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Cycling in MalaysiaSome call cycling in Malaysia madness. This is because of the tropical heat. But is it really madness? Is cycling in Malaysia worth the effort or should you skip it? Most of my bike rides in the country were limited to the west coast.
So what are the attractions in Malaysia, what should you visit when you are cycling in Malaysia?
Should you consider a tour through West Malaysia (East Malaysia is overseas: Sarawak and Sabah), you should easily be able to spend 3 weeks around the country. General Info about MalaysiaIn Malaysia, Saturday and Sunday are holidays which means the official offices and banks are in general closed. In major tourist areas as Penang, Langkawi, Kuala Lumpur and Malacca the Tourist Information office are sometimes open on Saturday and Sunday but always closed for lunch.
Banks are closed in the weekend but there are plenty of ATM's available, I use Maybank, as I find it the most reliable of all banks. Malaysia is a Muslim country. For those who can not live without a beer, many restaurants and food courts server beer and other spirits, including during the Ramadan when the Malay restaurants will be closed at day time. Malaysia is a tropical country. Protect yourself from dehydration and keep drinking. Wear a hat to protect your head. Bicycle shopsMalaysia has several good bicycle shops. Kuala Lumpur and Penang are obvious choices while Langkawi's bicycle shop seems to have closed (sounds a little strange with Asia's major cycling race named after the island: Tour de Langkawi).
In many towns you will be able to find basic shops and in some others very good shops. Taiping, Ipoh, Klang, Malacca but even in small towns as Seri Manjung and Kampong Koh there are very good shops despite the fact there's not a lot of Malaysian cyclists. Janson cycled Selangor-Penang-SelangorJanson fulfilled a dream when he cycled Selangor to Penang and back. I met him in Sitiawan. Impressive journey! Still Kuala Lumpur has the most decent shops, here is more about the Bicycle Shops in Kuala Lumpur. Should you be in Penang, I would advice Gary Yap's: Malacca has a good bike shop:
Should you come to Pulau Pangkor and in trouble, you will find my personal
favorite bicycle shop in Seri Manjung of Mr. Jamalludin Othman, an ex military
technician who loves bicycles and have what you need:
Traffic and safety
Outside the main cities cycling is usually fine. Many roads have little traffic and are very safe for cycling. I would not recommend to cycle in Kuala Lumpur or cycle to KLIA (done that, never more). In some major cities, following the road signs might you direct to motorways (Klang was a serious problem for me). Be careful, get a provincial road map or use Google Maps to get the road numbers. I have been cycling with Johan, an 8 years old boy who lives in Penang. We cycled Pangkor - Penang in 4 days, 250 km which was a great (and very safe) journey. Here is the full story. Accommodation and foodOf all Asian countries I have traveled, Malaysia is relatively expensive. Still, you can find accommodation for as little as around $10-15, especially in Kuala Lumpur, Penang or Langkawi. Outside it might be harder. In general you can find hotels and homestays at at least every 50-70km distance.
Food seems a prime chat topic for all Malaysians. When you meet locals you will soon find yourself eating and drinking and talking about the local food. And not for nothing. The mix of cultures have produced an excellent cuisine. For those who want to explore the Malaysian cooking, I can recommend Nazlina's Spice Kitchen, 3 times a week cooking class in the Tropical Spice Garde, click here for more details. MapsFinding good maps in Malaysia can be difficult. Cycling in Malaysia requires a decent map. You can use Google maps and make print outs. These are by far the most reliable at the moment.
In some bookstores in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, you should be able to find Malaysia Travel Maps. I have a Northern Region map which is very good for cycling. In Penang you can find it at Queensbay Mall while in KL there are several other large malls where you can get it (Twin Towers should have them too). Religion and Festivals
Although Malaysia is a Muslim country it is tolerant to other religions. While you are traveling in Malaysia it is very well possible you will join in one or another festival. The most spectacular are the Indian Thaipusam, Chinese New Year and the Chinese (Taoist) Nine Emperor Gods Festival. I have written a more extensive page about the Malaysian festivals. Please see this page. We have many more photos of the Chinese New Year in Penang Here are some other links to Malaysian festivals: Although Little Penang is not part of any religious festival, it does usually pay attention to such a festival. The Little Penang Market is held every last Sunday of the month at Upper Penang Road near E&O hotel, Bay View and Cheong Fatt Mansions. Here is more about Little Penang Cultural Market
Several roads I have cycledWithout claiming I have seen every road in Malaysia, I can say I have a fairly good view what Malaysia offers for bicycle touring.
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Penang
LangkawiThe road from Johor Bahru to Thailand
River cruise and river trekkingEarly June I did a river trekking in Taiping and a river cruise in the nearby Mangrove forest in Kuala Sepetang. It was spectacular and Charcoal FactoryNear Taiping, north west Malaysia are still charcoal factories. I had a look and found it very interesting
Johan's 4 day journey, 250km from Sitiawan to PenangTalk about bicycling. You can't start young enough. Johan bicycled from Sitiawan, 250km to Penang. Johan was 8 years old.
Adventure Cycling In Perak
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