A Lone Cycling Trip Across Three Malaysia States
如果说要趁年轻时做些疯狂的事，这应该是小嵻做过第二件比较疯狂的事了吧？第一件是自己一个人步行环绕槟岛。对于这趟骑程，小嵻并没有在途中做任何记载，所以接下来小嵻都是凭记忆和感觉写出来的。那么，就先从小嵻为什么会有这个念头说起吧。其实也没什么，小嵻纯粹想要尝试从槟城骑单车到玻璃市，看看自己有没有这个能力和毅力完成这项挑战。作为准备，小嵻只是在谷歌地图上参考要经过的路线，分别是一号公路和七号公路，并把一些路名记载下来（后来发现记载这些路名一点帮助也没有）。出发前，小嵻在浮罗吃了晚餐，买了一些面包，带了四小瓶水，然后就上路了。小嵻晚上九点从浮罗出发，抵达码头时正好赶上最后一班渡轮，还真的是蛮幸运的。在渡轮上和一位大哥聊了一下，小嵻和他说小嵻要到玻璃市，并且问他关于最早一班的渡轮时间（预计在回程时会乘搭最早的渡轮），还有问他旧路一路上都会有路灯吗？他看了看小嵻，然后严肃地说：“你现在就要去吗？你一个人？骑单车去？”。然后小嵻点头说是。接着他又说：“现在这个时间去这太危险了！旧路有些地区是没有灯的。就算要去也应该要一群人去，一个人去太过危险了！”。听了他这一番话，照理说是应该要感觉害怕的，但是小嵻只是笑着回这位大哥的话：“没问题的啦！”。然后渡轮就开到对岸，然后我们下船了。
Doing something crazy may seems stupid to many, but for me, life should be full of craziness! So far, this long distance cycling trip is one of the two craziest things I have done in my life. The first one is rounding the Penang Island on foot. As for this cycling trip, I didn't jot down any notes along the way so what I am about to write is solely base on my at-that-moment feeling and my memory. So, lets start with why would I have such a crazy idea as to cycle so far? Well, it was not much of a big deal actually, I simply wanted to try and see whether I have the strength and determination to cycle from Penang to Perlis, and that's all. For the preparation part, I simply look at the route I should take on Google Map, which is Route 1 and Route 7. I jotted down the road name along the path which I eventually found that it was actually not helpful at all. Before I started the journey, I took my dinner at Balik Pulau, bought some buns and brought four small mineral water with me. I departed at 9 PM from Balik Pulau and reached jetty at around 12. I was really lucky that I managed to catch up with the last ferry. On the ferry, I have a little chit-chat with a big brother. I told him that I wanted to go to Perlis and asked him what time is the earliest ferry to go back to the island (I expected that I will take the earliest ferry when I come back). I asked him about the light condition along the old road to Perlis as well. Then, he look at me with a serious face and said to me :"Are you going now? Alone? With Bicycle?". I nodded my head and say yes. He then continued :"Going to Perlis at this time is too dangerous! Some of the old roads don't have lamp, they are all pitch black! You should go with a group of cyclists, going alone is just too dangerous!". Supposedly, after hearing to what he has said, I should be feeling afraid, but I smile at the big brother and said :"Don't worry, it will be fine."
来到了北海，接下来只要沿着海岸线骑下去就是了。途中经过这个存放货物箱的地方，那个举起货物箱的机械每当在举起货物箱前都会发出可爱的音乐，就像一些玩具所发出来的音乐一样。骑着骑着，就来到了一个收费站，单车、摩哆和行人是不必收费的。过了收费站是个休息站，那里有网络所以小嵻在那里停了一会儿上上网。这一路上都很亮，当时已经是凌晨一点多了但是还是有不少人在海边，不过道路就空空如也，经过的车辆也就只有那么几辆。哦，对了，这一路上只发生了一件让小嵻比较印象深刻的事，就是有辆摩哆突然开到小嵻的身旁，然后那位摩哆骑士向小嵻大喊，然后他就笑得很大声离去了。这种事之前小嵻也曾经遇过，就是一些闲着没事做的家伙看见一个人在路上行走或骑单车时就是会特意想要去吓吓他。虽然遇到这样的待遇小嵻应该是要感到生气的，但是小嵻笑一笑看着他们离去的背影然后对自己说：“哈哈，真是一群无聊的家伙啊~”。
I reached Butterworth after taking off from the ferry. Soon, I came to this container terminal. The lifter will play some lovely music every time before it lifts up a container. The music is kinda like those music played by the toys. Passing through the container terminal, I rode along the coastal and eventually came to a toll. Pedestrian, bicycle and motorcycle are free to pass through the toll. Right after the toll there is a rest station. I stopped by at there for a while to use the free Wifi. So far, the road I came along was really empty. Only a few vehicles passing by from time to time. There was a small incident that happened while I was riding along the highway. A motorcycle came really close to me and the cyclist shouted at me and then went away laughing loudly. Obviously, their intention was to scare me and yes I do get a little shock from the "surprise attack". Supposedly, I should be angry for such inferior treatment but I was not. I was smiling and looking at their back as they went far away. "They must be too boring with their life..haha..", I told this to myself with a positive mindset.
