Day 903 9th January 2019
36 miles (Gemang Lama to Rantau Panjang) Average speed 11.7 mph Top speed 27 mph
Yet another good day, a very cheap one too!
I got up at 9 for brekkie of soft boiled eggs with sweet toast and two coffees for 7 ringgit. I went back to my room for a rest and to shower.
I left at 12 and took the 4 for about 4 minutes when it rained quite heavily, so I had a tea and chatted to some locals. Then I set off and was flying along on flat wet roads, but my legs were feeling the effects of yesterday’s climbing. I got to a turn off to a road which runs along the Thai border and chose to eat. I found a nice place and had chicken, lamb and rice with tea. I was happy to get out of the drizzle for a while. I returned my plates and asked to pay when the cashier said that the lady sitting down with her daughter had already paid my bill??? I thanked her profusely and gave her daughter a cake from my bag in exchange for a photo with me??
Then I took the left turn which was a great road with some nice houses and lots of palm trees and good farming land. There were also many nurseries with an array of tropical plants. After a while I stopped at a shop to get out of another shower and had an iced coffee while chatting to the old owner.
River view
I decided to stop in the next town and went to see 3 hotels. I ended up back at the first and cheapest of them all on the outskirts of town. The girl on reception was very friendly and I chose a room with aircon for 50 ringgit. After an interesting shower I took a ride around town which is full of cheap snide clothes shops all selling the same stuff.
View of the town
I had dinner in a restaurant nearby and met Tay and his wife. We chatted for about an hour while I ate, all about his career in the Malay Navy and his family and a bit about the great people I’d met. He then settled my bill while paying for his own!! I just can’t spend any money!!! I went back to the hotel and was in bed by ten. I have met some incredible people this week.
Hotel Ani 50 ringgit with double bed, tv and aircon. Unfortunately no shower head or flush toilet.