checked my phone and saw a missed call from my mom. So I called her. She said she's in Taiping! What are the chances! But I sorta knew 'cause she told me during the day that she's gonna be in Taiping for the night. This changed my mind and since it's all rainy in front, I took a U-turn and ended up in Taiping.
I DISMANTLED MY BIKE AND THREW IT INTO MY MOM'S CAR BOOT!
HAHAHAHAH I TOOK A CAR RIDE BACK HOMEEEEEEE THE NEXT DAY (Stayed a night in Taiping).
The end.
Reason being my ass was blistered and doing more days means more money goes to accommodation.
YAY FOR EXCUSES!
Ya, the end.
I'm going to clear up some things since I wasn't really clear with my posting.
Even though I posted on that day itself, I actually did the riding a few days back already.
I cycled on the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th. That's like last Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
I did
- PJ - Sekinchan on the first,
- Sekinchan - Teluk Intan - Sitiawan on the second,
- Sitiawan - Butterworth on the third.
- Butterworth - Taiping on the fourth.
- Taiping - Ipoh by car on the fifth and back home the same night.
- On the sixth day I'm home!
Now I'm going to post on how I made it home.
Last Friday, I woke up in Butterworth and planned to cycle to Taiping and call it a day.
On the way out of Butterworth, I changed my mind and wanted to go all the way down to Ipoh on the North South Highway/Expressway. I thought if I did 190km last night, why can't I do 150km today?
So I cycled for about 6 hours on it and the Highway Patrol kicked me off it. As fate had it, the next exit goes into Taiping. I exited into Taiping and told myself I can still do the trunk road down to Ipoh and get there around midnight. So I called Alice to tell her I'm still getting into Ipoh. So I cycled for another half an hour down the trunk. The floor got wetter as I pass Taiping and go deeper down the road.
And so... I stopped by a petrol station to pack my stuff into a plastic bag, not wanting them to get wet. I checked my phone and saw a missed call from my mom. So I called her. She said she's in Taiping! What are the chances! But I sorta knew 'cause she told me during the day that she's gonna be in Taiping for the night. This changed my mind and since it's all rainy in front, I took a U-turn and ended up in Taiping.
I DISMANTLED MY BIKE AND THREW IT INTO MY MOM'S CAR BOOT!
HAHAHAHAH I TOOK A CAR RIDE BACK HOMEEEEEEE THE NEXT DAY (Stayed a night in Taiping).
The end.
Reason being my ass was blistered and doing more days means more money goes to accommodation.
YAY FOR EXCUSES!
Ya, the end.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Day 3 | The King's Road, Sitiawan - Butterworth
Distance: approx. 180-190km.
Time started: 8.45am.
Time taken: est. 11 hours ride, 1 hour of cumulative stops and breaks.
Mood: All pumped up!
Body condition: Sore ass, sore neck, sore shoulders, sore feet. Still. And worse.
Weather: Fair.
I woke up at 6.45am, packed my bag and checked out from SK Hotel. Gave Peter a call and met him in a curry house nearby. We had our breakfast and talked about my ride up here. Revealed my intention to do Sitiawan - Butterworth in a day. Peter advised at least a few stops in between. I reasoned my need to do it since I wanted to arrive in Ipoh on the way back ASAP. So Peter told me it's not impossible and that he had done it before. We left the place on our bikes and he showed me the back way out of town.
All pumped up, I took on the road with high hopes. I set out with music in my ears, with great clouds ahead to provide shelter. The whole way was pretty flat, with a few hills on the way. I cycled like an idiot who stuck pins and needles into the saddle. I minimized ass contact with the saddle as much as I can to avoid friction. The bicycle trousers I had on did not function its best as I already had bruises and wounds on the face of my buttocks. So I had sore ass anyway for the whole ride.
Pain; nothing more than a mere distraction. Did not dampen my spirit by a thousandth of a fraction. I was motivated and eager, yearning to set this personal record.
So I cycled. I never considered the alternative to enter Taiping, to stay a night or take a rest. I cycled on. Roadside stalls were sufficient.
Many hours had passed and I have cycled along with the rushing minutes. It was a real long way and as Peter told me earlier before I left Sitiawan, "You might think that 40kms is a short distance right now but when you're that far away from your destination, it won't seem that short anymore.". And it's true. 40kms felt like a ride from Singapore to Thailand. A lil' hyperbolic but yeah, you'll get it if you try it. Haha. Worse is when you're really close to your destination -- when I'm only 14kms away from Butterworth, I was going to give up and just end the whole trip there. The King's Road, as Peter had put it, is not an easy one.
