Cycling trip from Skudai, Johor to Kota Bahru, Kelantan (3rd April til 15 April 2005)
I started the journey with the feeling of excited and happy. I somehow feel that as I was in my dream, couldn’t believe that I am actually going to Kota Bahru by bicycle! Together with me were 3 of my good friends, Hui
woon (the crane); Ngiam(the moose) and Jinn Kae (the giraffe);p
Throughout the journey of 700km...there were ups and downs (the road and my emotion)!
3rd April (from Skudai to Kota Tinggi, 45km)
the fisrt day was frustrating as my inner tube was punctured!!! It took us 2 hours to get it fix.
I was nervous if this will happened again! I felt sad and worried when I resume the journey. Kept praying hard that my tube won’t be punctured again because i have no more spare tube...and the type of inner tube that i used is hard to find in normal bicycle shop.
4th April (from Kota Tinggi to Mersing, 92km)
We started early in the morning, after one hour ride, it started to rain. It rained for the whole day, so we were soaked in rain the whole journey to Mersing. The road is a little tough where it’s hilly. The up hill is tough, but of course the reward is the down hill part;p Overall, its pretty okay for me because I have a good bike. For Jinn Kae, it was tougher as his bike’s gear system has lower performance; he had to push his bike when the up hill is too sloppy. It was quite a smooth journey despite of the rain and up hill. We finally reached Mersing after 8 hours ride.
Mersing is a small town, people normally come here to catch a ferry to Tioman Island. We managed to check in to a backpacker’s inn. The best thing is, I managed to find a pro-bike shop where I can get my inner tube. I feel relieve after getting the spare inner tube:)
5th April (Mersing to Tioman Island)
We had some difficulty when trying to transport our bike oer to tioman Island by the ferry. Some of the ticket agent tried to con us, told us that we cant bring the bike to Tioman island. Luckily we met an officer from the Marine Department of Mersing. He is really helpful, he called the boss of one of the ferry companies and in the end we can bring our bike over.
Sometimes just wondering why are people being mean to others? Sigh!
The speed boat ride was fun, the waves were fierce, so we have a roller costal ride in the speed boatJ We reached Tioman in the afternoon. We ride our bike to Kampung Tekik, and set up our tent beside a café. The café owner wanted us to pay him RM3 per head for the site, but in the end we bargained and
paid him RM2 per head. Food in Tioman is more expensive, we bargained for almost every meal and we are glad that we had a good negotiator, Jinn KaeJ He cut down at least RM 1 for every food, and RM0.50 for drinks.
The sea in Tioman is crystal clear. I felt so excited when I see schools of colorful fishes swimming around me. However, I didn’t see any nice corals:(
At night, I slept in tent (my first time sleeping in a tent) Haha, 4 of us tried to squeeze in a 4-men tent. It’s quite stuffy though.
6th April (In Tioman Island)
Cross island walk from Kampung tekik to Kampung Juara took us 3 and half hours. It was quite a painful experience as my sandal is hurting my feet:( However, it worth the hassle as the beach is more beautiful.
The journey back is even worse as it rained heavily..we are wet and cold. However, we are lucky as we met an old English couple who offer us a ride in the four wheel drive that they rent. We manage to cut half of the journey, but we still walked together for another half of the journey.
I slept in a bench in the Marine park that night as I feel to cold to sleep on the floor in the tent. What an experience!
7th April (Tioman to Tanjung Gemuk by ferry; Tanjung Gemuk to Lanjut by bike 40km)
The journey from tioman to tanjung gemuk is smooth and comfortable in a big ferry.
When we reach Tanjung Gemuk, we continue our journey after lunch. The sea water is bad for my bike, it made the gear and chain became rusted. I had to wash the rust away, dried it and add in new lubricant oil before I started my journey. I feel really bad for it.
The journey to Lanjut is easy as we were using the coastal road. It’s quite flat. When I reached Rompin, I bought a nice slipper because the sandal hurts my feet badly when I was walking.
In Lanjut, we set up tent at the beach also because that’s the cheapest way of accommodation. The beach is secluded, and I feel that we own the whole beach:) That night, I slept on a big stove in a BBQ hut.
8th April (Lanjut to Kuantan, 124 km)
It was the toughest journey for us in the whole trip because of the distance.