接下来小嵻一路随着一号公路往前骑，大概两点左右抵达这条桥。看见这条桥很特别，在骑过来的路上看见一个名为“默迪卡桥”的村庄，所以猜测这应该就是默迪卡桥了吧。过后回到槟城时上网查询了一下，果然被小嵻猜中了！这的确是默迪卡桥，而且还是槟城和吉打的交界处呢！不过当时可能是太暗了，所以没注意到有任何路牌显示这里就是交界处。小嵻在这里停了一下，欣赏这座桥的美，看看在一旁钓鱼的安哥，然后就这样不知不觉地骑出了槟城。从小嵻出发到这里大概是七十公里左右。
I rode along Route 1 and reached this bridge at around 2 PM. Before I saw this unique bridge, I have passed through a village that is name after "Merdeka Bridge", so I was guessing that the "Merdeka Bridge" is referring to this unique bridge. When I get back to Penang later, I search for this brige on the net and yes, my guess is correct! This is really the Merdeka Bridge and it marks the boundary of Penang and Kedah! Though, perhaps it was too dark at that time, I didn't see any signboard mentioning that this is actually the boundary of Penang and Kedah. I stopped at here for a while looking at the beautiful bridge and the young man fishing on the bridge, and then leaving Penang without knowing it. The distance from where I departed until this point is about 70 KM.
小嵻抵达双溪大年时大概是凌晨三点钟，大概是骑了九十公里左右。来到双溪大年第一个念头就是要找二十四小时的麦当劳或肯德基。结果一路沿着大路都没找到，看见一间二十四小时的嘛嘛档还开着所以就进去里面休息下，点了一杯 Teh O Limau Ice 和两片 Roti Canai。可惜的是这间嘛嘛档没得上网。休息过后继续往大路一直骑，才刚骑不久就看见对面有间二十四小时的肯德基了！小嵻这时又停下来了，待在路旁利用肯德基的网络上网，上传照片到小嵻的 Instagram。就这样，小嵻在双溪大年待上了一个钟，凌晨四点才继续出发。
I reached Sungai Petani at about 3 PM, which is about 90 KM of riding distance. The first thought of mine when I reached Sungai Petani was to look for Mac Donald or KFC. Unfortunately, I rode along the main road and couldn't find any. Then I saw a 24 hours Mamak stall so I went in and ordered a glass of Teh O Limau Ice and two pieces of Roti Canai. However, it was too bad that they don't have any Wifi service. After the small rest, I continued cycling along the main road. Just a few meters away from the Mamak stall, I saw the 24 hours KFC! I should have cycling a bit longer just now. I stopped my bicycle at the roadside and I used the KFC's free Wifi to upload pictures to my Instagram. And so, I have spent one hour at Sungai Petani and continued my journey at 4 AM.
