Dokkodo: Lonesome Road of Running

*General Info about this trek

4/06/2026

DAY39 George Town 3

Here I am in Georgetown, but only did a little sightseeing on the first day.

Today is essentially my last day in Georgetown.

My right knee is neither good nor bad; walking normally is a bit difficult.

I went to a local restaurant for lunch and dinner. The noodles were delicious.

I wanted to eat so many more things, but I only have a little time left to enjoy Malaysian cuisine. Maybe I'll have a chance to visit again someday…

After lunch, I went to a dim sum shop again and got two kinds of egg tarts to take away.

Unfortunately, my final run on the 7th was cancelled.

With my right knee in its current state, even walking is difficult.

Final goal was made in Georgetown on April 3rd.

Tomorrow morning, I'll disassemble and pack the buggy.

Although there was a broken spoke, I had no other problems with the buggy because I lightened my luggage. There were no flat tyres either.

I'll use the Grab ride-hailing app to call a car to the airport.

Tomorrow, DAY 40, my Malaysian journey will finally be complete. I've made so many wonderful memories here in Malaysia. Now all that's left is to return home.

I'll depart Penang at 9 PM on the 7th, arriving in Kuala Lumpur around 10:30 PM.

I'll take off Kuala Lumpur at 7:30 AM on the 8th.

I'm scheduled to arrive at Kansai International Airport at 3 PM (Japan time) on the 8th. It'll be 40 days since I last set foot on my homeland.

Just like in Vietnam and Taiwan, my cats seemed to have forgotten me when I got home.

My black cat, Ali, remembered me right away, but Chobin and Meow hid for a while.

I wonder if it will be the same this time?

*Total distance traveled from Changi International Airport: 741.3 km

4/05/2026

DAY 38 George Town 2 (Malaysia)

A mosquito got in, and I woke up in the middle of the night due to the itching. Since it's a tropical country, mosquitoes are active all year round.

I gave my right knee a thorough massage and stretch. The pain isn't constant, but it's best to rest it.

In the afternoon, I went out into town. It was Sunday, so there were quite a few tourists.

I had Chinese food for lunch. Basically, I eat one main dish a day, either at lunch or dinner.

On days when I don't run, I don't feel very hungry.

My right knee hurts, so I can't walk much. I only go out for shopping or meals around the hotel.

Time to reflect on the journey.

Now that the journey is nearing its end, it's time to switch from traveler mode to normal mode.

The memories of running the highway day after day are slowly becoming a thing of the past.

It was tough and painful at times, but it was also an incredibly exhilarating and truly enjoyable time.

I have no regrets about my travels or my life.

"I ran my best," "I survived"—those words are most fitting.

I'm looking forward to feeling that way again.

As dusk falls, the neon lights begin to illuminate George Town.

For the half hour or so that my laundry is being done at the laundromat, I wander aimlessly, letting the time pass slowly and leisurely.

Accepting the pain in my right knee, I dedicate myself to imprinting the memories of my time in this city into my mind.

I believe that the concept of "once-in-a-lifetime encounter" applies not only to people but also to places.

A young couple was chatting happily in a cafe.

An old man was enjoying laksa at a table in a local eatery.

A cat was sleeping on the roof of a car.

Everyone is living in this peaceful present moment.

Only one more day left in Georgetown.

I can't wait to go home.

*Today's distance traveled: 0 km

*Total distance traveled from Changi International Airport: 741.3 km

4/04/2026

DAY 37 George Town (Malaysia)

In the morning, while it was still cool and there were few people, I strolled around Georgetown.

I saw street art, visited mosques and temples, bought a tart, and returned to the hotel.

As expected, being a tourist destination, there were many tourists here and there.

It seems that Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, and George Town are the most popular tourist spots in Malaysia. It felt like a considerable number of tourists were flocking here not only from other Asian countries but also from Western countries.

There were also many cafes and restaurants catering to tourists.

Nevertheless, thanks to its tourist attractions, the city was vibrant and stimulating.

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, there are buildings that exuded a sense of history, as well as many colorful houses and shops that we wouldn't see in Japan. People are everywhere, moving around with smartphones and action cameras in hand.

For lunch, I went to Fu Yang, which I visited yesterday, and ate barbecue rice.

For dinner, I had beef soup noodle at a Vietnamese restaurant.

Within a 1km radius of the hotel, there are restaurants, cafes, food stalls, and food courts offering a variety of international cuisines.

This requires careful consideration of what to eat each day.

Penang Island (especially Georgetown) is a foodie's paradise!

Due to the strain of my previous efforts, my right knee has worsened (currently making walking somewhat difficult), so I may have to cancel my final run on the 7th (approximately 17km to Penang International Airport).

If that happens, George Town will become my final destination.

I'll wait and see how things go on the morning of the 7th.

*Today's distance: 0km

*Total distance from Changi International Airport: 741.3km

4/03/2026

DAY 36 Simpang Ampat to George Town (Malaysia)

Started just after 7 AM.

About 3 kilometers to get back to Highway 1.

There were several roundabouts, common in cities of British Commonwealth countries. Entering them on the buggy always required a mad dash.

