DAY 14 Melaka-Alor Gajah (Malaysia)

It's been two weeks since I left Kansai Airport. According to the schedule, I still have five weeks left.

I've switched into traveler mode, but I'm still not fully accustomed to the tropical heat.

Today's run is a short 27.3km to Alor Gajah.

I left Melaka at 7am. I soon got onto Route 19, but there was a lot of traffic.

Exhaust fumes and noise were a constant nuisance.

The route was moderately hilly.

I ran non-stop for about 13km.

Once in Alor Gajah, I did some shopping at a large supermarket called Family Store.

There didn't seem to be any convenience stores or other shops near the guesthouse (the nearest 7-Eleven was 3km north), so I had nasi goreng ayam at a restaurant about 600m before.

As I was loading my luggage, a sudden, heavy downpour hit. Perfect timing!

Although it's a guesthouse, it's more of a private lodging system where I rent rooms.

It was nice to be able to use the refrigerator.

If I freeze some water bottles and put them in the cooler box, I'll have a cold drink tomorrow.

Finishing my run early feels refreshing.

Considering my previous journeys, I feel a bit guilty about ending the day with less than 40km, and it doesn't feel right.

No matter what, safety and health come first as I move forward.

*Today's distance: 27.3km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 258.1km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 13 Melaka (Malaysia)

Day off in Malacca.

When running in the heat, it's important to take frequent breaks.

I woke up leisurely, showered, and did laundry.

I left the hotel around 8am and wandered around town, encountering the city's colorful and diverse landscapes.

I wonder how photographers could have captured this beauty in the old days, when only monochrome (black and white) film was available?

Founded around 1400, Malacca was the capital of the Sultanate of Malacca and a historic port city that flourished as a transit point for East-West trade.

It has a turbulent history, having been colonized by Portugal, the Netherlands, and Britain, as well as being occupied by the Japanese military. Its streets, a fusion of Malay, Chinese, and European cultures, were registered as a World Heritage Site in 2008.

The atmosphere of Portugal, which I visited two years ago, is certainly in the air.

Japanese people are also good at fusing different things.

Tolerance and acceptance of all things fosters a peaceful image.

At 2pm, I had nasi goreng ayam (fried rice with fried chicken) for a late lunch at a nearby restaurant.

The temperature was 34°C at this point.

It was hot to walk, and even hotter to run. When the wind blew, it was warm, like the wind from a hair dryer.

If I had been pushing the buggy, I would have been more tense, but since it was my day off, I just stared blankly at the scenery, feeling listless.

Memories of the many times I've felt dizzy in the heat flash back to me.

It's a heat I'm sure I've experienced many times before, but there are also times when it has already faded from my memory.

My body seems to be gradually getting used to the heat, which Malacca is probably trying to make somewhat gentler.

*Today's distance: 0km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 230.8km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 12 Muar-Melaka (Malaysia)

Started at 7:00 AM, just before sunrise.

Headed north, using Route 5 as my base. The cool weather quickly ended, and by 10:00 the temperature was over 30°C.

Bought drinks at almost every convenience store.

My current enjoyment is ice cream and cold drinks.

I never drink pop soda such as cola in Japan, but when I'm traveling on foot, I really crave it.

I had a takeout mie goreng for a late lunch at the bus stop.

I couldn't finish it all, so I had some at the hotel in the evening.

Drank watermelon juice in Malacca city; 80 yen for 500ml was a real bargain.

It tasted like watermelon juice with sugar added.

I had several painful blisters on the soles of my feet. The high temperature and humidity inside my shoes were a problem.

I made good progress up to 30km, but the last 15km were tough.

Break breaks every 5km became more frequent, becoming every 2-3km.

The more water I drank, the more I sweated. Still, I couldn't help but drink fluids.

After 44km, I finished at a hotel in Malacca Old Town just before 5pm.

I feel like going more than 40km in this heat is a bit dangerous (lol).

Tomorrow is a day off. I want to keep the distance to Kuala Lumpur short.

*Today's distance: 44km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 230.8km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 11 Batu Pahat to Muar (Malaysia)

I left Batu Pahat around 7:10 AM. My plan for the day was to cover 50 kilometers to Muar.

I wanted to cover as much distance as possible during the cooler hours.

It was fun to watch the remaining distance on my GPS slowly decrease.

However, the temperature exceeded 30 degrees Celsius just after 10 AM.

It was 33 degrees Celsius by 2 PM.

I skipped a lunch break and instead took many 10-15 minute breaks. I rarely sat down.

Eating ice cream at a convenience store became a daily routine.

I gulped down pop soda (my favorite is A&W), which I rarely drink in Japan.

