tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61988350753139572692023-11-15T22:27:46.331-08:00Cycling At 50 PlusMay contain explicit non cycling material, visitor's discretion advised.Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-35506433667755876792013-09-15T21:03:00.000-07:002013-09-16T01:48:22.086-07:00Perth Again The Second Time<div style="text-align: justify;">
2013 has not been kind to me. In November 2012 I was diagnosed with a major ailment that changed my life. After the diagnosis my spirit and stamina took leave by going down hill that left me all but bed ridden. I thought I would never ride again. With sadness I packed my bike and stored it in the store room thinking well it had been a good cycling life and I could not be greedy by asking that the good things should last forever. The days passed very slowly and painfully. I was confined like a prisoner in a house arrest. And this explained the absence of new postings.</div>
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However starting from the Id in August things started to get better. I felt stronger and the the desire to move again slowly returned. It got so much better that I started planning for the Perth trip, perhaps not expecting to go at full speed like I had done previously. Just going and coming back in one piece would be considered a major battle as being won.<br />
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Unlike the last trip this time around the party was big. Zahir was going for the convocation ceremony at Curtin University, Perth and his whole family including the two infants and his wife, his grand mother and my spouse and I, and that made a group of 5 adults and 2 kids. Travelling with hyper active toddlers and grandma ? Well you know the answer.<br />
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Coming back to the same place for the second time give a curious feel. I had been here before so there is no novelty anymore, yet there were tons of places I had not really been to. Short visits do not qualify you to be an expert but still the excitement of a new place is somewhat muted.<br />
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Perth this time is seen and felt with a different perspective. It is the perspective of someone not able to grasp things that somehow is now out of his reach. I could not explore like before because of my limited physical condition. Thus the smell, the feel and the air seemed to me to be very different compared to the last visit. But I am glad to make it as it is like making a statement to the world, "hey look I am still kicking and alive"</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>How I love to have this Volkswagen Combi and go around the continent. I used to have one before and I tell you it is a wonderful vehicle, the ride and the handling are superior to other competitor and I cannot forget the whine and the purr of its engine. But like all old engines it eventually sputtered and belched white smoke from the exhaust. I decided to sell it when going up hill was only achieved after a laborious struggle.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Easy rider in Fremantle. Motor bikes do not filter, they follow the queue.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Rainbow seen from our apartment. An omen of good luck ? It rained continuously for 3 days at the end of our stay, with tornados accompanying, a rare event in this semi desert country. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYOvahTJxDkUELQf8r8ow7hOGi1WSjKyeov0BDsL43hQfahixE9Zyzq16xYKUmEuHkiL1Ye_2vkS6HeyiDmUoBAiVQ73SeedcoyeVaJIvApuverd-2mBDROZQvI0wB7gouGlhnG71CyDd/s1600/IMG_4103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWYOvahTJxDkUELQf8r8ow7hOGi1WSjKyeov0BDsL43hQfahixE9Zyzq16xYKUmEuHkiL1Ye_2vkS6HeyiDmUoBAiVQ73SeedcoyeVaJIvApuverd-2mBDROZQvI0wB7gouGlhnG71CyDd/s320/IMG_4103.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sunset at 30, 000 feet over the Indian Ocean on the way back. At this height I estimated from my phone app that the sun disappeared about 20 minutes later than if observed at sea level. After 30 years of travelling economy, for this trip I splashed on the business class. What is it like ? To me it is similar to the feeling of sitting in the reserved class in the Lido cinema in Kota Bharu after years of excitement in the 65 cent seat. The movie is the same but there is a smugness of looking down on the <i>hoi polloi.</i></b></td></tr>
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<br />Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-46959175869281747472012-08-12T01:20:00.003-07:002012-08-13T06:59:33.922-07:00The Metrobus From Sofia to Istanbul<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This is the final stage of our overland journey from London to Istanbul. We had initially thought of taking the train but we read that the train is very slow, much slower than the bus. This part of Europe is a little bit behind in infrastructure that explains there is still a lot of catching up in land transportation especially the train. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bus was very modern and up to date. The interior was clean and the seats were very comfortable, a far cry from the train that we took to Sofia. We passed through the Bulgarian country side and there were farmlands and vine yards all the way. The road was still of two lane, the expressway only started after we entered Turkey. We stopped at a few towns to pick up passengers and to allow the use of rest rooms. The towns still have the look of sadness, the people are still unsure of their status, are they still communists or capitalists. There is not much big scale construction of new buildings but I would prefer this way as the charms of the old are still retained.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we crossed to Turkey there were passport checks at a brand new control center. It was huge and inside were amenities like restaurants and banks. Turkey definitely felt different from Bulgaria. There were tolled highways for the vehicles and even the farmlands were more orderly, though I notice that the extensive vineyards of Bulgaria stopped at the border, that's a subtle sign you are coming to a Muslim country from a non Muslim as wine drinking also takes leave at the border.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">With the excellent roads in no time we were in Istanbul and the bus stopped at the main terminal outside the city. To get into the city there is an efficient metro which will whisk you to your desired places in a breeze. Istanbul is very modern and has the look of a European city, at least the East European. There are many newly constructed buildings and the city is huge. All tourists go to Sultan Ahmet or the surrounding and that was where we headed to join the mass of thronging visitors who mistakenly think that this part of Istanbul is Turkey. I found out that there are places outside the tourists belt where you can experience the Turkish atmosphere without being looked at as a cash machine. This was what I found by accident at Zeitinburnu, a place where I took accommodation after being cooped in Sultan Ahmet for 3 crazy days, 5 stops away from Sirkerci. The prices and the attitude of the locals made up for the biased way we looked upon the people of Istanbul who had been on our nerves especially the hotel keeper who asked us to vacate the room because his double booking, the hustlers in the form of beggars and the mass of humanity that choked the tourist spots and hence the outrageous prices.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Well after almost three weeks on the road you have to forgive us for sounding jaded and cynical, fatigue was creeping in and what we wanted was just to go home. There was a gathering of the clan on the plane flying to Kuala Lumpur, Faris was on duty and Zahir had flown in from London for his wedding anniversary, and that was the peak of the memorable time we had in charting our way from London to Istanbul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buying tickets for the journey in the bus company's office</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the bus to Istanbul standing at Sofia bus terminal</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sofia bus terminal, beware the signs are in Cryllic.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnxuSZM9oC5XU0u8R7rXQsRmr-9HUtdQGOwRFk4ph9QkL0u7o8_9AR9ZiTOe0D-phnYeDJWqL5k6m6pe81WRhgTjP7zRctCy_81Oq1fVEGPBaLn0TO8N9k-sQGu5Lp0ZMKkGO_5HXbP-r/s1600/IMG_0659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPnxuSZM9oC5XU0u8R7rXQsRmr-9HUtdQGOwRFk4ph9QkL0u7o8_9AR9ZiTOe0D-phnYeDJWqL5k6m6pe81WRhgTjP7zRctCy_81Oq1fVEGPBaLn0TO8N9k-sQGu5Lp0ZMKkGO_5HXbP-r/s400/IMG_0659.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Boarding</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the coach</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arrival at Istanbul bus terminal, behind is the entrance to the metro which takes us to Istanbul centre.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZYbjarStx5sAlvCrZ4mu90E1bcsYHvCbbXOucM0_O2L2j5vad0XZt6oCe_3Qq5-_WqqIYM0qJpzGvcCK2Dv_r2VUmURf27mNAfjZ45Y3YxFSqgBNH23u1UCgMBRqG1m7G_RqzPhyphenhyphenRXha/s1600/IMG_0685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZYbjarStx5sAlvCrZ4mu90E1bcsYHvCbbXOucM0_O2L2j5vad0XZt6oCe_3Qq5-_WqqIYM0qJpzGvcCK2Dv_r2VUmURf27mNAfjZ45Y3YxFSqgBNH23u1UCgMBRqG1m7G_RqzPhyphenhyphenRXha/s400/IMG_0685.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View from our breakfast table</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDW_LZsSwIvDDKcy1ycDHOHcjEP1zOBRkkjX8dyhH0QobKE4ntcF1ddnaTrPn7GjuiD0vrKw47AEZjjolRAlrUjAmKWh8tl_rBjJHSZEBarLfoftZhwNG-q6l4pdex2Z_AbefJKRdtT9g/s1600/IMG_0693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDW_LZsSwIvDDKcy1ycDHOHcjEP1zOBRkkjX8dyhH0QobKE4ntcF1ddnaTrPn7GjuiD0vrKw47AEZjjolRAlrUjAmKWh8tl_rBjJHSZEBarLfoftZhwNG-q6l4pdex2Z_AbefJKRdtT9g/s400/IMG_0693.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View of Istanbul from our boat cruise in the Bosphorus</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dolmabache Palace from the sea</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Try the Turkish Lemacun, they are tasty, cheap and filling</b><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gathering of the clan at the rear of the Malaysia Airline B777</b></td></tr>
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</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-26657016654362595302012-08-11T08:00:00.001-07:002012-08-27T00:48:52.682-07:00The 23.15 Bulgarian Express From Bucharest Nord to Sofia<div style="text-align: justify;">The tickets for the journey were bought at the counter at Bucharest Nord. Like the previous one we opted for the evening departure, so that we could arrive in the early morning in Sofia. Check out was at noon from our apartment, fortunately George was kind enough to let us leave our luggage at his office so that for the duration of the day we could roam around Bucharest without lugging the heavy bags with us. When it got dark we were already in the waiting room at the station. It was quite cold and raining but the inside of the room was quite warm and we were bored to death waiting for the mid night departure.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The train arrived at the platform on time but we were surprised that our coach was just one addition to the main coaches of the Bulgarian Express. Apparently the Bucharest-Sofia sector was just a minor one and did not merit an exclusive train. We had to walk quite a distance to locate our coach and on trying to board there was a young fellow standing at the door who looked like trying to help to get our luggage aboard and then later showed us the seat in first class. Then he put his hands to us like asking for money. I thought it was like a tip for hauling our bags and putting us in the first class in spite of being booked for second class. I felt a wave of gratitude and gave away all our coins but the brat wanted more and I show my empty pocket, a sign of not having any more.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Later the gratitude that I felt changed to anger and embarrassment when the ticket inspector indicated I was in the wrong coach and we should move to our second class coach. I knew we had been had. This is Bucharest, I got fleeced when coming in and again when going out. I felt angry because I did not learn the lesson of once bitten twice shy; and here I got bitten twice in the same place, once by the taxi tout coming in and twice by the pretender going out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ride was very uncomfortable. The seats were hard and straight back and the wheels were noisy. We met a fellow traveller, George a Romanian who with sign language and with a lot of effort tried to communicate with us. We understood little but we were touched by his eagerness to be friendly with us, offering to share with us his bread and wine which we politely declined. There was also a group of young Chinese, their girls were very talkative and keep yakking until the early hours. When we got tired we just dozed in the seat and I had a terrible time due to my back pain. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The next morning the train passed through an outstandingly beautiful area of mountains and gorges. I was highly impressed with the sight and it took away my discomfort as I really enjoyed the scenery. It was late morning when the train pulled in the station at Sofia, a ride of almost 12 hours. We had already booked an apartment on line but on arrival we were approached by a lady offering accommodation, showing us pictures and pamphlets of her house and quoting us an attractive rental rate. She was sweet and polite, coupled with the fact we had not paid any deposit for the apartment, we took her offer. We were driven to the house in her car but before that she showed us the bus counter to book our tickets to Istanbul.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Her house was 3 km away and we stayed there for 3 nights. The floor was of ceramic tiles and at night the temperature in the room dropped drastically. When It got too cold I requested heating and was given a portable electric heater which she called a <i>climate</i>. I saw the road condition in Sofia very much similar to Bucharest, full of port holes. The public transport were however cheap and efficient, there were frequent trolley buses run by electric power and moving around Sofia was not a problem, although the city centre is quite small and you can stroll around and cover all the attraction in one day. Food price was reasonable, we ate at Turkish restaurant and the meals were agreeable to our palates, mostly salads, grilled meat and fresh bread washed down by sweet tea. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Train time table at Bucharest Nord</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our traveling companion who tries to cheer us up, George a Romanian. Share my wine he says.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At the station there is always a guard standing at attention, maybe controlling the passage of the train</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Deep mountain gorges before we enter Sofia</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An old mosque in Sofia, built by the Ottoman in the 16th. century and which is still actively used.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Buying cherries, cheap but not that of very good quality</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sofia is in the shadow of a snow capped mountain, the Vitosha</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Outside Sofia bus terminal, we are not allowed photography inside, no doubt a hangover of the communist rule.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-53367116678819670852012-08-06T06:15:00.002-07:002012-08-06T06:44:41.436-07:00The Sleeper From Keleti Budapest To Bucharest Nord<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Budapest is an ancient city sited on the two banks of the mighty Danube River. It is actually two cities in one, Buda on the left bank and Pest on the right. When I first saw the Danube it reminded me of the famous musical composition, the "Blue Danube". This classical piece is familiar to almost everyone that it had been turned into commercial ditties. Like the first listeners I too could not see the blue in the Danube waters, it was just grey and brownish like other rivers but when he was asked about the inconsistency the composer retorted that after a bottle of wine the Danube can be blue or any color you want.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The Turks of the Ottoman had once ruled over the city and during their occupation one of the biggest church on the river bank had been turned into a mosque, sadly for Muslims there are no more vestiges remaining of the Islamic rule in Budapest. I cannot imagine that the Turks could reach so far from their country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Before we left I tried a meal at one of the road side cafe, but I would not advise Hungarian food as the chicken paprika had me gagging. It was practically inedible and I left it uneaten, what a waste. To be fair its just my personal taste was not up to it and there was nothing inherently wrong with the dish, lack of spice perhaps.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The tickets for the journey was purchased at the counter at Keleti Station. Knowing buses were cheaper I had first enquired for the tickets at the terminal but I was told that there was no bus service between Budapest and Bucharest. Thats quite strange as the two countries of Hungary and Romania are neighbours, so it was back to the train station for the train tickets. We chose a sleeping car as it would allow us to arrive in Bucharest in the morning. I was all the time not very happy arriving in a strange place for the first time in darkness as I felt pressured in finding my way before the public transport closed for the night. I wanted to avoid the situation in Prague and Budapest where we arrived late at night.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Departure from Keleti was in the late afternoon. While waiting for the train I met a cyclist catching train to Belgium with his bicycles. He had just finished a tour of the bank of Danube River from Prague to Budapest and he was going home by train. It was an interesting journey, he said, camping along the bank and because he was following the course of the river all the time, the gradient was not punishing at all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The coach we booked was a sleeper with four beds. Originally we had asked for a three bed compartment as there were three of us but unfortunately it was sold out. We waited anxiously for the appearance of the fourth passenger but fortunately she turned out to be a sweet lady who could barely speak English. The bed was very comfortable but I could never get a good sleep on a moving train. Very early the next morning the lady got down and from then on we got the cabin to ourselves.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">For the first time we had passport check when crossing the border from Hungary to Romania, not only that but custom check as well and I was ordered to open my bags for inspection. That was quite strict strict and unnecessary as we were only tourists and were not carrying anything valuable. The saving grace was that the checking was done in our cabin while the train was on the move.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">On arrival in Bucharest Nord the next morning we were pounced by taxi touts. I had already a clear idea of where to go but I made a mistake of asking the fare and with one foot inside I could not shut the door on the tout. Reluctantly I agreed as it was raining and the asking fare was only 10E, compared to cup of coffee in the buffet coach which was already 2E. Much later I found out metered fare was only 2 E from the station to my apartment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">From the taxi I observed the buildings in Bucharest were very shabby and the road full of port holes. Traffic lights was only for decoration as there was no stopping for red lights. I also did not see any parking bays for cars which were parked haphazardly. Stray dogs were many and were big but they did not bother the people. There was a notice in my room that warned us of getting into arguments with the locals as there were many who were simply looking for troubles. That was scary. But asides from that we found the people of Bucharest warm and friendly and on weekends there were live music in the park and the people who came were happy looking and and were ready to smile at us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I meet a cyclist at the station who had cycled along the Danube from Prague to Budapest. He is on the way back to his home in Belgium by train.