离开了双溪大年，折磨也就开始了。虽然大部分的路都有路灯，但是还是会有一些路段是完全没有灯的，所以真的需要很小心，万一骑进坑洞的话就糟糕了。这些路段大多的景色都是稻田，有时还会出现道路两旁都是大树的，如果是在白天经过的话相信景色一定会很迷人，但是晚上就什么也看不清楚了。当小嵻经过一些没有灯的路段时，心里在想着如果前方有阿飘飘过的话小嵻会怎么办？虽然是有少许的害怕，但是小嵻觉得兴奋会来得多一点。小嵻在想，如果遇到的话，小嵻大概会研究下阿飘这东东到底是怎么一回事，看看能不能沟通。不过如果真的遇到的话，小嵻应该会有多快就骑多快吧！哈哈~大概骑了二三十多公里后，小嵻的屁股开始感觉疼痛了，无论怎样更换坐姿也没什么帮助。这时小嵻也将近一天没睡了，所以精神有点无法集中，有那么一点点小晕的感觉，也有一点点想吐的感觉。就在距离亚罗士打还有大概十五公里远处，刚好有一间咖啡店正在开店，所以小嵻就在那里休息一下，吃个早上五点的早餐。咖啡店老板告诉小嵻一个人在这里骑单车很危险的，应该找个伴，这样也不会那么闷。咖啡店老板还问小嵻有带备胎吗？小嵻很自信地说没有，这辆单车的轮胎还蛮厚的，没那么容易爆胎。
The torturing part of the journey began not long after I left Sunagi Petani. Although most of the roads are equipped with road lamps, but there are still some parts where there is no lamp at all, literally pitch black. So I have to be very careful so that I didn't rode into any holes. Along the way, both side of the roads are mainly paddy field and there are parts where big trees grow neatly along the road. If it was a daytime, I believe that the view will be a very nice one. When I passed through the pitch black route, I was thinking what should I do if suddenly there was a ghost appeared right in front of me? I do feel a little bit scare, but more to excitement. I was thinking that if I were to bump into one, I would have try to communicate with the ghost and see how does this so call "ghost" thing works. But if I were really to meet one, I think I will just cycle as fast as I can to get rid of it..hehe.. After riding for about 20 to 30 KM, my butt started to feel really hurt. I try to change my sitting position but it was not very helpful. At that time, I have been awake for about one day and I started to lose focus and feel a little bit dizzy. At about 15 KM before reaching Alor Setar, there was a coffee shop that was just about to open. So I rest in the coffee shop and have my breakfast at 5 AM. The coffee shop owner told me that it is very dangerous to cycle alone in this area, I should have come in pair or group, so that the journey wont be so boring as well. He then asked me whether I got bring spare tyre or not? I told him with confidence that this tyre is actually quite a good one, it wont puncture so easily.
吃完早餐，小嵻继续沿着一号公路往前慢骑。虽然是恢复了一点体力，但是屁股还是感觉非常疼痛，而且颈部也非常酸痛。小嵻骑到亚罗士打时已经是早上七点半了，第一个想法就是想要找个单车店，买个海绵坐垫垫底，但是却一间单车店也没看见，而且商店也都还没开门。小嵻抵达亚罗士打时已经耗了大概十小时半，一共骑了大约一百五十公里（差不多能环绕槟岛两圈了），比预计的时间多出了一倍。小嵻算了算，如果要骑到玻璃市的巴东勿刹然后再骑回槟城的话，以小嵻目前的速度恐怕会来不及回到槟城（小嵻隔天早上七点要开工了，所以必须在那之前赶回民宿）。小嵻也担心抵达玻璃市后已经没有力气骑回槟城，因为骑到亚罗士打已经是精疲力尽了。现在正是小嵻必须做决定的时候，应该继续往前呢？还是就这样掉头返槟？如果现在回去的话小嵻还来得及回到槟城，而且也不必那么赶，可以边骑边休息。但是小嵻很了解小嵻的性格，如果就这样放弃的话，小嵻一定会很不甘心，下次一定还会再来骑多一次的！小嵻想了想，然后发了一则简讯给朋友，询问他火车是否可以载送单车的。他说摩哆车都可以上了，单车应该是没问题的。嗯，小嵻就这样决定了，继续前往玻璃市前进，然后到巴东勿刹乘搭火车回北海。接下来，小嵻离在亚罗士打离开了一号公路，骑进七号公路继续前进。根据谷歌地图，只要骑到七号公路的尽头就是巴东勿刹了。
After finished eating my breakfast, I cycling along Route 1 at a very slow pace. Although I managed to restore a little bit of my body strength, but my butt was still in a very painful condition every time I sat on the bicycle seat. My neck and shoulder were painful as well. I reached Alor Setar at 7:30 AM and my first thought was to find a bicycle shop. I really need a nice spongy cushion to save my butt. Unfortunately, there wasn't any bicycle shop in sight, in fact most of the shops weren't open yet. It has been about 10.5 hours since I departed from Balik Pulau and the distance is about 150 KM (almost twice the distance for rounding the Penang Island). I have spent more time than I have expected. At this rate, I might not be able to go back Penang on time if I were to cycling to Padang Besar (I have to reach the homestay before 7 AM tomorrow). Another concern was that I was afraid that I might not have the strength to cycle back to Penang if I continued my journey to Perlis. I was about 70% worn out when I reached Alor Setar. So, now I have to make the decision, to go on or to go back? If I was to go back right now, I could still managed to reach Penang on time, and I still have plenty of time so I can have some rest along the way. However, I understand myself too well. I know that I will definitely do this again if I were to give up now. So I thought and thought and then I sent a text message to a friend asking him whether I can take my bicycle onto the train or not. He said that the train can fetch motorcycle so a bicycle should be of no problem. At last, I have decided to continue my journey to Perlis and then took the train back to Butterworth at Padang Besar. Then, I took a left turn from the Route 1 at Alor Setar and continued my journey along Route 7. According to Google Map, Padang Besar is located at the end of Route 7, so I just have to cycle along the road until the very end.
