Posting Delay until 15th July 2013

I have just recently change job and will be out of country for the following 2 weeks. So, the posting for day 3 , 4,5 will be delay till after 15th July. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. Thank you for understanding.

Day 2 - The interesting discovery and wonderful 1 hour nap

Can I sleep more? Can we just relax today? I am very tired. Can I stay 1 more night just for the food in Gurney drive as yesterday? I want more. It was suppose to be a leisure ride, I can sense flu coming, but why am I cycling today? That was the thought that came across my mind when the alarm went off at 5:30am. After preparation and taking some photos, we left for Butterworth for breakfast. The journey eventually start at 8am after breakfast.

Taking some spot of interest before depart to Ferry Terminal

Waiting for Ferry

Leaving Penang...

This uncle saw us cycling, approach me talk to me about how he use to cycle until he went  working in other countries

After coming out of Ferry

Photo taken from chain Ferry bridge

As we were cycling between Parit Buntar and Kamunting, the scorching noon sun has climb high. To avoid repeating yesterday's mistake, we decided to look for a coffee shop for a break. In the middle of no where, we found a small coffee shop call "Happy Garden Coffee Shop". To our surprise, the owner is a deaf and mute couple. Initially I thought that they were faking, but soon to find out that it was true. According to one of the customer, the shop has been operating for 5 years plus. All the customer take initiative to help out when we don't understand what the owner say. Looking at the weather while we were having lunch. We were glad that we made that decision to rest in the coffee shop. After lunch, Prem fell asleep on the table. A while later, I also follow his footstep to slumber land. Frankly speaking, I have never sleep on table since school. I have to admit that was a wonderful 1 hour sleep (thanks to the owner for letting us to sleep there). I felt refresh and energetic after the short nap. 

The photo was taken by the owner under Prem's request. Prem, of course is faking the sleep. I was having great nap not noticing that I was capture in the photo until waking up later. Up to this point, I still wonder why there is not much like on this photo in FB...... =p

I notice there were another deaf and mute couple in the coffee shop when I wake up. They were doing tele-conference with sign language and having fun with the owner. Happiness is writing all over their face. It takes so little for them to be happy. We stay until 3pm then we decided to leave.



The one on left with the kid is the owner, the 2 on the right is his friend, mute and deaf too 

The 1 hour short nap apparently was a sufficient. I was energized and pump up for the rest of the journey. We finally reach Taiping by 5:30pm with a bit of rain drizzling. This is my first time to Taiping. Somehow I like Taiping at first sight. Put historical background aside, I have never seen a lake garden so close to a town. The town is just a turn from the garden. The facility is all concentrate in the town within walking distance. I am tempted to cycle around the town but have to cancel it due to rain drizzling. I would not want to risk to be sick in this tour especially when I can feel flu starting. For some unexplainable reason, I like the clock tower across the hotel that I stayed, even though I could not find the historical information about it.

Kamunting Industrial Park

Taiping Jail

Superb View of Taiping Lake Garden

Don't know why, but somehow I just like this clock tower.  It is now used as a tourist information centre.

All of the food above plus drink only cost me RM 12.90. Special thanks to Carmen Tan for recommending it.

Due to time constrain and sleepiness, we skip Taiping Zoo and Maxwell hill. Will definitely explore the places again next time when pass by.

Thoughts....

As we were cycling through the cities and small town, i suddenly realize that we are just temporary occupying a space in that particular picture frame with buildings and peoples behind it at that particular moment. As we left the scene moving towards our destinations, we left nothing behind the picture frame of that particular moment as if we never pass by. We can never take anything away from it. The only thing that we took away with us is memories of that particular moment. Aren't life like that too? So, what are you still waiting for? Cut the bullshit excuse, go after your dream! End of day, you can't bring money or anything to the other world other than your memories.....

Day 1 - 4th June 2013

Well, after 2 months of preparation, the day finally came. I woke up on 4:30 am as planned but was quite tired. I have not been sleeping well for the past week plus (preparation for the trip and sundown marathon). It was a tiring journey driving up north in the evening and was too excited to sleep the day before. After everything was done, it suddenly rains. Thank god it was a short one. According to Prem, it is sign of god's blessing. We end up starting on 6am (1 hour behind schedule). We took a few photos before departing from Alor Setar.