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We are boarding the train</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA2i9xrHvK-PWRgRqmHsYB1d508ClNRswZMSZcAVJozT75VieGuMYZbjZ_C6coFEOyi_ff3GDOTBgOnrM9sl1PTlolk2rOyLgx482HGtQ5Q1sX7zgnTykJQZJXRofnTaTmTPPHZii8DbT/s1600/IMG_0253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdA2i9xrHvK-PWRgRqmHsYB1d508ClNRswZMSZcAVJozT75VieGuMYZbjZ_C6coFEOyi_ff3GDOTBgOnrM9sl1PTlolk2rOyLgx482HGtQ5Q1sX7zgnTykJQZJXRofnTaTmTPPHZii8DbT/s400/IMG_0253.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The lady on the right is our traveling companion, the other two are sending her of.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT1S_FBAUyvXd8VWYmk0qHc8uKXWIEjHH6319XqbKYtNYFYKymGXU-L_3dDahRWQP3-nc4XavSVFrA65H4IaZxfYUGqGOycuS2h_Mj3QD5jTVxXxKgMh07pC4KI-0B3WAiqOxhL4lM_XI/s1600/IMG_0245.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgT1S_FBAUyvXd8VWYmk0qHc8uKXWIEjHH6319XqbKYtNYFYKymGXU-L_3dDahRWQP3-nc4XavSVFrA65H4IaZxfYUGqGOycuS2h_Mj3QD5jTVxXxKgMh07pC4KI-0B3WAiqOxhL4lM_XI/s400/IMG_0245.jpg" width="400" /></b></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The corridor along the cabin are clean and the glass windows allow the sight of country side scenery.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOklemEh_WlhdTLjZ0i06JdYMPRPgNySjuPMFUNShjtQm86S0CgD2BY1NQOdy1WX2OJAhFzgTDnve0JCUGCtHCU5DQjYnWn73sae9tMUUZMIJKFxLJiLXDV24O8OOlFH-oNLm9pw4AEjd/s1600/IMG_0259.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjOklemEh_WlhdTLjZ0i06JdYMPRPgNySjuPMFUNShjtQm86S0CgD2BY1NQOdy1WX2OJAhFzgTDnve0JCUGCtHCU5DQjYnWn73sae9tMUUZMIJKFxLJiLXDV24O8OOlFH-oNLm9pw4AEjd/s400/IMG_0259.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the border town before the train enters Romania</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SYv9JToFQKskZ8dlbG0dvphKKCpI3yXqU2E3DljLZDXXxH7lv2rI7z7vRauJ4lvfWracOsF6V9wzboI0POJ-G5ZxMRM81PS181ImE37nt6dUZ_PhwdDfrOXvQxfO_oe4OKHt9N5pPrsb/s1600/IMG_0274.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-SYv9JToFQKskZ8dlbG0dvphKKCpI3yXqU2E3DljLZDXXxH7lv2rI7z7vRauJ4lvfWracOsF6V9wzboI0POJ-G5ZxMRM81PS181ImE37nt6dUZ_PhwdDfrOXvQxfO_oe4OKHt9N5pPrsb/s400/IMG_0274.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Gypsy settlement in the Romanian country, they look very poor and disorganised</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1PxXMJZO1-XUXjgyXO-di3zyFfcv9tvmS_QYsM_2R49WQ32Qq2ZaDEIp8fCnnMMay_5Jb8wxMBojcF3HICIiXDPm6OrJjx-bZq6EMginp3_SdhiPoV-s4ziNpIeFjvPl81CidTiR5Tl5/s1600/IMG_0276.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1PxXMJZO1-XUXjgyXO-di3zyFfcv9tvmS_QYsM_2R49WQ32Qq2ZaDEIp8fCnnMMay_5Jb8wxMBojcF3HICIiXDPm6OrJjx-bZq6EMginp3_SdhiPoV-s4ziNpIeFjvPl81CidTiR5Tl5/s400/IMG_0276.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The train is now in Romania</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxKNqnmSZpjJXh-Gb6S0uzD1ByMhphVS5jgMAfi1lnkaSt3wSwEwViTQGBR8mLHqtD9pTTm8KIexoeEs_JVXS17Mht0zOdOoLWE2Y_UfHCt3ptC6dcke92tb09wwNxX7BgCTCQDAqXnuW/s1600/IMG_0281.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAxKNqnmSZpjJXh-Gb6S0uzD1ByMhphVS5jgMAfi1lnkaSt3wSwEwViTQGBR8mLHqtD9pTTm8KIexoeEs_JVXS17Mht0zOdOoLWE2Y_UfHCt3ptC6dcke92tb09wwNxX7BgCTCQDAqXnuW/s400/IMG_0281.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We pass through ski resorts in the mountain</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ4XqF8Lci5sqGDfJiRk_DRAmRECl8BlQLeVaQ_1DrTbotvtusnXu6JuSYqAVDQFeZBcXbhEf18GhnlkSPw14hS11fqXCiAc_WUmpNxtXiwZLyWj9-6ZF_J1wHbs5X9Y7U24KBY3x-9K5/s1600/IMG_0286.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQ4XqF8Lci5sqGDfJiRk_DRAmRECl8BlQLeVaQ_1DrTbotvtusnXu6JuSYqAVDQFeZBcXbhEf18GhnlkSPw14hS11fqXCiAc_WUmpNxtXiwZLyWj9-6ZF_J1wHbs5X9Y7U24KBY3x-9K5/s400/IMG_0286.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The mountain passes are steep and the train chugs slowly but steadily</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiJTIX-rME_z0wi4xp8YDXsAmwx3gsFajZ-WEuc_R2R8W8nYuvm8VB6_CdO1S6iVC6eKSlvWgEnbrTE9BUNXGRtsFaJh67X45FdUCPTsznjsJGAqD1dOg43pyOiEXQZEtvUtZVyt9DOsW/s1600/IMG_0314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiJTIX-rME_z0wi4xp8YDXsAmwx3gsFajZ-WEuc_R2R8W8nYuvm8VB6_CdO1S6iVC6eKSlvWgEnbrTE9BUNXGRtsFaJh67X45FdUCPTsznjsJGAqD1dOg43pyOiEXQZEtvUtZVyt9DOsW/s400/IMG_0314.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arriving in Bucharest Nord the next morning</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunhqyj5aFoer3JUlxI5NK0A_5OKvTVRgiSy-8UPuK81quRdoD3c-6IeOo9tJDFXrMjvWh39ptgZGovdJkp8w8_xn9j4yvl-E8tgq0aesuXChuhYhz4uCoFpHbPNwoYeiiBU11WG_rUzub/s1600/IMG_0315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhunhqyj5aFoer3JUlxI5NK0A_5OKvTVRgiSy-8UPuK81quRdoD3c-6IeOo9tJDFXrMjvWh39ptgZGovdJkp8w8_xn9j4yvl-E8tgq0aesuXChuhYhz4uCoFpHbPNwoYeiiBU11WG_rUzub/s400/IMG_0315.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the taxi drive who overcharges us, we pay five times the metered fare</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRo2KVXDNj3jPvncwjACiwCvDI7rctR6MJlS3FEr6P6PeI-E45Q8FMz9m3M2gpwJqvrwQ_iWM_9K_leFOsgsevdmOniHpDy1UZ_bM-qmE1cAV1v7yNsidPI0pyOr2_uA4jbhLNYYbeEzy/s1600/IMG_0338.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRo2KVXDNj3jPvncwjACiwCvDI7rctR6MJlS3FEr6P6PeI-E45Q8FMz9m3M2gpwJqvrwQ_iWM_9K_leFOsgsevdmOniHpDy1UZ_bM-qmE1cAV1v7yNsidPI0pyOr2_uA4jbhLNYYbeEzy/s400/IMG_0338.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the metro in Bucharest, it is still new and the service is still very limited</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDtaOy39mhppQlhn6Ye15iLiU7sl59DKRubQwVGtfd3WU-CatJ04v-w3HI4lBF8YvnHfRTA7nMznlIcEoEeSbTEGojmPz4xO7ilSL6JXT5dDv7NWjB4meAFEj5WRlYT5Rk6dG7oPlegXa/s1600/IMG_0404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRDtaOy39mhppQlhn6Ye15iLiU7sl59DKRubQwVGtfd3WU-CatJ04v-w3HI4lBF8YvnHfRTA7nMznlIcEoEeSbTEGojmPz4xO7ilSL6JXT5dDv7NWjB4meAFEj5WRlYT5Rk6dG7oPlegXa/s400/IMG_0404.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We meet Lebanese tourists, I am dying to know why Lebanese should come to Romania, there is practically no mutual attraction at all.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn4XwGpu8moxmmF-oP6zABjCCoh1qtbNFZFiJnG7Lj64EEKzIXOPw05oSUqSa54tIk2JhP30yac6SfldSMDN8CHliqR7TSZKGuOELSdNivvmsLDoFFW2s6ekY1Zj85H7RN_Fj_4kR5z0k/s1600/IMG_0421.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSn4XwGpu8moxmmF-oP6zABjCCoh1qtbNFZFiJnG7Lj64EEKzIXOPw05oSUqSa54tIk2JhP30yac6SfldSMDN8CHliqR7TSZKGuOELSdNivvmsLDoFFW2s6ekY1Zj85H7RN_Fj_4kR5z0k/s400/IMG_0421.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Another man hole for the used metal traders in Malaysia. Do you know by now all metal man holes in our country have been stolen and fenced for cash and are replaced by man made covers?</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-LIwq5S5kVd9JY8D_u3qvwgsabfypENE3XehiKXn519G4RblKz2wWJJqTCzLB88c94Btbqo8LLRhCvBxgRATNknSV1VJ6s7XDmRgf9re-6Q9eAO4yArOBh1z2qHrtAPxXpU3P4s7IRM/s1600/IMG_0422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUV-LIwq5S5kVd9JY8D_u3qvwgsabfypENE3XehiKXn519G4RblKz2wWJJqTCzLB88c94Btbqo8LLRhCvBxgRATNknSV1VJ6s7XDmRgf9re-6Q9eAO4yArOBh1z2qHrtAPxXpU3P4s7IRM/s400/IMG_0422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Longing for a bicycle fix</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_PY0ajMFEM406QmBZwY6oRSHxNo3bBWm0LLQz5ArZS-E2Xf1T1IXSaTcXxYzPsDq2aEiuphZ_eJzsjHPYJaKnbzDC4VzkEwjny_DA0ielyD6eI2YTre5uP1e_vt5jTBFLKCuuYpSb6N4/s1600/IMG_0495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8_PY0ajMFEM406QmBZwY6oRSHxNo3bBWm0LLQz5ArZS-E2Xf1T1IXSaTcXxYzPsDq2aEiuphZ_eJzsjHPYJaKnbzDC4VzkEwjny_DA0ielyD6eI2YTre5uP1e_vt5jTBFLKCuuYpSb6N4/s400/IMG_0495.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We have our meal at an alfresco cafe</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zq9BxvZXF29_0JHILDhUslelTRZSuoCIF_KF1HJkCIGE8rogOvLsBsgPdfMlhtq1_lSP2bU1fxP7HkXsmelx4XBGUC_kE1KXohP1UdJNfURLdBE_eTIOQUvOjhxIEGyj1RqVUeUwASTr/s1600/IMG_0500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0zq9BxvZXF29_0JHILDhUslelTRZSuoCIF_KF1HJkCIGE8rogOvLsBsgPdfMlhtq1_lSP2bU1fxP7HkXsmelx4XBGUC_kE1KXohP1UdJNfURLdBE_eTIOQUvOjhxIEGyj1RqVUeUwASTr/s400/IMG_0500.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside a church we witness a baptism where the baby is immersed in a basin of holy water</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28WBzo2HPLZZ2uPeXW1psmV5rzfdGcRHIMd9I9Cn7qb5da45bCj2x0X-7PgTObLXc7x0ovf_lIHcLX5pzZjL4Mfle8SwIKzk0DDEjCvmcA7SUFVL9LakNj90c8bbrXg_NokZxNnOH0AXi/s1600/IMG_0542.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28WBzo2HPLZZ2uPeXW1psmV5rzfdGcRHIMd9I9Cn7qb5da45bCj2x0X-7PgTObLXc7x0ovf_lIHcLX5pzZjL4Mfle8SwIKzk0DDEjCvmcA7SUFVL9LakNj90c8bbrXg_NokZxNnOH0AXi/s400/IMG_0542.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We paddle around the lake in the park</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our meal in Bucharest, heavily Turkish influenced.</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-38475183550040485962012-07-31T05:42:00.000-07:002012-07-31T05:42:31.648-07:00The Orangeway Bus From Prague To Budapest<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">If you are thinking of a cheaper option to travel in Europe, take the bus. They can take you anywhere for much less than the train, comfort may be a bit behind, but value for money this is not a bad choice. For this leg I purchased the ticket on line and had it printed from the web site. Orangeway is a small coach company running bus services from and to Hungary serving the neighboring countries. The biggest company is the Eurolines which run busses throughout all the countries in Europe. In fact you can buy a pass from them and travel to as many countries you like in a certain specific period.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We found our way to the bus terminal in Prague after a change of weather from the rainy cold to the sunny warm day. The terminal was modern but very friendly, due to its small size, was not intimidating. It was around 3 pm when we boarded the bus and were surprised to be charged extra for the luggage with us, more like checking in a budget airline, but a bus? I think it is unjustified as we are on the ground and I don't think the fuel cost would be a big difference to the operator.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the bus we were greeted by a Hungarian attendant who when making an announcement caused me to titter in amusement. Ladies and gentleman, the toilet on this bus is only to be used for number 1, if you use it for number 2, you will be fine.... Fine, so why must it be announced ? Only much later did it catch me that 'fine' was actually a lazy pronouncement of 'fined', and only then it made sense !</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The bus made its way through the Czech Republic, through Slovakia where we had a short stop at the capital Bratislava. There were no border checks when we crossed the lines of Czech and Slovakia, though passports were required before boarding the bus as it is an international journey. Architecture wise both the republic still retained the ugly box shaped flats that were built during the communist time for the city people to live in. These flats are still inhabited and the scenery would very much remind a visitor this was once a country hidden behind the iron curtain. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We always arrive early when preparing for long journey. This is the bus terminal at Prague waiting for the Orangeway bus to Budapest</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The lady who is <i>fine </i>with number 2</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Leaving Prague and an eye catching billboard</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the bus.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the motorway after getting out of Prague</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When we arrived in Budapest it was already late in the evening. While on the bus I was frantically exchanging text messages with the proprietor of the apartment we had booked pleading for the waiving of the late arrival fees which she was going to impose if we checked in after 8.00 pm. It was already 10.00 when we managed to locate her apartment and there she was waiting looking quite displeased. To make up I promised to clean the flat before we leave.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We arrive Budapest after sun set and map reading skill to locate the apartment is put to extreme test</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fooling around with WW2 gas mark in the street marke</b>t</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>And a Jap kamikaze pilot's head gear</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the much hyped market, selling ordinary item in a famous building</b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">I took the opportunity in Budapest to visit a synagogue. I felt quite thrilled to be inside a Jewish holy house for the first time in my life especially after being brought up on a diet of constant Jew bashing, to the extreme that a good Jew is a dead Jew as the Jews are the cause of all the calamity in this world. While sitting in the pew I seek forgiveness for the hatred and venom that had been spewed unfairly on these people. No nation is superior to another and no group of people is better than another, my creed is equality amongst the humanity. Let all live in peace and harmony, love your fellow being as you would love yourself. </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My first time in a synagogue, complete with the yarmulke.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bill boards showing summer is around</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hungarian parliament from the cruise boat</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lady of Liberty, a statue from the communist era, ironically named.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What a prize for the man hole thief from Malaysia</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittg6M7aZw7Qf75_wr_fE-IRZa7ithdwb17O9gjbLtAouaNReqRHwQXzQuzviueSy_yQ_O-AwxWiXE4pGJ2P-X-793Oh40u-_kOgnnOWbr227l0m-qvO_zUgbbu3ldTU8DyHyaOtuo3dkM/s1600/IMG_0197.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittg6M7aZw7Qf75_wr_fE-IRZa7ithdwb17O9gjbLtAouaNReqRHwQXzQuzviueSy_yQ_O-AwxWiXE4pGJ2P-X-793Oh40u-_kOgnnOWbr227l0m-qvO_zUgbbu3ldTU8DyHyaOtuo3dkM/s400/IMG_0197.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A pose with a bearded lass</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-30613775674186779312012-07-07T22:21:00.002-07:002012-07-19T21:53:00.878-07:00The 10.25 ICE From Bruxelles Nord to Frankfurt-Nuremburg-Prague<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Mile per mile this was the most costly journey. I never expected to pay so much for a day of travel. Tickets were purchased online from the German Rail ( Hbf) website but you should allow time for the tickets to arrive by post. On the day Raz was informative enough to tell us that we need not backtrack to South Station to catch the train as all ICE trains would stop at North Station which was a 20 minute walk from his place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The heavy rain from yesterday had subsided and we only had the light showers to go through. Temperature was in the 15s and we arrived at the station with ample time to spare. Today the journey will take us through 3 different stages. The first was from Brussels to Frankfurt where we would have to change to another ICE connection to Nuremburg and from there it would be by bus to Prague. Looking at the time we were a bit worried as the arrival in Prague would be around 10 pm and we were booked at an apartment outside the city. We were hoping the public transport in Prague would not go to sleep too early or else it would be an expensive night in the hotel.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Brussels was still wet on our departure, the rain continued to accompany us until we reached Frankfurt. On the train it was very comfortable and the condition was spick and span. Although the train was speeding up 250 kph we did not feel the speed as the suspension was superb and the electric engine did not produce any engine noise. The train stopped at a few cities like Liege, Aachen and Cologne. The stop took a few minutes only and passengers had to be on alert in boarding and disembarking, which troubled us a lot in Brussels as we had to move the luggage across the coaches to our assigned seats. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><b>May 16, and we are at Brussels Nord catching the 10.00 to Frankfurt</b></div><div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the ICE economy coach.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We hit top speed on the straight at 234 kph</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ticket checks by conductor is still practised.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fellow travellers, the father is French and the mother ( hidden ) is Japanese and the children are bright and adorable.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The train stops at Aachen...</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9dYYkSmrjn4WHd-K4ZhvGrDTbqquoIXTC2H3pxutpbdD_nJVZbR_FJl49ZB2j-e3kxauZnvjyXK11Xn6KsMbrBULVMF5R0nOiHQtfkEjfPdE8mO0kcusKe4Wb_1bx1fG327ELHJdIuTY/s1600/IMG_9553.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9dYYkSmrjn4WHd-K4ZhvGrDTbqquoIXTC2H3pxutpbdD_nJVZbR_FJl49ZB2j-e3kxauZnvjyXK11Xn6KsMbrBULVMF5R0nOiHQtfkEjfPdE8mO0kcusKe4Wb_1bx1fG327ELHJdIuTY/s400/IMG_9553.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>.......and then Koln ( Cologne)</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeOwoLc5FRNakSMZM_kZyr5k0AoNIxZEGzDqOmtDVF3PpdMUvkxj_t33KMKli5ZEyRLrH0XJkqf2mMyWNVY_1nVt13SHsK9lkLpkS8SCOjL9uckrV0BIyhykqatMvZ6hDdCu3pRQqL7Rv/s1600/IMG_9582.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyeOwoLc5FRNakSMZM_kZyr5k0AoNIxZEGzDqOmtDVF3PpdMUvkxj_t33KMKli5ZEyRLrH0XJkqf2mMyWNVY_1nVt13SHsK9lkLpkS8SCOjL9uckrV0BIyhykqatMvZ6hDdCu3pRQqL7Rv/s400/IMG_9582.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At last Frankfurt</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Frankfurt was a busy terminal and after a wait of 1 hour we took the another ICE connection to Nuremburg. Passing through the countryside after Frankfurt I saw numerous small huts meticulously kept with beautiful small gardens. They are the summer huts, very popular with the German from the cities who like to have a country feeling on week ends. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasLH4kAjht1kQwlRuJHHi7520C5OatP0mxNJs7ZSdAJ3IUcSbinRKR-Py2Ou5M1TSvbskDOvKph92zCT_lvqOAhFMzACw2A11In9PhrnI4lwXhn8c2fz3BePVsfnbvZq9dT1EBZ-HM2V6/s1600/IMG_9600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiasLH4kAjht1kQwlRuJHHi7520C5OatP0mxNJs7ZSdAJ3IUcSbinRKR-Py2Ou5M1TSvbskDOvKph92zCT_lvqOAhFMzACw2A11In9PhrnI4lwXhn8c2fz3BePVsfnbvZq9dT1EBZ-HM2V6/s400/IMG_9600.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Then we change train to Nuremburg</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I89haPCwN2Aooz2TY91rMFFVREuCJHVOByORhAMllHUQ59zIQewHRIHeaIVsuKSMat06925xTJhVNMPmSVu0qGS4hUYk3GH474jckl5AE8OHhJQ2R9mmlGDdRxnCz8zQzo2Esu8k0zti/s1600/IMG_9609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2I89haPCwN2Aooz2TY91rMFFVREuCJHVOByORhAMllHUQ59zIQewHRIHeaIVsuKSMat06925xTJhVNMPmSVu0qGS4hUYk3GH474jckl5AE8OHhJQ2R9mmlGDdRxnCz8zQzo2Esu8k0zti/s400/IMG_9609.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The conductor on the Frankfurt-Nuremberg is in the wrong profession, more suited from her smashing look in the modeling perhaps</b>. <b>She can win Miss Conductor, if ever there is one, hands down.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4_yeQVwt0tpEovsiC2x7eLwn-ynT2r6jROkgN-_gk5qrqvY-8Ddf7mf3b_hj1RgdIoxMYF7Op7Q_MphNaayssEdgTXm-6dOalqQnIAWefRK0w4reNo3dit8GoLgj5blc94Ox0n7MxG8f/s1600/IMG_9619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC4_yeQVwt0tpEovsiC2x7eLwn-ynT2r6jROkgN-_gk5qrqvY-8Ddf7mf3b_hj1RgdIoxMYF7Op7Q_MphNaayssEdgTXm-6dOalqQnIAWefRK0w4reNo3dit8GoLgj5blc94Ox0n7MxG8f/s400/IMG_9619.