Last day of 2008

I just can't believe 2008 is about to end in less than 2 hours' time. Due to a half day of work today, I came home in the afternoon and cycled to Causeway Point to have my Nokia Limited Warranty Card endorsed by Singtel. This extra hassle was due to my online order nearly 2 months back. As the integrity of the package had to be kept intact, Singtel could not stamp the warranty hence I had to bring it down to a hello! Centre to get it completed.

At this point in time, nothing seems to really come to mind. I know I have a lot to reflect upon but 2008 has been an eventful year for me. I had spent most of my time serving as a CBRD officer and it had been one hell of an experience. Leaving the force, I had brought along many memories that will stay with me for years to come. All the vacations, bike trips, treks and outings were great. I hope 2009 will be just as exciting but somehow I feel a tinge of sadness that as the pace of my life picks up again and things become more hectic, there will be many sacrifices to be made.

I know I often tell my family that I will continue my high cycling mileage into the next ten years. For the past two years, I had devoted my weekends to cycling, and almost nothing else. Do you think I can continue this lifestyle for the next ten years? I highly doubt so too.

2009 will definitely bring many challenges that we will have to overcome. At least until end April, I hope for a smooth journey in my "internship" with GIC. The corporate world is a new experience to me and I hope I can adapt to the new environment and carry out my tasks efficiently.

We have ended 2008 on a low in many areas. The world economy is facing the worse recession since the Great Depression while Israel is currently embroiled in a heated conflict in its unsettled feud with Palestine. The U.S. and her allies are still struggling with rebuilding Iraq and Afghanistan while a series of terrorists attacks in India have marred any optimism that the threat of terrorism has somewhat diminished with the destruction of strongholds in Afghanistan and Iraq. China has always faced natural disasters and scandals in many industries ranging from food to toys and in recent months, the headlines have not gotten better. With the world economy facing a full blown recession, her growth has slowed tremendously and this is particularly troubling as incredibly many companies have closed down. I believe 2009 will not come easy for all. May God bless and guide us along.

This should be about all...my next entry will be made in 2009! I have to be quite satisfied with life to date and all the things I am lucky enough to have. Somehow, I still lack a certain fulfillment and I hope to find more meaning in life next year =)

Total distance: 15km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH

20 December 08 (Day 1): Singapore – Batu Pahat (154km)

We left home at around 4.40am in the wee hours of 20 Dec 08 and made our way to Woodlands Checkpoint. Just a few days ago, the new Malaysian customs complex opened its doors; hence we were using it for the first time too. While the complex was big and impressive looking, it wasn’t that great in terms of practicality. We (both commuters and drivers) have to cover a great distance just to get into Johor Bahru.

When we reached Jalan Skudai, it was already 5.40am. We proceeded on to Lebuhraya Skudai – Pontian. Halfway through, Bro’s seat came loose and my Topeak Survival Gearbox saw “action” for the first time. We pulled into Pontian at 9.15am and took a rest before proceeding on to Ayer Baloi (10.30am). By then, we had a very strong headwind and our progress was slowed dramatically. Our haversacks felt a lot heavier suddenly and it was obvious that Bro, who had just recovered from a bad stomach upset over the past week, could not take much more punishment.

I tried to relieve his burden by carrying his haversack over mine. It felt like I was in Full Battle Order (FBO). The last few kilometers to Batu Pahat was torturous and I was beginning to feel a little weak due to hunger. The bread and snacks we carried could not sustain us much longer. Finally, we reached Batu Pahat at 2.30pm, some 134km away from Johor Bahru. We had Hainanese chicken rice for lunch and I was more than glad enough to have some solid food.

It became evident that it was difficult for us to reach Malacca which was still some 98km away. We decided to head for Carrefour to stock up on our dwindling supplies. Halfway, I spotted the Bas Ekspres Terminal and we decided to check it out.

It turned out that we got ourselves onto S&S International for a ride to Kuala Lumpur. The tickets cost RM20.60 each but somehow we had to give one of the guys a tip of RM5 per bike which he shared with the driver. At least they helped us get the bikes into the luggage compartment and when we arrived at Hentian Puduraya, the driver was kind enough to help us unload and shine a torch as we reassembled the wheels in the dark.