The swarms of motorcycles were quite tricky.

While not as bad as Vietnam, they can move unexpectedly, so I got to be careful and watch for their action. It's problematic when a swarm of motorcycles on the opposite lane during rush hour comes from the opposite direction while I'm running on the left.

Entering Butterworth city, the number of shops increased.

The temperature was 31 degrees Celsius at 11 AM. I wanted to catch the ferry as early as possible.

To enter the ferry terminal, I followed a spiral path. There was a lane specifically for motorcycles and bicycles.

The end of my journey across the Malay Peninsula was here at the ferry terminal. Arrived around 11:30 AM.

The ferry fare was only RM2.50 (100 yen). I took the 12:00 ferry. It took about 15 minutes.

The ferry was relatively empty. There were about a dozen people on motorbikes.

I arrived in George Town around 12:30.

I had samosas and masala chai for lunch at a local cafe.

I was able to check into the hotel early. Both the front door and my room door had electronic locks with a code system.

I'll rest here for four nights, then head to Penang International Airport (about 17 km from the hotel) on the afternoon of the 7th, my final destination. All that's left is to return home.

I'm fortunate to have overcome the tropical heat and humidity, as well as my right knee problems, to make it this far.

I can't let my guard down yet, but it looks like I'll be able to successfully complete my 15th country, Malaysia.

George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Malaysia's top tourist destinations.

Its charm lies in its colorful shophouses, street art, colonial architecture, and street food, which are said to be among the best in the world, all blending Chinese, Indian, and European cultures.

This will be my last sightseeing spot in Malaysia.

* Distance traveled today: 19.4 km

* Total distance traveled from Changi International Airport: 741.3 km

4/02/2026

DAY 35 Bagan Serai to Simpang Ampat (Malaysia)

Started at 7 AM.

The road was mostly flat again today.

The usual heat returned. I frequently poured water over myself: head, back of neck, back, shoulders…

It's best to pour water over myself in the shade when there's a breeze. The evaporative cooling effect makes it feel much cooler.

15 kilometers nonstop until the first rest stop.

There are hardly any bus stops on the northbound lane, and even if there are, they offer almost no shade due to the eastern sun. This happens every day when heading north.

There's a fairly large town called Palit Buntar at the 15-kilometer mark, but since it's a few kilometers east of Highway 1, I didn't stop.

Passed through the towns of Nibong Tebal and Sungai Jawi.

Around 11 AM, entered Penang state from Perak state.

Traffic increased after crossing the border.

There was a large ship monument, but my iPhone overheated and shut down, so I couldn't take the important photo.

I'll take frequent breaks when my knee starts to feel unwell. Today, my knee has been heavy and aching from the very beginning.

The movement of my right knee joint isn't as smooth as usual. I feel pain when my foot lands on a downhill slope.

At 3 PM, I arrived at the hotel in Simpang Ampat.

It seems the cleaning wasn't finished yet, so I waited in the lobby for 20 minutes.

Whether I cry or laugh, I'll finish in about 40 kilometers. I'll have to rely on my right knee until then.

My room is on the 4th floor again today, so the view is nice.

It's a little far from National Highway 1, but I'll meet up again tomorrow.

For dinner, I had Indonesian food. It was incredibly spicy and greasy.

I think I'm fine with eating Asian ethnic food only occasionally.

*Today's distance: 34 km

*Total distance from Changi International Airport: 721.9 km

4/01/2026

DAY 34 Simpang to Bagan Serai (Malaysia)

Departed a little after 7 AM.

Initially, it was a light drizzle, but after about 13 kilometers, it started raining heavily.

Took shelter under the roof of a food stall.

The rain eased up, and I started running again, but then it started raining heavily again... I took shelter again... this repeated.

It was cool while it was raining. I didn't wear my rain jacket. Being wet was more comfortable.

The rain stopped before noon, and it became hot and humid again.

This weather reminds me of the August heat during my two cross-country trek across Japan.

The first time was in 2010. I think I was running somewhere between Ishikawa and Fukui prefectures. The temperature probably rose to around 38 degrees Celsius.

The second time was in 2012, when I was running from Soma to Minamisoma in Fukushima prefecture. I remember almost collapsing from the humid, muggy heat.

Even standing still, the sweat wouldn't stop. It was that kind of heat where sweat clung to my skin, hindering my ability to breathe.

The road was mostly flat. When the road surface was wet, water splashed from puddles after large vehicles passed.

I saw a water lizard, about 60 centimeters long, swimming in an irrigation ditch. For a moment, I thought it was a baby crocodile. I often see them flattened after being run over by cars, but this was the first time I'd seen one alive.

While sheltering from the rain, I ate a pao, and as it was getting hotter, I found a shake stand and cooled down with a mango shake.

Just before 2 PM, I checked into my hotel in Bagan Serai after running 29.8 kilometers.

Immediately afterward, another heavy thunderstorm hit.

What perfect timing!

Today's hotel is very nice. Being on the 4th floor, the view is also good.

*Today's distance: 29.8 km

*Total distance from Changi International Airport: 687.9 km