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The first vineyard, sign of hot summers seen after Frankfurt</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">We reached Nuremburg late afternoon and at this stage I was still looking for the train connection to Prague. What a surprise it was that Prague was not connected to Nuremburg, instead we have to take another mode of transport, a bus to the final destination, with the tickets already issued to us together with the train's.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>It doesn't cross my mind that the next stage from Nuremburg will be by bus, hence the second look at the train schedule but still I cannot find Prague on the list of the train destination.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGEK_WSMbUeM1MLbd6aB1fI9o38uOdfjmJ8gPV86wlHwKwO2TtUpo-XHzgJlnn3xh9AwZdcHF4ZQmPZxIgyoAu66Z8Em84Pf7UAGjBGAeLln4-O5UL5X5LvSUT1Vj1V8CI7WKtJrSmhy_/s1600/IMG_9646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOGEK_WSMbUeM1MLbd6aB1fI9o38uOdfjmJ8gPV86wlHwKwO2TtUpo-XHzgJlnn3xh9AwZdcHF4ZQmPZxIgyoAu66Z8Em84Pf7UAGjBGAeLln4-O5UL5X5LvSUT1Vj1V8CI7WKtJrSmhy_/s400/IMG_9646.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the Hdb bus to Prague which we board near the rail way station. Locating the station is hard work as it is not in a terminal but just some where in front but without clear signage. We have to ask around to find it</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0Xrf0AvpObqaEoAhc1jO186Nsf0dPxQ14VxOpmT_1mUilNdsQH-ZXPXc1Jhr6n6lH_y55VoZrOt5B16uX3GGdFQg9C9oNi44gTdTj5HLr8pmcKkn3qFjiPEPsRf0IIFiPAMbnTClnaL1/s1600/IMG_9664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw0Xrf0AvpObqaEoAhc1jO186Nsf0dPxQ14VxOpmT_1mUilNdsQH-ZXPXc1Jhr6n6lH_y55VoZrOt5B16uX3GGdFQg9C9oNi44gTdTj5HLr8pmcKkn3qFjiPEPsRf0IIFiPAMbnTClnaL1/s400/IMG_9664.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Right turn will take us to Czech Republic</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: justify;">We arrived at Prague at about 10.00 pm and were dropped near the metro station. I knew we had to take the underground to reach our apartment in Smichov but the first thing to do was to find some changes for the train fare. I managed to locate an ATM and drew a bit of Czech Koruna in small notes. Asking around I was shown the counter for the tickets and after making the purchase we made our way to the underground train which after a change took us to a station called Luka where we telephoned Petr for transport. Instead Petr gave us direction to take a bus to his house as he had taken alcohol and was not fit to drive. It was a cold night and we were glad to get on the bus and after 15 minutes we stopped at the place designated and on seeing a gentleman at the stop who turned out to be Petr, and man, we were extremely happy to be at the end of our journey, and to be taken to the warmth of the room in Petr's house.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ7v31s6ugKIwB0PhHNOoFAu40bfA60rpxeKCIo67uIOBX-GbvkM5unYwtyCEuU177Y2ww0uNsVxoRjedk2KWtCrk029EXxNSwp1dzAnwv1HEC97BaoTMBaNqOsEsqz4tmP0u2ZOIfk7l/s1600/IMG_9681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZ7v31s6ugKIwB0PhHNOoFAu40bfA60rpxeKCIo67uIOBX-GbvkM5unYwtyCEuU177Y2ww0uNsVxoRjedk2KWtCrk029EXxNSwp1dzAnwv1HEC97BaoTMBaNqOsEsqz4tmP0u2ZOIfk7l/s400/IMG_9681.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arrival at Prague I make my way to the metro station</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdro8AIvMYRGVYothYC4Ok770WiPwxZ3jLF52tKlOJ3LDRoxg9j_YI_L4G0VDeqb6FGL-4TIo8DrndggAVaTNfXD8Aru-MVtL1iMIaJgoqaK2YiAjNPGQ7Zn251K5mmLNxlp8NcyjR8Ut/s1600/IMG_9693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMdro8AIvMYRGVYothYC4Ok770WiPwxZ3jLF52tKlOJ3LDRoxg9j_YI_L4G0VDeqb6FGL-4TIo8DrndggAVaTNfXD8Aru-MVtL1iMIaJgoqaK2YiAjNPGQ7Zn251K5mmLNxlp8NcyjR8Ut/s400/IMG_9693.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Negotiating the way under ground for the first time cause a bit of anxiety</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ec9Ac9AvB36TFF2PZrd8bmCbhfGcJqQY9xKvh0Q_D7Te40marYPlUmXnTTg5kY5PqLkAjLX_8aWmBOUWSMVblSmHoZj1dogdDT-KdvhCcgbBsJ5vEj3MT1FKS8L9lFXkooP-e9u_xfB1/s1600/IMG_9708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1ec9Ac9AvB36TFF2PZrd8bmCbhfGcJqQY9xKvh0Q_D7Te40marYPlUmXnTTg5kY5PqLkAjLX_8aWmBOUWSMVblSmHoZj1dogdDT-KdvhCcgbBsJ5vEj3MT1FKS8L9lFXkooP-e9u_xfB1/s400/IMG_9708.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Petr's garden the next morning</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX-KicXKhmzSh0PpvjcKkpSS3st_T822Q1TVGSjaMRMokJyUduygAneQL1YWMARrdN3Zge7-dUBl34B5E9BMuqFdt1kmofhIvicF4D_fgl8RNRc6Y6424_VbdupWIKQ4EPzoxWF-6MdeS/s1600/IMG_9711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmX-KicXKhmzSh0PpvjcKkpSS3st_T822Q1TVGSjaMRMokJyUduygAneQL1YWMARrdN3Zge7-dUBl34B5E9BMuqFdt1kmofhIvicF4D_fgl8RNRc6Y6424_VbdupWIKQ4EPzoxWF-6MdeS/s400/IMG_9711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Filling breakfast is provided for a modest paymen</b>t</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The rest of the time in Prague was acting as tourists. We went to all the touristy places, took tons of photographs and had a good time. Petr's house was on the outskirt of the city and everyday we had to use the very friendly public transport to get to the city. The buses and metros are among the best I would rate, we had to purchase tickets denominated in time used, for example there were 1/2, 1 hour and all day tickets. We note there were no physical barriers to enter or leave the station and we could walk in and out without hindrance. There was not even turnstiles at the entrance, only a notice that we were in a ticket zone, as such the speed and movement of users were unimpeded. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVnxrUVxwCTaoy0NPKv8TH274yb8DDdU6-caNCeH97brqI9vVQnyGR4BZbSjFzHbAnXl1bgB_IqdP6ZbBlQ79RNF3yTTSiOpdZ7b2u5eaeJlI5HSzwcwzjupr8YP6nDMNoFOoWOl2fF02/s1600/IMG_9836.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUVnxrUVxwCTaoy0NPKv8TH274yb8DDdU6-caNCeH97brqI9vVQnyGR4BZbSjFzHbAnXl1bgB_IqdP6ZbBlQ79RNF3yTTSiOpdZ7b2u5eaeJlI5HSzwcwzjupr8YP6nDMNoFOoWOl2fF02/s400/IMG_9836.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The public transport of Prague is efficient and reliable</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGEMf-NB0fM3YjVtu-VQY-edDgOXmjuGvDYjgbZQqVKHxjpvTZf39klJ1kLWL5x_9xb90CIIKuCNt9yTrHFAUybnZep1FvCoaKq6lnljQ0dzqAkL3OtzV9TsmKSn-hzdB5-BC9OmhypOB/s1600/IMG_9880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieGEMf-NB0fM3YjVtu-VQY-edDgOXmjuGvDYjgbZQqVKHxjpvTZf39klJ1kLWL5x_9xb90CIIKuCNt9yTrHFAUybnZep1FvCoaKq6lnljQ0dzqAkL3OtzV9TsmKSn-hzdB5-BC9OmhypOB/s400/IMG_9880.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We laze around on the Vltava river in Prague</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-52825179907150992212012-06-01T00:20:00.013-07:002012-07-14T08:01:46.125-07:00The 12:57 Eurostar From King's Cross to Bruxelles Midi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Tickets for the journey can be purchased on line and if you are not picky of the departure time good bargain can be found which is sometimes half the normal fare. Eurostar train service is seamless way by land across the English Channels. It used to be that land travel had to stop on the shores for the second leg by water vessels and depending on the weather, the crossing could be unpleasant to the land lubbers. I once took a bus from Victoria Street Station, departing at 7.00 am and arriving 12 hours later in Paris in the evening. By the Eurostar way the travel time is only 3 hours although insulated in the coach you have to miss the magnificent view of the white cliffs of Southern England when arriving or leaving by sea.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">London was drizzling and cold on the day we left. Arriving early at King's Cross I scouted around to change to Euros. The rate inside the terminal was a bit stiff so I had a look outside the station and sure enough at Barclays bank the rate offered was much much better. It is worth looking outside if you have ample time on your side.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Checking in for departure was a breeze. We had with us our pre printed tickets from the web and they were read by scanners at the turnstiles which allowed us in on confirmation of the genuineness of the tickets. After the turnstiles we had our luggage checked by scanning machine like in the airports and then there was passport checks before we were allowed inside the waiting lounge. There were similarities with security procedures with the airports but there were no long queues and short tempers in sight, our presence as travelers were a lot more respected and appreciated. Train travel is definitely the proper way to travel while preserving your dignity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When the train was announced, there was no mad rush to the coaches, everything moved in unhurried pace. We found our seats easily and with us was an elderly French ( or Belgian?) who could not speak or understand English, so for the whole journey our companion was absorbed in her reading though we suspected that it was her pretending so that we would not disturb her quiet moment in the train. Well that was an effective way to shut the noisy stranger who may be intruding into your space.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">We passed through the English country side and was not at all aware when the train moved into the most crucial part under the Channel, a short announcement would let us share the moment in awe and wonder. On the French side it was sunny and continued so until Brussels. The train ended at Brussels South and we took a connection to the North Station where we disembarked and walked to our Bed and Breakfast. The next day the sun took cover behind the rain cloud and we had a very long and wet time in Brussels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpCqUvQmmaQmulnixY37JMHodgLIuHUleKtsmUJXHWQSVPJDf9_B6dVUOxENZkH-SzSGu7CQHmeI5_q_FXFhXEC0IgwztNd6Ttc63wXZLTP2SjpjqFwT1PdwL0g9SkGJZBxgDsJguxu4D/s1600/IMG_9292.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJpCqUvQmmaQmulnixY37JMHodgLIuHUleKtsmUJXHWQSVPJDf9_B6dVUOxENZkH-SzSGu7CQHmeI5_q_FXFhXEC0IgwztNd6Ttc63wXZLTP2SjpjqFwT1PdwL0g9SkGJZBxgDsJguxu4D/s400/IMG_9292.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is King's Cross where the train departs from London. The look and facilities are very new and modern. Before, the terminal was at Waterloo</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhy5fOFpBuwL_n71BZCFrvjTClNyR8FIrEcQsOf2VUjJaZ9xkydqdGta1oVRjMBfKL0Dl_i9yvD2s4gz08S33PGZ8ik0jioZ_VDqtaqVXUaTYoTJ2Tx522xTquzGm29YcaB9TxaR35pAY/s1600/IMG_9306.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhy5fOFpBuwL_n71BZCFrvjTClNyR8FIrEcQsOf2VUjJaZ9xkydqdGta1oVRjMBfKL0Dl_i9yvD2s4gz08S33PGZ8ik0jioZ_VDqtaqVXUaTYoTJ2Tx522xTquzGm29YcaB9TxaR35pAY/s400/IMG_9306.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We have time for coffee and scones at Costa's</b>. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cBKHDebETqdS4-UkmLqdTNz01ZFUWFHtD9Nn-oN6rvDVdUQUwARrwYaA2WHwPXtG4faet4-tv10x0IwOEgDFGFzLsp1_2cdPuMPVIN52ngwPfJab12xyK149h33qSM9HqjBwnuDcvi70/s1600/IMG_9314.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1cBKHDebETqdS4-UkmLqdTNz01ZFUWFHtD9Nn-oN6rvDVdUQUwARrwYaA2WHwPXtG4faet4-tv10x0IwOEgDFGFzLsp1_2cdPuMPVIN52ngwPfJab12xyK149h33qSM9HqjBwnuDcvi70/s400/IMG_9314.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Information and signage are precise and very helpful</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKYnw_tHSuymzbqiDTfHW0J3zBZw6mLFYTVMZtrVKS7XMi6KxP41BNXao2_5YfeZ9VwRfZBHvxYyh__vT5Q28OQNFpBTmpXhRJX_cnm-fT4er_7ba6wprB0Db6M1Lne2e2Zu0jsY5ZDBR/s1600/IMG_9324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmKYnw_tHSuymzbqiDTfHW0J3zBZw6mLFYTVMZtrVKS7XMi6KxP41BNXao2_5YfeZ9VwRfZBHvxYyh__vT5Q28OQNFpBTmpXhRJX_cnm-fT4er_7ba6wprB0Db6M1Lne2e2Zu0jsY5ZDBR/s400/IMG_9324.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the 12.57 Eurostar service to Brussels. We have our tickets printed on line and tickets are checked by the scanning of the bar code</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg865YFFRIGuVKiTT1YXn62kEDbyMMk2riwd1JMwXAfqSG_8v4Jzu7EVwtekA1JbKqPwpMB6ww6j6pUjp7Db_BYPNjwujoAOYrUhxdQAFT_3S2lZXcuzZc2mmv2xpYJLMr5oP1BGtGVGUmt/s1600/IMG_9342.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg865YFFRIGuVKiTT1YXn62kEDbyMMk2riwd1JMwXAfqSG_8v4Jzu7EVwtekA1JbKqPwpMB6ww6j6pUjp7Db_BYPNjwujoAOYrUhxdQAFT_3S2lZXcuzZc2mmv2xpYJLMr5oP1BGtGVGUmt/s400/IMG_9342.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the economy coach</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZtWTGp-gBqTcGLqQFl5m6K2TxUzfWk-Bj6x4NM70QF7n_zZAmszOzclRIROycfmMDazetGQ5PORgYgQewLUhnntTTjw3LX1rudtYHyX5rJpXby119kVw2unVnrhSm9J153KOMPiQYoHd/s1600/IMG_9345.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpZtWTGp-gBqTcGLqQFl5m6K2TxUzfWk-Bj6x4NM70QF7n_zZAmszOzclRIROycfmMDazetGQ5PORgYgQewLUhnntTTjw3LX1rudtYHyX5rJpXby119kVw2unVnrhSm9J153KOMPiQYoHd/s400/IMG_9345.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our view of Europe are mainly rural farmings in outlook</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jURwnj9lFKZ0ReJsasgMuk-xaAfrjBkh0Dlu3Wt-WQulgUC1ZppB94EH3w8V1FZYO7SWhvKGGe3-Svm25zpZ5xB-_Gk4gQ9y7JEk5ixxyDips_J9x1TBNYPBlZ3rXV5C0x0fT3cGV79n/s1600/IMG_9346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8jURwnj9lFKZ0ReJsasgMuk-xaAfrjBkh0Dlu3Wt-WQulgUC1ZppB94EH3w8V1FZYO7SWhvKGGe3-Svm25zpZ5xB-_Gk4gQ9y7JEk5ixxyDips_J9x1TBNYPBlZ3rXV5C0x0fT3cGV79n/s400/IMG_9346.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Arriving Brussels, graffitis are just like anywhere found in all railway stations elsewhere in the world</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNMP1buVGIo7XmVxevlDgR_ORB5tJC9SVLcb0CqQUB0siVe1TX-8NK3JeodeIWs0ZemwCpUTCuw_Ci-_DvIp1WEZ0d2mpVwfzPTdesSw04sRtrutrhoxM5RGN3cKuF0Zj9xPsSl6gZOn7/s1600/IMG_9348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidNMP1buVGIo7XmVxevlDgR_ORB5tJC9SVLcb0CqQUB0siVe1TX-8NK3JeodeIWs0ZemwCpUTCuw_Ci-_DvIp1WEZ0d2mpVwfzPTdesSw04sRtrutrhoxM5RGN3cKuF0Zj9xPsSl6gZOn7/s400/IMG_9348.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>All hands aboard, including teeth at Brussels South Station</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What we eat in Brussels</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IjfmMvaqVvi0dW6PEPI-9okYxWr6AXDdkAZeu3VlRa7L8xugQv7aivVj45hhYk3RgdZfTlvafVFyt20LRlzxyZFNjKZ0G765vce6OZXjWDbmnlWZZZKdBf2x0YkiLAAA3TXfd9dss5Ri/s1600/IMG_9422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IjfmMvaqVvi0dW6PEPI-9okYxWr6AXDdkAZeu3VlRa7L8xugQv7aivVj45hhYk3RgdZfTlvafVFyt20LRlzxyZFNjKZ0G765vce6OZXjWDbmnlWZZZKdBf2x0YkiLAAA3TXfd9dss5Ri/s400/IMG_9422.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our transports in the city</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEZhiJvMWAVll0Igk6wTW8bgmzCvIqeBx_8WdfDi_ApqecJ1xFAbnl3U__kGjeqxNYXkc9Jmb4ljHWvVDYzC5eGfP4IKzPkQKtFTAQBv1nkrbg2lvDOUAyJzUJd-vzao_FraN6erFjCDr/s1600/IMG_9452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEZhiJvMWAVll0Igk6wTW8bgmzCvIqeBx_8WdfDi_ApqecJ1xFAbnl3U__kGjeqxNYXkc9Jmb4ljHWvVDYzC5eGfP4IKzPkQKtFTAQBv1nkrbg2lvDOUAyJzUJd-vzao_FraN6erFjCDr/s400/IMG_9452.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>What we have for lunch in a popular restaurant, mussels cooked the Belgian way</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb02YCQBkBowanZUadHsvVGgbOMdzfOpHMV2yloLvzUPCfksTcmEUzSXsWeNFG2auPrDbc0SVF-v6otU9uJkFLgxMammDhZFQlX9NDxrJMCG1b6iBA5T33REzeGBhe3dFjgKBfmZbRA7sI/s1600/IMG_9464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb02YCQBkBowanZUadHsvVGgbOMdzfOpHMV2yloLvzUPCfksTcmEUzSXsWeNFG2auPrDbc0SVF-v6otU9uJkFLgxMammDhZFQlX9NDxrJMCG1b6iBA5T33REzeGBhe3dFjgKBfmZbRA7sI/s400/IMG_9464.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the restaurant where we meet Malaysians among a busload of tourists</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQy1oybk2UVnxQHOOBHGKSvZv-RCEIWZxsdKw2Lmvyx33DkoUiWnrB8p6cnB_erc6PLsnYvORXRjpEbJtTCSmMevXGitHRIvk2lL2ul-ubYqKRcaIZGMUOB0DBd2g4bHvaObTKyCcnjtH/s1600/IMG_9483.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyQy1oybk2UVnxQHOOBHGKSvZv-RCEIWZxsdKw2Lmvyx33DkoUiWnrB8p6cnB_erc6PLsnYvORXRjpEbJtTCSmMevXGitHRIvk2lL2ul-ubYqKRcaIZGMUOB0DBd2g4bHvaObTKyCcnjtH/s400/IMG_9483.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Public transport is mostly by trams</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLHGf5XMoF684p0DyfZI5NePzZ8FUWgHaUFaWYYERy3jH6kWcL6XmqdrgV1yME_B7_xREfpB1O8vHtF_idTCYO2M9VFjPIxr3uB06Gx2fy1dCao447CGETDAD4uZCU4_yOFsbkVuW5vuC/s1600/IMG_9501.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLHGf5XMoF684p0DyfZI5NePzZ8FUWgHaUFaWYYERy3jH6kWcL6XmqdrgV1yME_B7_xREfpB1O8vHtF_idTCYO2M9VFjPIxr3uB06Gx2fy1dCao447CGETDAD4uZCU4_yOFsbkVuW5vuC/s400/IMG_9501.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is Raz, the Jewish proprietor of our hotel who freak out at the way we handle his door, this door is a lady and hence must be treated with gentleness and care. Unfortunately we only see a wooden door and this increase the level of decibel we hear coming from his distressed voice box. We are saying good bye and he looks very much relieved to see us off.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-8103458267175698932012-05-07T17:59:00.001-07:002012-07-05T19:47:26.292-07:00The Bicycles Of Oxford<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mA2VS1cCDY1_CLafdRMcR00Dmf08Ydw3i0LsqJ0TgvNIYs2PogeD-d6aCqFhZyJz4IimPhldaMjQ_VjAaMdfuHih4IOyDUo4EqxLlU8ot1x-dSEw1BM6LKrW8sOTwBFcygt_nAQUNyIH/s1600/IMG_8666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_mA2VS1cCDY1_CLafdRMcR00Dmf08Ydw3i0LsqJ0TgvNIYs2PogeD-d6aCqFhZyJz4IimPhldaMjQ_VjAaMdfuHih4IOyDUo4EqxLlU8ot1x-dSEw1BM6LKrW8sOTwBFcygt_nAQUNyIH/s400/IMG_8666.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I am at Paddington and the train at the platform is the 11.40 Paddington- Oxford. There are regular trains to Oxford and purchase of tickets is easily done at the ticket machines, just choose your destination and pay either by cash or card. I choose the cheapest option, that is the off peak day return.This Oxford visit is at the invitation of Peter who was my room mate during the Vietnam cycling holiday, anytime you are in UK come and see me at my home in Oxford, thats what he said</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6NcUTwnfSCwhZGnYnCyBzHQi_I_cC-TK9Tkmqm_FjtEG07TESrZZXrJjMOcZFVEgw9OQZfzw9cOroKIq8OcohRWUOxfIP_MxRqhUMzYV6Er52858eh5l2yrFjqiiZnT-tMPxrVyuAP8f/s1600/IMG_8683.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6NcUTwnfSCwhZGnYnCyBzHQi_I_cC-TK9Tkmqm_FjtEG07TESrZZXrJjMOcZFVEgw9OQZfzw9cOroKIq8OcohRWUOxfIP_MxRqhUMzYV6Er52858eh5l2yrFjqiiZnT-tMPxrVyuAP8f/s400/IMG_8683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The train journey only take 1 hour and arrive too early for the appointment. To kill time I walk around the City of Oxford and come across this tricycle, too big for a child, could have been owned by a physically challenged.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG8XDxDyBKN9A-UIPe8R7HaurLViBfGXPIwrPgpQGteWLiRadzBFKF1JPEj0fB2ZL2F5a0ZwSHep8i6lJ1v0DhgCdUJ6DMIJzS9NGytGAMaHN0J5EjIfd3siutveKKEsWcR1esOP_P_0e/s1600/IMG_8711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVG8XDxDyBKN9A-UIPe8R7HaurLViBfGXPIwrPgpQGteWLiRadzBFKF1JPEj0fB2ZL2F5a0ZwSHep8i6lJ1v0DhgCdUJ6DMIJzS9NGytGAMaHN0J5EjIfd3siutveKKEsWcR1esOP_P_0e/s400/IMG_8711.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is Peter's commuting bike which he uses to and from his office, even though he owns a mean 2 seater Mercedes CLK </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqZ9w_LdIg0qzRn0JFmCC4XInSZMRVH0m_2UO16Q09yissqZbHaWuvBkkZpGBJL3kX73gIyaaPsRNUMlY0rnSpGTyIY1_HUsNWdb6aABFgDYMD2SsHPHR5LNaa3rYlnVT4TB9W66iwlm2/s1600/IMG_8742.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqZ9w_LdIg0qzRn0JFmCC4XInSZMRVH0m_2UO16Q09yissqZbHaWuvBkkZpGBJL3kX73gIyaaPsRNUMlY0rnSpGTyIY1_HUsNWdb6aABFgDYMD2SsHPHR5LNaa3rYlnVT4TB9W66iwlm2/s400/IMG_8742.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At Oxford Rail Station there is a bicycle car park where thousand of bikes are temporarily left by commuters. Mostly the bikes are strong locked, a suggestion of theft issue as prevailing.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-6319688424331182392012-04-30T17:02:00.002-07:002012-07-02T20:15:42.456-07:00Cycling Saigon to Hanoi<div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Vietnam, a country that was once torn by a recent war. The Americans came with the latest killing machines, the sophisticated jet fighters, the napalms, the smart bombs and they laid much of the country and any of its people to waste. They also came to die in a country so far from home, 56,000 of their young men and boys went back in body bags and some were lost in the steamy jungles never to see sunlights again. Wars are madness, the dead do not complain and the living live with endless pain in their mind. Both sides seek justness in their cause but tell me, which mothers will trade their sons' lives for a future gain except when patriotism rears its ugly head. It makes the wise and the aged insane and turns them to thirst for blood and gore.<br />