It was already past 8pm. Chinatown was super crowded and we certainly got quite a few stares as we maneuvered the bikes through the crowd, trying to get a hotel. Most of the inns were fully occupied but we managed to get a room at Hotel Excel Inn for a very reasonable RM60 (weekend) and RM55 (weekday) per night. We put the bikes in our room and went for dinner. A little shopping around Chinatown followed before we retired for the night.

Total distance: 154km
Money spent: RM300~ (total 4D3N)
Participants: LSH, Bro

21 December 08 (Day 2): Kuala Lumpur (30km)

After breakfast, we headed for the Lake Gardens. The Deer Park was still under construction. When I last visited the place seven years ago, it was also closed for construction. I wonder if any progress had been made at all.

We then tried to locate the Bukit Kiara Mountain Biking Trail. Sadly and probably to the relief of Bro, we could not find the entrance, hence we headed back to the city centre. We were still considering whether to cycle out of K.L. since the only way out was through the tax toll stations along the highways. Our queries were answered when we paid the Tourism Centre a visit and the staff told me to use the K.L. – Seremban highway out. With that, we kind of decided to head for Malacca the following day.

We visited the Petronas Twin Towers, took some photos, before heading for the K.L. Tower. It was quite a climb up but the descent was quite enjoyable. Thanks to a hesitant taxi driver though, I nearly got into an accident with a car.

It was already close to 1pm. We cycled back to Kotaraya, deposited our bikes in our room, before going for lunch. After that, we shopped around the Bukit Bintang area and literally walked around the whole of Jalan Pudu before deciding on a place to eat at Kotaraya! That was kind of silly.

I spotted quite a few Singaporeans, especially a rather large group of university students at Chinatown. There was a slight drizzle and we retired for another night at Hotel Excel Inn. I made use of the time to plan the route out of the city.

Total distance: 30km
Money spent: RM300~ (total 4D3N)
Participants: LSH, Bro

22 December 08 (Day 3): Kuala Lumpur – Malacca (185km)

We left Pudu Raya at around 8.30am. Somehow, I decided at the last moment to use the most direct route to Port Dickson, which I had planned weeks ago. We got through the toll stations free of charge and without any hassle. I believe that motorcyclists do not have to pay the road tax too.

Speeding down Lebuhraya (highway) Sungei Besi was a joy. The shoulder lane was wide enough for us to speed down safely and yet draft the heavy flow of traffic. We had some problems getting the directions right when the highway split up into various routes but with constant cross references to my map, compass and GPS, we figured the way out.

The 90km to Port Dickson was not a joke as the terrain was hilly and we made it to the town by 2.15pm. We had lunch and a friendly chat with the uncle before setting off. Along the way, we met many Malaysians who were curious at the sight of two cyclists heading down south and many would give a friendly wave or beep of the horn.

It was obvious that the only way out of Port Dickson was to cycle down south towards Melaka. Resigned to the circumstances, Bro had to cycle another 95km with me. It was an arduous journey and he lagged behind so much that I often lost sight of him. We had to pass many hilly regions of vast wilderness and it was dusk when we hit the more urban areas.

Once again, I carried both our haversacks and made a mistake of increasing my pace to beat the fading daylight. In the end, we were still caught 10km out by nightfall and that short distance took an agonizing forever. The town was amazing dark when we pulled in. I forgot that the Ekspres Bas Terminal had moved to Melaka Sentral along Jalan Tun Abdul Razak hence we searched the river bank in vain for the terminal.

Finally arriving at the site of the old bus terminal and after clarifying with a helpful local, we decided to check into one of the nearby hotels for the night. For RM45 per night, New Livo Hotel provided the very basic necessities (TV, air-con and water heater included), but it was enough for us to survive the night. We locked our bikes in a huge, vacant and scary store before heading out for dinner.

We decided to pay the new terminal at Melaka Sentral a visit the next morning.

