DAY 18 Kajang to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)

The cool morning hours are quite short. By 10 AM, the temperature is already in the 30s Celsius.

On humid days, sweat clings to the skin unbearably.

Take frequent breaks in the shade and stay hydrated.

Continuing to run despite the heat increases the risk of heatstroke.

As I left Kajang and approach Kuala Lumpur, the roads became more complex.

Every time the number of lanes increases, I'm forced to sprint at intersections and ramps.

There are many places without pedestrian crossings, so I have to go straight to avoid being hit by cars turning left.

Furthermore, I have to be careful of cars coming from the left and return to the left lane...it's a constant cycle.

I once got lost on a freeway while running in America, and it's a similar situation here.

As it's a big city, people, cars, and shops are all crammed together.

During the morning rush hour, motorcycles weave erratically between cars, trying to move forward as quickly as possible.

Many parents are dropping off their children at school.

Having run on the roads so far, I'd say Malaysian drivers aren't much different from those in Japan. Of course, there are some reckless drivers and those who drive selfishly.

However, there are also many careful drivers who yield the right of way and stop when crossing the road.

I use Google Maps to choose walking routes, and there's a new option for wheelchairs, which I haven't seen before. It probably avoids areas with stairs or other obstacles.

My buggy is wide, so naturally, I can't move forward when the sidewalk narrows. A common problem here is encountering utility poles or traffic light control boxes in the middle of the sidewalk; that's a dead end. At worst, I have to back up.

Traveling around Malaysia with a buggy is more difficult than in Vietnam or Taiwan. Especially in cities like Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, there are many extremely dangerous spots.

Safety is paramount, above all else, to avoid being hit by cars or motorcycles. I must never forget that I'm running to protect my life.

I'm so grateful and moved that I was able to finish my run safely today!

*Today's distance: 28.1km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 376.1km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 17 Seremban-Kajang (Malaysia)

I left Seremban a little after 7 AM, while it was still dim.

The first half of the journey took me through the hilly area of ​​Highway 1, nestled between rainforests.

Highway B24 was a quiet country road, with several small settlements along the way.

The small general stores in these towns reminded me of the old-fashioned candy shops(dagashiya) of the Showa era, reminiscent of those found in Shikoku or Kyushu in Japan.

In the second half, as I approached Kuala Lumpur, traffic increased, and I began to see more high-rise buildings and residential areas.

Is Malaysia currently experiencing a boom? There are many areas under development for housing.

Japan has been stagnant for the past 30 years or so, but Malaysia seems to be experiencing economic growth comparable to developed countries now.

I ran almost continuously in the second half, covering 39.3 kilometers in just over 6 hours.

Under the scorching sun, my iPhone displayed a "high temperature warning" and shut down twice.

It's not good to expose smart phone to direct sunlight for extended periods when the temperature reaches around 35 degrees Celsius.

It's hotter inland than along the coast. It's better when there's a breeze, but there wasn't much wind today.

Tomorrow, I'll finally be in Kuala Lumpur. Just over 30 kilometers from here.

*Today's distance: 39.3km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 348.1km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 16 Rembau-Seremban (Malaysia)

Started at 7:30 AM.

There was a very strong wind blowing last night.

The noise and vibrations from the cars were quite noticeable in the room as I was sleeping in a hotel room near the national highway.

I headed north on Highway 1, and as I approached Kuala Lumpur, the amount of traffic inevitably increased.

I kept running silently, hardly talking to anyone.

I only spoke to shopkeepers, restaurant staff, and hotel staff, but today, while resting at a bus stop near the Patas Hot Spring Resort Park, two motorcycle police officers spoke to me.

I might have looked suspicious, but their expressions softened when I told them I was from Japan.

In the early afternoon, there was a passing shower. I took shelter at a bus stop, but it stopped after about 10 minutes.

At the entrance to Seremban, I went into a Chinese restaurant and ate wonton noodles, then had an iced latte at McDonald's, and arrived at the hotel exactly at 3 PM for check-in.

At McDonald's, there were many families, probably because it was the weekend. The peaceful scenes I see in any country are pretty much the same.

Seremban is a fairly large city. There's a food court near the hotel, and plenty of convenience stores and other shops.

*Today's distance: 27.3km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 308.8km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

DAY 15 Alor Gajah-Rembau (Malaysia)

The owners of the guesthouse in Alor Gajah once again thoughtfully brought homemade steamed buns and coffee.

Yesterday, during check-in, all we had was a brief conversation about being from Japan and traveling by running in prayer for world peace... I'm so grateful and touched by their kind consideration!

Started at 7:40 AM. There was a fairly strong headwind.

The ups and downs weren't too steep, but there were more gradual inclines in the latter half.

The shortcut route I took when joining Highway 1 from Highway 19 was interesting, like a trail.

There were hardly any people or cars. The atmosphere was nice and quiet, like a farm road.

There were several packs of stray dogs, and some bumpy, rocky paths reminiscent of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage route.

I took several breaks at bus stops. It was comfortable when there was shade and a breeze.

Since it was 23.4 kilometers, I arrived in Rembau by lunchtime, but I killed time at the bus stop until hotel check-in.

I was surprised to find so many things there – convenience stores, restaurants, McDonald's, etc. – when I thought it would be a barren town.

20km is definitely too short; it's better to run at least 30km.

I checked into the hotel exactly at 2pm.

The owner, a Japanophile, kindly carried my heavy duffel bag up to my room on the second floor.

*Today's distance: 23.4km

*Total distance from Changi Airport: 281.5km

*Today's Photo Albums

*YouTube Playlist

*PEACE RUN Official Site

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