Alor Setar Tower

In front of old Kedah Palace

This is where the dream started

Umno fighter plane at the back. We see a lot of these funny paper made "weapon" from PAS and UMNO along the coastal road before Sungai Petani 

Another cyclist that we meet before Gurun

Sungai Petani Clock Tower

As we were cycling pass Sungai Petani town, suddenly a cyclist with red shirt approaches fast from back out of no where. As he ride pass us, we have a bit of chat.  Apparently the cyclist in red shirt is Chew. He is the legend who took 6 months to cycle from Penang to UK during olympic 2012. Surprisingly he stay in same garden as Prem in Butterworth and interestingly no one from the garden knew that their neighbour actually cycle to UK. We stop and chat by road side without noticing time pass. It s interesting to know that there were initially 5 people on the trip, but eventually only 2 make it. When ask what make him continue the long tough journey? He answered:

"The Heart"

He shared with us his journey from Penang to UK and things to prepare and to avoid during long bike touring. When go on long journey bike touring, we should expect worst condition for staying. In Europe there many sites for people to camp as staying in hotels will be very expensive. Try avoid attention. As for the visas, we must be out of the country before the period expired or else we will be in big trouble. So plan the journey well. Good things or bad things that happen depends on personal karma. He even show me how to secure shoe laces. Eventually, he becomes our temporary tour guide and lead us all the way to Butterworth. He even show us where Paklah (Malaysia former prime minister)'s house. It was quite enjoying  and inspirational talking to him. There were a point where we have to cycle through hot sun with not much shades around. I was telling him that it was an unbearable weather, but he said that he has nothing to complain about Malaysia's weather as he had been through the worst. He told me that he had rode in Turkey on ~40 deg C temperature beside desert with no trees on both side. I was totally speechless. When we reach somewhere near Ferry terminal, it is time to seperate and continue on our journey. I wonder what would have been if we departed on time, we might miss the opportunity to meet such a wonderful guy. Maybe it is fated for us to meet up with Mr. Chew or maybe it is like Mark Nepo said: 

There is no wrong choice, but discovering of accidental path....  

But one thing is for sure, i will never be able to meet such interesting people if i did not embark on this journey.  I wonder who will we meet or what will we discover tomorrow?

Chew- who cycle from Penang to UK during 2012

Inspiring to talk to Chew

Since we were only 10km away from ferry terminal, we decided to push all the way to Penang Island on 1pm+.  It turn out to be a wrong choice. We were forewarn not to cycle around 12pm till 3pm as the sun is very hot and it will suck the energy out of us very fast. This is especially true when we were cycling on last stretch of highway to the Ferry Terminal. The only thing that i can think of is to quickly reach the destination and sleep. 

The highway before the ferry terminal

In the Ferry

Manage to reach penang by 3pm and hotel just a while after the quick rain started again. Finally, we arrived in Penang after 9 hours of journey.

Komtar-Penang highest building

Come....

No helmet, no ride...

One of the wall art in Penang

Short training on bike tyre changing-25th May 2013

With time running very short, i went to Tukang Basikal Fook Sang to learn how to change inner tube. It is not easy for newbie like me.  We have to be extra cautious when put the inner tube back inline. I spoil an inner tube on my first attempt. I end up getting 2 more inner tube (Now total 3 spares inner tube to go for the trip.) .

The inner tube was spoiled because it was not properly put in.

Ride with Charity

As I am working on my bike tour, it has gone so wonderfully out of control. When I wrote down that dream during SPM, I never expect it would get involved with charity. Yup, we manage to get a sponsor to donate to our charity of our choice for the bike trip. 

I would like to specially thank Sensata Technologies Malaysia for donating for to our charity of choice, sponsoring shirt for us, but most important of all thank you for believing in us. Thank you very much! Thanks Nasam GM Ms. Wye Wye for the encouragement, doing her best to support us on the campaign in such short notice. It is truly a blessing to be given opportunity to repay back to the society. Finally, thanks Prem for the suggestion and making it possible.