Total distance: 185km
Money spent: RM300~ (total 4D3N)
Participants: LSH, Bro

23 December 08 (Day 4): Malacca – Singapore (252km)

I got my lethargic body out of bed at 6.30am. We checked out, got on our bikes and headed for Melaka Sentral. My muscles ached but I chose to ignore it and the option of taking a bus home.

We found the terminal. Many companies refused to let us bring a bike onboard but I managed to get a ticket for Bro back to Larkin from KKKL Ekspres. I re-stocked my supplies at the Melaka Bazaar before having breakfast at McDonald’s.

There we parted, with Bro spending some time in Melaka until his bus at 5.30pm while I hit the road down south. It was 9am when I left on my solo journey.

Muar was 45km away. Before noon, I had already passed the town and was on my way to Batu Pahat. Traffic was rather light and it was a lonely journey pass a whole stretch of plantations. I encountered two Malaysian roadies heading in the opposite direction but I was more than glad for the brief moment when we exchanged waves. The sun was high up in the sky and while one may think a breeze may help, I hated it whenever the route turned north-eastern as it brought me head on with the winds coming from the N-E direction. My speed would slow drastically and more effort was needed to keep the bike going.

Some 20km away from Batu Pahat, my strength was fading so much that I had to stop at a village in the Semerah area for lunch. My presence drew a lot of attention, especially from the kids who crowded around and asked quite a few questions. They were also rather intrigued by my bike but I had to politely decline their requests to ride it and be on my way to Batu Pahat.

Close to town, I encountered a trio of cyclists heading in the opposite direction. There was a teenager followed closely by two adults and they were delighted to see me, as much as I was to bump into fellow cyclists on this lonely route. From the look of their helmets, shades, fanciful rucksacks and beautiful Giant hard-tails, I think they are Singaporeans. The encounter gave me renewed determination to carry on.

I reached the town at half past two. There, my worse nightmare came true when I headed on Jalan Kluang towards Ayer Hitam. The entire stretch was more than 30km long and in the eastern / north-eastern direction. The headwinds were terribly strong and it did not help when the weather poured. I had to stop a few times, slowing my progress.

I felt a sense of optimism when I turned into Route 1, heading on a south-eastern direction towards Johor Bahru. I stopped to have a coconut, much to the amusement of the elderly man and his granddaughters who were manning the roadside stall. They were very friendly to offer me a seat in the shade.

By 5pm, I was on my way, with about 90km to cover. The route from Ayer Hitam to Kulai brought me through the villages of Simpang Renggam and a whole stretch of Sime Darby and Tradewinds pineapple plantations.

The road became windy, narrow and steep, all which worried me because dusk was fast approaching. As I hit the crest of yet another climb, I met a solo cyclist with a gigantic backpack. I waved and silently wished him good luck in reaching his intended destination before dusk.

About 25km from Kulai, I encountered a ferocious black dog. As I sped past, he gave chase. I really did not feel like stopping and instead increased my speed. The dog sprinted faster and with every second, he was catching up. I utilized all my strength and muscles in accelerating away but out of the corner of my sight, I saw a second black dog ahead and closing in on me. I would never make it. As the second dog attempted to cross the road, a huge truck bore down on it; blaring its horn. That saved me as the dog was taken by surprise and scrambled for safety.

I continued on a fast paced ride, hoping to hit Kulai before darkness closed in. The thought of riding through the forested area was not very appealing and I knew that once I hit Kulai, I would be safe in an urban area all the way down south.

Hence, I did not dare to stop but by 7.45pm, dusk had completely fallen and I relied on my front lamp to illuminate the dark road ahead. I felt desperate. My strength was almost gone and I could barely concentrate. I just could not keep on pedaling and had to let the bike coast on the down-slopes.

I felt like giving up. The fear of fainting and just lying down on the road flashed through my mind. Just as I thought I was a goner, I spotted the lights from a row of shop-houses. I had reached Kulai! And best of all, there was a row of seafood restaurants. I never felt that relieved as I wheeled my bike towards a Chinese food outlet.