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When the French quitted Vietnam after their military loss at Dien Bien Phu in 1954, it was followed by the Geneva Agreement where one of the important terms was to have an election throughout the country to decide the new administration of Vietnam. The Vietminh under Ho Chi Minh was immensely popular and was expected to carry the election. But it was the height of the Cold War in Europe between the Communist bloc and the Imperialist hiding behind the name of Free World and unfairly Vietminh was red flagged as communist. Under the pretext of stopping the fall of the dominoes, the American invented one excuse after another to stop Vietnam from having the election to the extent of military involvement, because after all those "Gooks" need to be clubbed on the head for then to understand democracy does equal to communist led government. And so was born the phrase "to destroy in order to save" and that was what Vietnam became in the end, the country destroyed but not saved from communism.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The war in Vietnam is over and gone. Saigon, the symbol of American presence is now Ho Chi Minh City, named after the venerated leader who inspired the Vietnamese to resist the foreign intervention of their political affairs. The once hated enemies have come back with cash as tourists and from the look of the reception by the locals it seems the past has been forgotten and forgiven. Tourism in Vietnam is huge. Hotels and beach resorts are springing like mushrooms after a rain fall and happily they are full of and flocked by the foreigners. A lot of resources are devoted to this industry and it seems the investment is well spent as like a market filled to the brim with money rich buyers. For the moment the questions the evils that the visitors bring are shelved for future polemics. Right now the pockets are deep and need the paddings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are many ways to visit Vietnam. You may go on your own or on a holiday package and there are different kind of packages. As a cyclist naturally I am keen of the cycling holiday where one can cycle while enjoying the country. I booked for this holiday with the apprehension that I will be cycling with strangers I have never met. I am so used to solo touring, where I make decisions on my own without any need to please others. I fear that my selfishness cannot match the convenience of the supported rides like not hunting for accommodation and meals. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div><div style="text-align: justify;">For this tour I packed very light, only a few changes and as usual my bike goes in bike box that has been recycled from previous tours. There was the option of renting the organiser's bike but I thought my own bike would suit me better. Traveling with a boxed bike by Malaysian Airlines is a breeze. No quizzical look from the ground staff except that the scanning machine detected the inflated tires and I have to reopen the box just to deflate them. They are quite serious about the inflated tires going pop in the unpressurised cargo hold although I doubt very much they do. In the past I had retrieved tires that were sent in inflated and they looked well and fine.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMXDIUdlMXp1bAZc5LNAwG9XsgffZt1bSi5UYmQgeZ5aEiNltClfif8E8AOqwMwaqemXXt01nU812j96PIYPeFXDbUJwla6dOJ-RVhB8BD1NtJt7OuxKy8LDIMS-vduK6wjgtMieGmw5z/s1600/IMG_8139.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoMXDIUdlMXp1bAZc5LNAwG9XsgffZt1bSi5UYmQgeZ5aEiNltClfif8E8AOqwMwaqemXXt01nU812j96PIYPeFXDbUJwla6dOJ-RVhB8BD1NtJt7OuxKy8LDIMS-vduK6wjgtMieGmw5z/s400/IMG_8139.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Carefully boxing the bike at home into the much used bike packaging</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At KLIA I have to reopen and retape the box to let out air from the tires which was discovered to be inflated during the routine x-ray check</b></td></tr>
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<b>2nd April KLIA to Ho Chi Minh City aka Saigon</b><br />
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The flight from KLIA to Saigon landed at Than Son Nhat at 4.00 Vietnam time after flying for two and a half hours. The first impression from the air of Mekong Delta is it is flat like an ocean. It is a huge swathe of land with not a hill lock in sight, with rivers and tributaries criss-crossing the land like ribons and everything was so green. On exiting the terminal I was hounded and fleeced by taxi tout and end up paying USD 20.00 to the hotel in spite of being advised the cost should not exceed USD10.00. I Reached Huong Seng hotel and later had dinner with the members of the cycling group and at dinner was briefed about the coming journey. Everyone paid for their own meal although we had it together. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saigon looked appeared to me as vibrant but congested. The plus points of Saigon is the tall trees lining the street, the promenade along the river and the small pretty gardens that are lush well tended. As to the bikes, there must be millions of them and Saigon is truly the small bike capital of the world.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Huong Seng Hotel Saigon, the first hotel in the tour</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My overpriced tuna sandwich dinner</b></td></tr>
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<b>3rd. April Saigon cycling distance 36 KM</b><br />
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This was our first cycling day. We were taken from our hotel to Chu Chi tunnels by bus and some where near the place the group had the first look at their bikes, except for me who brought along my own bike. We cycled in a group to the tunnel and on stopping were taken to a tour of the tunnels. We had lunch at a small restaurant where our group leader conjured a birthday cake and we sang happy birthday to the birthday girl, Jill. Then we cycled around the area for a total of 36 km, to tune our muscles for the future rides, says Mr. Lam. Group cycling was quite fun. and it was my first time . We finished cycling around 4.00 pm and was taken back to hotel by bus. That night I had dinner alone, tuna sandwiches and saw the most beautiful Vietnamese lady with most charming smile serving. What a poise and what class. The grace she carries is bewitching. No wonder the American lost the war, their young soldiers, full of raging hormone must had been distracted all the time by these pretty ladies, not realising that they were the enemies. Talk about "Sleeping with the Enemies".</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoWKq8jaRf6zHGhETo1IRoKrHcSBLCh5ajnokUTuBC8ZLTJg62R8PopV-i33rMEUStWmOUeOoMVOEoCeSKSRRp2B0WQtI0eh7KMdfSw6UWdcAaKMdum85IaRgh44sp1YLoOucaIglfhO0/s1600/IMG_7767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLoWKq8jaRf6zHGhETo1IRoKrHcSBLCh5ajnokUTuBC8ZLTJg62R8PopV-i33rMEUStWmOUeOoMVOEoCeSKSRRp2B0WQtI0eh7KMdfSw6UWdcAaKMdum85IaRgh44sp1YLoOucaIglfhO0/s400/IMG_7767.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The "official" group photograph at the commencement of the ride on the first day, the only time where everybody was captured in a single photo, I was told some one was getting nervous. I am the only one with own bike.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDBOdY-Cb5-kptA4T3D1U67t_7vKZLDodBKc591E_K0IdYxv8QeB7y-D39943bUP-X6za7Y1NYVixGrggPxiNj-mSJ4X-r4Bw3-bI-Ob2jr2MSVcCZTVPpzU3lnfGPDHQ02QIcLpHdNvZ/s1600/IMG_7772.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDBOdY-Cb5-kptA4T3D1U67t_7vKZLDodBKc591E_K0IdYxv8QeB7y-D39943bUP-X6za7Y1NYVixGrggPxiNj-mSJ4X-r4Bw3-bI-Ob2jr2MSVcCZTVPpzU3lnfGPDHQ02QIcLpHdNvZ/s320/IMG_7772.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vietnamese girl child near the Chu Chi, not even one year old with the ears already pierced</b></td></tr>
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<b>4th. April Saigon to Phan Thiet cycling Distance 54 Km</b><br />
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We left Saigon at 7.00 am by bus. We travelled along Highway 1 and it was quite a long journey, something like 4 hours. At about 12 noon we started cycling. Now this is a new experience for me. My cycling days on previous tours were very early morning departures and midday or noon were the time I rest. This is the tropics, early mornings are the cooler part of the day, the mercury starts to rise towards midday and the hottest part is between 1 to 4pm. We were doing the opposites today, we started cycling at 12.00 in the extreme heat and finished at 5. There were frequent stops for cold drinks dispensed from the supporting truck following the group. The terrain was mixed, some flat along the villages and some small climbs in the forest. There was also rides along the beautiful white sandy beaches. At the end of the ride many of us were absolutely knackered. It was only a 54 km ride but already there were a few casualties, Jim was on the verge of collapsing from heat stroke and Michelle had burns all over her exposed skin. The ride ended near a beach and we were taken by bus through the city of Phan Tiet to a resort hotel by the sea where we stayed for the night.<br />
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Riding through the country side one unusual thing I noticed was that the houses are more narrow than broad. The front was like only 5 meters across and the length could go like 20 meters. </div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAdXRdlT7Wp2pWq31IkEz7UoyDDC7OEGyOLfD1VsBWumiCjiMHbkF-mP4Gnz9ZChyphenhyphenm1bCqOEUZU6NkHRZ3JZIAKmXyl71cBnXg7DhAjRj0CwqkTPBoN2IY53C01UYKbeR0FsEEigSaw0P/s1600/IMG_7782.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzAdXRdlT7Wp2pWq31IkEz7UoyDDC7OEGyOLfD1VsBWumiCjiMHbkF-mP4Gnz9ZChyphenhyphenm1bCqOEUZU6NkHRZ3JZIAKmXyl71cBnXg7DhAjRj0CwqkTPBoN2IY53C01UYKbeR0FsEEigSaw0P/s320/IMG_7782.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We saw farmer's carts drawn by oxen</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR3IKRptvpKABDRg52zpg4mn89Fw1QKpNrWRuLey2xBKmBZQWzI3lPcxrYsbHWeP5aajMxdNNCtiT5Iq9I-izTf1ZIj5jxLMvgtdCoeyD60mICJHy9asSZX_siUkWrC5LD9-4f-rfQoEM/s1600/IMG_7775.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYR3IKRptvpKABDRg52zpg4mn89Fw1QKpNrWRuLey2xBKmBZQWzI3lPcxrYsbHWeP5aajMxdNNCtiT5Iq9I-izTf1ZIj5jxLMvgtdCoeyD60mICJHy9asSZX_siUkWrC5LD9-4f-rfQoEM/s320/IMG_7775.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The children are curious and never stop shouting "hellos"</b></td></tr>
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<b>5th. April Phan Thiet to Dalat Cycling Distance 60 Km</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">We bussed out from Phan Thiet and after an hour on the bus we started riding along flat road for 15 km. After a short rest we came into undulating ride for 25 km and it was hot. On reaching the foothill of the highland we took the bus uphill to a village and had lunch prepared by the crew and continued to the top until 3.00 pm. Then we were and let down hill hill for 20 km, but with a few climbs thrown in. Then it was another 2 hours by bus through the glorious Central Highland to Dalat, a resort town at 1500m elevation and it was cool compared to the brutal heat sufferred in the cycling.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvNjjSKxA5LoRrvSg_F13__7BKq_lJvTmQngyEGyipYIM7KY0saPb3sOmGzfozlOAMrCZke1ICv1MTfjcykMYAk-BwVws3lm3eMQf-Inoz0mHch9fBG9yY0OBMJ3KQeMnZvNN1CKJbUE0/s1600/IMG_7789.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvNjjSKxA5LoRrvSg_F13__7BKq_lJvTmQngyEGyipYIM7KY0saPb3sOmGzfozlOAMrCZke1ICv1MTfjcykMYAk-BwVws3lm3eMQf-Inoz0mHch9fBG9yY0OBMJ3KQeMnZvNN1CKJbUE0/s320/IMG_7789.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The natives had a casual life including their livestock which nonchalantly ambled from across the road as though to greet us.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNiGDOiWlLi5KXJ4daSyGGRZQSYx0AFwT0qPuNwpaBYM8IyuIircFeGq0mCcyKDb6YhmCYf5GbIUhOQs4Yl2Pm2eQken-gJA4C9hyDQqaB-JM-lvrvSbOCH9hjHtBb3wLTxOuz2iHP6qq/s1600/IMG_7792.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNiGDOiWlLi5KXJ4daSyGGRZQSYx0AFwT0qPuNwpaBYM8IyuIircFeGq0mCcyKDb6YhmCYf5GbIUhOQs4Yl2Pm2eQken-gJA4C9hyDQqaB-JM-lvrvSbOCH9hjHtBb3wLTxOuz2iHP6qq/s320/IMG_7792.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dalat beauty</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-E5CzWyn59Q-N-WV5McthG7PRm1stQWp-MoKMi_bTYkULFowC8UmMcdkWTEcWS6ZxWPmEJ7r7QX46YC_zcZ0OohC8GH0zQ9lSJsnRPLeqSwmRrwZzVTxnr29tMN2CTnRCLZ9M1JoC_w5/s1600/P1000081.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI-E5CzWyn59Q-N-WV5McthG7PRm1stQWp-MoKMi_bTYkULFowC8UmMcdkWTEcWS6ZxWPmEJ7r7QX46YC_zcZ0OohC8GH0zQ9lSJsnRPLeqSwmRrwZzVTxnr29tMN2CTnRCLZ9M1JoC_w5/s400/P1000081.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Starting out of Dalat I had the crew looked into my chain ring which began to be noisy when climbing the stiff hills</b></td></tr>
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<b>6th. April Dalat to Nha Tranh Cycling Distance 100 km</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH7aA7pBcMtu4K5jDTmCFRskymb-6DRFXDmG4lpew96OfluBK5rM59EQlpkePC8Z4nR6MPD6vRlx1cHkQlFhUzf-CEbkowdBO_YyCsbgMUGclL4Bk3a7Lz5dka7X53CFZ9-S7Q-zNkzna/s1600/IMG_7795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJH7aA7pBcMtu4K5jDTmCFRskymb-6DRFXDmG4lpew96OfluBK5rM59EQlpkePC8Z4nR6MPD6vRlx1cHkQlFhUzf-CEbkowdBO_YyCsbgMUGclL4Bk3a7Lz5dka7X53CFZ9-S7Q-zNkzna/s320/IMG_7795.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The cool lake at Dalat where we cycled around.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv0f25m7OuCE62tOI5s_osCJVQU0Qm_lHZbE-K6_Heg0ICQMy_TZUeo2TPd99zCIVwIHh04iVBpWIC0JyCZIIpxY9RGKXDuBi346H3FWWSNX4qtbpywXHTeN6OGnCSaI7am_dqvOzDIp8/s1600/IMG_7797.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyv0f25m7OuCE62tOI5s_osCJVQU0Qm_lHZbE-K6_Heg0ICQMy_TZUeo2TPd99zCIVwIHh04iVBpWIC0JyCZIIpxY9RGKXDuBi346H3FWWSNX4qtbpywXHTeN6OGnCSaI7am_dqvOzDIp8/s320/IMG_7797.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Out of Dalat it was the brand new road, hardly any traffic and it was not too hot. </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGmcrvpEgXh86-jFXWEZcpdCxka7bT6Dsbpfo8kM038WJPlWqXP5AmMstPRrmfF7fSGO0kxz2xkp4l7gRpfWuMkAkmUe3vqOTCoD-9tNUlAr2irRKsIistbPZ9Y9XLxRfGCKUApgn8CtB/s1600/IMG_7800.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLGmcrvpEgXh86-jFXWEZcpdCxka7bT6Dsbpfo8kM038WJPlWqXP5AmMstPRrmfF7fSGO0kxz2xkp4l7gRpfWuMkAkmUe3vqOTCoD-9tNUlAr2irRKsIistbPZ9Y9XLxRfGCKUApgn8CtB/s320/IMG_7800.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sometimes we ride through the rain cloud</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAem53GpfOOSePjdy-idXWg9SggLGHWjNlTyl02Arb4maj5C2Z-1DW7L9UtZQ-5uWa7HrV0V95xYbMapXMX0p1q9EyH4NwjuoPuS7_gZ2NE_ETESEROJa3TqOsl4RlHZ1cJSlA_DiieNBp/s1600/IMG_7801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAem53GpfOOSePjdy-idXWg9SggLGHWjNlTyl02Arb4maj5C2Z-1DW7L9UtZQ-5uWa7HrV0V95xYbMapXMX0p1q9EyH4NwjuoPuS7_gZ2NE_ETESEROJa3TqOsl4RlHZ1cJSlA_DiieNBp/s320/IMG_7801.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>At one of the plunging water fall, it was an unforgettable sight.</b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">It was a long 70 km undulating ride with some stiff climb. The road was newly constructed and at some points there were landslides covering the whole road and we had to carefully push our bikes for safety. The view was astounding beautiful, there were mountains and gorges and waterfalls splashing right near the road side. Some climbs were just testing and a few had some riders taking breathers before continuing and one climb was 3 km long that had a few of us pushing our bikes as the legs were buckling from the punishment. On reaching the top we had a short rest and then were let down for a very long down hill, some 30 km long and what a thrill it was, I heard Andy and Gordon made it a race to be the first to reach the rest area. It was dangerous and I will not risk my old neck like these adrenaline junkies, who go on high living on the edges. It was a steep down hill, sometimes the speedometer gave readings in excess of 40 kph and I could have gone faster but I was not so sure of my biking skills. On the grand tours riders reach the speed of 70 kph when going down hill but even half of this speed already gave me shivers.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">At the finish we assembled at a restaurant on a river bank and had some tourist gawking at us and our bikes, it was nice to be at the centre of attraction though the feeling is more due to false pride rather than what we actually deserved. It was late afternoon we reached the city of Na Tranh, a popular resort town on the beach. We checked into our hotel and for the first time we had our laundry done.</div><br />
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<b>7th. April Nha Tranh 0 cycling</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc3mtLgvUGU8Ky713vGqKdr7X2-W6HDawT7PrMa-YUp6GhvrJl80jEwgIhulJQ353AI3UcUwCQCe9cqAwMgx-mq6ZFyiac6-Gw716nfBKnvqCOVSU-IsWyReY_Eb-kuW_kMYhEE_mtAYQ/s1600/IMG_7806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyc3mtLgvUGU8Ky713vGqKdr7X2-W6HDawT7PrMa-YUp6GhvrJl80jEwgIhulJQ353AI3UcUwCQCe9cqAwMgx-mq6ZFyiac6-Gw716nfBKnvqCOVSU-IsWyReY_Eb-kuW_kMYhEE_mtAYQ/s400/IMG_7806.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My bike cab driver at Na Tranh</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuukro-p1KZBcERFHuB_3iyhtn3EfqGHTvXYrIrjKVZxcDelH2BoAqgk298LVZsTny23Ke0X6GYoy81TBHDvRTWIm8mP-zexBZjnBYPtES8FTHdKTYH_mVvfgikI4Y8EAt_FObZnzXouX/s1600/IMG_7809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuukro-p1KZBcERFHuB_3iyhtn3EfqGHTvXYrIrjKVZxcDelH2BoAqgk298LVZsTny23Ke0X6GYoy81TBHDvRTWIm8mP-zexBZjnBYPtES8FTHdKTYH_mVvfgikI4Y8EAt_FObZnzXouX/s400/IMG_7809.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Then I had a hair cut and a shave from the road side barber, costs me 80,000.00 Dongs but something lost in translation and I ended with a near bald hairstyle.</b></td></tr>
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In Na Tranh we rested our sore muscles and I took the opportunity to tune my leg muscles by taking long walks on the beach. And what a beach it was, it was like miles and miles of white sand fronting the city and you can see tourist, thousands of them lazying around. This city is uniquely popular with Russian tourists and there are direct flights from the city airport to Russia. Nearby was the famous Cam Ranh Bay, the giant American Naval base during the war in Vietnam, today nothing remained of their presence except for the blue lagoons and coconut groves. At night I had my dinner at one of the smart restaurants found in abundant. Sea food is cheap and along the road sides were stalls selling cooked cray fish as big as lobsters.<br />
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<b>8th. April Nha Tranh to Qui Non Cycling Distance 100 km</b><br />