I have totally no idea that there is a post stroke treatment after stroke prior meeting with Ms. Wye Wye from NASAM on 25th May 2013. She really opened my eye 

Nasam actually stands for The National Stroke Association of Malaysia. It is South East Asia’s first non-profit organisation that offers rehabilitation services for stroke survivors and support to their families.

I never knew that a stroke patient has to go through a lot rehabilitation such as speech therapy, physio therapy....but most important of all emotional therapy. The pain that the patient and the family have to go through is unthinkable.The patient has to relearn everything from scratch just to perform “used to be” simple daily routine including talking, walking, brushing teeth….etc. How would you feel that you have to relearn things that you can do with closing eye for the past 30,40, 50 years?  You will get depress right? 

Post-stroke therapy sessions in a private healthcare hospital averages RM120 an hour. Recovery from stroke is often arduous and long term. It may sometimes take years for a stroke patient to fully recover and if a survivor takes 10 years - such costs can translate to RM 4,800 per month (for 2 hours of daily therapy from Monday to Friday) or RM57,600 per year! This is a heavy burden for average family. Those who could not afford the therapy sessions will have to live with that condition for the rest of their life. Some were left in old folks home waiting to die. It is worse than death. Thanks to Nasam, they made it only RM200/ month. Money donated is not just for mere normal charity. It means helping a stroke patient to be able to walk again, talk again, to bring a new laughter not only back to the patient’s life but also the family. It give them a new life and new hope! What could be more meaningful than that???

There are 50,000 new cases of stroke in Malaysia and yet, only 300 new cases come annually to NASAM for post stroke treatment. Imagine how many patient out there need helps?

This really touches me. This is the reason why we decided to work with Nasam for my bike tour dream. So if you are interested in supporting the cause, please click the link below for donation. Your Rm 1 makes a difference! I am also pledging you out there to make people aware that there are such treatment. 

Say yes to Life After Stroke!

In case you are interested to contribute on such a noble cause, please click the following link

http://www.peoplegiving.org/campaign-page?campId=46#.UaxvdWZLdk0.facebook

     

    

Trainning

Didnt really did much of trainning due to limited timing. In fact I just did 4 and none of them exceed 80km. Eventhough we are not going for speed during the trip, i am still a bit concern how will i survive the trip....

Was thinking of joinning Dave for a ride on the first bike ride, didnt expect that they were doing a road awareness campaign. Even so, it was quite fun and i get a free Malaysia flag which i intend to leave it on my bike throughout the whole trip. Route: Subway Kota Kemuning-GM klang-then all the way back. (we actually overshoot)

First Ride: Briefing by Dave before start

After riding

We have Sophia Chu joinning us on 2nd ride. I did a test on my newly bought ion pro plus video cam, quality quite good. Really enjoy the sun rise....
Route: Along Guthre corridor till end then back

I notice sophia's mountain bike was quite flat, So Kelwin Wan help inflate the tyre

At the end of Guthrie Corridor The sign behind stated 0

Waiting to cross the busy road before returning to the starting point

Just finish the 2nd ride

3rd ride was the toughest. I have to keep up the pace with Kelvin Wan and Noobus. We did 52km. I have hard time waking up next day, felt very tired. Feeling the body was heavy and spreading everywhere. But i learn from Kelvin Wan to put small ribena pack behind my jersey pocket. It feels chilling. For the first time i just realized how to use my hand pump eventhough i have had it for the past 8 months plus. To be honest, i thought that supplier supply me a lousy pump and i did thought of getting a new one....
Route: Kesas (summit entry) to Sri Petaling and back X 2 loop)

Group photo

Kelvin Wan pulling stunt with his antique iron bike. Looks fun, so i also did it. but not very high. Thank god because i forgot my bike is made of carbon fibre, if too high. Will break it.

Me inflating tyre for the first time using the hand pump which i though was 

4th Ride, we have Hong Lan and Noobus's friend joinning. It was an interesting experience as it drizzle a while after we start riding. Good simulation on what to expect during my tour. My right leg was pain while i ride. However. it was great to see a lot of rider along the route.
Route: Along Guthre corridor till end then back