The staff and customers were surprised to see me. After I ordered seafood soup with rice, a fury of questions came my way. Where are you from? Are you a student? Are you alone? When did you cycle from? Where are you heading? Aren’t you afraid? I could barely answer all their queries as I gulped down the food. They were even kind enough to look after my belongings when I used the washroom and offered to refill my water supply.

Recharged and encouraged by their positive comments, I started the last 30km to J.B. at 8.45pm. It felt great to speed past Senai on the Lebuhraya Senai and subsequently Jalan Skudai. The relatively brighter and wider roads provided a welcome relief and the heavy traffic flow resulted in some form of draft.

The last few kilometers was the most excruciating. Pusat Bandaraya was suddenly my favorite place when I reached the KFC where Bro was waiting. We had a meal before heading to City Square. We had intended to catch a midnight movie, an opportunity for me to rest my weary body, but we were not in luck. Hobson’s choice, we started our journey home.

Cycling on our home soil felt so different. I felt like speeding home but did not have the strength to do it. We still made it home on the stroke of midnight. And for once, my thirst for adventure and cycling seems to have been satisfied =)

Total distance: 252km
Money spent: RM300~ (total 4D3N)
Participants: LSH

Rucksacks

As the biggest ride of my life looms closer, here's a look at two pieces of newly acquired equipment. They sure did cost a bomb so I hope they are worth the money. Anyway, I have planned out the route to K.L. and I hope we have a smooth and safe expedition.

Deuter Bike 1 at $80 (left) and Deuter Speed Lite 30 with separate rain cover at $110 (right)

Bike Scouting

I met up with Zi Kai and Alfred at 12.45p.m at Yishun MRT and we proceeded for lunch at Chong Pang City. After a decent meal, we took a bus to Rodalink at Upper Thomson Road, intending to check out the Polygon Cozmic CX1.0 which was supposedly on offer. Sadly, the bike was out of stock at all outlets and might not be due until next year. The staff offered us several other options among which a $387 Polygon Xtrada seemed reasonable enough.

We left for Bikelink but it was closed. Alfred went home while Zi Kai and I checked out Orane Concept. The new Raleigh models were in but they were not exactly cheap. However I ended up buying the Topeak Survival Gear Box for $36 (up $40) as an insurance for my impending expedition. I had just wanted to purchase a chain tool but it cost $25, hence I decided to settle for a set. I hope the tools live up to their name.

Topeak Survival Gear Box: mine is the 2007 version (3rd pic)

Recently purchased MET Crackerjack (left) that did not live up to expectations on the Bintan trip as compared to the solid Prowell F-38 Lightning II (right)

Topeak RedLite (left) and Louis Garneau Rex gloves (right)

Polygon Xtrada on sale for $387

Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2008

Bro and I took part in the 10km Team (Mixed) competitive category while Dad was entered in the 10km Men's Open. This year's Singapore Marathon was just as well-organised and I guess only the Army Half Marathon is as large / larger in terms of number of runners. While the Army Half Marathon covered roads, parks and pavements, the SCSM is mostly confined to the main roads. Nonetheless, it was an enjoyable run. The water points were generally well-placed and long enough to prevent over-crowding. However, they were all pretty standard as compared to the AHM where each water point was covered by the different Army Formations and had their own colours and vibrancy in decor.

I couldn't believe it when my stomach started to hurt after the first 2km. I had taken care not to drink any other beverages other than plain water before the run but my breakfast still tossed in my gut, slowing me down. Still, it was not as bad as the Swing KPE Run where I felt my watery breakfast choking me off and had to slow down to a walk. This time, I pushed on, trying to expand my energy into faster strides and by the 5km mark, the pain subsided. My breakfast had probably been digested, which was a pretty good thing as I could pick up pace.

Obviously, my fitness level had dipped. I managed to pick away the more weary runners but several cross country guys from different athletic associations overtook me and I simply had no reply. There was this small RI boy who zipped past. The onlookers were amazed and they thought he was cute. He was. Even my burst of pace nearing the finish wasn't that fast and my muscles protested. Perhaps the 260km ride earlier this week had taken its toll.