刚骑入七号公路，看见在两旁的尽是稻田，这里的稻田比浮罗的还要更美！这时已经是早上九点多了，太阳升起，天气也变热了。可能正是因为天气热的缘故，小嵻原本有点小眼睡的，现在却很精神了，颈项也没那么酸痛了，不过屁股依然还是很痛！七号公路全长大约八十公里，也就是说再骑多一圈槟岛的距离就能抵达巴东勿刹了。在槟城，单单骑个八十公里对小嵻而言并不难，但是这七号公路的八十公里却感觉没有尽头似的。虽然感觉是骑了很久很久，但是实际上却只骑了一公里而已，这种感觉对精神还蛮折磨的。大概骑了二十公里左右，小嵻停下来在一间嘛嘛档休息，喝杯冷饮。过后再继续骑时，咦，怎么感觉更加吃力了？尝试换了几个档，但是依然还是很吃力。小嵻心想该不会是爆胎了吧？小嵻低头往轮胎一看。啊！果然被小嵻猜中了！之前小嵻还很有自信的对咖啡店老板说这轮胎很厚，不会那么容易爆胎的，结果现在就爆胎了。不过小嵻还真的是蛮幸运的，就在几米远处就有两间修单车的店，之前在亚罗士打找的时候一间都没有，现在却无意间遇见了两间！小嵻把单车推到了单车店，换了一个新的轮胎，也买了一个几乎没有什么作用的坐垫。轮胎是修好了，不过却赔上了一个刹车。左边的刹车失灵了！老板也没有后备的刹车，所以小嵻接下来的骑程都是以一个刹车继续骑的。
As I entered Route 7, paddy field can be seen at both side of the road. The paddy field here is much more nicer than the one at Balik Pulau! It was 9 AM now and the weather starting to get hot. Perhaps it was because of the hotness, I started to feel more energetic and my neck and shoulder weren't painful anymore. However, my butt was still very painful! Route 7 is about 80 KM long which is the distance of rounding one round of Penang Island. In Penang, I would have no problem for cycling 80 KM, but the 80 KM at Route 7 feels like as if there is no end to it. Although I felt like I have rode for a long time, but the fact was that I have only rode for 1 KM. This feeling is really mentally suffering. I cycle for about 20 KM and then I stopped at a Mamak stall at the roadside and have a cold drink to cool down my body. After the small rest, I continued my journey and found out that it was even more tiring! I tried to switch to a lower gear but it doesn't help much. I was thinking could it be that the tyre punctured? I looked down at the tyre. Oh my god, the tyre was really punctured! I was still so confidence a while ago that this tyre is a good quality one that it wont punctured so easily but see what happened now?! Fortunately, I was a very lucky guy. There were two bicycle repairing shops just a few meters away! I pulled my bicycle to one of the shops and changed a new tyre and bought a layer of thin sponge to put on top of the bicycle seat which later I found that it doesn't help to minimise even a bit of my butt pain. The tyre was a brand new one now but I lost a brake in return. The left brake was broken and the bicycle shop doesn't have any spare brake. So, I continued my journey with a broken brakes.
