This was the first country I went to from Singapore. To start the tour, I left winter in Australia and landed at the equator, spent two days in Singapore then headed to Malaysia via Johor Bahru. Oh boy, it was hot and steamy and it was like that the whole way. As a result, I think I started earlier in the day than in other countries on this tour.
I found the drivers and other locals really courteous and they were more encouraging here than any other place on my tour. I lost count of the motorbike riders and drivers going past and giving me a thumbs up, and yelling things like ‘very good, very strong’. Sometimes it was Grab riders, sometimes it was old men going to their village, but they were always talkative. I don’t recall any incidents, and while traffic in KL was busy, it was easy to ride out of (I caught a bus to get there from Jerantut, and rode out west towards Klang).
Taman Negara National Park was a highlight. I did a two day trek in the rainforest. It felt like the most warm and humid place I’d ever been to in my life.
Hotels were more expensive than I expected. The really cheap ones were ok, but for another five or ten bucks, I could get quite a nice room.
I also spent time on Tioman and Langkawi islands which were both very nice and easy to get to – and this broke up the trip nicely.
I could always keep my bike in the hotel foyer or in my room apart from Day 1 in Ulu Tiram where the hotel refunded my money after changing their minds about where it should go. They insisted that I park it on the street.
I took a while to get used to the food as I do everywhere I go. I loved the roti’s especially the roti telur for breakfast. It was great stodge for cycling. The best part is the use of the Latin alphabet, so once I learned the various words, life became easier. Of course sign language and pointing worked well, mainly because Malaysians were so helpful and friendly. Penang was the food highlight of Malaysia, but Lou Wong’s in Ipoh was a very close second. The chicken rice was simple but full of flavour.
It was interesting to witness the different cultures that go into the mix in Malaysia – Malay, Chinese and Indian. It affected the food, the housing, behaviour etc. all in a positive way.
The only unfortunate thing was the rubbish situation. In every coastal setting apart from the islands, there was a level of garbage that it made the place uninviting. It’s a shame because it’s a lovely place.
Other Posts from my time in Malaysia
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