And so I've touched down in my final destination. The way back..? Haha, you're not going to believe it. Stay tuned, I guess.
P/s.: Pictures to be uploaded to facebook etc. Will post some here too. Soon. Yes, it's always "soon" with me. Never now, huh? xD
Time started: 8.45am.
Time taken: est. 11 hours ride, 1 hour of cumulative stops and breaks.
Mood: All pumped up!
Body condition: Sore ass, sore neck, sore shoulders, sore feet. Still. And worse.
Weather: Fair.
I woke up at 6.45am, packed my bag and checked out from SK Hotel. Gave Peter a call and met him in a curry house nearby. We had our breakfast and talked about my ride up here. Revealed my intention to do Sitiawan - Butterworth in a day. Peter advised at least a few stops in between. I reasoned my need to do it since I wanted to arrive in Ipoh on the way back ASAP. So Peter told me it's not impossible and that he had done it before. We left the place on our bikes and he showed me the back way out of town.
All pumped up, I took on the road with high hopes. I set out with music in my ears, with great clouds ahead to provide shelter. The whole way was pretty flat, with a few hills on the way. I cycled like an idiot who stuck pins and needles into the saddle. I minimized ass contact with the saddle as much as I can to avoid friction. The bicycle trousers I had on did not function its best as I already had bruises and wounds on the face of my buttocks. So I had sore ass anyway for the whole ride.
Pain; nothing more than a mere distraction. Did not dampen my spirit by a thousandth of a fraction. I was motivated and eager, yearning to set this personal record.
So I cycled. I never considered the alternative to enter Taiping, to stay a night or take a rest. I cycled on. Roadside stalls were sufficient.
Many hours had passed and I have cycled along with the rushing minutes. It was a real long way and as Peter told me earlier before I left Sitiawan, "You might think that 40kms is a short distance right now but when you're that far away from your destination, it won't seem that short anymore.". And it's true. 40kms felt like a ride from Singapore to Thailand. A lil' hyperbolic but yeah, you'll get it if you try it. Haha. Worse is when you're really close to your destination -- when I'm only 14kms away from Butterworth, I was going to give up and just end the whole trip there. The King's Road, as Peter had put it, is not an easy one.
And so I've touched down in my final destination. The way back..? Haha, you're not going to believe it. Stay tuned, I guess.
P/s.: Pictures to be uploaded to facebook etc. Will post some here too. Soon. Yes, it's always "soon" with me. Never now, huh? xD
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Day 2 | Sekinchan to Sitiawan
Day 2 stats
Around 130km in reality 'cause I took a detour into Teluk Intan.
Pure mango juice for RM1.
Thirst quenching and tastes really good.
MOS is expanding up north!!
scroll
...
down
whee.
A few more kilometers to Teluk Intan...
And I'm there!
This shouldn't be placed on the pedestrian path,
I was poked by one back in 2005.
Even now, the thorn's still under my skin.
Teluk Intan JTC Bike Centre.
Bike Centre dudes.
Bought these few items there:
A helmet.
A speed-o-meter.
And a new saddle. (and the red light underneath it.)
And my bicycle trousers. Which has padding for anti-sore-ass-ness.
After "modding" my bike, went next door for late lunch.
Seems like the ketchup's trying to tell me something...
Like... "riio" or something in Jawi which probably means
"EAT ME NOW!".
Optical Illusion Question: Do you see 2 faces or a couple kissing?
Answer: I see a really thirsty man.
Optical Illusion Question #2: al;skdl;aksdla?
Answer: skfasl;kfl;askfl;ak!!!
I've come by many lorry, car, motorbike workshops,
but this is the first boat workshop I came across!
It's getting late, around 7.30pm. Nearing Pangkor exit.
Kah Yan, that must be where you were born?
Sitiawan's some distance more...
And I'm here!!! Actually still a few kms to go.
Towns LOVE to do early welcomes.
Went straight for food, ordered Hokkien Mee, they gave me Yee Mee!
Don't say "Fook Gin Min" when you're nearer to the north side of Malaysia,
they either give you "Ha Min" (Prawn Noodles) or "Yee Min"(Yee Noodles, lol wth is Yee).
I don't know what they call that Hokkien Mee we have here in PJ and about.
Very curious Kadazan kids I met in the cyber cafe "SpaCeNet".
Spammed me with infinite number of questions.
But they really touched me with one question.
"Kor when you're out cycling, who's taking care of your mom?"
I told them I have a younger sister at home and they went:
"Oooh... Good, at least there's someone taking care of her."
SUCH ANGELS!