I finished with a time of 44: 49 (mm:ss), good enough to be satisfied with but perhaps a sign of decreasing fitness. Nonetheless, the team did a good job and we (Team Innova) came in overall 7th! That's worth celebrating as we had worthy opponents from the various XC and athletic associations / schools.

Distance run: 10km
Timing: 44 min 49 sec
Participants: LSH, Dad, Bro and his IJC team-mates

Bintan (1 - 3 December 08)

This ride was gonna be special because it will probably be my last "bike adventure" with Zi Kai. It took me great effort to get this ride approved on my side, hence I greatly treasured it. For this, I had to sacrifice a number of things, much to the displeasure of my family but such an opportunity was rare and I am glad I took it.

On 1 Dec 08, a Monday, Zi Kai came over to my place and we set off for Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal, hoping to catch the 12.30p.m Penguin ferry to Tanjung Pinang. The jouney from the north coast to the south-eastern coast took us 1hr 45min and covered a good 36.6km.

Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal (left); Tanjung Pinang (right)

We managed to secure our return tickets on the 12.30p.m ferry to Bintan. It cost us $69 each, including the passenger departure fee, fuel surcharge, bicycle handling fee and Indonesia Terminal & Insurance. The good thing was that the return tickets were open and we could take any ferry back, be it IndoFalcon or Berlian's WaveMaster.

TMFT (left) and Hotel Panorama (right)

Bintan's time is 1hr behind ours and we reached Tanjung Pinang in the early afternoon. The porters were ever so ready to receive the arrival passengers but we insisted on carrying our bikes off the ferry and up the jetty ourselves. Clearing the Indonesian customs, we were approached by two friendly men who offered to guide us around the island and to good hotels. One offered the east coast while the other suggested a nearby hotel. The east coast was out of question as we preferred to stay in Tanjong Pinang. The man offered to carry our bikes in his car but we declined his offer politely. Then the other man suggested Hotel Panorama, about a kilometre away. I had come across the hotel on the web and it had good reviews hence we gave the go ahead and cycled behind the two men on their scooter to the hotel.

At S$21 or 120000IDR per night, it was a reasonable deal. Since the exchange rate stood at S$1 : 8100IDR, we opted to pay in rupiah for one room. The two men were surprised we just wanted one room but we did not give it too much a thought. Unpacking our stuff, we took along only the bare essentials to town. Zi Kai had to leave his passport behind with the hotel staff hence we had to change our local currency to rupiah and pay off the bill before "redeeming" it. Giving the two men a tip, we got our bikes outside the hotel. The two men also left and they asked if we required special services. Now, we fully understood it all and once again, declined firmly. We were in Bintan with the sole purpose of cycling and checking the Indonesian island out.

There were many money changers around, hence we changed our cash at one before proceeding to check the town out and have a late lunch. To my surprise, there were so many streets and roads in and around the city area. Our maps did not indicate these roads, nor were any street names shown. Most of the streets we came across did not have names too; only the major routes had some signs reflecting names foreign to us. As much as I hate to admit, we were lost. I just headed in a more "likely" direction.

We were hungry. I saw "Hot Steak" and we decided to give the restaurant a shot. It was probably expensive to the locals but reasonable enough for us. Hence, we settled for a set meal at around 15500IDR (S$1.90). The girl serving us was friendly enough and given our "famished" condition, it was a pleasant dining experience.

Zi Kai bought a local SIM card next door and we proceeded on our journey to check the town out. I was delighted when we found our way back to the ferry terminal. The locals were willing to help us when we asked for directions. Of course, the communication barrier was evident =P After reaching our hotel, we went in another direction, getting lost in our attempt to find the airport. We never reached the airport but managed to find the route out of town. This came at the expense of time as we pushed further, racing against the fall of dusk. At last, we decided that enough was enough and stopped at a junction. My GPS confirmed our location and we raced back to our hotel. By then, dusk had fallen. I think we covered about 30km on our first day in Bintan.

Bikes in our room (left); Z.K. exhausted (right)

While we had agreed to leave the bikes in the lobby, we managed to ask nicely and get approval to bring them up to our room =) It was dinner time and we left to check out Tanjung Pinang for its famed seafood. By then, it was around 8p.m Singapore time and the area was basically pitch black. The streets were not lit. While I feel Bintan is generally safe, I will not recommend anyone unfamiliar with the area to wander around alone at night.

