Day 2 (Alor Setar, Kedah to Jelutong, Penang)

Friday, 6th January 2017


117km

8am, my phone alarm was ringing. Where was I? Who's bed is this? As I opened my heavy eyes sleepily to look around, it slowly came to me, I was in Sher Minns house, in Alor Setar, and it was day 2. I hit the snooze button and went back to sleep. After a couple more snoozes, I eventually got up at 815 and went to the toilet to have my shower. After I was done getting dressed in my now dry cycling shorts and a new clean shirt, I applied some of the sun block sher minn's dad had given me and almost immediately felt the relief on my burnt forearms. 

I packed my clothes and toiletries into my bag just before joining them in the kitchen for breakfast, along with 3 tin cans of Milo which Sher Minn's dad had given me the night before. Sher Minn's mom had very kindly bought a packet of nasi kandar from a local store called Nasi Kandar Zam Zam which, in my honest opinion, is one of the more underrated nasi kandar stores around. A cut of beef and a piece of honey chicken with a hard boiled egg and rice drizzled in various kinds of curries coupled with a cup of milo, is there truly a better Malaysian breakfast? After I finished, I was chatting with her mom and drinking more water as the heat had really caused me to sweat a lot yesterday, so much so that I was just constantly feeling thirsty and my urine output was minimal and relatively concentrated, even until this morning.

I filled up my bottles, placed them onto my bike and did a quick inspection from top to bottom just to see if everything was OK. By 8.45am I was ready to leave. It was going to be a longer than today than it was yesterday. My stop for the night would be in Jelutong on Penang Island, which means I would be riding the ferry across the Straits of Malacca from Butterworth Ferry Terminal. Just before I left, I took a picture with Sher Minn's mom and her ensemble of dogs who came to see me off and thanked her mom and her dad for everything and told them I'd come back soon to visit.

What a send off!

As I had lived in Alor Setar for about a year before, I was very familiar with the roads heading out of town. I reached the southern edge of town in no time. As the weekends in Kedah start on Fridays, traffic was fairly light which meant taking in the cool morning breeze was all the more enjoyable. A few kilometers out of Alor Setar, I noticed that my back wasn't aching like it had the day before. A little discomfort sure but I attributed that to the ruck sack on my back as well as my body not being too used to getting on the bike again after just 12 hours of recovering. I took this a sign that my body was still acclimatizing to long hours on the saddle. I wished I could say the same for my perineal area though (that part of your body between your genitals and your anus), it was definitely a little sore from yesterday and the ruck sack wasn't helping either.

The ride down south towards Sungai Petani was relatively smooth and uneventful, which given what happened yesterday, wasn't such a bad thing. I stopped after about 45 km of riding at a petrol station for some rest and had one of the 3 cans of Milo in my bag. As with yesterday, the roads in Kedah were generally flat with acres upon acres of paddy fields to the left and right and the tall silhouette of Mount Jerai in the background.

The plan for today was to reach Sher Minn's sister's place in Jelutong, where I would be staying for 2 nights, by 5pm as I had made plans to join Sher Minn and her sisters for dinner on the island. With my departure being just before 9am, I had an ample amount of time, but I still didn't want to leave too many things to chance. A habit that I sincerely frown upon is tardiness. It shows a lack of sincerity in the things you do as well as a lack of concern towards others who may have invested time and effort to meet with you, just to have you waste even more of their time by forcing them to wait.

Mount Jerai in the distance.

Prior to starting my cycling trip, I had bought a book by a local cyclist who detailed her own journey across the country with a partner. In it, she mentioned how the roads leading into and through Perak would be quite hilly and steep relative to the flat roads of Kedah and Perlis, which is why I took the opportunity to enjoy the view and easy roads as much as possible while I had the chance.

After my refreshment, I got back on the road and before long, I passed through the town of Guar Chempedak just before arriving at the base of Mount Jerai, just a few kilometers north of Gurun. Standing at 1175m above sea-level, Mount Jerai has often been a hot spot for local mountain hikers and cyclists. 

It boasts a rather beginner-friendly albeit lengthy hiking trail starting from the Bujang Valley (Lembah Bujang) as well as the longest down-hill mountain biking course in the country. Most regular Joes looking to do some light exercise but aren't too adventurous or keen on going through the almost 10 hour-long hike, up and down, from Bujang Valley typically park their cars at the carpark at the base of the mountain and walk up via the singular asphalt road that connects the carpark with the resort at the peak. This same road is often used by road cyclists too who are looking to work on their climbing as quite a number can be see going up and down the mountain on the weekends. 