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From our hotel, for the first time we departed from where we spent the night. We cycled in single file along the beach and out of Na Tranh city. This was one long ride with varied terrain. We pass through rice fields, beaches, villages and when the sun was at its hottest we stopped for lunch at a resort restaurant on the beach.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Approaching Qui Non it was already darkening and we were not allowed to tackle the last climb which which would have been challenging considering our exhaustion and the steep gradient, many of us were silently glad the night had interfered with our plan.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0HHOkjoLwMhFcMBnoBnML5uJp5_UgSEVsThrxT_RYQz7npBFm48Fv4Fo07AkE7dd739IypkIL5_PIE0Z9cYMQB0Np3eXZTLQstAxQcIX5ox5OLM3O_M4ErHZ_R-28XW2eT54SUBCHZZC/s1600/IMG_7816.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM0HHOkjoLwMhFcMBnoBnML5uJp5_UgSEVsThrxT_RYQz7npBFm48Fv4Fo07AkE7dd739IypkIL5_PIE0Z9cYMQB0Np3eXZTLQstAxQcIX5ox5OLM3O_M4ErHZ_R-28XW2eT54SUBCHZZC/s320/IMG_7816.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cycling out of Na Tranh</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRobsWEAbJStan5IlFrmqFhc_9c3OMd-HnAfhN5NeSyLuLf_tWS343D5erwcbT5K61TRrYGPFigx6Zn852csXdqgi00bM5AKiR5UHPJjj9loL2RZkBHelDWxZAZgItbYWcpdhavq8BFajl/s1600/IMG_7817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRobsWEAbJStan5IlFrmqFhc_9c3OMd-HnAfhN5NeSyLuLf_tWS343D5erwcbT5K61TRrYGPFigx6Zn852csXdqgi00bM5AKiR5UHPJjj9loL2RZkBHelDWxZAZgItbYWcpdhavq8BFajl/s320/IMG_7817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My bike resting along the scenic route</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CdFsGXms8NMLUvQryf-hIEJGs6iaVXHKi-CqejefZNCnVvn2PrPcEagBjvzS9AJScAMGC6PPjqXjcxyb2LyhHlQbc0HphvFSM7Q5xnv4mTxpZGLdqh_-nBL0dyFv1L9slfHRLBbypCy5/s1600/IMG_7818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CdFsGXms8NMLUvQryf-hIEJGs6iaVXHKi-CqejefZNCnVvn2PrPcEagBjvzS9AJScAMGC6PPjqXjcxyb2LyhHlQbc0HphvFSM7Q5xnv4mTxpZGLdqh_-nBL0dyFv1L9slfHRLBbypCy5/s320/IMG_7818.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We pass farmers drying their rice on the road sides</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsVj1rligG5YKKM5xdJlIm9NZwH0Yeeib5uD6SnpjVA7BH7dVbYep3yl84LTOaBioOtOOf4tiOtBJBe9nm7wvlMAVAG4A7dIzsC0_44ax6H_afnat00QU4vk8Z-OJwpu5-jIkXbd98ibW/s1600/IMG_7819.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsVj1rligG5YKKM5xdJlIm9NZwH0Yeeib5uD6SnpjVA7BH7dVbYep3yl84LTOaBioOtOOf4tiOtBJBe9nm7wvlMAVAG4A7dIzsC0_44ax6H_afnat00QU4vk8Z-OJwpu5-jIkXbd98ibW/s320/IMG_7819.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ao Dai clad hotel receptionist at the hotel in Qui Non</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsSxy0xe-iMZzZ8nk4TGGfkT_miCo3TNF5f-8OGz8uu3L-AYcZT-0Uhd3MaVeVFSksBUjtbX5xV8wBGsNBYaOzYvVgtcjdP4bY0eHM6abbl9AECJTM2GK8MyHdWE1qFFB6XnuA626z89W/s1600/IMG_7824.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtsSxy0xe-iMZzZ8nk4TGGfkT_miCo3TNF5f-8OGz8uu3L-AYcZT-0Uhd3MaVeVFSksBUjtbX5xV8wBGsNBYaOzYvVgtcjdP4bY0eHM6abbl9AECJTM2GK8MyHdWE1qFFB6XnuA626z89W/s320/IMG_7824.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bicycles at Qui Non</b></td></tr>
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<b>9th.Apri Qui Non to Ho An cycling Distance 40 km</b><br />
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Our hotel at Qui Non was on the beach front. At 5.00 am it was already light and from the balcony it was strange to see many people exercising and stretching out on the beach and the park at this hour of the day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Today after the bus ride we were taken to visit My Lai the village where Lt Calley and his troops when on a rampage by spilling lots of innocent Vietnamese blood, the blood of the very old and the very young. There was a museum displaying photographs of the massacre and models of the village. Some of the remains of the houses were preserved together with the mass graves. There was also a large statue that commemorates the emotions and the griefs of the people that suffered the war. We lined up to pay respect to the dead by lighting up joss sticks and leaving them at the base of the statues. It was a somber experience and during lunch at the makeshift restaurant we were quiet and the conversation was muted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">After My Lai we cycled a bit more through small villages and a small town where it was rush hour with hundreds of cyclists clogging the narrow road. These cyclists were school children on the way back from school and it is a sight that is rarely seen as bicycles are now mostly for recreational purposes rather than a mode of transportation.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It was dark when we reached Hoi An by bus and checked in a hotel that was looked old but the interior had been renovated to a modern standard.</div><br />
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<b>10th. April Ho An 0 cycling</b><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The day in Hoi An was spent lazying around. We had people coming to the hotel to do our laundry. I took a walk around the town which was quite small but well lined with shady trees. Hoi An is an ancient city that formerly thrived as a trading post and is now preserved as a tourist town. There were many smart restaurants and I had my meal at an Indian because I missed my curries. Many tourists come here to patronise the many tailors and you could custom make your dresses or clothing and got them ready in twenty four hours. If you have big feet this is the place to have shoes cut out to fit your feet.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTv8WnXpaShukjhk2n8c2_YUVyog7pp-JDCjgBwRHhnzp7X_FHx6ac7bAo1Zb1BZI0VHavXPEGnka64aDIJFcWZAPvhsepZRpZgD9jPQYjPZ9-Z6tIfSrpmxbY4Oaicb6UCiXUbSywwcI/s1600/IMG_7827.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOTv8WnXpaShukjhk2n8c2_YUVyog7pp-JDCjgBwRHhnzp7X_FHx6ac7bAo1Zb1BZI0VHavXPEGnka64aDIJFcWZAPvhsepZRpZgD9jPQYjPZ9-Z6tIfSrpmxbY4Oaicb6UCiXUbSywwcI/s320/IMG_7827.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Traders and farmers bringing their produce by boat to the market at Hoi An</b></td></tr>
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<b>11th. April Hoi An to Hue Cycling distance 94 km</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5qHevbetLDn7PblmoMNs4mSdICUqUfQrY0aQatTkJGESQdkhLh0HtHj73H4uerTlOTPEL3vAUspinxGbqBrGMzoqG5WcN5DJaOWQuDp7_t9jH7-gNeAGmLLcanfkdTL3QJUDRQw-7yqX/s1600/IMG_7833.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt5qHevbetLDn7PblmoMNs4mSdICUqUfQrY0aQatTkJGESQdkhLh0HtHj73H4uerTlOTPEL3vAUspinxGbqBrGMzoqG5WcN5DJaOWQuDp7_t9jH7-gNeAGmLLcanfkdTL3QJUDRQw-7yqX/s320/IMG_7833.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Danang Beach where the Marines landed in 1966 after the Gulf of Tongking incident and were greeted by garland of flowers from the women instead of enemy fires.</b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">This morning we took the bus from Hoi An to Danang. Past the beach of Danang we cycled across the river to the foot of Van Hai Pass. This was the ultimate test of this cycling holiday, the reason why it is graded as moderate whereby the participant has to be reasonably fit to join the tour. This pass is a killer rising to 600m in 10 km and when we first touched its base it was already 12.00 noon. Cycling in the heat and exerting my maximum effort quickly drained my energy and my will. If I didn't stop I was afraid I would collapse from a heart attack as not only my brain was frying, my hands were trembling from the loss of fluids and the building up of lactic acids in my muscles. With the summit in sight and after 11 kilometers, my guide offered to pull me with his bike but I thought that was an unfair conquest, so with a heavy heart I dismounted and took the bus. I felt very discouraged in this failures especially knowing that one of the ladies, Suzanne, did make it and later also reading a cycling blog where the touring cyclist rated this pass as over rated because it was not challenging enough to him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had a short rest at the top and the down hill failed to banish my feeling of dejection. It would have been a crowning glory if I had make it to the top. After the down hill we took the bus and stopped for a late lunch and then we cycled again, this time through a wide expanse of cemeteries. It was like miles and miles of cemeteries, as though all the dead in Vietnam are buried here. At the end of the ride we assembled near a petrol station and were taken by bus to the city of Hue.</div><b><br />
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<b>12th. April Hue Cycling around Hue City 25 km</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Hue was the ancient capital of imperial Vietnam during the rule of the emperors. Early in the morning we cycled from the hotel through the city of Hue and the first stop was the Citadel where the emperors' palace was situated. We parked our bicycles and took a tour around the palace, there were musicians rehearsing as Hue was at the time hosting some kind of music festival. The Citadel was a battle field during the war, thousands from both sides died or were injured. The American Marines had to engage close quarters fighting to dislodge the Vietcongs entrenched in the Citadel, as a result some of the palace buildings were destroyed by bombardment. What remained still bore the mark of the bullets and shrapnels.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">Later we cycled to the old palace and after taking a short tour we cycled across the Perfume River vide an old shaking steel crossing. It vibrated with the weight and I could see the river in between the gaps. We next took a ride along river with a cruise boat and then visited a temple where among the relics was a car that the monk rode along to his way to self immolation in Saigon way back in the war. The cycling part ended here and the bicycles and the riders said good byes to each other. My bike was boxed and taken on the bus. I could see that some riders had become attached to their cycling companion, Peter tried to buy the saddle to bring home but sadly he was refused.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK1KZOtPp36GK8DndkHnj1hlcEEmFXCFASbWpNGwqvajEuDTZ8qlaF4DHsfxrEHtXQv2VC44-ykpI5h1vGdIvtzmNRdxj5F61rNzKvoawUNsnjQjF6bHu7ESFnpg1XydB5qGmlDPlwOa-/s1600/IMG_7837.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsK1KZOtPp36GK8DndkHnj1hlcEEmFXCFASbWpNGwqvajEuDTZ8qlaF4DHsfxrEHtXQv2VC44-ykpI5h1vGdIvtzmNRdxj5F61rNzKvoawUNsnjQjF6bHu7ESFnpg1XydB5qGmlDPlwOa-/s320/IMG_7837.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Citadel where savage close range fighting between the Vietcongs and the American Marines during the Tet Offensive left bullet marks still visible today</b></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhPziuKPt_LSZNPJGiWDeDy6tyKDIkJCbjgWVwgfoBW6Sunn6aGeLggqaJ4J3IDdf5gEOdX0LVc2YX_2aVgIDuuXHuE0kTsW26o5D6Ws8t3QGTAexvG93sa9DlETSmeY49vS6_6xlEDXM/s1600/IMG_7848.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlhPziuKPt_LSZNPJGiWDeDy6tyKDIkJCbjgWVwgfoBW6Sunn6aGeLggqaJ4J3IDdf5gEOdX0LVc2YX_2aVgIDuuXHuE0kTsW26o5D6Ws8t3QGTAexvG93sa9DlETSmeY49vS6_6xlEDXM/s320/IMG_7848.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The car that the monk Thich Quang Duc travelled in to Saigon from the Hue Temple where he self immolated himself. The fiery action was caught on camera and became one of the iconic pictures of the war.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz95j7-o8FYNtlcFhsD3YhWSMU1l-FquMW7AqnTZniqa_Twtn_WfZAXCKTRYmS7RyFjvdPGZOBIlbunBKxn9JQEy-eZWhqdxs2h1ARRuBWPMgl_WWRQVAv2TvOcWp7IXFPhYSR7XWZ8V_/s1600/IMG_7850.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz95j7-o8FYNtlcFhsD3YhWSMU1l-FquMW7AqnTZniqa_Twtn_WfZAXCKTRYmS7RyFjvdPGZOBIlbunBKxn9JQEy-eZWhqdxs2h1ARRuBWPMgl_WWRQVAv2TvOcWp7IXFPhYSR7XWZ8V_/s320/IMG_7850.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Vietnamese flag flying proudly seen from the Perfume River</b></td></tr>
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<b>12th. April Hue to Hanoi 0 cycling</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">In the evening we took the Reunification Express to Hanoi and spending the night on the sleeper and reached Hanoi the next morning. I had some difficulties hauling my boxed bike aboard the train as the station was without platform and the train was in a hurry to get away from the station. Thanks to Peter and no thanks to my bad back the we made it in time although I was perspiring heavily from the rush. This was very much harder than cycling!<br />
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</div><b>13th. April Hanoi to Halong Bay </b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">In the morning we arrived at Hanoi train station and I was surprised to be stopped by the guard at the exit and was forced to pay a little bit extra for my bike in the box. After a short sprucing up at the hotel we left our luggage and was taken by a bus to the coast where we boarded the cruise boat. We spent some time boating around the famous Halong Bay and at night spent the night on the boat where we were given a sumptuous and an unforgettable dinner.</div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr42JSDtPoNqD0YOFHZylNIOtdJMH9rhYtzdsixCg3MFv7LUWMTYh5BYEcTOZEcGGPZ6GXfl4-jAIfk5zAPN_cyo1eajhJGYcCccHBd6uWNBMkWtWkAiYC6Cby0N5Bker2Z-rvCzM7SWdK/s1600/IMG_7852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr42JSDtPoNqD0YOFHZylNIOtdJMH9rhYtzdsixCg3MFv7LUWMTYh5BYEcTOZEcGGPZ6GXfl4-jAIfk5zAPN_cyo1eajhJGYcCccHBd6uWNBMkWtWkAiYC6Cby0N5Bker2Z-rvCzM7SWdK/s320/IMG_7852.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our Captain of our cruise boat</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRXkkQUmsuwdjiPOGsKXWfrdkp1uSHsZc1xIUNoU-jYGTe46QJqhxNB43h_h7Nj6J6UoLVXtujoD3Oe4dQXoDZhGVdl5sH5o-4S5-HK32d7lYgJNsO9HvDpzeS9BeWr1DJtUecp96Ldgd/s1600/IMG_7875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYRXkkQUmsuwdjiPOGsKXWfrdkp1uSHsZc1xIUNoU-jYGTe46QJqhxNB43h_h7Nj6J6UoLVXtujoD3Oe4dQXoDZhGVdl5sH5o-4S5-HK32d7lYgJNsO9HvDpzeS9BeWr1DJtUecp96Ldgd/s320/IMG_7875.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hanoi like Saigon is full of motor bikes although there are more cars, because as told by Mr. Lam, money is made in Saigon but spent in Hanoi.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe-PSLihqQ982q2-J07cuCgj53Xhk5suYdvGgqyrUv1CpFpO54mmwYSnifGO8YlphaNCUKJWgObklC7LqO8ucvpawYMxwJjGSh-rIwf_2jxz-778BUbmGrk26otCTD7UavcLFn4ssovid/s1600/IMG_7877.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWe-PSLihqQ982q2-J07cuCgj53Xhk5suYdvGgqyrUv1CpFpO54mmwYSnifGO8YlphaNCUKJWgObklC7LqO8ucvpawYMxwJjGSh-rIwf_2jxz-778BUbmGrk26otCTD7UavcLFn4ssovid/s320/IMG_7877.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the Hanoi Hilton where American pilots shot over Vietnam checked in, including among the famous one, Senator John McCain.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sRLtOmSFcV-zCVALxaPNlheozrjzF1_PV-_ec1LI3-yAhI9PvZEbnwRVAgkhp8qU9aETBFJYT6lG9ZI9MnNcfNPlge2yGgj2V_ZmCDf357QM0LnxLjohFBmVAYhxBWjQJj8jNg-7w7vl/s1600/IMG_7880.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sRLtOmSFcV-zCVALxaPNlheozrjzF1_PV-_ec1LI3-yAhI9PvZEbnwRVAgkhp8qU9aETBFJYT6lG9ZI9MnNcfNPlge2yGgj2V_ZmCDf357QM0LnxLjohFBmVAYhxBWjQJj8jNg-7w7vl/s320/IMG_7880.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My last hour in Hanoi, tired but sad to leave.</b></td></tr>
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<b>14th. April Hanoi</b><br />
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We came back from Halong Bay and had the afternoon to ourselve. That night we gathered for the last time at a restaurant and wished each other and Mr. Lam goodbyes.<br />
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<b>15th. April Hanoi KL</b><br />
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The flight from the Hanoi airport departed at 1.00 pm and three hours later the plane landed in Kuala Lumpur. I said good bye for the last time to the group catching the evening flight to Heathrow.<br />
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<b>Reflections</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Packaged Group touring is very different experience from my previous DIY tours. The plus points are that you are practically pampered for you daily needs. Meals, accommodations and routes are not your worries. You just ride and ride and after sometimes I did get into questioning the logic of cycling tour this way, as in all packaged holidays your personal needs are subservient to the general good. If a place caught your fancy or you need more time to conquer the slopes, sorry we are behind schedule and have to rush to the next place. Another point is that you can see many places in the shortest time, if you are not supported it would take at least one month to cover the 1800 km from Saigon to Hanoi.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have no issue with the organiser, the crew are eager to please and are very helpful. Cycling loads are not taxing, on the average of less than 80 km per day and no heavy pannier to slow you down. If you are moderately fit, and have been cycling regularly, you should be able to catch up with the group and should you feel otherwise there is always the bus following to save you. At the end of the tour some girls were disabled by disagreeable food and took the bus although I suspect it was more due to exhaustion than anything else.</div><b><br />
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</b></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-69311631166431424592012-03-18T10:24:00.004-07:002012-03-30T06:39:04.152-07:00River Cruise In Kota Bharu Anyone?<div style="text-align: justify;">Well not exactly a cruise, but somewhere near it if you can overlook the absence of a purposely built luxury vessel with captains in smart uniforms at the helm. River cruises are the hall marks of cities sited near large bodies of water, it comes to the mind of idling on the boats along the great rivers of the western countries such as the Thames and the Seine. Kota Bharu is smacked on the Kelantan river near the estuary and if wants to qualify as a modern city it ought to take advantage of its position as a riverine settlement. Sadly the people here do not love their god given watery asset very much. What should have been esplanades are now hideous looking buildings that completely blot out the river view and also restrict the access of the public to the water edge. There used to be a public <i>padang</i> overlooking the bank called Padang Lido where one used to stroll waiting for the sunset but it was turned into a private use and a structure of a distinctly ugly proportion is occupying the spot. There was no defence of the taking away of the open space, the people not objecting even when the reason given by the powers that was, was that the space was used by courting couples and thus an affront to morality, the quicker it is shut down the better for the prospect of entering heaven in after life. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Coming back to the title of this posting, one hot blazing day I felt a cool breeze coming from the river. I stopped at the new clock tower near the Sultan's Pier, an old land mark, and saw a kind of vessel chugging lazily under power on the river and it came to dock at a platform discharging people. I am surprised these river taxis still exist. River traffic was in its heyday before the construction of the bridge, when there was a lively use of the river as the only mean of getting across was by use of vessels. The rail station for Kota Bharu was on the opposite side of the bank at Palekbang and rail passengers and goods were transported by special ferries. After the bridge opened, the river traffic grew less and less and as a specimen of transport it is in the danger of extinction.<br />
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So before the whole thing wraps up you can still catch the vestiges of a dying mode of transportation besides really enjoying the secret of the the town that had been hidden from public view. When you arrive at the Clock Tower on the river bank on the left of the Sultan's Pier, there is a staircase on the left side which leads to the edge of the water. You will see two floating platform, there are no sign boards but you cannot miss this platform as the other one is a marine police docking station which is closed to the public. There is a rickety bridge connecting the platform to the bank and you get down through the bridge onto the platform and purchase the ticket from a man, there is no ticket counter but you cannot miss the man because as soon as you step on the platform he will be asking whether you are going across. The fare is cheap, RM1 one way. You can buy return so that you do not have to make another purchase when when coming back.<br />
