Question (SMS Question):
Are you ok? Where are you now?
Answer:
I am ok but my right knee is slowing me down. So now, I need to re-plan my route to make sure I won’t do any climbing en-route Teluk Intan, Ipoh, Taiping (in Perak) and to Georgetown, Penang. If the pain doesn’t go away, I might have make a drastic change of plan. My policy for this adventure has always been, ‘Safety first’. I’m now writing this in Zamita Homestay, Sabak Bernam, after a hard battle from Kuala Selangor. Technically I am pedaling mainly my left leg as my right knee doesn’t feel good after the fall on Saturday night.
* By the time you read this, I might be making my way to or would already be in Teluk Intan, Perak. *
Day 11, Tuesday: Kuala Selangor – Sabak Bernam (70km)
Accumulated distance travelled: 690km
I woke up a little late today with a recurring pain in my left and right knee, which I suspect was a result of the fall on Saturday night. I stayed in bed a little longer to get both knee warmed up by rubbing a special oil on it. My left knee was from an old injury so, I am not surprised with it, but it is the right knee that has been bothering me so far from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Selangor.
For today ride, I’ve plotted 6 checkpoints, all 10km apart from each other – Bukit Melawati in Kuala Selangor, Tanjung Karang, Sekinchan, Sungei Besar and my last check point would be Sabak Bernam, where I would call it a day.
Time Check: 0700hrs (7am Malaysian time)
I got out from the bed and washed up. I’m familiar with the routine now. My morning packing of the panniers and mounting it on the bike got slightly faster. I finished and secured all the gear and was ready to go within 15 minutes. I did some warming up, stretching, and rode around Kuala Selangor to check if I’m good to do the 60-70km from Kuala Selangor to Sabak Bernam. The right knee wasn’t working well and the thought of staying for another day in Kuala Selangor was laid on the table for me, myself and I to discuss. I am ahead of schedule by 2 days, I can afford to hang around Kuala Selangor for another day or two. But my conscience doesn’t agree with me. It took the three of us 20 minutes to agree to be strong and go on. I hate my conscience and didn’t talk to him all through the trip until Sungei Besar town.
Time Check: 0800hrs (8am Malaysian time)
After the ‘chinese parliament’, we decided to continue with the journey to Bukit Melawati. I had planned to use the old backroads out from Route No. 5 to Sungei Besar, and to find the famous padi fields of Sekinchan. It was a little risky. Firstly, I don’t know how well my knee will cope. Secondly, I knew nothing about the route geography, and lastly I don’t have the detail route map for this area. I did refer to google maps the night before but it didn’t have any clear indication of the geography.
Time Check: 0830hrs (8.30am Malaysian time)
I arrived Kuala Selangor town and stopped for a light breakfast. People here are a little slow. For example, the coffee shop waiter, he stood for a minute or two looking at me, completely at a standing still after taking my order.
“I want 2 roti canais with one ice limau.” I ordered. The Indian waiter just stood still, staring at me for a minute or two before repeating my order. “Yes!” I said. And again, he just stood there for another minute before walking away from my table. Then, came back after taking a few steps away to repeat my order again. I am like, “Awak sakit ka?” (Malay for "Are u sick?")
Time Check: 0900hrs (9am Malaysian time)
I made my move out from Kuala Selangor real slow. I don’t feel so good about my knee so I just pedaled real slow to get my body warm. My first checkpoint would be Bukit Melawati. There is some sort of local attraction up the hill. What is up there? It’s the hang out area of local black monkeys. I was told ‘tame black monkeys will surround you, jump on your shoulder and won’t bite.’ Sounds fun, right? No!
Leaving Kuala Selangor
When I was climbing slowly up to Bukit Melawati, one black monkey jumped down from the branches above onto my handlebar bag and tried to stay on while I was pedaling up the hill. I shook my handle hard to throw the lone monkey off. Next thing I knew, I was surrounded by what seemed to be about 20 black monkeys. I didn’t want to be a dude that got attacked by wild monkeys, I quickly check my right blind spot and shook my handle hard again to scare the sole monkey of my handlebar bag and made a quick gateway back down the hill. I was in a little shock but I thought maybe this is normal for the local people in Kuala Selangor.
Time Check: 0930hrs (9.30am Malaysian time)
I was now on well on the way to my next checkpoint of Tanjung Karang, just 15km out from Kuala Selangor. Nothing special along the way except for a very tight Route No.5. Here was where I made used of my special hand signal to get some space whenever a big vehicle was approaching me from behind. It was really tiring to be sharing the roads with the big boys, and so I decided it was time to look for the back roads of Kuala Selangor. After asking around, an old villager gave me the directions. I found it within 10 minutes. Not as easy but my instinct took over and guided me to where the entry point was and when I hit the dirty old road, I knew I’m now on what is known as the ‘Jalan Jepun’ (Malay for Japanese road). The old road the Japanese troopers took heading south towards Johor during World War 2.