On a clear and sunny day, one will be treated with a spectacular view of Kedah, as far as Alor Setar itself to the North and the Strait of Malacca to the West. Some even say you'll be able to see even further than that up to Mount Keriang. 

Even though I didn't ride up this time, I've both hiked and cycled up the mountain before via the asphalt road which is approximately 12 kilometers long with an elevation of approximately 900 meters. A one way hike up all the way to the resort at the top, with the occasional rest stop or two, will take about 3 hours so I would suggest to anyone thinking of walking up, especially to catch the sunrise, to plan ahead and start your walk early so as to avoid walking under the afternoon sun for too long. As for cyclists looking to conquer the mountain, I've done it both with a mountain bike and road bike. A mountain bike will definitely have better gear ratios for climbing than even the most compact 50-34 chain rings on road bikes so those will be easier to ride up, especially for beginners. However, that doesn't mean it's an impossible feat for road bikes either although I would recommend that you have a decent amount of fitness and experience on your road bike first if you intend to go all the way up without needing to get off and push every once in awhile. Also, I would advise caution when descending as the corners can be quite sharp at some points and wet leaves may clutter at the sides of the roads, making it dangerous when braking or cornering.

Circa 2013 at the peak over-looking Kedah and the Strait of Malacca after a 3 hour-long walk up. From the left: My friend Josiah and myself.

My old mountain bike at the peak, circa August 2015.

The last time I rode up, circa April 2016.

At the peak, apart from a spectacular view, there is a four-star resort called the Regency Jerai Hill Resort which, thanks to its tranquil surroundings and cool mountain air, has made it a hidden gem for locals and non-Kedahans alike looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city but do not want to go to more congested and crowded getaways like Cameron or Genting Highlands.

Image taken from Booking.com

A few minutes down the road and I reached Gurun, a rather small slow-going town just north of Bedong and Sungai Petani. It didn't look like it had changed much over the six years or so I had spent it Kedah but then again, I suppose there's a certain rustic appeal to small towns and cities that maintain their old-town environment, especially for city folks who come back during the festive seasons.

Entering Gurun

The Gurun Train Station.

Rolling through town

After Gurun, I noticed that I was running a little low on water and it was already 12.30pm. I didn't want to stop until I reached Sungai Petani but I still had not decided on where I was going to have lunch yet. Also, my alma mater, AIMST University, was along the way. Which let me to contemplate about making a detour through Bedong and Semeling rather than head straight to Sungai Petani. Even though the university was along the way, I had to take a less direct route towards Sungai Petani and the road would mean missing out on some of the restaurants and food places located at it's northern end. Eventually, I decided to just make the detour. How long would it be until I come through here again?

The road towards Bedong and Sungai Petani was fairly wide with a dedicated motorcycle lane along most of it's length, which, even though being separated from the car lanes by just some paint on the road, gave me a fair bit of confidence and reassurance.

On the way to Bedong on the motorcycle lane.

Eventually, I passed through Bedong and arrived at the university. Didn't look like it had changed much since I left. I told the security guard I was an ex-student and wanted to go in to get water. After mulling it over a little with his coworkers, he allowed me in but told be to be quick. So that's what I did. I headed straight to the cafeteria without attracting too much attention, filled up my bottles at the water dispensers and made my way out.

Just an FYI, the university boasts a free dental clinic that's managed by the students themselves with the assistance of qualified lecturers-cum-dentists in exchange for practical experience. So, in the event you live nearby or knows someone who lives nearby and is looking for some dental work, maybe drop by and have a look around.

The entrance.

The guard house.

The administrative building.

Main buildings

Water stop.

I was off within minutes of refilling my bottles, didn't want to keep the security guard waiting. I passed by the guard house on my way out and headed down the road through Semeling towards Sungai Petani. Not long after, I was crossing a bridge over the Merbok River when I looked upon these chalets of sorts just beside the river. In all my 6 years of living in Kedah, I must have crossed this bridge over a hundred times and looked upon those same chalets over a hundred times too but I had never once gone over to see what was there or to find out what the chalet-looking buildings actually were. How long would it be until I come through here again, right? So I made another unscheduled detour towards the chalets.

