Mersing to Kluang
Distance - 95km
Average - 17.1km/h
Mersing was our last stop on the east coast before we headed across the peninsular to the west coast. It felt like we have finished part one of the Malaysian trip and the west coast and the route up to Kuala Lumpur is part 2.
The ride across to Kluang was one of the best days riding. For a change it wasnt flat, but instead had nice rolling hills, nothing too hard but enough to keep us honest. The ride took us through some spectacular scenery, hills with palm plantations as far as we could see.
Nat got pretty freaked out by the monkeys that would often be swinging in the trees on the roadside, but I was pretty sure we could out run them if they tried to make a go to steal our bikes. Iguanas proved to be a bit of a menace too, big ones about 1m long that often would run out on the road then see us and scuttle back just in time. Judging by the huge amount as road kill on the road they are obviously not too road savvy.
We also rode our 2000km today and I put Murhpys curse on us by saying how we hadnt had a puncture to date. After our morning tea stop for Mee Goreng (fried noodles) we got our first puncture, but it was pretty easy to sort out.
Nick posing for a shot with the Palms
Kluang to Muar
Distance - 113km
Average - 21.4km/h
After overnighting in Kluang, a large modern Malaysian town, we headed off to Batu Pahat then Muar both on the east coast. I think Nat left her chain in the hotel room because she set a cracking pace for the morning. Even after 95km the prior day she was flying. We made a quick stop off before belting out our final 50km to Muar. After riding 113km at our fastest average we were both in high spirits.
Muar is a fantastic town that lies on a river about 40km south of Melaka. It has a beautiful centre of town with lots of old chinese buildings. As we have progressed further south and now to the east coast the proportion of chinese and indian people has increased and Muar is a strongly chinese town with a lethargic feel to it.
A beautiful but run-down house in Muar
When we rode into Muar we had no map so tried to wing it to find our hotel. When we stopped on a corner to find some road names we were swamped by friendly locals offering directions. We met Lok, a young chinese man who is a member of the local cycling club. After giving us directions to the hotel we went and met his cycling club members. They are a great group of 12 guys who loved to hear our travel plans and what we had to say about Malaysia. We met them the following morning for a delicious chinese breakfast of Won Ton Mee (noodle soup) and chinese pancakes (a pancake filled with peanuts and sugar). Their group then headed off for a mountain bike ride and we headed off to Melaka.
That night we had a great Nonya dinner. Baba Nonya is an ethnic group which originated from Chinese traders marrying malay women and the Baba (men) Nonya (women) children are the result. They have a distinct cuisine similar to
Chinese but with Malay overtones.
Muar to Melaka
Distance - 45km
Average - 19.4km/h
After our breakfast with the Muar cycling club we headed off for a lesuirely 45km ride to Melaka, the historical centre of Malaysia. Melaka is where Malay's set up a trading port for chinese and indian traders before it was taken over by the Portugese, then the Dutch followed by the British. So we are keen to check it out.
An example of Portugese influence on the outskirts of Melaka
3 comments:
Nick and Nat
Great average on the bike. You are really making the east coast of Malaysia sound attractive, the food, the beaches and the friendly people. Your plans for Europe, India and Oz on the bike sound great.
Glad to see Nat is still as scared of monkeys as I am. I am so jealous hearing about Melaka. That was the main place i felt we missed out on when we were traveling together. The chinese, malay, indian and portugese influences would have made the food delish, right? Or was it better in penang and kota bharu?
melaka's food is pretty good, but i have to say the cuisine in penang is the best in malaysia.
Post a Comment