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The boat is powered by diesel engine which sits in the middle partitioning the cabin into two. The ride is slow and sluggish but the breeze is constant as the boat makes its way to the opposite bank to a riverside village of Kampong Laut which is well known for sending out its people to seek employment in other parts of Malaysia, the most famous is claimed to be the previous chief minister of Sarawak. On reaching the village the boat stops for half an hour and you can have a short tour of the village enterprise which is mainly shredded beef production before returning to the boat again for another ride back to Kota Bharu. Bring along a camera as the shot possibilities are endless. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A magnificent view of the newly constructed clock tower on the bank of Kelantan River taken from the boat.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Inside the cool deck of the boat, pretty ladies commuting from town to their home village at Kampong Laut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We pass another boat of similar trade mid river</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Faris trying to start the diesel engine by hand crank. Its a hard job he tells us.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We are really enjoying the boat ride, pretending its a luxury cruise</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW1ArZijABIs6v2HXuwd-wg2ek54Mka9bP3_l2N0eDhBXAXyj6Bnu1b-MuEhTKfuu4YwntgrGv2uIREGFlTaSl4TGGmVw_i3c9YyZxEjTJJb71SEKJdYG0VOJcrwdhduG3gLdEuw1fUjx/s1600/IMG_7700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSW1ArZijABIs6v2HXuwd-wg2ek54Mka9bP3_l2N0eDhBXAXyj6Bnu1b-MuEhTKfuu4YwntgrGv2uIREGFlTaSl4TGGmVw_i3c9YyZxEjTJJb71SEKJdYG0VOJcrwdhduG3gLdEuw1fUjx/s640/IMG_7700.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The hull is so low you can dip your hand in the river</b></td></tr>
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</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-20705079548198760662012-02-12T02:36:00.000-08:002012-02-17T22:42:54.924-08:00Weekend In Port Dickson<div style="text-align: center;"><b>The Route Shah Alam - Port Dickson 125 km One Way</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004b3e3fbf985071e562&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=2.761991,101.678467&spn=0.960176,1.167297&z=9&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004b3e3fbf985071e562&ie=UTF8&t=m&vpsrc=6&ll=2.761991,101.678467&spn=0.960176,1.167297&z=9&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">PD Tour</a> in a larger map</small></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
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</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This should be not a hard one. It is within reach of an average cyclist, with or without stamina issues. To those who are first timers in extended ride, start planning to do this stretch as it will boost your confidence in tackling future tours, to the experienced it is a good way to remove the kinks in your system. The total distance from my house in Shah Alam to Port Dickson is 125 kilometers, but it's not the distance that matters. To a cyclist empowering his muscles to move forward, it is profile, profile and profile; as the mantra goes, flat is good hill is bad. What makes this stretch attractive is that until the town of Sepang, for a distance of about 90 kilometers, the road is flat, so flat that even a fixie can handle it. Only after crossing the border into Negeri Sembilan will you find a series of hills to climb, quite an effort to overcome especially after being lulled by the flat ride but nothing dramatic to be a serious challenge if you have the correct gearings. So it is a good mix of long flat with short hills, an ideal combination which would please both the enthusiast and the beginner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Thursday 8th. December</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There are more than one way to get to Banting, the navigation marker, from Shah Alam. The usual way is via the Kesas Highway, which is quite safe as there is a dedicated motor cyclist lane or as I did, through the secondary road passing through Jalan Kebun. Secondary roads are normally called so because they are less busy but also may be narrower. On the morning of my departure, traffic was quite sparse but when they came they came as heavy lorries. I felt very unsafe when overtaken by them as there were only inches to spare. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Reaching the settlement of Jenjarom around 10.00 am after an hour of cycling, rain began to fall and I took shelter in a food stall. It was quite a long wait and I took the opportunity to have my first meal of the day. It was banana pancake with black coffee. The pancake tasted strange and I barely finished it. There were a number of other customers milling around and they were curious about my intended trip, asking questions about my bike and journey, like they were in awe of what I was doing. Oh come on guys, it is only a bike ride, not like I am going to slay a dragon. There were also a few mountain bike cyclists but surprisingly we did not connect, as though we were of unrelated tribes. It could be they were hard on speeches because normally from cyclist to cyclist, we could never have the last words.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The morning rain was monsoonal and it was a two hour wait, passing my time reading the old newspaper. Around 12 noon the rain eased and I restarted my journey. The rain may have eased but he road was water logged and I sloshed through the puddles which were collecting along the edges of the road. Occasionally I got splashed by an overtaking vehicles and sometimes heavy lorries left a blinding spray in their wake. The end result was I was completely soaked by the time I reach Kuala Langat when it began to rain again. This time I stopped at a Mamak stall and while waiting had roti canai and black coffee for lunch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The rain lightened and soon I was cycling again. When the drizzle got too heavy I stopped by the road side shelters. I passed the town of Banting after a short climb over the bridge spanning the Langat river. At Morib there were still light rain falling. The sky was overcast but I had no complain of this weather, I very much prefer being wet to scorching rides under the tropical sun. In a short time around 2.00 pm, I reached Batu Laut where I saw young sailors bringing in their sailing dinghies from the sea. I stopped for a chat with them as I am very much interested in sailing. Once I had a sail boat of my own in Kelantan, a Laser which was a 16 footer I purchased on line from the UK. I had a good time swapping sailing tales with these people. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">By 4.00 pm I reached Bagan Lalang. To get to the settlement, you had to take a detour off the main road for a distance of 6 km. There were a few accommodation available and I made two enquiries but was turned off by the price quoted which to me was surprisingly high for such low quality hotels. I asked for a cheaper hotel and was shown a chalet for RM65.00. I had late lunch of soup and rice with iced which I wolfed down hastily as coming into the last stretch I was beginning to feel the bonk because due to the cool weather I forgot to hydrate myself regularly. There was not much to see here, the man at the counter told me that the day before, 2 cyclists had taken up the rooms on their way north. An international standard chalets over water was the main attraction, asides from that I would not want to get off my route and come here again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Friday 9th. December</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I woke up at 7.00 am after a sound sleep and by 7.30 I was ready to go out again on the road. First item in he morning was to have breakfast of roti canai and coffee at a stall nearby. Morning traffic was negligible and I enjoyed having the road almost all to my self. I cycled past the towns of Sungei Pelek where the road took a turn northerly easterly and as a result I had the morning sun in the face all the way. At Sepang I had the view of overhead aircrafts in their final to Kuala Lumpur International Airports and they were very low, may be not more than 1000 feet high. I stopped on the road side to enjoy the show as I still cannot get over the boyish delight of being close to flying aircrafts. I remember in Kota Bharu, back then in the 1980's, we gathered in the evening at the edge of the run way just to see planes landing and taking off at the Pengkalan Chepa airports. We were so close that sometimes we could wave to the pilots taxing their machines.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Immediately after Sepang the road turned southerly again and now the terrain took a sudden transformation. Where it had been flat since Shah Alam it was now rolling and there were a few climbs and downhills. Some of the climbs were quite stiff but my newly installed triple crank took out all their stings. On one of my free wheeling the downhill I came across a loaded cyclist panting his way up but I knew that his touring bike had more than enough gear ratios to tackle slopes like this. As cyclist to cyclist we thumbed each other up and I was always glad to meet another fellow cyclist on the road. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">By 10.30 am I reached Lukut and took my bike up the hill to the old Lukut Fort, a historical sight. On the way up I saw a jungle hen with her chicken in tow and they surprisingly did not flee even when I was just 10 feet away, but the moment I dismounted they disappeared into the secondary bushes. It reminded me of the National Geography in African Safari where the cameras on the jeeps could get very close the animals. Perhaps it is their instincts that for the past thousands of years, only humans on feet are dangerous predators, if you are on wheel, they are still unable to decipher the danger. I tried to cycle to the top but the path was of loose stones and my thin tyres could not cope and I kept sliding backwards. To reach the top I had to push my bikes. I stopped to take a rest at the hut on top of the hill and absorbed the beautiful scenery surrounding the hill.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Port Dickson was just half an hour ride from Lukut. I cycled into the town and started looking for a place to stay. There was none and I had to cycle back on the main road and 6 km away at 1.00 pm I checked in at PD Motel at Saujana beach It cost RM50.00 with shared toilet and without air conditioning. After a hard day's ride we cyclists are always more than happy to find a bed and shower, never mind the extras that I would expect when not cycling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I took my lunch at the restaurant downstairs and for the rest of the day I hanged around beach across the road. I did not feel very good but I knew that the second day is always the worst point in touring. The body is new to the situation and tries to register as much protest as possible by conspiring with the muscles to exhibit newly found pain and weariness. If you ignore the signs, like a spoilt child denied the attention, they will soon go away quietly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I saw the sun set over the Straits but it was not particularly spectacular because to the west is the giant island of Sumatra and the land mass tends to disturb the atmosphere and together with a lot of low clouds on the horizon the glow and brilliance of the setting sun were not there. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had an early dinner of a strange combination which was tomyam soup and durian and sooner than later, turned to bed trying to get an early sleep, but the room was hot and stuffy. There was not much to do and I chose to lie down in the lounge reading old copies of Reader's Digest, one of the worst magazine ever published even if it was an item that had once fascinated me in my younger days. True enough they were so boring that I quickly turned drowsy and in spite if the heat dozed of on the sofa.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Saturday 10th. December</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It was still dark at 6.30 am when I left the motel to return home. Safety lights were turned on to make my presence on the road visible to other road users. The town was still asleep and the roads still quiet. By 7.30am it had fully awakened and by then I was already at Lukut for a short stop for breakfast of roti canai and iced milo. Next it was into the climb of Bukit Pelanduk and by 8.30 am I reached the town of Sepang and stopped for a five minute rest at a bus stop. Then came the flat rides again and after 2 hours of non stop pedaling in the cool morning sun I reached Morib at 10.30 am. For unknown reasons I became sleepy and had a short nap on the beach preceded by 2 glasses of fresh orange juice. One hour later I woke up feeling refreshened and continued the journey until by 12.30 pm at Banting I started feeling hungry and stopped at an Indian restaurant for a meal of briyani rice. The meal made me felt heavy and to lighten I stopped at Teluk Panglima Garang for something bubbly and invigorating. By 2.30 pm with the afternoon sun burning overhead I reached home.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Well the coming back was just a reverse version of the going out and was therefore less exciting, so there was not much to report. Anyway I hope by now I have touched your inner desire to start a plan of weekend cycling and the next thing to do is pack and just go.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Road repair in Jalan Kebun</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqs7uu5GMNCa37WFQZZx00jQ6HSjxJxXYIT0q8a1rrd5o19F1uhTFJjh4aShTSi9cA8Wpwsws-WAD1wJNnbD0g_CR2_Qr4RmhbOsXB4DL0oSyNUPUVPjmg2xmhJFRZfrOqaqKlSne3UZ5/s1600/IMG_7113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqs7uu5GMNCa37WFQZZx00jQ6HSjxJxXYIT0q8a1rrd5o19F1uhTFJjh4aShTSi9cA8Wpwsws-WAD1wJNnbD0g_CR2_Qr4RmhbOsXB4DL0oSyNUPUVPjmg2xmhJFRZfrOqaqKlSne3UZ5/s320/IMG_7113.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Ripening Rambutans beside a road</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8pUonXK2cuIaTNzdOjRUNki8C1rr2Hjy36WDqvW40NrErO1YzFL9o6x0hv1Ts-W_MRo3TCgvE8R3m51xo_y0fIyR89wdOQEMwY4TnTYHNRaEoMzSIXbkBLs6OeynouoxyazSABiTSKmR/s1600/IMG_7114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm8pUonXK2cuIaTNzdOjRUNki8C1rr2Hjy36WDqvW40NrErO1YzFL9o6x0hv1Ts-W_MRo3TCgvE8R3m51xo_y0fIyR89wdOQEMwY4TnTYHNRaEoMzSIXbkBLs6OeynouoxyazSABiTSKmR/s320/IMG_7114.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Dead Palm Oil Tree</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjRPZG3jfw_9rqeLDgrRoPky20Sk1ckP-Rlsr8lSoYU2xO6Y-Hzel0qY5VsqKlpypFyB3TnLc9QaHnNhITn17_ulsNU4Ye0ec1_EidRZhb_hSIq7V-pKDhKKoAWcQ55MQhJq2gzL-4i7I/s1600/IMG_7115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjRPZG3jfw_9rqeLDgrRoPky20Sk1ckP-Rlsr8lSoYU2xO6Y-Hzel0qY5VsqKlpypFyB3TnLc9QaHnNhITn17_ulsNU4Ye0ec1_EidRZhb_hSIq7V-pKDhKKoAWcQ55MQhJq2gzL-4i7I/s320/IMG_7115.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I meet this Javanese at the stop in Jenjarom</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsr9UlkjcZHQvXoznAN0jQJ57eVpYJoU_PzsO0PcBjIQ2wQ1rB-pbwbJYSbliNcUWPX1DhBpmOjFx8ZqdJMJWBtAbeO9ztd1lurawCDSiJcg-meHfNWtC658py9JbKEqoMWZvN3PBmorqw/s1600/IMG_7116.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsr9UlkjcZHQvXoznAN0jQJ57eVpYJoU_PzsO0PcBjIQ2wQ1rB-pbwbJYSbliNcUWPX1DhBpmOjFx8ZqdJMJWBtAbeO9ztd1lurawCDSiJcg-meHfNWtC658py9JbKEqoMWZvN3PBmorqw/s320/IMG_7116.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A public reminder "women is the root of evil" in the town of Kuala Langat</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_XIDB11dMD6DhkLyoH6Wi8Z9KkFnXpsa9VLegNLBl-P4cdErN9kkNxuuQNx2iBEGbu4tkPtNqgHgregwE7mgHB9OHlUoZpDwShbnArko5GjHxN2dEDkyzSxpN18ocwPg7Hkyq8QRE9pt/s1600/IMG_7117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7_XIDB11dMD6DhkLyoH6Wi8Z9KkFnXpsa9VLegNLBl-P4cdErN9kkNxuuQNx2iBEGbu4tkPtNqgHgregwE7mgHB9OHlUoZpDwShbnArko5GjHxN2dEDkyzSxpN18ocwPg7Hkyq8QRE9pt/s320/IMG_7117.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cows vying for traffic space near Tanjong Sepat</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajitzqQLBlA6YafSNDWjoMy4OtpbU6F99KMPEHiUYXSLgxjAd1LIghiQMZaimo6mRxBpWTI5ZiDxpWu2KDNoK1rilJf6SA54oPv6OOmC37YC4vbi7ld9hf4eZcb2Z1El0R3zT1tHEcC0k/s1600/IMG_7118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgajitzqQLBlA6YafSNDWjoMy4OtpbU6F99KMPEHiUYXSLgxjAd1LIghiQMZaimo6mRxBpWTI5ZiDxpWu2KDNoK1rilJf6SA54oPv6OOmC37YC4vbi7ld9hf4eZcb2Z1El0R3zT1tHEcC0k/s320/IMG_7118.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sailors in Batu Laut</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH8szIHLX8dgMgmly06eaarIuv63zP2xYCTi4JYpMf7XBawNFjvCo90hwRFqkgu0XoadidS2PJx7g-DCGy7HuayBCtOFXcIDSMDq99QePoruOp3ohjk-QZEDWqWYHxe3L8dfepNByTANh/s1600/IMG_7119.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH8szIHLX8dgMgmly06eaarIuv63zP2xYCTi4JYpMf7XBawNFjvCo90hwRFqkgu0XoadidS2PJx7g-DCGy7HuayBCtOFXcIDSMDq99QePoruOp3ohjk-QZEDWqWYHxe3L8dfepNByTANh/s320/IMG_7119.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Look at the straight and flat road, with a motor cyclist lane to boot.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVYiVx02aMMowO3iO31K_D5sDWV87P_hbzHMI0GLFcVEOsM8zsYOPUiWALStYtZoLlJQCxt9E9xUanPUsGFPjBrjQ109TldwPhFp3zc7se9G8mjH81ewWfW4lo_dOKxszCpz2aqD17fAT/s1600/IMG_7120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeVYiVx02aMMowO3iO31K_D5sDWV87P_hbzHMI0GLFcVEOsM8zsYOPUiWALStYtZoLlJQCxt9E9xUanPUsGFPjBrjQ109TldwPhFp3zc7se9G8mjH81ewWfW4lo_dOKxszCpz2aqD17fAT/s320/IMG_7120.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Cattle country</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX27eMkpm1QSvfvrToGnZLy8_FCno6jqkR7qo_MbmL34gFk_Xv7QVuImwxMiBDQ3iGTsMUKbPoN1rxEds5cH9K3YWWguxgNWUOmy0x5ATYhcjZFV8v195KeNbwIPelHAEBc8R2eqCCxxj5/s1600/IMG_7121.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX27eMkpm1QSvfvrToGnZLy8_FCno6jqkR7qo_MbmL34gFk_Xv7QVuImwxMiBDQ3iGTsMUKbPoN1rxEds5cH9K3YWWguxgNWUOmy0x5ATYhcjZFV8v195KeNbwIPelHAEBc8R2eqCCxxj5/s320/IMG_7121.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Road kill, this is a dead owl. A pity</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnEiBagpBNSiIA3vBTW3uWHVrTQQifMkgKrGKUQY01lvDT4OMqTODu1mqKIRaRR1-368HvvQihVbsuJ3r5V6jTFu-7eHBWYNCnDlfYs9gZHjG7nr8u1O4NcZa0YOzcaW4tg4aMDdZRqAN/s1600/IMG_7122.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnEiBagpBNSiIA3vBTW3uWHVrTQQifMkgKrGKUQY01lvDT4OMqTODu1mqKIRaRR1-368HvvQihVbsuJ3r5V6jTFu-7eHBWYNCnDlfYs9gZHjG7nr8u1O4NcZa0YOzcaW4tg4aMDdZRqAN/s320/IMG_7122.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My chalet in Bagan Lalang</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfzIAX8sGvblF6LFEZ7px7aEdN0310KFvAB5rRh9B07T_L-SkuQo1CXmEa5flljpkvN8l2bExS6nKeH-su8GHh8ZBY8hR0JxC97prh70wooGAuq18yyRwTKsYbuV7R4BswwxTGqWHqwiA/s1600/IMG_7123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPfzIAX8sGvblF6LFEZ7px7aEdN0310KFvAB5rRh9B07T_L-SkuQo1CXmEa5flljpkvN8l2bExS6nKeH-su8GHh8ZBY8hR0JxC97prh70wooGAuq18yyRwTKsYbuV7R4BswwxTGqWHqwiA/s320/IMG_7123.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The chalets on the sea at Bagan Lalang</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7PzgejGcjbXv2TuaLnJEPUTiOVW79N8a8a8YLNQ7NKM7cg28rjEduk0Wk9k_YDLSfy_x8IpF6FwomoNfCYw82JuAWLOR-wYHCTg1fuOPQKAmSMK92lMwOoJgvt2AZzkno4wKmvtCOYF2/s1600/IMG_7124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7PzgejGcjbXv2TuaLnJEPUTiOVW79N8a8a8YLNQ7NKM7cg28rjEduk0Wk9k_YDLSfy_x8IpF6FwomoNfCYw82JuAWLOR-wYHCTg1fuOPQKAmSMK92lMwOoJgvt2AZzkno4wKmvtCOYF2/s320/IMG_7124.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My break fast stall in Bagan Lalang</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kWahWTHxj5cCMHV0CWCXia0ucMTkpQo2N89_BM1laH30YhTM5ZHRcCdmMwGBkePLheAiRs9WW4uC20Ml0v1vPhs6tj-gO6txHAOQd3OXZZi94SwvrdW0W6w6SYZl8szb1tNDIXGaeLS8/s1600/IMG_7125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5kWahWTHxj5cCMHV0CWCXia0ucMTkpQo2N89_BM1laH30YhTM5ZHRcCdmMwGBkePLheAiRs9WW4uC20Ml0v1vPhs6tj-gO6txHAOQd3OXZZi94SwvrdW0W6w6SYZl8szb1tNDIXGaeLS8/s320/IMG_7125.