The chalets are actually collectively known as the Merbok River Jetty Complex (Kompleks Jeti Sungai Merbok). It was only later when I learnt that was built with tourism in mind. It has a number of walkways built on concrete stilts over the river, allowing visitors an up close view of the mangrove fauna and the river itself without getting mud and dirt all over. In addition to the jetty, there is a museum on site, the Sungai Merbok Museum, which provides visitors with information on the history of Merbok River as well as the surrounding mangrove ecology.

The walkways with the mangrove amongst them

Remember that museum I mentioned? Well according to one of the info galleries there, due to the immense availability of mangrove timber in the surrounding area, the area was traditionally a charcoal and brick making site, which brings me to the large brick igloo you see in the pictures below, which is technically called a kiln or furnace or 'gok arang' in Malay.

Here is the entrance to the walkway which also leads to the museum. Unfortunately the museum was not open when I stopped by, which was quite odd given that it was a weekday. But then again, Fridays are technically weekends in Kedah, so maybe that's why it was closed. Either way, sites that function to attract tourism should be more engaging with visitors and operate with a more visitor-friendly modus operandi in mind, instead of disappointing visitors who have come a long way only to find these attractions closed. In other words, they should definitely be open on weekends.

There was also a wedding photo shoot going on at the time, which is why I didn't snoop around too much and didn't take too many photos of the walkway. 

The aforementioned walkway. 

Image taken from www.penang-traveltips.com

Image taken from www.penang-traveltips.com

Image taken from www.penang-traveltips.com

Image taken from www.penang-traveltips.com

After about 15 minutes at the complex, I was off towards Sungai Petani, now more hungry than ever and still without the faintest idea of where I was going to stop for lunch. Mee rebus? Wan tan mee? Roti bakar? Can anyone be more spoilt for choice?

As you're reading this right now, I'll play a small game with you. Be honest (no flipping ahead) and see if you can guess what I end up having for lunch before I reach my lunch spot in Sungai Petani. All correct answers will be entitled to a prize, so start thinking!

The roads from this point onwards were rather heavy with traffic and it only got heavier as I got closer to the city. Sungai Petani is the second biggest city in Kedah after Alor Setar and has seen rapid development over the years, occasionally stealing the spot light from it's bigger brother. It boasts a number of private hospitals along with the civil Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital, a few shopping malls, universities, a train station and the newly renovated bus station. Although nowhere near the sophisticated metropolis that is Penang or even Alor Setar for that matter, Sungai Petani is a relatively mature township and is still rapidly growing and I'll be interested to see how it's landscape changes as the years go by.

The roads leading up to Bedong and Semeling from Gurun had mainly oil palm trees to compliment them, which was why I was rather pleased with the return of paddy fields. It was only when all the tall oil palm trees and mangrove plants were gone did I realized how dark and gloomy the sky was. The scent of rain was in the air too. I picked up the pace because I was definitely not interested in the getting stuck out in the rain, especially on an empty stomach. As I was very familiar with the roads here, I didn't need to stop at all to check Google Maps, one less thing to worry about, I thought.

Dark clouds rolling in.

Turn left towards the city center (pusat bandar).

Eventually, I arrived in Sungai Petani around 1.15pm. At this point, the sky was still fairly cloudy but had cleared a little, a good sign, I thought. With at least 50km left before Jelutong, I really hoped it wasn't going to rain. I tried not to think about it too much and focused on the task at hand; lunch. I realised I was famished but I had still not decided where I was going to have lunch. Sungai Petani was a town I was very familiar with. Restaurants or hawker stalls, western or local, cafes or road-side umbrella stalls, I had a fairly good idea about what to eat and where to eat. 

Waiting at a traffic light.

As I rolled in through the center of town, I passed the Sungai Petani Clock Tower, the town's landmark. The area around the clock tower is where most big time events such as the Merdeka Day parade and Sungai Petani Half-Marathon are held. This area is also a regular route in the Tour of Langkawi where cycling fans would gather on the sides of the roads to catch a glimpse of the riders zooming by on their way down south.

The Sungai Petani Clock Tower.

 

Just down the road from the clock tower is the Hong Kong and Shang Hai Banking Corporation (HSBC) building. Just one look at it and you'll know it's probably one of the oldest buildings in Sungai Petani. An originally British bank, the beautiful building dates back to the British colonial times. With a Moorish dome that's reminiscent of the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station, the building has a historic aura around it that contrasts the more modern buildings around it. Plus, it’s located near the Clock Tower, making a two-for-one deal for tourists – you get to do your banking and sightseeing at the same time!