We found our seafood! It was chilli crab (50000IDR for 2), BBQ fish (25000IDR), chillikangkong (10000IDR) and tea-O ice (3000IDR) for dinner. Do your Math and you will realise why our dinner was really delightfully wonderful! =) Otah and satay were also available for 1000IDR per stick but we were too full and left it for the next dinner. Thinking about the food, I am drooling again...

We walked around the area before retiring to our room to catch the Heavenly Sword and Dragon Sabre on Mediacorp's Channel 8. The "drink" we bought at a super reasonable price turned out to be concentrated syrup. Zi Kai took a mouthful of guava "juice" and spat it out! It was terrible. Orange was slightly better but we still abandoned the two bottles when we left Bintan. Fortunately, we had to use a can opener to pry the bottle cap open and did not drink it when we were having ice cream.

Wonderful terrain (left); pose on the bridge (left)

The next morning, we had breakfast free, complimentary of the hotel hence I am not complaining. The ageing Chinese men with their Indonesian partners sure look out of place when sitting together and it was damn obvious. Our stomachs filled, we set off for Trikora beach. Bintan may look flat on the map but in reality, the terrain is very harsh. The roads were definitely steep, winding and narrow most of the times. I managed to max out the speed on my bike, something that I had never done before. This probably meant that I had hit close to or surpassed the 60km/h mark.

I think Zi Kai will never forget the ride on 2 Dec 08. The maps we obtained were inaccurate to an extent such that we could not determine our coordinates and exact position. Worse, distances were not stated and streets not shown. We would have no idea where we were if we were incompetent at reading off from our compasses and studying the terrain. The map I had obtained online had a scale. According to it, we would have covered a total of 170km. Using the map the hotel provided, we had to assume the distance from the ferry terminal to the junction at Sidojadi was 10km. going by this estimation, the total distance covered for the day would be 120km. The discrepancy was incredibly large. Going by our speed and time taken, I would say 150km would be a decent estimation.

Someone's wonderful shots

The hot weather did not make our going easy. But I was glad it did not rain. Somehow, the weather was less humid than Singapore and our sweat dried off more easily when we rested. We passed Trikora One beach at lunch time. Stopping at a fishing village, Zi Kai and I had mee goreng and nasi goreng for lunch respectively. A bottle of Pocari Sweat each complimented the meal! At 18000IDR per person, I never ever regretted stopping at this ulu village in the middle of nowhere! The family had whipped up a tasty "delicacy" in generous portion for us and I was very grateful for such a meal.

After lunch, we pushed on to the Bintan Beach International Resort. It was another arduous journey. Sea, sand, lalang, coconut trees and a never ending road. There was no civilisation in sight for kilometres. Serene yet one can't help but feel desperate. The waves were very strong. I got my feet wet as I stooped low to take a picture, only to get caught by an incoming wave. Just my luck =(

As we cycled on, more beautiful sights greeted us. Some of the memorable sights included children playing by the side of the road, a bridge across a river, floating kelongs and fishermen plying their trade in waist-deep waters.

The people of Bintan are generally very friendly. The girls will laugh in delight as you pass them on their mini-buses and if you acknowledge their presence, they giggle louder. The kids are always welcoming and a delight as they shout excitedly when you pass. In Bintan, sounding the vehicle horn seems to be part and parcel of life. They do not blare the horns but do it in an audible yet pleasant manner as a form of greeting and alert to fellow motorists. As many vehicles passed us, most of them would horn their presence and the drivers would stick a "thumbs-up" out of the window. It was very encouraging as we battled the elements. A smile or wave was good enough to make our day and keep our optimism high =)

Floating kelong (left); Z.K. simply elated at the sign (right)

We did not make it to the ferry terminal at Teluk Sebong. Somewhere along Teluk Sebong, we turned into a road we called "Km. 46" which led to Lome. At that spot, my GPS placed us off our actual postion but once pass Lome, we were back on track. By then, we were certain that we were on the correct route back. The Gardenia buns purchased back in Singapore gave us some energy to continue.

