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

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

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

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

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

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

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

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 33 Simpang (Malaysia)

A day off.

I woke up slowly and had breakfast.

I ate a banana, dried fruit and nuts, an apple, yogurt, a roll with blueberry jam, and hot coffee.

I organized photos and other data and edited my email newsletter.

Before noon, I went into town and had lunch at a local restaurant.

I had Nasi Kandar, a curry rice dish topped with fried chicken and some vegetables.

I stopped by a bakery with freshly baked bread and returned to the hotel.

I reconsidered my itinerary until my return home and decided to return about a week earlier than planned.

I canceled the return portion of the discounted airfare I had already purchased (no refund) and bought a new ticket from Penang to Kansai International Airport.

My run ends on Tuesday, April 7th, in the afternoon at Penang International Airport.

I will make a flight to Kuala Lumpur that night. I have about a 9-hour layover, and the next day, the 8th, I fly from Kuala Lumpur to Kansai International Airport.

 I am scheduled to return home around 3 PM. This trek will end in about 40 days. The total distance traveled is expected to be 750 kilometers.

I think I'll be able to complete this tropical journey while adapting to the heat.

The trouble with my right knee is unavoidable, but I think I can overcome it.

I'll keep moving forward without letting my guard down until the very end.

*Today's distance traveled: 0 km

*Total distance traveled from Changi International Airport: 658.1 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 32 Kuala Kangsar to Simpang (Malaysia)

Started just after 7 AM.

Headed west along Highway 1.

Along the way, there was a gentle uphill climb and a small pass.

In the latter half of Highway 1, where it runs parallel to AH2, the road and shoulder narrowed.

The heat today was tough after yesterday's cool weather.

A day with few intersections. The road occasionally widened to two lanes, and traffic decreased.

The road surrounded by quiet rainforest was pleasant.

There were no shops for 15 kilometers, and I finally managed to buy some supplies at a supermarket in Bukit Gantang.

Cold drinks quickly become lukewarm, so it's best to buy cold drinks at shops each time.

Arrived at the hotel in Simpang before 2 PM, but the door was locked as the owner was absent.

I bought a rojak (fruit salad) from a stall in front of the hotel and asked the vendor to call the hotel owner and have him come right away.

About five minutes later, the owner appeared and I completed the check-in.

For some reason, I was taken to a different hotel than the one I had booked, and checked in there.

My right knee isn't great (bending and straightening it is jerky), but I'm grateful and overwhelmed that I can even move forward.

Tomorrow is a day off for rest.

I drank too much water again today and my stomach is sloshing around.

*Today's distance traveled: 27.4 km

*Total distance traveled from Changi International Airport: 658.1 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 31 Sungai Siput to Kuala Kangsar (Malaysia)

 

Departed just after 7 AM.

It seems a considerable amount of rain fell last night. There were puddles like ponds all over the road.

There were a lot of cars parked along the roads around the Chinese cemetery. Was it a day for visiting graves, like the O-higan in Japan?

It's a mountainous area, but there weren't any particularly steep climbs.

Because it was Sunday, there were quite a few groups of road cyclists.

They waved and called out to me as we passed each other.

I ran past Lion Hill, a mountain that resembles Mount Fuji. Its height is about 310-365 meters.

Looking closely at the abandoned buildings, I noticed a troop of monkeys living there!

I see monkey communities everywhere, but there must be about 100 of them here.

Today, the traffic was light, and I enjoyed a pleasant run.

Luckily, it was mostly cloudy, so I didn't feel the heat too much.

Usually, I'd be drenched in sweat, splashing water on my head and body while running, but today it wasn't necessary.

Routes like this, where I can feel close to nature, are great because I never get bored while running.

I took two breaks at bus stops.

I arrived in Kuala Kangsar and killed time by enjoying ice cream and canned coffee at a convenience store near the hotel.

I arrived at the hotel around 1:30 PM.

Although check-in was supposed to be at 2 PM, they let me check in early.

A relaxed, leisurely pace that left my mind and body at ease.

About half the distance I usually run. A journey and a life without rushing is truly wonderful.

*Today's distance: 23.5 km

*Total distance from Changi International Airport: 630.7 km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site