SpaCeNet Internet Cafe, they're not closed,
they're just not in the mood to pay for some policeman's drink.
After looking around and asking Wern Di over the phone,
found a cozy little hotel called the "S.K. Hotel".
This man here is trying to call me a lamer. He's the innkeeper btw.
My queen sized bed!
Gave Peter a call and arranged to meet him tomorrow at 7am.
Distance: approx. 130km.
Time started: 8.45am.
Time taken: est. 10 hours ride, 2 hours cumulative stops and breaks.
Mood: Okay.
Body condition: Sore ass, sore neck, sore shoulders, sore feet.
Weather: Blazing.
Time started: 8.45am.
Time taken: est. 10 hours ride, 2 hours cumulative stops and breaks.
Mood: Okay.
Body condition: Sore ass, sore neck, sore shoulders, sore feet.
Weather: Blazing.
Around 130km in reality 'cause I took a detour into Teluk Intan.Picture storytelling:
Pure mango juice for RM1.Thirst quenching and tastes really good.
MOS is expanding up north!!
scroll
...
down
whee.
A few more kilometers to Teluk Intan...
And I'm there!
This shouldn't be placed on the pedestrian path,I was poked by one back in 2005.
Even now, the thorn's still under my skin.
Teluk Intan JTC Bike Centre.
Bike Centre dudes.Bought these few items there:
A helmet.
A speed-o-meter.
And a new saddle. (and the red light underneath it.)And my bicycle trousers. Which has padding for anti-sore-ass-ness.
After "modding" my bike, went next door for late lunch.Seems like the ketchup's trying to tell me something...
Like... "riio" or something in Jawi which probably means
"EAT ME NOW!".
Optical Illusion Question: Do you see 2 faces or a couple kissing?Answer: I see a really thirsty man.
Optical Illusion Question #2: al;skdl;aksdla?Answer: skfasl;kfl;askfl;ak!!!
I've come by many lorry, car, motorbike workshops,but this is the first boat workshop I came across!
It's getting late, around 7.30pm. Nearing Pangkor exit.
Kah Yan, that must be where you were born?Sitiawan's some distance more...
And I'm here!!! Actually still a few kms to go.Towns LOVE to do early welcomes.
Went straight for food, ordered Hokkien Mee, they gave me Yee Mee!Don't say "Fook Gin Min" when you're nearer to the north side of Malaysia,
they either give you "Ha Min" (Prawn Noodles) or "Yee Min"(Yee Noodles, lol wth is Yee).
I don't know what they call that Hokkien Mee we have here in PJ and about.
Very curious Kadazan kids I met in the cyber cafe "SpaCeNet".Spammed me with infinite number of questions.
But they really touched me with one question.
"Kor when you're out cycling, who's taking care of your mom?"
I told them I have a younger sister at home and they went:
"Oooh... Good, at least there's someone taking care of her."
SUCH ANGELS!
SpaCeNet Internet Cafe, they're not closed,they're just not in the mood to pay for some policeman's drink.
After looking around and asking Wern Di over the phone,found a cozy little hotel called the "S.K. Hotel".
This man here is trying to call me a lamer. He's the innkeeper btw.
My queen sized bed!Gave Peter a call and arranged to meet him tomorrow at 7am.
What I've learned, thoughts & tips for the day:
- The ride's pretty smooth, not hilly etc. Sekinchan to Sitiawan is pretty easy to do.
- Though my left pedal did get loose once or twice. That could be easily fixed if you have a number 14 box spanner with you... Or you could simply ride to a nearby workshop. Any workshop should have a number 14.
- Food and drinks can be found on the way, no extras need to be brought with you in your baggage.
- Talk to people around town, discover cheaper alternatives...
- Sitiawan's dogs beg for food at every occupied table. Pretty cute.
- Leave stuff behind if you must, old clothes, extra weight etc. You need to ride as light as possible.
- Plan your route, map or GPS strongly recommended.
- Have determination, motivate yourself. Set your goals to be a nearer town, then the distance will be shorter for your initial destination. (I know this is self-deception, but it boosts morale a little.)
- Listen to music, hum or sing if you must. Keep yourself entertained and awake.
- In the dark, imagination takes over vision. Focus on the white lines on the road!
- Food up north, really cheap! Take away a lot and bring home!
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Friday, November 20, 2009
That's from the open burning.
Anyway I got kicked off the freeway by a highway patrol. Luckily they didn't summon me. Phew. Yeah so now I went from 70km away from ipoh to more than I can imagine. How to get to ipoh like this? I have to detour into taiping.
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