Late in the afternoon, we hit Gesik. At around 18km from Tanjung Pinang, we stopped at a Chinese grocer to get some water and isotonic drinks. Then it was non-stop all the way back. We found ourselves in an ever-growing stream of traffic and to our relief, the familiar landmarks soon appeared. We reached Hotel Panorama at around 6.30p.m, locked the bikes in our room and headed out for another seafood dinner =)

This time round, we checked out more stalls but since none of them seemed to offer fresher seafood than the one we purchased yesterday, we returned, much to the delight of the owner. It resulted in sambal squids (12000IDR), BBQ chicken (13000IDR), steamed pomfret (30000IDR) and stir-fried kailan (12000IDR) for dinner, as well as satay kachang (10000IDR - ten sticks and rice) and our usual iced tea-O. After dinner, a short walk around town was interrupted by a downpour which forced most roadside vendors to close shop and head home. We returned to our hotel where I had a long, good shower which helped relieve my aches a little =) Then it was tapioca and HSDS before my drowiness took over.

We woke up only at 8.45a.m the next day. Breakfast was good and we started to pack up. After checking out, we cycled to the ferry terminal. As the agent had not arrived for work, we bought some finger food in town for an amazingly reasonable price of 1500IDR apiece if I am not mistaken. At 9.30a.m (Indon time), we went back to the terminal to pay the seaport taxes and get our tickets on the 10.10a.m IndoFalcon confirmed.

We had a hell of a time getting our bikes onto the top deck of the IndoFalcon but once that was done, we could just chill and awaiting the daunting task of unloading it. The ferry left late but I was just glad to get going. The Singapore "rain" curse struck again when we arrived back at Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal. It was dry when we unloaded the bikes but once we stepped into the terminal, it poured. We cleared customs and headed for home.

The rain stopped once we hit Simei. We took almost the same route back, stopping by at Kovan for some delicious wanton noodles and sugar cane juice. Then it was hard work once again as we pedalled home to Sembawang.

Total distance: 1 Dec 08 (67.6km), 2 Dec 08(150km), 3 Dec 08(38.6km)
Money spent: S$106
Participants: LSH, Zi Kai

Shopping or torture? (29 November 08)

It is super late now, in fact, I am still awake in the wee hours of 30 November 2008. Before I sleep, I shall just brief type out the 109km "shopping" route I took.

Sembawang - Woodlands Checkpoint (asked the exchange rate at the Sheng Siong money changer but they had run out of Korean currency) - Marsiling - Bukit Panjang - Bukit Timah - Queenstown - Queensway Shopping Centre (checked out several backpacks) - Alexandra - Harbourfront - Tiong Bahru Plaza (checked out an outdoor sports equipment store) - Chinatown (checked out the People's Park Complex but found nothing) - Lavender - Mountbatten - East Coast Park (met Bro and his group on the Adventure Race) - Changi Coastal - Loyang - Pasir Ris (looked up Mum at White Sands) - Old Tampines Road - Hougang - Sengkang - Seletar - Yishun - Sembawang.

It was also my first ride with the MET Crackerjack. It is light but I felt rather constricted. Perhaps the weather was just too hot. And by walking around with it dangling from my backpack, I may have incurred some surface dents. Haiz...

Judging from the distance covered today, if I can maintain this pace for 260km straight, reaching Malacca in one day is possible. However, I admit that I was getting a bit weary on the way back from Pasir Ris. I need greater willpower to accomplish this feat.

Total distance: 108.5km
Money spent: $4.50
Participants: LSH

MET Crackerjack

After studying a unit of French online, I left home to scout Bike-Link in Yishun for a new helmet to replace the first one I bought. They had Giro Indicators for sale at S$70 and the uncle was nice enough to introduce me to the range of helmets and colours on sale. I grasped the opportunity to check out other parts.

