Penang – Alor Setar - 103 km
I just about had enough of the negativity in Southeast Asia. If one
more person told me I was too old to cycle, I thought I was going to
fucking punch them in the face. I look old, but Christ, I wasn’t 100
years old. All the “How old ARE you?” said with a lifting of the
eyebrows was getting on my droopy tits. I guessed I could’ve donned
a burka. One would swear the right to ride a bicycle was strictly
reserved for the under 25s. Rant over.
I didn’t get underway until 9h00, but the day offered pleasurable
biking and pleasant weather, 30–33°C. My chosen route followed the
main road past a multitude of eateries selling interesting snacks and
drinks. The area further revealed huge, high-volume buildings used
for farming swiftlet nests. These edible nests are made of solidified
saliva and used in soups, an immensely popular, albeit expensive,
dish.
The rainy season was fast approaching, and paddy fields were being
prepared for planting. This labour-intensive job made me appreciate
every grain. I reached Alor Setar (Alor Star) in good time and the
Comfort Hotel was easily the most affordable in town. There was no
“bathroom inside” but the bicycle could be inside, and the communal
bathrooms were sparkling clean. The conveniently located night
market behind the hotel provided easy pickings.