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bricks stacked ready for sale</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75_3Vh6JjdzdVFfl9h1nWCwTx4HwwtHiI_Kn10HvbA26-twyB6fZMMbXw4wLk6vZ9K9hAFWT0Ef7J0lh3cUFBbeQu_1Po0M27r_cytHWTVCFf1YqfkE_ZnfVFShjX8AW3gWKp_OUH75ol/s1600/IMG_7126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh75_3Vh6JjdzdVFfl9h1nWCwTx4HwwtHiI_Kn10HvbA26-twyB6fZMMbXw4wLk6vZ9K9hAFWT0Ef7J0lh3cUFBbeQu_1Po0M27r_cytHWTVCFf1YqfkE_ZnfVFShjX8AW3gWKp_OUH75ol/s320/IMG_7126.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Into the final over Sepang</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksMzJ5oHhSdRKjIVZn12PiE_CZarr2ibz4iPGjPRvXkylIABJBHOeDRdMHXMxYJz7x4vLWR7nkXzlsppvUoePy2XZahmAqlX86HQtNJSZ0-AlWN1c8Ye4RUx6NWDj7Iio1gNQnurTPI0b/s1600/IMG_7127.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgksMzJ5oHhSdRKjIVZn12PiE_CZarr2ibz4iPGjPRvXkylIABJBHOeDRdMHXMxYJz7x4vLWR7nkXzlsppvUoePy2XZahmAqlX86HQtNJSZ0-AlWN1c8Ye4RUx6NWDj7Iio1gNQnurTPI0b/s320/IMG_7127.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Lukut police station</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCbpKxyoAqRYTcdiau2ORAPrAyxa1os8cyUNJwmq21pRCT9GVbSsEHbHHhKcFJ6vu-g94gt0Ow4hap3I8M2Z1YDNcpTeflc58wm9uQcg8wFOQgXAlZBMp8k5E5ZvkVZOV2vZZaA6wh1vY/s1600/IMG_7131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCbpKxyoAqRYTcdiau2ORAPrAyxa1os8cyUNJwmq21pRCT9GVbSsEHbHHhKcFJ6vu-g94gt0Ow4hap3I8M2Z1YDNcpTeflc58wm9uQcg8wFOQgXAlZBMp8k5E5ZvkVZOV2vZZaA6wh1vY/s320/IMG_7131.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My bike resting at the top of the Lukut Fort</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>View from the Lukut Fort of the surrounding country side</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HVjwAeBkJ96jy8jU-nr5j8BRb5ZrDDEQiLNCN-WeeG7KmwGxAchogafcSaWSTLefZtwN58eE4qI5SJFS33HxFJ8BoeQuZgOZgNYkRlEt9BvLrdu9rkjEKmqfi9HVDBzyKmbIdeBGkKWl/s1600/IMG_7133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HVjwAeBkJ96jy8jU-nr5j8BRb5ZrDDEQiLNCN-WeeG7KmwGxAchogafcSaWSTLefZtwN58eE4qI5SJFS33HxFJ8BoeQuZgOZgNYkRlEt9BvLrdu9rkjEKmqfi9HVDBzyKmbIdeBGkKWl/s320/IMG_7133.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sepang town at 8.00 am</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDaE-lIJJJTDeEX8-yGP4WNlOOvaZ3neBdTQUs2fdPHrZqEWv8vnoWxRhMbUffdeTVPMeXGFLgtKHC7PY7MpvUKAQmW5CvTSef12_ar28PlP3w1fUnxAED2IxS5UWuxop80T7Upq8ygMJ/s1600/IMG_7134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQDaE-lIJJJTDeEX8-yGP4WNlOOvaZ3neBdTQUs2fdPHrZqEWv8vnoWxRhMbUffdeTVPMeXGFLgtKHC7PY7MpvUKAQmW5CvTSef12_ar28PlP3w1fUnxAED2IxS5UWuxop80T7Upq8ygMJ/s320/IMG_7134.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Morib Beach</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-82850468780351644792012-01-14T17:52:00.000-08:002012-01-14T17:52:12.334-08:00Dahon Folding Bike<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">On a whim, with touring on my mind, I made a purchase of a folding bike on line from a web site. It is a Dahon and I paid RM1, 300.00 for it, hoping that one day I will fix a cargo rack and add the panniers and take it with me to a foreign city as my company and transport. For the moment the plan is postponed and in the mean time I take the bike for a spin on the beach of Morib. I think I like the striking red more than the ride.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H6YtkGgeWnHFD360vcGr4VQFdswhNfUbMbC04o5rcoQS-ZEBOw6OtZJRlqihQvWJev5r_nsUn_T5ICLGj6mIoYNvgjw3hyphenhyphenKnJXXcxC4UKi-EXyo_aS4FxqpdS890WgMkvUOsmduVHL9W/s1600/IMG_5970.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_H6YtkGgeWnHFD360vcGr4VQFdswhNfUbMbC04o5rcoQS-ZEBOw6OtZJRlqihQvWJev5r_nsUn_T5ICLGj6mIoYNvgjw3hyphenhyphenKnJXXcxC4UKi-EXyo_aS4FxqpdS890WgMkvUOsmduVHL9W/s320/IMG_5970.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-78414048129208824232012-01-02T01:34:00.000-08:002012-01-02T01:34:29.227-08:00Another Jack<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Pottering around the beautiful beaches of Bachok I came across Jack a solo cyclist who had been on the road for quite sometimes, so long that he had acquired the mean and tanned look with not an ounce of fat around his belly. I envy his cycling philosophy of not rushing but taking things in long easy strides, if he thinks something caught his fancy he would stay put as long as he likes. Tomorrow, there is no target to be reached. This is how he ends up taking a beach chalet here for the past one month.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">When he is on the road he pulls a yellow trailer in replacement of panniers, which is quite a drag as I found out. His bike is not the fancy type but a very ordinary one which he bought in Thailand for only RM650.00, a price for the middling model which goes to prove a point that its not what you ride but what is riding you that decides whether you are merely a fair weather rider or that you belong to the cycling Nirvana. Go Jack, go.</div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The eye catching yellow trailer</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Jack and his bike</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODkyQZorcNuUFuJWImU8b1Sf4wr0Dl3I75A4bJ-6wYn0pSjR_5ve8ui9tMoqVHoiXZlZE1Q566WTInR6enRjn59TjsXP-jCuxIfqTgvfakfs32QlJRbJP842GwpzaprmCLY7gr50WLdV1/s1600/IMG_5801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODkyQZorcNuUFuJWImU8b1Sf4wr0Dl3I75A4bJ-6wYn0pSjR_5ve8ui9tMoqVHoiXZlZE1Q566WTInR6enRjn59TjsXP-jCuxIfqTgvfakfs32QlJRbJP842GwpzaprmCLY7gr50WLdV1/s320/IMG_5801.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I saw this antique at a petrol station.</b></td></tr>
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</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-2308659761070326812011-12-01T01:32:00.000-08:002011-12-19T05:12:57.584-08:00Strange Journeys<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">There used to be certain countries that do not welcome tourists. One is reminded of the former Soviet Union, North Korea and Communist China. Soviet Union is now history and we now hear people are trickling in slowly to see the sights of Moscow and Leningrad. China has opened up and is trying hard to catch up for the lost time. North Korea remain closed, although there are selected few lucky enough to get inside the country, but large scale tourism is still unknown.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Saudi Arabia is somewhere between the two extremes - there are countless umrah agents who at the drop of your hat would whisk you to the holy lands for the purposes of fulfilling the rites of the pilgrimages. You would be herded in a group and taken under escort to the two holy places, Medina and Makkah and nowhere else as the conditions of your visa strictly confine you to these cities. On the other hand the Arabian peninsula is a huge place with ancient histories and there are other areas one wishes to see and experience but unfortunately unlike other Middle Eastern countries which would grant a visitor a visa on arrival for a small fee, a visa need to be applied for before flying in and they are very selective in granting one, like no unchaperoned female is allowed and non Muslim are prohibited unless on business or working purpose.<br />
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I was therefore understandably excited when the umrah package I had booked for, included visits to two places that had never been seen by pilgrims from our country, that is, Al - Ula which is an ancient settlement is north of Medina and Taif a hill country east of Makkah, also full of historical background. It must be borne in mind that history in Saudi Arabia is treated differently compared to other countries. There is a plethora of archaeological sites dotting the country, but tragically the current authorities are trying their best to erase all the records as according to their belief, the only matters that counts in this life are the words of God and the Prophet. What before the prophet came was <i>Jahiliah</i> ( time of ignorance ) which is not worth preserving and what after was <i>Bidaah</i> ( unlawful innovations ) and should not be allowed to remain. With this simplistic view, when the Saud came to power after WW 1, all the man made structures that had existed and had been object of veneration such as tombs, mosques, dwellings and cemeteries were ordered to be leveled. Most of all they were hostile to tombs and graveyards. With a single swoop the famous Baqi' cemetery in Medina, where the wives of the prophet and his <i>Sahabats </i>were buried and Maala in Makkah the resting place of Khadija were transformed into empty lots with all the markings on the graves obliterated. The Saud have only been in power for less than 100 years, but already many aspects of Arabian history, thousands of years old, are now gone forever. In the name of the desire to return to the religion of Islam to its purest form, the old architecture of the desert is irrevocably displaced to make way for a stark and bleak landscape. Even today we are hear the Prophet's tomb in Medina is not to be spared in their grand plan of purifying the land from contamination of irreligious edifice which in their minds are but obstacles in <b><i>the steep and thorny way to heaven</i></b>.<br />
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When we started early in the morning from Madinah, a number of pilgrims from our group declined to board the bus. Surprisingly there were people who were not curious of discovering what the journey could offer, instead they were concerned that their stay in the holy city would not harvest enough credits for their use in the after life. Communal prayers and supplications in the Prophet's Mosque were promised with bonuses and extra points. "<i>Rugi</i>" they said while shaking their heads at us meaning not profitable, as though heavens were for those with astute business sense.<br />
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When we arrived at Al Ula, astride an ancient trade route from Southern Arabia to Syria, we were met by Muhammad, an Arab tourist guide who informed us in his quaint heavily accented English that the "<i>bibel of Betra had berished brior to the bresent bobulation who came late</i>r". Substitute the "b" with the "p" and you will break the code to understand the sentence. Well on the comical side he reminded me of John Malkovich as Pascal Sauvage in Johnny English with his French accent. Surrounding the town we saw remnants of ancient dwellings and in the nearby oasis were date plantation which had been cultivated and had existed continuously for thousands of years.<br />
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We were bussed to the to an interesting geological site. Here we took photos of the red sandstone mountain carved by winds resulting in fantastic shapes, one resembled the head of an elephant and the place was called as such.<br />
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Next was the tombstones of Nabatean. The place was once inhabited by the people of the same name and they had left behind structures carved into the soft rocks which remain standing until today. It is a famous archaeological remains and had been given recognition as one of UNESCO's heritage site. It is also a place where God sent down destruction on the people of Thamud, as mentioned in the holy Koran for their cruelty to a female camel. The story is that after disobeying a prophet by ham stringing a camel, the whole community was punished by the <i>earth shaking and crumbling </i>leaving every one dead. Call it an over reaction by God, even how much the SPCA would have approved of it. Now we know that earthquakes are not caused by divine displeasures over man's actions but are just one of the many natural events that shape our earth and had preceded man and will remain in activity, long after man is gone.<br />
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We also had our ustaz on board with us who guided us with supplications on starting of a journey, on reaching a new place and also a commentary on the place from an Islamic history point of view. It was said the Prophet once stopped here on the way to battle in the north. He did not like the place very much and urged his followers to clear away as soon as possible, like there was evil harbinger enveloping the area. It was to be avoided although there was no clear reason to do so and since the Prophet had expressed his dislike we too were asked to do the same. But the evening air was refreshing, the sand felt cool in between my toes, the night sky was sparkling and the meals provided at the hotel was fantastic, that I could not hold any grudge against this poor town. I conclude that the story must had been apocryphal.<br />
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</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Medina to Al Ula, about 400 km</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vpsrc=6&ctz=-480&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004afa2b282cac13b4a7&t=m&ll=25.5127,38.770752&spn=3.469858,4.669189&z=7&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vpsrc=6&ctz=-480&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004afa2b282cac13b4a7&t=m&ll=25.5127,38.770752&spn=3.469858,4.669189&z=7&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Medina</a> in a larger map</small></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VE_q8VsB0ofqQGiHMOA3Bf0jZ6uwk9VXoeKqWaJ9y7hWkmOHKtcbLuBqRVr4YiwhJhlsoYbCkhpSSxx_Yx888u6iQ6UE5WXj4KR4GP3lbrrpY4HBma0oOq9gdqBWyWWfCitqOiVWez68/s1600/IMG_9312.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2VE_q8VsB0ofqQGiHMOA3Bf0jZ6uwk9VXoeKqWaJ9y7hWkmOHKtcbLuBqRVr4YiwhJhlsoYbCkhpSSxx_Yx888u6iQ6UE5WXj4KR4GP3lbrrpY4HBma0oOq9gdqBWyWWfCitqOiVWez68/s320/IMG_9312.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>On the way to Al Ula, volcanic rocks dominates</b>..</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...which soon changes to red coloured softer sandstone</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIASKOznqe4yb4W4ozPvirshZtb6ElC7c0G_26JMkhJVpJE76UI0OG5GYXj2WeyTVo0PID3KgJURMpoNXhM4juL0RkPu_hCNNIuSzcM3qfCWCBw_FJLJUxEQFaGCEo65u0eWr4B753rda/s1600/IMG_9383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIASKOznqe4yb4W4ozPvirshZtb6ElC7c0G_26JMkhJVpJE76UI0OG5GYXj2WeyTVo0PID3KgJURMpoNXhM4juL0RkPu_hCNNIuSzcM3qfCWCBw_FJLJUxEQFaGCEo65u0eWr4B753rda/s320/IMG_9383.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fantastic shape like an elephant head and trunk carved by wind</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The ancient date groves in the valley of the red mountain</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>An ancient settlement which still survives and under rehabilitation.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h2HdTYMkmP5p6PZ7iKhT6FqzIbCSKN0o3s6-T9XScxObjXy6vwfnqgGWE9f0PHM9Y-dyD_I5ca69DDuItOQnln00ZAX4T9mzCOuRhTb8f2u0znf8EAiomzJUgw2nC8_NLU8o_a3hyphenhyphen4HC/s1600/IMG_9443.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8h2HdTYMkmP5p6PZ7iKhT6FqzIbCSKN0o3s6-T9XScxObjXy6vwfnqgGWE9f0PHM9Y-dyD_I5ca69DDuItOQnln00ZAX4T9mzCOuRhTb8f2u0znf8EAiomzJUgw2nC8_NLU8o_a3hyphenhyphen4HC/s320/IMG_9443.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A swimming pool which is empty of water, the plan would have been made outside Arabia. Desert people are not natural swimmers due to the lack of a large body of water to swim , hence the apathy in the pool maintenance.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyY3veMHXMA706ZeICeDuLi7Q-ic-dQXdO5ulpvEtk_NeUd_0Tu4U4Y0cc1_INab3adDZRwcO6ZEbe6DEmbpPRyp9gg246Ua-62qNFQ6-ZFUWNKNjSA9AunXKBXGprAz3P1CQMsGAbTUw/s1600/IMG_9455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCyY3veMHXMA706ZeICeDuLi7Q-ic-dQXdO5ulpvEtk_NeUd_0Tu4U4Y0cc1_INab3adDZRwcO6ZEbe6DEmbpPRyp9gg246Ua-62qNFQ6-ZFUWNKNjSA9AunXKBXGprAz3P1CQMsGAbTUw/s320/IMG_9455.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The tomb of the Thamud people</b></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Taif</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">The<b> </b>first time I came across Taif was when reading the elementary <i>Sirrah</i> of the Prophet. It was a place the Prophet went to during his first part of the Dakwah ( before the <i>Hegira</i> to Medina ) to spread the words of Islam. He was not welcomed, in fact was chased and hounded by the inhabitants and during the flight to escape, he rested near an orchard and a slave boy by the name of Addas offered him fresh grapes to eat. Obviously there must had been vine yards in the vicinity to produce the fruits, although there are no more traces of them left today to be seen. It was proof that the place was fertile and well watered unlike the stony desert of Makkah and as such vineyards were able to thrive. Today there is not much orchards left although the climate is still agreeable as we found out when we encountered misty and cool weather when we first arrived after traveling for more than 100 km from the Holy City. Taif is in the highland and we had to climb through the brand new mountain highway to reach the place.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">There was not much to see in Taif. Asides from the religious historical back ground there remained nothing worthwhile, except may be the museum where we were taken to for a short tour and a memorable Arabic style lunch. There were no old buildings to capture on cameras, no archaeological sites to explore, only newly built mosques to pray in and even that the toilets were unbearably stinking. A short stay was sufficient, if it was just to tell that we had been to any where outside Mekkah and after a three hour journey we were back in the hot lowlands. It had been an unsatisfactory trip as Taif was a strategic fort and a summer retreat of the Ottoman Turks when the empire was once in control of the holy sites of Mekah and Medinah before they were over thrown by the Sauds. I had expected to see some of their relics as I had seen in Istanbul, their capital, but there was none to see in Taif as they had all been demolished and eagerly forgotten.</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Makkah to Taif, about 100 km</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vpsrc=6&ctz=-480&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004afa324008b00b6809&t=m&ll=21.340548,40.111084&spn=1.79072,2.334595&z=8&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Makkah - Taif</a> in a larger map</small></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Old Beetle in the museum</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Baboon frolicking in the sparse vegetation</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stark landscape which is almost surreal</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>One of the non religious attraction of Makah is the food, huge freshly baked rotis dipped in mutton curry with hairs and hooves of goats visibly swimming in the gravy</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Triplets, very cute and sadly abused for begging</b></td></tr>
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</small></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-25121769862327437702011-11-27T23:03:00.000-08:002011-11-29T17:35:28.947-08:00Miqdad The Bald<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHJOCfNiusy1lkVeJNsgC5lJZ2fWldYeRoM7GG2BLQYENTqzaDmaLNzYLBukshtbokpq8rneHmEwSofd4xzoqlpM8IFvDpKRzJ7vNjuf3vqpv8V77Vsh3G4oOYJuLaKjVnBKBLvj9YhtT/s1600/IMG_5856.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOHJOCfNiusy1lkVeJNsgC5lJZ2fWldYeRoM7GG2BLQYENTqzaDmaLNzYLBukshtbokpq8rneHmEwSofd4xzoqlpM8IFvDpKRzJ7vNjuf3vqpv8V77Vsh3G4oOYJuLaKjVnBKBLvj9YhtT/s320/IMG_5856.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Well, well, another addition to the collection of grand children, this time another charming baldy. Meet the apple of the grandpa's eye and small brother to Qisya, Miqdad Ammar Mokhtar who came in a bit too early at 35 weeks, causing a mad and anxious rush to the maternity hospital and some apprehension waiting by the incubator room until he was strong enough to be touched and fussed by family members.</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-17387586877289478712011-11-14T23:17:00.000-08:002011-11-25T08:13:29.513-08:00Mr. Yusof, The Calligraphy Artist<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">It is the season of rain. It rains every day and the afternoon ride that I used to enjoy is now shelved temporarily. It got so bad that one day when I saw a window of sunshine opening up I took out my bike for a spin along the KESAS Highway from Kemuning to Bukit Jalil but was caught in a storm that was fearful and threatening to my safety. It first started to drizzle steadily after the Puchong Junction and I took shelter under an under pass. But I thought it was not the way to spend a cycling afternoon cooped in a narrow space, so I braved the rain and continued the cycling. At Bukit Jalil I made a U turn towards home and on reaching the Summit Junction all hell broke loose. It was the mother of all thunderstorm. As it was getting dark I did not stop but instead sloshed through the deluge and the wind. Needless to say getting soaked to the skin was an under statement. I learnt the lesson and the days following were spent on the static cycling on the trainer below. It is my saviour during this uncertain inclement weather, finding a rain free afternoon is now rare, and the next best option is cycling in one place under a roof. </div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>My trainer</b><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It was during one rainy afternoon that I found my self at the PKNS Shah Alam and meeting with Hj Yusof a Hui Chinese, who was an artist in Islamic calligraphy. For a small price you can have one of his creation, done right in front of you, which you can frame and hang as decoration in your house. An added attraction was that the calligraphy was done in Chinese style, something you don't find common in this country. I would shamelessly promote this man and his art and urge those who are able, to patronise his works and support his effort by bringing home his art to your living room.</span></div></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Hj Yusof in his studio</b></td></tr>