A little after 5 PM, I thought I'd reached my hotel in Muar, but realized it was the wrong hotel, so I frantically searched Google Maps again.

I arrived at my destination, my private lodging, at 5:30 AM. It was just over 1 km from the city center. I bought some food at a convenience store.

Finished with a total distance of 50.3km. My first distance of over 50km in Malaysia.

Refreshed after a shower.

The afternoon heat of 33°C, constant thirst, and soles of my feet hurt for the first time in a while.

Tomorrow, I have another 45km to run to Melaka. I'm pumped. I'm ready to show my true adventure runner skills.

*Today's distance: 50.3km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 186.8km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 10 Batu Pahat (Malaysia)

Day 10, a day off in Batu Pahat.

The high temperature was 33°C again today.

I would rather not walk around town in the scorching sun, but I took a morning stroll around the neighborhood.

I headed south along the Batu Pahat River.

I visited the market and tried out the food court.

Wherever I go, there are stray cats, quite a few of them just hanging around the area without being owned by anyone.

Their fur is messy, and some of them look quite ragged. It is just like the stray cats that are common in Japan in the past.

I am often forced to watch animals that has been hit by cars while running on the road, but while these cats have gained their freedom, they are always walking a fine line between danger and reality.

The markets were all lively and bustling. Being close to the sea meant there was a wide variety of fresh fish available.

For lunch, I had Vietnamese seafood pho at the food court.

I was surprised to find out that pineapple was used as a secret ingredient!

For dinner, I ate Fish Curry at a food court called New Traffic Light Corner.

Whether it's food or something else, it's nice to casually come across something interesting or wonderful while walking around.

*Today's distance: 0km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 136.5 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 9: Pari Raja to Batu Pahat (Malaysia)

Left hotel in Parit Raja at 7:40 AM.

Today will be a short day just 23km to Batu Pahat.

Soon I join Route 5, along the coast, heading towards Muar and Melaka.

The shoulders of the road are now wider and relatively easy to run along, but I need to be careful when crossing the road or turning right.

To turn right, I need the same speed as a car or motorbike and start sprinting as soon as the light in front of me turns green.

It was also nice to see drivers chatting to me from their car windows and road construction workers waving at me.

For an early lunch, I had pork noodles at a Chinese restaurant, 7km from Batu Pahat. It was so delicious that I drank the whole soup.

The heat remained the same today.

Sweating profusely and drinking plenty of fluids stimulates metabolism and actually makes me feel better.

Eating and drinking too many cold foods or drink can make my stomach feel cold.

Checked into the hotel at 2 PM. Enjoy every day to the fullest.

*Today's distance: 22.6km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 136.5 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 8 Simpang Renggam to Parit Raja (Malaysia)

Started at 7:40 AM. Before leaving, I was chatting with the man at the hotel front desk, and he became interested in my trek.

On this trek, I haven't had many opportunities to talk to local people so far, only making small talk with hotel staff and convenience store clerks.

It was going to be hot again today, with temperatures ranging from 23-33 degrees.

My journey on Route 1 ended in Ayer Hitam, and from there I headed north on Route 50.

I covered another 30 kilometers today. By 10 AM, the temperature was over 30 degrees.

While resting at the bus stop, I noticed a wild monkey climbing a tree in the forest behind it. I looked it up and it turns out to be a long-tailed macaque.

I stopped off in Ayer Hitam for ice cream and coffee. No matter how much water I drank, it quickly turned into sweat and was lost.

I also don't forget to replenish my salt intake. I have brought some seaweed salt with me this time.

Every town in Malaysia has monuments with words like "I LOVE (actually a red heart mark) XXX" or "WE LOVE XXX," suggesting a strong sense of community.

Today, as always, many cars and motorbikes honked their horns to encourage me as I ran along.

It was exactly 10 kilometers from Ayer Hitam to Pari Raja. The last 5 kilometers were the toughest.

The water I had with me quickly became hot. Even if I put it in a foldable cooler box, there was no ice, so there was nothing I could do.

With 2 kilometers to go, my iPhone displayed a "High Temperature Warning." This can happen if I charge it in the hot sun.

The first time I saw this was in the mountains of Andalucia, Spain. 

It was when I was trying to find a way out.

I had lost internet and GPS connection, and got lost in the mountains.

What would I have done if I hadn't survived?

I finished at a hotel in Parit Raja at 2 p.m. Today I'd gotten a double room.

I disassembled my buggy and carried it up to the second floor. Climbing the stairs was an ordeal. My room was on the third floor.

For a late lunch (early dinner), I had takeout from a nearby deli and ate it at the hotel.

Tomorrow I'm heading to Batu Pahat. It's about 20 kilometers. I'll have the day after tomorrow off.

*Today's distance: 30.1km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 113.9 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site