I am not aiming this comment at anyone in particular but the world is unfair. A guy dressed in cycling gear and pushing a "respectable" bike will definitely get preferential treatment as compared to a foreign worker pushing a market bike whom if lucky enough, may get a curt reply. In most instances, the foreign worker will get a very non-committal reply, one that is enough to drive most potential buyers out. Such are the poor service standards in Singapore and I hope the uncle at Bike-Link extends his friendliness not only to avid cyclists but to all who visit his shop.

Smiling and saying "I will consider", I left the shop. It was only about 4p.m, hence I headed for Seletar Dam. Sadly, there was a guy manning a makeshift barrier in front of the construction site and I could not breach it. Turning back, I cycled to Sembawang Road and made my way to Northlink Building. At Orane Concept, I had to wait for awhile as Richard was busy. The shop did not have many helmets within my range in stock. But the MET Crackerjack helmet suited me fine. It cost $60 by cash and $65 by NETS. The uncle directed me to the nearest ATM at Sembawang Shipyard Gate 1, hence I left to withdraw money. After getting lost for a while, I found the place. It was off-duty time and all the foreign workers were pouring out of the gates. Getting the money, I returned to the shop and bought the helmet.

As the display set was the last one left in stock, Richard could sell me at a discounted price of $60. I do hope the helmet is as good as claimed. BUT, testing it is a big no-no!

Bro and I will be attempting to hit K.L by bike and be back in 6 days. The expedition should take place end Dec 08. I estimate a total distance of 750km to be covered in that 6 days. There will be no room for errors in planning, preparations and execution. We will have to be at our best both mentally and physically.

Total distance: 28.5km
Money spent: $60
Participants: LSH

Escort Mission

After visiting the LBS to get a new gear cable fixed and settings re-tuned, my bike was ready to go again. I had considered delaying the fix and using single speed but I am glad I didn't. My task today sounded simple: Escort my brother to Sarimbun Scouts Camp in Lim Chu Kang and make sure he knows the route back. It turned out a little harder than expected.

I had difficulty waking up this morning at 7a.m. For the past few days, I have been sleeping late and waking up early. The tiredness seem to have accumulated and increased infinitely with my almost daily cycling trips. Forcing myself out of bed, I had breakfast and prepared for the ride.

We set off at around 7.40a.m, stopping by at Sembawang MRT to collect newspapers. Then it was non-stop all the way to Kranji amidst the heavy morning traffic. We took the Kranji Rd - Kranji Way - Neo Tiew Rd - Lim Chu Kang Lane 3 route and soon ended up at the intersection of Lim Chu Kang Rd and Perahu Rd. Now came the interesting part.

Perahu Rd was a dead end. We turned back and headed down Lim Chu Kang Rd as there was supposed to be a road (Jalan Bahtera) leading to the Sarimbun camp. We found a dirt route leading in. The gates were wide open and unmarked but other signs clearly designated the area beside the road as restricted. A signboard outside pointed the camp as "ahead" along Lim Chu Kang Rd which was weird because we did not see any other road on Google Maps. Moreover, my phone did not reflect any.

Somehow, I was very confident of this route and we took the chance. It was a distance in and we even cycled past a guy along the way. Then, we came to a dead end and a training shed. It was the exact location where we held Ex Whitehorse. I spotted the camp beyond a road. We found an opening that we could bash through to the road =)

Mission accomplished, my brother went for his training while I hung around discreetly, surveying the camps that went on. Apparently, there were school and some uniformed groups' camps in progress. If I was not wrong, it was the NPCC and girl guides. A few taxis and a bus came in, delivering more people to this inaccessible place.

I left. Taking the dirt road where the vehicles had come, I realised it was an unmarked route out to LCK Rd. I turned right and got back to Lane 3. Alone on a road without much traffic, I took in the cool air, relieved to be off the main roads where thick fumes lingered long after the vehicles passed. I set a steady yet relaxed pace home, stopping only to send a SMS with detailed route instruction to Bro. I realised my legs were aching. 5 rides in 6 days. It was time to rest.

I cleaned the bike till it gleamed. With the more sensitive parts oiled, I wheeled this wonderful machine into my room. No more cycling for me for the next couple of days.

Total distance: 40km
Money spent: $0
Participants: LSH, Bro