The HSBC building.

Unfortunately, perhaps I was being complacently over-confident with my knowledge of the area that, as I was riding through and stopping once in awhile to take pictures, I unknowingly passed-by most of the good eateries I was familiar with. The Lucky Corner kopitiam (local term for traditional coffee shop), Chennai Curry House, the Pallet Cafe, Thajudeen Mee Goreng/Rebus  and many other stores were a rather long U-turn away. Doh! By the time I realised it, I was so close to the southern end of town, it seemed like a such a drag to turn around and the fact that I've probably had those foods many times over in the past made it even less appealing to do so.

As I was crossing over the Sungai Petani River, I looked up ahead and saw the Central Square Shopping Mall. I decided to just stop and have lunch there as it was coming up to 1.30pm already and my body was crying out for food.

Crossing the Sungai Petani River.

Central Square Shopping Mall straight ahead.

So did you manage to guess what I had for lunch that day? *Drum roll*....

McDonald's.

My sad little McChicken burger.

Again. Two days in a row.

Urgh, what little adventurous spirit in me just rolled it's eyes at me as I sat down and settled for my McChicken burger. Even though the shopping mall did have other eateries, I wasn't too comfortable with leaving my bike out of sight for prolonged periods of time, even though it was secured with a bike lock. The McDonald's in the mall was on the ground floor and had windows through which I could keep an eye on my bike which was parked just outside. Plus, I didn't want to have to go through the hassle of unpacking my bag to take out my slippers, remove my cycling shoes, put on my slippers and stow away my cycling shoes in the bag just to walk through the mall to find something to eat. Also, I wasn't planning on staying too long as it was close to 1.30pm, which meant I had about three and a half more hours to get to Jelutong and I still had another 50km to go until Butterworth, which doesn't sound like much, but once you factor in taking photos and having to check Maps every once in awhile, the times add up. In addition to that, there was still the ferry I had to take to get on to the island which itself is a 15 to 20 minute ride, not counting the waiting time for the ferry.

So how did you do? Were you even close? If you managed to get it right, then here's your prize: One piece of Grade-A top-quality genuine life advice, when you're pedaling across the country alone, it's good to plan ahead when it comes to your meals so you don't end up like me, having to settle for McDonald's two days in a row!

I finished my food quick and I was out the door a few minutes after 1.30pm. I stopped by the grocery store within the mall which was just down a flight of stairs from McDonald's, bought a bottle of water as I only had one bottle left, refilled the empty bottle, and took off.

As I was already pretty close to the southern edge of town, it didn't take me long to pass the southern Sungai Petani toll plaza, and, before long, I had left the town behind.

Onwards to Butterworth.

Eventually, after about half an hour, I arrived at the Kedah-Penang border. Locals will know of this border as being marked by the Merdeka Bridge. Merdeka, being the Malay word for Independence, suits the name of the bridge as it was opened in 1957 when Malaysia, at the time known as Malaya, achieved independence from the British. Prior to the construction of the North-South Highway, the route across the bridge was the main way by which locals would move to and fro between Penang and Kedah, owing it's popularity to it's relatively wide span.

Terima Kasih, Selamat Jalan - Thank you, Bon Voyage 

The bridge's iconic white arches.

The Muar River.

Not too long after the bridge, I passed by the town of Kepala Batas, followed by Pekan Baru shortly after. There were a few instances when it drizzled during the ride but nothing too heavy. I was glad I didn't have to make any additional stops to take shelter as I was already cutting it pretty close to my expected arrival time of 5.00pm. Not only that, I couldn't help but be reminded about how close I was to being forced to end my trip yesterday had my seat post clamp not been fixed. So with all things considered, everything was going pretty smoothly.

For some reason, the ride from Sungai Petani to Butterworth seemed further than from Alor Setar to Sungai Petani despite the latter being more than 10km longer.  Maybe my blood sugar level was lower than I thought it was or maybe there was a stronger headwind during the later half of my ride, Either way, the sun burns on my forearms were definitely not helping. 

Passing by Kepala Batas. Slight drizzle then. Fork in the road; Bertam to the left, Pekan Baru and Butterworth to the right.

Just outside Pekan Baru.

