20/1/11 - Klang

So, I realised that I've been very slack at updating this; even though we had internet in Melaka and Banting, I haven't added anything, but really I hand in my homework late, I wake up late, I go to sleep late, the chances of me posting a post in each town that had internet was a wee bit slim, but I digress.

So we have just arrived in Klang, and are staying in the station hotel in Little India, We are here for two nights and visiting K.L. tomorrow, last night we stayed in Banting right next to a accessory store that unfortunately wasn't open; the name: The Ray Bundle, The logo, very similar to this.






So, we had a 33km sprint today, the last few kilometres very confusing, and the last km we were motorpaced by a friendly local who directed us to not only the train station; but also the station hotel, I hit 40 during that last kilometre; unfortunately that was right before a speed bump, I lost my pannier and our lead, fortunately he was waiting around the corner, with a triumphant Sam waiting behind him. When we reached the hotel as Dad and I were about to bring our bikes up we were waylaid by a man called Edwin who said his car wouldn't start, a local who told us lots about the shops and surrounds in little India. It's now time for dinner, and hopefully we can get something as good last night, when expecting (as had been the case at all the other restaurants) that a plate would be a single serving, not a family serving, We ended up with a kilo of crab, chicken, fried rice and a fair amount of shrimp, Unfortunately the bill matched the dinner and Mum has vowed not to eat in places that don't list the prices next to the meals.
So the big K.L tomorrow;
Jake

Muar, Muar, Johor, Malaysia - 15/1/11

Salamat Datang Ke Malaysia,and since I exhausted my knowledge of Malay in my last post and in that greeting I think I'll stick to English from here on out, Malaysia has been amazing,the food is brilliant and the roads are well maintained, and since the main thing about this adventure(if you wish to call it that) is biking then having a road that looks like a road rather than one that looks akin to the surface of the moon is a pretty good thing.The trip so far has been lovely, and the courtesy of the drivers in Malaysia has made me wonder how I cycled in Blenheim,The traffic is probably 2-3 times heavier yet we have had people nearly drive off the road to avoid hitting us. We are treated like kings by most of the restaurateurs, and it makes me feel quite bad about how New Zealand as a nation dislike and distrust the Asian migrants, when in fact they are wonderful people (though they are horrible parkers), but back on pitch, after Singapore we stayed in Johor Bahru, then Pontian Kechil, then Batu Pahat, then Muar, each of these has been the capital of their respective district and they are named as such e.g. Nelson-Nelson. We are planning to leave the state of Johor tomorrow, and stay in Melaka, Melaka, Melaka, Malaysia.

Anyway, Thats my bit for today.

Jake Thomas.

Sngapore 11/01/11

Man, just realised everyone else has already posted a Singapore piece, It looks like I'm well on track for getting out of date.

Tonight is our last in Singapore, I've had a great time in Little India and Chinatown, and now upon my wrist sits a "swiss navy" watch, the food here is amazing and so are the people, everyone is so polite, however it could be a facade to help them fleece you of your money, as after michaels destruction of our previous camera, we decided to have a look for a new one; the guy tried to sell the one we had our eye on to us for 1100 dollars then he rather willinngly haggled down to 580, then 520, and then brought the price back to 580 with the inclusion of a tripod, super long lasting battery, 8gb flash card and a case.

We turned the corner after purchase walked into a second store where a guy was selling it for 300 dollars.

But the price of most stuff is around 5 to 70% less than in new zealand, I think sam has already used the example of the chocolate at quarter price, and in most of the smaller places prices are set much above what they are willing to sell it for and haggling is rife.

On the bike tomorrow and into malaysia, hopefully I can get me some Ray-Bans... or would that be Ray-Bons, you never know in the markets of Asia.

English to Malay translation

Man, baru semua orang menyedari lain telah diposting sepotong Singapura, Sepertinya aku baik pada jalur untuk keluar dari tarikh.



Malam ini terakhir kami di Singapura, aku punya banyak masa di Little India dan Chinatown, dan sekarang pada pergelangan tangan saya duduk sebuah "swiss navy" menonton, makanan di sini adalah menakjubkan dan begitu adalah orang-orang, semua orang sangat sopan, tetapi itu boleh menjadi fasad untuk membantu mereka fleece anda tentang wang anda, kerana setelah penghancuran Michaels kamera kami sebelumnya, kami memutuskan untuk memiliki mencari yang baru, orang itu cuba untuk menjual yang kita miliki mata kita kepada kami untuk 1100 dolar kemudian ia lebih willinngly tawar-menawar ke 580, lalu 520, dan kemudian membawa harga kembali ke 580 dengan dimasukkannya bateri, tripod super tahan lama, kad 8gb flash dan kes.



Kami bergerak ke arah di tikungan selepas pembelian masuk ke kedai kedua di mana seorang lelaki menjual untuk 300 dolar.



Tapi harga barang yang paling adalah sekitar 5 hingga 70% kurang dari di New Zealand, saya kira sam telah menggunakan contoh dari coklat dengan harga triwulan, dan di sebahagian besar tempat-tempat yang lebih kecil harga ditetapkan jauh di atas apa yang mereka mahu menjualnya untuk dan tawar-menawar tersebar luas.

Pada sepeda besok dan ke malaysia, mudah-mudahan saya boleh mendapatkan saya beberapa Ray-Ban ... atau yang akan Ray-Bons, anda tidak pernah tahu di pasaran Asia.


Good Bye For Now,
Jake