As we set off for our last full days cycling in Malaysia, we looked up and there was no blue, just these grey / white things called clouds. Our first overcast day in a long while.
We liked this sign
We carried our bicycles down a flight of stairs loaded them up and started by 9:30 am. Our bicycles have been carried up a few flights of stairs recently.
The short day of 33 kilometres retraced some of yesterday out of Pontian along the main road but we soon turned off onto our favourite small side roads. Along one of these a scooter rider stopped for a chat, his local mosque was just down the road so we followed him there where we sat in the shade drinking cool tea talking about lots of things. He was called Ideal and worked in IT.
Mmmm which way? Dirt track or small dirt track?
Trying to look as though we know what we are doing, Ideal and Martin
It was a comfortable night at the hotel so we didn’t get going until 9:30 am.
Similar to yesterday the days cycling was on main roads but unlike yesterday it was a pleasant ride. The roads were wider and mostly a good shoulder, enjoyable cycling.
Views along the way
Today we made our way out of The Robertson for the last time, if anyone wants a very centrally located place to stay then you would not go wrong with these apartments, there are lots available on the various booking sites and AirBnB.
An early morning view from the balcony
We move ever closer to Kuala Lumpur, with a mixed day of cycling.
A lot of main roads as you would expect nearing the capital of Malaysia. There were a couple of quiet sections along the way, we even managed to find a small gravel track. There was a hill or two thrown in for good measure as well.
A view from the way
We had a very relaxing day doing nothing, not many pictures at all. It did mean we are actually planned over a week ahead now, which is very unusual for us.
It did rain very heavily around 3:30 pm but we just watched it bounce off the road from the dry of a small restaurant.
Rain from the resturant
Leaving Pantai Remis along the 60 through the middle of town we made a quick stop to pick up some water from the 7/11 then continued on the main road.
Hornbill on Pangkor Island
There is one hour time difference between here and Thailand means it is light at around 7:30 am so we end up leaving around 9:30 am (or 8:30 am Thai time).
Just past the airport
Even though the port is only 20 km away if we cycle the most direct route we decided to circle the island with a more substantial 50 km. The extra traffic on the roads still seems strange, lots of cars on the road still seems strange and no shouts of “hello” seems very strange. Time will tell if this is normal or specific to a tourist island like this.
We cycled past the airport then up one largish hill following the coast. There were several troops of monkeys along the roadside, waiting for any cyclists to expire before pouncing on them, we made it past un-pounced on.
Past the airport
Monkeys on the move
The road then cut across the island and it got a little bit quieter here, until it reached the north coast where there was a lovely empty beach and a complete lack of anything tourist related. We followed the north coast for a while then cut back down to Kuah where we are stopping tonight.
In amongst all the beauty stands a Lafarge cement factory
Off the north coast
More off the north coast
In Kuah we easily found the Milvus Hotel when we have a small but comfortable room. After a shower we walked a couple of kilometres to the port building to double check on taking our bicycles onto the ferry, no problem at all. To get to the port building you walk through Legenda Park, with lovely ocean views, then past Dataran Lang or Eagle Square with it’s massive 12 m high statue of an eagle the island’s emblem. According to folklore Langkawi’s name came from two Malay words – ‘helang’ (eagle) and ‘kawi’ (reddish brown): hence lang-kawi.
Langkawi eagle
Boo
Mangroves in Legenda Park
On our way back we stopped for some food, tonight it was roti. The roti is malay for bread in this case a flatbread originating from British colonialism where many people were brought here from Tamil Nadu in India bringing their cuisine with them. The food was lovely, we are going to eat a lot of these!
Half eaten roti
The Strava route today.
Last night was a very comfortable night, we could have easily stopped in bed a lot longer. This is unusual in Thailand as the majority of beds are very hard with a huge pillow so you head feels like it is 45 degrees to your body.
We started by following a small road out of town before a short stretch on the main road. Again the side roads proved to be virtually traffic free.
Through the plantations and up to the hills
What another day with no cycling you say, we did climb “A mountain” though.
Master of all he surveys
Cycle Travellers 