After about one and a half hours from Sungai Petani, I had arrived at the Butterworth Royal Malaysian Airforce Base (Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia) but I still had yet to see anything resembling the ocean, a port or a ferry terminal nearby. Was I going the right way? I decided to keep on going until I found a petrol station where I would stop at. I wanted to check Maps to make sure I was going the right way, and I was running low on water again so I needed to top up soon. Not only that, my back was killing me and I could use the break.

Pangkalan Udara Butterworth - Butterworth Air Base

Riding along the perimeter of the base towards the city center.

I stopped at a Petronas petrol station a little while down the road from the air base. "Bagan Ajam" was on the sign board. Almost immediately after stopping my bike, I got off and sat myself down on the ground, giving my legs some much deserved rest. The relief was overwhelming. A motorcyclist nearby who was refueling his bike looked at me with concern on his face. Perhaps it was due to the fact that it was just my second day and my body had yet to accustom itself to being on the saddle and pedaling for so long, not to mention with a ruck sack on my back the entire journey. That combined with such a short recovery period from yesterday probably explained why I was feeling so exhausted.

I looked at my watch while I took a breather. 3.30pm. I pulled out my phone to check where I was. The good news was that I had been going the right way all along and was technically already in Butterworth. The bad news was that I still had another seven kilometers to go until I reached the jetty, which, at the time, seemed like such a drag. Take a breather, I told myself. It's not like it was an impossible distance. I just had to get off my ass and do it. Plus, what else was I going to do, call a cab just to drive me seven kilometers down the road?

Seven more kilometers until I'd be on the ferry. Having already done over a 100 kilometers since Alor Setar, I was already more than 90% of the way there. I took a sip of water from my almost empty bottle, got back up and forced myself back onto the road. Just a little more, I told myself.

Pedaling through Butterworth.

....almost there....

....just a bit further....

Eventually I arrived at the Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi Hall, a community hall under the jurisdiction of the Seberang Perai Municipal Council. It was constructed during the British colonial era and functioned as a recreational club. This landmark of Butterworth was later rebuilt and reopened in 2007 and named after the late father of the then Prime Minister, Dato Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

I stopped for a minute to take a picture and to check my phone again as there was a junction coming up and I wasn't too sure if I needed to make a turn or not. I was also curious as to how much further the jetty was. I don't remember it being so far away but then again, I've only ever driven around here, so maybe that's why I kept thinking it was so near. The exhaustion was probably playing it's part too.

1.2 km to go, according to Maps. Alright, just a bit more. Lets go.

The Dato Haji Ahmad Badawi Hall.

Ferry Terminal straight ahead!

Eventually, by the grace of the cycling gods, I made it to the ferry terminal! It was around 3.45pm now. I had to do a little climbing before I got to the actual terminal itself as there's a flyover you have to go up which leads to the jetty toll booths. There was some construction work going on on top of the flyover so I took the opportunity to stop by the side and snap some pictures as traffic flow was being kept to the right lanes only.

On top of the flyover, over looking the toll booths.

Penang Island in the distance.

Prior to going up the flyover, I noticed a large building that was under construction with the words 'Penang Sentral' on a few signboards around it. I found out later that it essentially is being developed as a transportation hub akin to that of Kuala Lumpur Sentral. Personally speaking, I thought the location was definitely spot on as the ferry terminal, bus station and Butterworth train station were all within walking distances from each other. The complex is expected to be completed in 2018.

The under construction Penang Sentral.

Can you spot the ETS train?

The Penang Port in the background.

I proceeded along the down the flyover to the toll booth. As this was my first time talking the ferry with my bicycle, I wasn't too sure about which lane I had to take. Was I a pedestrian? Did my bicycle count as a motorcycle? Is there a dedicated bicycle lane?

As I approached the toll, I met with a couple of jetty workers and asked them. They very kindly explained that I'd have to go along the motorcycle lane and pay the motorcycle fee before getting on. They told me to just stick to the left side of the road as I approached the toll booth. So I did just that. At the booth, I pulled out my wallet to pay the booth operator but I realised I didn't have any coins to pay the man, only bills. Ironically enough, even he didn't have coins to return my change to me.

This ticked me off a little. How can you expect to run such a heavy traffic-flow operation without having a proper amount of coins set aside for change? What if every other person after me carries only bills with no coins? And why are they even still using coins when most toll booths along the North-South Highway have gone cashless? It's this sort of lackadaisical complacency and "tak apa" (nevermind) attitude that's killing this country.