离开单车店大概五公里远后，小嵻就骑出了吉打，来到了玻璃市。一进入玻璃市，周边的景色也开始变化了。两旁的道路都种满了一棵棵的大树，很整齐！小嵻一路沿着七号公路骑，直到骑到了加央为止。到了加央，道路变得复杂了。原本只需要直走的七号公路突然前方就变成了反方向的单行道！小嵻也只好顺着道路转弯了。这时小嵻在这里迷路了，不过却让小嵻遇见了肯德基，所以就先上网上传照片咯！照片上传完毕，找了附近的路人问了问路，他指向另一条道路的方向说跟着这条路就可以到巴东勿刹了。没办法了，不见了七号公路，只好骑别条小路了，只要能到达目的地就好。骑着骑着，小嵻不知不觉中还是回到了七号公路上，接下来只要沿路骑个大约三十五公里就能抵达目的地了。
At a distance about 5 KM away from the bicycle shops, I bid my farewell to Kedah and entered Perlis. Once I get in to Perlis, the scene started to change. Both side of the road are planted with tall trees and they are neatly aligned! I cycle along Route 7 until I reached Kangar. The problem I have with Kangar was that the road at there is quite complicated. Route 7 suddenly become a one way lane at the front of the opposite direction so I have to turn away from Route 7. This is where I started to get lost. I wandered around and I found something really nice. It's KFC! Haha. So, I took my time to utilize the free Internet service before I continued my journey. After I have uploaded all my photos, I asked the people around me how to go to Padang Besar. The mister lead me to another small road which he said that is the road to Padang Besar. Since I was lost, I have no choice but to follow his instruction. As I cycle further, without knowing it, I was suddenly back on to Route 7. So, all I have to do now is to ride along this main road for about 35 KM and I will reach my destination.
虽说只是剩下三十五公里，但这绝对是需要靠着毅力来完成的三十五公里！这时的小嵻已经是屁股痛得不得了，颈项也又开始酸痛了起来，而且脚力也不怎么有力了，所以小嵻是骑得相当龟速的，大概是平时四分一的速度。更糟糕的是，当天不知怎么搞的，烟霾相当的严重。在烈日的照射下，小嵻整个人就像是被关在微波炉里，身体慢慢的被烤熟。后来真的是太热了，所以小嵻在一个巴士站休息了一会儿，吃点面包补充下体力。如果你们有看《海贼王》的话，小嵻现在的身体就跟路飞使用二档时一样，全身发热红透透！休息好后，小嵻继续赶路。就在还有十公里远就要抵达目的地的路上，突然出现了几个上山和下山的路段！下山当然是爽咯，不过下山过后又要很辛苦地骑上山！小嵻使尽力气终于骑过了几个山坡，然后来到了一个捉拿走私犯的关口。小嵻当作什么都没看到装作没事，原本以为可以就这样过关的，怎知却被那里的官员叫住了。小嵻还以为小嵻做了什么犯规的事，没想到这位官员却和小嵻聊了起来。小嵻告诉他小嵻来自槟城，是从槟城骑单车一路起到这里的，然后他告诉小嵻他也是来自槟城，然后就告诉小嵻他的经历了。然后我们就成了朋友，然后他说以后他来槟城时要找小嵻出来喝茶。啊，小嵻就这样结交了一位官员朋友了。。哈哈。。陪他聊完后，小嵻继续前往巴东勿刹骑去。当小嵻抵达巴东勿刹时，天空突然变得很黑，风也变得越来越大，这意味着再过不久就要下雨了！小嵻原本打算是要骑到巴东勿刹巴刹，吃了芒果糯米饭后才回的，但是担心骑到一半会下雨，所以小嵻打消了这个念头，直接骑到火车站去买车票。
Although the journey was only left with 35 KM, but this was definitely a long 35 KM that required a high level of willpower. At this moment, my butt was very very painful, my neck was sore, and my legs were left with little strength only. I cycle at a very very slow pace, about one fourth of my normal speed. And the worst part was that the weather on that day was very hazy! My body feel like being cooked under the hot sun. The heat was so unbearable so I took a little rest at the bus stop at the road side and ate my bun to replenish some of my body strength. If you are a fans of "One Piece" anime, then my body condition at that moment was just like when Luffy activates his Gear 2. After the little break, I continued my journey. There was still another 10 KM until I reached my destination, but the road at this last few kilometers was not an easy one. It has slopes! Well, of course going down was an easy and fun one, but that will mean that I have to cycle all the way up again! A few times! I tried my best to beat the gravity and I somehow managed to pass through all the slope area. And then, I came to a roadblock where the officers were trying to catch all those who tries to bring any illegal item to and from our neighbour country. I cycling as if nothing was happening and get passed the roadblock. As soon as I get passed the roadblock, I was called by the officer. I was thinking what have I done wrong? The officer asked me where did I came from. I told him I cycle all the way from Penang. Then he told me that he was from Penang as well, and then we talked about each other life's experience, and then we became friend. He told me that he would like to hangout with me when he goes back to Penang..haha.. After the little chit-chatting with the officer, I continued my journey to Padang Besar. When I reached Padang Besar, the sky suddenly turned dark and the wind started to blow strongly. You know what this means right? Yes! It was about to rain soon! At first I was planning to go to the Padang Besar market there and have a plate of mango pulut rice, but I was worried that it might rain so I decided to go to the train station to buy the ticket first.