My luck was really bad on that day where I fell down from my bike, hurt my right leg and knee!! It was painful but I am still motivated to cycle. I really want to reach Kuantan, to have a good shower in my coursemate’s house. That’s the thing that keep me going for that day. I felt kind of stressed of the wound, worry that I may get infection and etc.
Finally we reached Kuantan at 7pm, half of the journey was under the rain. Felt painful as the rain drops hurts the wound on my knee. I felt indulged when i get a nice hot shower in my friend's house. Life can be just so simple na?
at night, as usual, i was writting my travelling journal before i sleep...my whole body was aching especially my wound on my leg...and i reflect back on my cycling trip so far, in terms of emotional, psycological, and physical...finally i broke into tears when my boyfriend called me...i was upset because of one of my teammates...because of the thing that he said, somehow it hurted me and demotivate me...sigh...
9th April (rest day in Kuantan)
It was my first time visiting Kuantan. My friend, Kok Wai and his family gave us great hospitalilty, made us feel at home ! Finally we don’t have to eat nasi goring anymore...have been eating it since day 1....
Kok wai brought us to visit a few places in Kuantan. Staying in his house make me miss my parents alot..so I decided to buy a salted fish and send it home to my mom by express post, want to give my mom a surprise:)
10th April (Kuantan to Cherating, 42km)
The beginning of the journey was scary where the road shoulder is narrow and there were many big lorries on the road. Thanks God that we manage to reached Cherating one piece.
Cherating has excellent beach, the sand is soft and clean. The owner of the guesthouse that we stayed is a friendly old lady. I had a nice talk to her in the night at the lobby of her guesthouse. She was telling me her life stories;p
11th April (Cherating to Dungun, 85km)
The weather is really hot, but the road is quite flat. On the way, we passed by many beautiful beaches. Yes! Terengganu has really good beaches. We stopped many times to buy drinks as the weather is really killing. I was so happy when I see Mc Donald in Kerteh, we stopped by and get a coke!! Chilled out! Besides, we stopped for Air Tebu (sugar cane drink)…the sugar cane is excellent!
We reached Dungun at around 3.30pm. Tee Song is our host and he is a great tour guide. He braught us around for good food and nice places. He even brought us to a light house near tanjung jara.The view from the light house is superb!
12th April (Dungun to Kuala Terengganu, 78km)
Rantau Abang
We passed by this palce, which is famous for turtle. It wasn’t the season for turtle so we didn’t manage to see anything. We only visited the Turtle Sanctuary, Information centre, get to know about turtle better after the visit.
I had Laksam for lunch in one of the village that we passed by. It’s some thing like laksa, less spicy but contain of more coconut milk.
In Kuala Terengganu, we met a Swedish guy who cycling in the east coast of peninsular Malaysia as well. We were staying in the same hostel. He already cycled for one year in Australia and New Zealand. So I think we are not as ‘crazy’ as him;p
13th April (K.T to Penarik, 57km)
We and a relax ride today as the distance is short. We stopped by sometimes fro drinks, meeting up with friend who stayed in between KT and Penarik.
We reached penarik in the afternoon, again we set up tent at a beach own by Penarik Inn.
Ngiam and I played volleyball with the local. The people in Terengganu is friendly.
At night we walked for 2km to the nearest eating place. Half way, we met a nice villager who sent us to the restaurant by car. I think we are quite lucky in our trip as we met many nice people along the trip.
14th April (Penarik to Kuala Besut,50km)
I wasn’t feeling well, the ride was tough for me as I have headache and I felt my leg can cramp anytime. I think it must because I slept in a tent in Penarik. I caught a cold from the floor to my bone.
I was feeling down and moody, because of the weather and sickness. I was glad that I reached Kuala Besut. I finally had a deep afternoon nap. I woke up at 6pm, feeling good.
The night market in Kuala Besut has many local foods. I see many types of local food and I bought Nasi Dagang for my dinner, it was cheap and tasty! Food is always the way for Malaysian to pamper themselves;p
15th April (Kuala Besut to Kota Bahru, 50km)
I felt motivated after good sleep and I was happy that it’s going to be the last day of the cycling trip!
We reach Kota Bahru at around 2pm. I thought I will feel really excited when the c
ycling trip end, but I didn’t feel that. I just feel thankful as my bike is okay, not much problem, everyone is safe and still in one piece. Didn’t really feel proud as most of the people think of us. I think its just the matter if you want to do it or not! Everyone can do it!