So, as I looked at him with a rather frustrated face and he looked at me without the faintest idea about what to do, a motorcyclist came up. I moved aside to let him through. The toll booth operator told the motorcyclist to wait as he was still dealing with me. The motorcyclist then asked what was the matter, to which the booth operator then explained that neither of us had any coins to give the other. The motorcyclist then pulled out his wallet and paid my remaining 40 cents. Now at this point, maybe it was the fatigue, or the weather, or the low-standards by which the toll was operating under, but I certainly was not expecting this total stranger to help me out. Sure, anyone can say that it was "just 40 cents", but honestly to me, at that point, it was his sincerity and immediate willingness to help out another human being that caught my attention. I thanked him for helping me out and allowed him to go on through first while I finished my dealings with the booth operator.

After passing the toll booth, all vehicles will come up to a waiting platform over the water a few hundred meters down the road. Having gone through the motorcycle lane at the toll booth, I eventually ended up at the motorcycle waiting area. There, all the motorcyclists switched off their bikes and fiddled with their smart phones as they waited for the next ferry to dock. I also met the kind individual who helped me out earlier. Since I had to sit and wait for awhile, I decided this would be a good time to have another can of Milo, not only because both my bottles had run dry, but as a small way of celebrating. I guess one of the cons of going on such a trip alone is that, at the end of the day, regardless of how great your achievement was, having someone to share it with just makes the experience all the more worthwhile.

I opened up my bag to fetch the can of Milo and remembered I still had 2 left. I gave one to the gentleman who helped me out earlier as a way of showing my gratitude and paying him back. He declined at first but ultimately accepted with a smile and a thank you. Unfortunately though, shortly after he finished his drink, he chucked the can into the sea, so nonchalantly as though it was a norm to do so. 'Why would you do that??!', I thought to myself. As a country, we constantly debate with gusto and so righteously about the many issues that plague us, both political and non-political. So why is it then that we can be so head-strong with our words but not with our actions? Even a five-year old knows that littering is wrong. I'll probably never understand the habits of certain people. I guess Mr Kind wasn't also Mr Eco-friendly. I tried not to dwell on it too much a drank my Milo.

I texted Sher Minn to let her know I was already waiting for the ferry and that I should arrive in time. She departed from Alor Setar a couple of hours ago and was already waiting for me at her sister's place.

After awhile, the ferry arrived a few minutes before 4.00pm. The cars were allowed to board first followed by the motorcycles. There are 2 levels on the ferry, with the upper level being occupied by pedestrians and the lower one being occupied by cars, motorcycles and the occasional bicycle, making the overall boat more stable than if it were the other way around.

I lobbed the Milo can I was still holding on to into a dustbin on the ferry as there were none in the waiting area, then carefully pushed my bike to the front of the ferry in between the cars as I wanted to  take pictures at the front of the boat with my bike still in sight and be out as soon as possible because even though I was still on schedule, the ride across the straits would still take about 15 to 20 minutes, leaving just about 40 minutes to get to Jelutong. Not an impossible feat by car, but a little more challenging with a bicycle. Within a few minutes, the ferry departed the Sultan Abdul Halim Ferry Terminal on the mainland for the Raja Tun Uda Terminal on the other side of the water.

On the ferry, I met a charming gentleman by the name of Mr Nik from Pasir Mas in Kelantan. He seemed interested in my bicycle and asked me where I rode from and whether I was alone. I then proceeded to tell him my plan to get to Johor Bahru by bike. He was genuinely intrigued and chatted with me a little longer. He turned out to be a business man and was looking to start up a factory in Kuala Kedah that manufactures fish-based products; fish balls, keropok and so on, and that he was heading into Penang to meet with his fabricator to finalise the plans for some of the machines. He then proceeded to make a deal with me; he said that he would take a picture of me and my bicycle if I were to take a picture of him and his car! I, of course, obliged gratefully.

Courtesy of Mr Nik.

The charming Mr Nik and his car.

Shortly after exchanging photos, we chatted a bit longer before bidding each other good luck and good bye as the ferry was getting closer to docking and all the drivers and passengers who were roaming around on the deck began to return to their cars. I thanked Mr Nik for being such a nice companion on the ride and was off as soon as the docking platform lowered to allow  the vehicles to disembark. I checked my watch; 4.15pm.