小嵻下午四点抵达巴东勿刹火车站，终于完成了这趟全程大约两百二十五公里的骑程，一共花费了十九小时。接下来小嵻需要做的只是买车票回北海就大功告成了，但是小嵻失策了！售票员告诉小嵻火车票卖完了！我的天啊！后来售票员告诉小嵻在火车站先等等，看看待会儿会不会有乘客临时退票，这样的话她就能把票让给小嵻了。小嵻在火车火车站等待，等着等着就下起雨来了。下午五点半时小嵻再次去找那位售票员。她看见小嵻时笑着对小嵻说，有票了！哇！小嵻还真的是很幸运啊！就这样，小嵻乘搭傍晚七点的火车，抵达北海时已经是晚上十点了。顺便一提，这可是小嵻第一次搭火车哦，小嵻没想到火车里面是那么冷的，而且小嵻还穿着背心，抖得小嵻要命。抵达槟岛后，小嵻约了一个朋友在日落洞吃晚餐，休息了一阵子后凌晨一点骑回浮罗山背，抵达民宿时正好凌晨三点。
经过了这一趟骑程后，小嵻觉得真的是需要有很好的装备才能骑远程，尤其是单车座位那个部分。其他的基本上都没什么大碍，只要有毅力就行了。说真的，其实小嵻觉得这趟启程并没有很辛苦，如果要和小嵻步行环绕槟岛那次相比的话，小嵻会说环岛那次所需的毅力比这趟骑程的要来得多一倍。总结呢，小嵻也算是踏出了第一步，相信接下来会越骑越远的！继续流浪吧！
I reached Padang Besar train station at 4 PM. I have cycle for about 225 KM and spent 19 hours for this journey. The last thing I have to do for this trip was to buy the train ticket to go back to Butterworth. Unfortunately, I forget to consider about one thing, that the train ticket might sold out! And yes, the train ticket was really sold out! The ticket seller told me to wait at the train station for a while and see whether there will be people forfeiting their ticket or not. So, I rest at the train station and soon it started to rain. I was really glad that I didn't went to the Padang Besar market. Around 5:30 PM, I went back to the ticket counter and the ticket seller smile at me and said, "We have a ticket for you!". Wow, talking about luck, I am probably the luckiest person ever! And so, I took the 7 PM train and reached Butterworth at 10 PM. Oh, by the way, this was my first time taking a train, so I have no idea that the train was actually so cold! What's more was that I was just wearing a singlet, so I was trembling all the way to Butterworth. After I reached Penang Island, I have my dinner (or I should say supper to be more appropriate) with my friend at Jelutong and took a small rest. I cycle back to Balik Pulau at 1 AM and reached the homestay at 3 AM.
After going through this long distance cycling journey, I realised that I do need a very good bicycle for a long distance traveling, especially the bicycle seat part. As for the other factors, they actually don't affect much as long as I have the willpower to go on. Frankly speaking, this cycling trip is not as tough as it may seem. If I have to compare it with my journey of rounding the Penang Island on foot, I will say that the rounding Penang Island on foot trip required a lot more determination than this cycling trip. In conclusion, I have finally took my first step out. I believe I will go on further and further. Good luck to me!