Resting at a checkpoint
Time Check: 1000hrs (10am Malaysian time)
I rode on the old back roads from Sekinchan all the way to Sungei Besar. It was a quiet road and most time, I was all by myself. It went on for miles after miles. Once a while, a motorist would come by and pass me. Friendly honking and friendly exchanges of waves whenever we pass each other and some would even, shout out the greeting, ‘selamat pagi’.
Time Check: 1100hrs (11am Malaysian time)
Headed further inland, in an easterly direction. I knew I was straying far from my actual planned route north-westerly on Route No. 5. It was an experience I did not want to miss. Imagine the view with nothing in front, back, left and right but padi fields for miles. What a sight. I turned north whenever I could so I could make my exit to Sekinchan or Sungei Besar town whenever possible.
Riding with the famous Sekinchan padi fields on both sides
Time Check: 1200hrs (12pm Malaysian time)
I was still in the middle of the padi fields and it got so hot and with no shade around me. I stopped for ‘fuel’, loading up on banana and salted rice balls. Then, kept going north now, with Sekinchan town far behind me. Next, I needed to get to Sungei Besar for lunch.
Nothing but padi fields all around
Time Check: 1300hrs (1pm Malaysian time)
It got hotter and I was heading Northwest again nearing Route No.5. The first fruits stall I saw, I quickly approached it and took shelter and loaded more bananas. I rested here for at least an hour before continuing my journey to Sungei Besar town, my next checkpoint.
Time Check: 1400hrs (2pm Malaysian time)
I reached Sungei Besar town and stopped at the first ‘Warung Nasi Ambeng’. Power! After lunch, I rode around Sungei Besar. Nothing special here and no hotel / motel with ground floor room. I set my GPS under ‘lodging’ and it brought me to a posh resorts near the sea. I am in no mood for fancy accommodations so, I left Sungei Besar and headed towards my final and last checkpoint of Sabak Bernam.
Time Check: 1500hrs (3pm Malaysian time)
About 5km outside Sungei Besar town, I saw far North the clouds were gathered. By now I was tired and my right knee refused to cooperate. I reluctantly dismounted and got on my rainproof gear. I stood for about 10 minutes looking at the dark clouds up north and also looking at the oncoming cars to see how wet they were to figure out how heavy the rain would be. After observing the oncoming cars, I knew I was going to be riding into another storm again! “What? Turn back to Sungei Besar? No, we ride though it and be in Sabak Bernam”.
Time Check: 1530hrs (3.30pm Malaysian time)
I was in the middle of Kuala Selangor storm. It was the heaviest storm that I’ve been through my entire journey. The next warung I saw I got in, and it happened to be a fellow 4x4 owner. He wasn’t at the stall but his wife was. A nice lady and I am ashamed to have forgotten her name. I sat there chatting with her and slowly villagers started to gather. Ma’am, if you reading this, thank you for the great hospitality. Please say hi to me here and I will add you on my facebook
Warung owner with her family & 4x4 in the background
Time Check: 1700hrs (5pm Malaysian time)
It was very unusual for me to be still not to have reached my checkpoint at this hour but the rain was still pouring. I geared up and set to leave the stall at 1730hrs (5.30pm Malaysian time) to continue towards Sabak Bernam. It was again very dangerous and tight roads heading towards Sabak Bernam. I rode real slow and made sure to use my hand signal to get some space from the lorry/trucks.
Time Check: 1800hrs (6pm Malaysian time)
Reaching Sabak Bernam and it was already dark. I was wet, tired and no had hotel! When push came to shove, I would need to camp. I checked my GPS and followed it west towards the beach to find a camp spot. Riding through a village, a family hanging outside their kampong house stopped me, offered me a cup of hot tea and chatted. It was getting darker and I asked the magic question. ‘Boleh tunjuk di mana saya boleh berkhemah?’
‘Camp?’ The wife ask
‘Yes!’ I replied with a smile.
The husband went in, brought out a helmet and ask me to follow his bike. A few hundred meters later, I was at a homestay! A beautiful homestay! I am now writing this at Zamita Homestay in a big room with everything inside. What else can I asked for. I was going to rub both my knees and the go to bed.
Dinner at Sabak Bernam
Overall Ride: Beautiful scenery. Not as easy as I thought but I am coping.
Three things that make me smile today:
- To hear from my darling
- Found the old road and the beautiful padi fields.
- Reaching my destination safely and I am now dry and clean
No comments:
Post a Comment