The ride out of the ferry terminal wasn't as long or complex as the ride into it on the main land, just 200 to 300 meters in a more or less straight line from getting off the ferry and you're already on the main road. From there, I headed south down Pengkalan Weld road towards the Lim Chong Eu Expressway. Along the Expressway, I kept to the left most lane and made a left turn shortly after passing a row of shop lots on to Gat Lebuh Cecil road. From there, I made a right onto Pintasan Cecil and headed all the way to the end of the road. Here (coordinates on maps are here) you'll find the starting point of the Penang bike lane.

From there, I pedaled heading south on the bike lane, passing by Karpal Singh Drive where I stopped for a bit to just take in the view and come to terms with the fact that I was already on Penang Island. Karpal Singh Drive is a seaside promenade and was named after the late lawyer and politician Karpal Singh who died in a car accident on the North-South Highway back in 2014.

Karpal Singh Drive.

The area is usually bustling during the evening and weekends with joggers and cyclists having a good workout along the lane as well as the couple of dogs walkers walking their furry family members. Motorcycles are prohibited from entering the bicycle lane and Karpal Singh Drive itself with the local municipal council erecting various kinds of barricades to prevent the entry of these motorized two-wheelers. Unfortunately, I've always come across more than a few ignorant motorcyclists who just can't resist breaking the law.

Image taken circa April 2016.

Image taken circa April 2016.

After a couple of pictures, I was on my way towards Jelutong. After Karpal Singh Drive, the bike lane continues along the Lim Chong Eu Expressway. I got off the bike lane at the Jelutong exit and made my way towards Sher Minn's sister's place. I had stayed there before once for about three weeks during a short attachment stint with the Penang Hospital, so I was pretty familiar with the roads around the area and managed to get to the house by 4.40pm without any problems.

I found out that we still had some time to spare and we could leave at 5.30pm instead of 5.00pm, which was nice. Some breathing time, I thought. I unpacked my stuff, had a quick shower, chucked my clothes into the washing machine and before long, we were out the door heading towards Straits Quay for dinner.

Teh tiga lapis - Three-layered tea.

We, Sher Minn, her sister Jess Minn, and myself, drove towards the Gurney Drive area where we picked up Sher Minn's youngest sister Ee Leen, before heading northwards from Gurney towards Straits Quay.

If you've never been to this part of Penang before, I'd highly recommend it, especially during the late evenings and at night. The area is akin to that of a smaller Boulevard of Stars in Hong Kong, where patrons can walk along the pier overlooking the Strait of Malacca and the mainland. There are a few yachts docked here as well, not to mention the lighthouse here which is the landmark of the area. The roads leading to Straits Quay are riddled with restaurants, bars, and clubs, so there's definitely something for everyone here.

Straits Quay with the light house in the distance. Image taken circa April 2016.

Image taken circa April 2016.

We headed towards a restaurant called Uncle Albert's which is apparently known for its English fish and chips, which was exactly what I ordered. The service was good, fast and prompt and the seaside atmosphere just made the experience that bit more enjoyable. Definitely a nice place for a small group dinner when you feel like splurging a bit, which isn't to say the food was expensive by any means.

From the left: ELeen, Jess Minn, Sher Minn, myself.

After dinner, we took a stroll around the area and came across a nice pet store nearby, called the Furry Kids. By now, you'll probably already know that I'm quite a dog person, which was why I enjoyed paying the store a visit as they allowed some of their smaller dogs to roam around the store to interact with eager customers just waiting to pet them. There was a Shih Tzu there that reminded me of Sher Minn's oldest Shih Tzu, fur color and all.

Fluffy ball of fur.

After strolling around a little more, we eventually headed back to the car and made our way towards Gurney Plaza, one of the major shopping malls and tourist hotspots along Gurney Drive, as we had plans to catch a movie later on at midnight. 'La La Land' had just come out at the time and, being a self-proclaimed movie buff, I was really looking forward to a decent movie after months of sub-par movie after sub-par movie, and yes, that includes Rogue One. And, as it turned out, the movie was quite a treat, with a relatively simple yet meaningful plot complemented with great acting and a beautiful sound track. Definitely highly recommended and a must-watch for movie buffs.

The movie ended a little after 2am and we were home by 3am. What an exhausting day! I brushed my teeth, pluged my phone into it's charger and hit the hay. It didn't take long for me to fall asleep.

That's about it for Day 2. If you've yet to read Day 1, you can get to it by clicking on this link. Day 3 will be out in the coming week. Thank you!