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</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-58344827848871242302011-10-21T05:25:00.000-07:002011-10-27T08:40:52.820-07:00Slaloming Down Hill From The Gap<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Starting from Kuala Kubu Bharu at 7.45.am. The town is at the foot hill of the mountain, and has just woken up when we arrive. This is where we park our car. We have light breakfast at a Mamak restaurant nearby and cycle down hill to meet the main road which gradually rises for the next 5 km. We meet joggers who are already on the way back to the town after an uphill jog.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The dam in view in the distance. The climb to the dam, a huge man made structure, from km 5 is the first serious test of climbing and is a stiff challenge to the fitness. If you can make to the top without dismounting, you do have the minimum fitness to carry you to the summit of Fraser's Hill.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>After this bridge, will be the start of the climb to the dam. It is through a road carved on the mountain slopes and the gradient is not made to please your average cyclists. Past the dam the contour climb starts at km 11. Roads following the contours are friendly to the environment, less cuts are made on the slopes since the giant machineries were still to come. Consequently, the gradients are not taxing and we are closer to nature but the trade of is the winding and narrow road, which to a motorist in a hurry, is an ancient curse that slows down travel time.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We stop for natural refill of our water bottles</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Historical site, where the British High Commissioner was assassinated in 1951. This is at km 31. The sign is too cheap and easily overlooked for such a historical event. The murder, or elimination of an enemy, depending on which side you are looking from, is a watershed event that determined the future of British Malaya. If Chin Peng had won, I would be writing this blog in Mandarin characters.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Gap is at km 33 and is reached at 10.00 am after 2 1/2 hours of cycling. There is a small kiosk where we rest and have carbonated sugared drink to replenish the body from the lost calories.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We pass the climb to the top of Fraser's Hill which is 8 steep km away as rain clouds are gathering and we want to avoid the cold mountain rain. I had done this stretch before at 1 hour 15 min, Mirza had done it in 40 minutes though I know good cyclists who raced through in just 30 minutes.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Coming fast downhill</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Right turn....</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>.....Left turn</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Easy on the corner</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A climb into the dam area</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Keep climbing...</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>...and we are home on the flat.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-11283565484927697502011-10-01T18:35:00.000-07:002011-10-04T07:19:50.987-07:00Perth, My Old Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">"Morals are paintings on the wall and scruples are money they use in Russia"- Sabrina speaking of Linus in "Sabrina"</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Perth and I, we had been acquaintance for a long time, ever since I was a twelve year old in Sultan Ismail Primary School, Kota Bharu, Kelantan in the mid sixties. The headmaster was Mr. Durbara Singh, Class teacher Mr. Mohd Ali and English teacher Mr. Sarjit Singh. The head boy was Awis Pedik and the deputy Chan Boon Hoi. In the class I sat next to Zulkafli who splashed his ink on my white shirt and I then sat next to Bakri and together, we spent all our time drawing combat figures. One day, during English class, the teacher announced we were going to have pen pal from overseas, this one from Australia. Letters from school children of the same age in Perth were randomly distributed and I ended with one from Alan Plester who lived in Mount Pleasant. I remember writing to and receiving a few letters from this pal and I think it ended due to my inability to finance the purchase of postage stamps, which then was too expensive for me, and took a lot out of my pocket money. Even though the correspondence stopped, the names of the boy and the city were etched and stayed in my mind until today. This is a part of the childhood memories that lurk below the surface of our consciousness and that can be retrieved at will. Another event that I could easily recall was the Kennedy assassination. One early morning after I had just woken up, in our rented house in in a small kampong in Jelawat, Bachok, my father asked me who the President of America was, and I proudly displayed my knowledge to impress, saying "President Kennedy" and next I heard from him was, "Son, he had been shot and died" or something to that effect. I could not remember my reaction, I was too small to be horrified by the killing, but the substance of this early morning conversation was already permanently imprinted in my filing system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This trip to Perth was to translate the dream stuff into reality. It had been done in my virtual world and now I had to know whether this Perth was something that could be touched and sensed, whether the building up was equal to the punch line. Applying for visitors' visa was easy as it could be done on line. There were frequent flights between Kuala Lumpur and Perth, both on the low cost and normal carriers and one fine afternoon, after a five hour flight I arrived at the Perth international airport. No adjustment in time was necessary as Perth and Malaysia were on the same clock, though it felt strange because normally after flying for such a duration a traveller would had been transported into a different time zone. We were forewarned of the prohibition of importing food stuff into Australia, and so it was an anti climax when we were let through the custom and immigration without any questions, although we were innocent of any wrong doing for having any of the proscribed items. I liked this laid back approach and wished it could be practiced in other airports such as Heathrow where even a senior citizen such as I, was treated like a potential overstayer. I always disliked the manners of the immigration guy, for instance, double checking me in a suspicious tone whether the owner of the apartment which I had booked for my stay, would be staying together, as though I would be squatting in a rent free place while waiting to disappear in the country for good. Come on guys, give an old man some slack, no sane person wants to start life in a cold and strange place at fifty plus.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>PERTH</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">I had been to a few airports before and I had taken it for granted luggage trolleys were part of the service that were due when we paid the airport tax. Admittedly there were airport liked in Bali where we had to be smart to get one of the scarce trolleys but we never expected to pay for the use as in Perth. Carrefour supermarkets would at least gave refunds if the trolley was returned. Here it was slotting the coins, and lots of them, and not seeing them again. However I was tipped to get the trolleys that were lying around without any claims over them and I was happy to score one against this rip off.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Next surprise was the cash machine did not cough out the local notes that I wanted. This was a bit of a bother as I had intended to rely on these machines for my supply of cash. Later on I made the phone call to my banker and the matter was immediately resolved. It was just a security precaution as I had not informed them about my use of the card in Australia. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Going to the city from the airport was a breeze. We purchased the transfer tickets for the bus ride to the city and even though it was a bus, we had sort of taxi service when we were dropped right in front of our apartment. For money value, and if you are willing to wait for the hourly schedule, I would say it was worth the price. It was evening when we settled down and feeling peckish we walked to the town center and surprise surprise, found a food court where I had beriyani rice, which I graded an an "F" as it was gruel impersonating as a gourmet meal. But I should not be too critical. If I were in Australia, I should be sampling Australian food not Indian. So for the remainder of the stay we threw away the self imposed diet restrictions and opened ourselves to the grandeur of Aussie culinary delights. No, I did not indulge in the <i>harams</i>. I just allowed fish to my list of vegetarian diet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Perth in spring was beautiful. The weather was balmy and we took long walks without feeling washed out. There were many cyclists moving around, they took their rides very seriously, in fact too seriously, and they looked frighteningly like cyclists in a grand tour time trial. In Perth, I saw riders all wearing helmets with proper cycling attires, riding expensive road bikes, and gritting their teeth, looking like giving the maximum efforts. Nobody was cycling for fun or pleasure, every body was trying to squeeze the most out of this activity. It was like hammering and blowing away at full speed ahead with heads down. After this, I was not surprised Cadel Evans was Australian. There were exception though, in places like Freemantle train stations where cheap bikes are left in the station. The cyclists in this group would be tired commuters on the way to and from work and consequently the rides were short and brief, and done in formal clothing.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We did not try any cycling, there were cycling shops offering bikes for rents but we decided this was going to be a walking holiday. I loved cycling, but my better half did not think much of exposing herself to the elements and out of deference to her life style, I compromised on the mode of transportation for the duration of our stay. We walked and walked all over Perth. We walked through the Central Business District, we walked to the end of King's Park and we walked all over the places. We stopped when we got tired and when we were hungry and thirsty we stopped for food and drinks. Indeed Perth was a walking heaven. Daytime was not too hot and the breeze that came from the sea was cool and refreshing. The evening was cooler and after the sun set it could be a little chilly, but one extra layer was more than sufficient to keep the body warm.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>FREEMANTLE</b></div><br />
After one week we had to check out of the apartment in Perth. Before we came we had been advised that it was not possible to extend our stay and therefore we had inquired and booked another apartment, this time in Freemantle, a sea side town about half an hour by train. Freemantle was much smaller, it was so small that the town centre could be covered by merely an hour of strolling. At five in the afternoon everything shut down and the streets became deserted making the town appeared ghost like. It was definitely not a place to rock and roll<br />
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Once a week, for 3 days on the weekend the quiet atmosphere was disturbed by the happenings at the weekend market. Vendors and purchasers met at the improvised market and for the first time we heard loud and enthusiastic voices from the sellers hawking their wares. This was Freemantle with its hair let down. There were buskers entertaining the crowd but like everything Australian there was order. Specific site was marked for the busking and they, the buskers, had to register before hand as there were even schedules for the order of appearances. There were a few good ones though the majority were just passable.<br />
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On other days we spent our time walking the streets. For a small town of this size, Freemantle had a disproportionate large number of book shops. It was a delight to browse in these bookshops, the books were not sealed in plastic covers as in MPH or Kinokuniya, neither was the sign "No Free Reading" anywhere to be seen. One type of bookshop that was a delight were the ones that offered discounted prices on their books. The selections available were very wide and did not at all reflect their reduced prices. They were new publications in mint conditions, not the dog eared copies you would find in second hand outlets. It was a pity my purchase was limited by my baggage allowance, as I would had bought the entire store.<br />
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As a foreign tourist, I found the historically high Australian Dollar intimidating. The news of the exchange dampened my spirits and depressed my purchasing will power. The real rise was not much really, something like 5 % for the last 12 months, but psychologically the decision to defer the buying was already made up in the mind. I suppose this was how free market worked. When the price rose we bought less, resulting in lower demand which would cause the supplier to reduce the price to keep in business. This current position would not last, there were opportunities to be made. Go short on Aussie Dollars would be the advice of the sage. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>LAST</b></div><br />
One common thread I found consistent in this trip was the wide and extensive usage of internet. The visa application was done on line, ditto for the airline ticketing and the reservation for the apartment. My expenses in Perth were paid either through the credit card or cash from the cash machines. Before the days of the internet I had to be physically present to do all these things. I would have to go to the embassy to apply for the visa to travel and it would take more than one attempt to secure the document, first to file the application and second to collect the passport and this did not include the waiting and travel time. For the ticket I had to go to the airline office to book the seat. For the money I had to go to and wait in the bank to buy the travelers' cheques. The reservation of accommodation could only be confirmed by writing, and this means going to the post office to post the letter. It was indeed marvelous that a lot of time was saved by sitting in front of the computer terminal and having all the business of pre-travelling done at the key board.<br />
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Would I return ? Perhaps, but for only a shorter duration.</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: auto;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCm73lLccv1s8U7ZecICd5F5sqxbPF5PTp0B9g-4Pi-hKskJOMIJ5AlnnqiFBi2fZLwtjShpGEax9w_q2iZ8xkt4rFvdT4auzXTzyZQxEL9LoyKcd2WADLzeTDyfQ9E35hyphenhyphenPgZP4v59Jp/s1600/Perth+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNCm73lLccv1s8U7ZecICd5F5sqxbPF5PTp0B9g-4Pi-hKskJOMIJ5AlnnqiFBi2fZLwtjShpGEax9w_q2iZ8xkt4rFvdT4auzXTzyZQxEL9LoyKcd2WADLzeTDyfQ9E35hyphenhyphenPgZP4v59Jp/s400/Perth+010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Perth City as we go into the final.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEQ024kzXmn4Y6sTeYogISeVWfVjvMHoP2aEuTKeO-ylDgKyOqsB9jGH17j4kVQOPuhYjA06mMECU-_gniZndBb-2gzXb2iHWloTyBASiV7FtZPorJ7phN0sOGxzv8SwBZiC5cEJrhAm0/s1600/Perth+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOEQ024kzXmn4Y6sTeYogISeVWfVjvMHoP2aEuTKeO-ylDgKyOqsB9jGH17j4kVQOPuhYjA06mMECU-_gniZndBb-2gzXb2iHWloTyBASiV7FtZPorJ7phN0sOGxzv8SwBZiC5cEJrhAm0/s400/Perth+013.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Surprise, surprise, baby strollers for use on arrival. Babies' voice must have been vociferous in the airport management.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFjdV5FbvLCUsjVYQsjGiZIAN-gs8lkIDvASMiLCLw6qdDOS3yZwNw_86zEm4xJ8ULTpWI2jLlL4O9spinR_BEfvzgHwYyaSZ0ba-FzkmmqmgYDZuhXAgynG5YEPLI_9bEMtgZEMAsgZe/s1600/Perth+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFjdV5FbvLCUsjVYQsjGiZIAN-gs8lkIDvASMiLCLw6qdDOS3yZwNw_86zEm4xJ8ULTpWI2jLlL4O9spinR_BEfvzgHwYyaSZ0ba-FzkmmqmgYDZuhXAgynG5YEPLI_9bEMtgZEMAsgZe/s400/Perth+014.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is the aircraft we come in, a Malaysian Airline Airbus.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEs-EPopflYp_DbP7HH1KBy-I4br9-tFC8Tr1IEUwbj4T9QyqZYNrIGYkl_7Cp58Oiji26dG2P-9qFBNV5qRkRpnkp6hqW7g-WEyyp6jBdtQeLMEVInZawzPqTErumfU1Er_xnUnPdVCG/s1600/Perth+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEs-EPopflYp_DbP7HH1KBy-I4br9-tFC8Tr1IEUwbj4T9QyqZYNrIGYkl_7Cp58Oiji26dG2P-9qFBNV5qRkRpnkp6hqW7g-WEyyp6jBdtQeLMEVInZawzPqTErumfU1Er_xnUnPdVCG/s400/Perth+028.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Our main form of transportation in Perth</b>.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDgFcZLrJKCDNNnlAbjwRSZX2M_OQzOl5OHLhM4XNMPDifQUbsWmwNaO5_OMCrLaftW6l9r8Z6Mn7Fd_AwXt7Ood7yzoVbVE4NTyhjFTlGmjwyN6Qp7Ks98dXndM_ytOaTTkKFkTFja_n/s1600/Perth+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJDgFcZLrJKCDNNnlAbjwRSZX2M_OQzOl5OHLhM4XNMPDifQUbsWmwNaO5_OMCrLaftW6l9r8Z6Mn7Fd_AwXt7Ood7yzoVbVE4NTyhjFTlGmjwyN6Qp7Ks98dXndM_ytOaTTkKFkTFja_n/s400/Perth+032.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>From our apartment we can see the Swan River.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxKA27pR6k3tCVhrPdYB1s4aIOcm8ze8V50Ziqta2abbFoJhfCJQ5tDVN5qUes2TwEwAVlYP2RTi-ZVrzT2n-wRsIgjfpQYr0bdc-SHY2Ee8PgNDmGpCxm4BcBCdwuYuIA3sMDDf5Ai3g/s1600/Perth+082.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxKA27pR6k3tCVhrPdYB1s4aIOcm8ze8V50Ziqta2abbFoJhfCJQ5tDVN5qUes2TwEwAVlYP2RTi-ZVrzT2n-wRsIgjfpQYr0bdc-SHY2Ee8PgNDmGpCxm4BcBCdwuYuIA3sMDDf5Ai3g/s400/Perth+082.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Aussie and Malay beauties are pleasing to look at.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8rOgzZjiHkM2sJPFkPP2hOJtMdN1d6-nVejcTFHJyFB9hmQTEiNBE7uhV08EoaK25s-K_wZgsugrTqMg96TDSjovv_N_8su8SpTjpR571tsDIifb1UcnHYsqmP6GEvnFex_rGl_ySfXr/s1600/Perth+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8rOgzZjiHkM2sJPFkPP2hOJtMdN1d6-nVejcTFHJyFB9hmQTEiNBE7uhV08EoaK25s-K_wZgsugrTqMg96TDSjovv_N_8su8SpTjpR571tsDIifb1UcnHYsqmP6GEvnFex_rGl_ySfXr/s400/Perth+141.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>From King's Park</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtupwGDFuWunwNPyfle_j3i7Ar8xgh2K8fGPgH5tXgyaXbWn-QatjJZ9gy4EN1pHeZ50QpnhghHOKoBFcLVlIhUeMY30FI8TvwBz0Il9ty6N0WMfGgzM5w0N53gLIktCDFW8SynywsWt3/s1600/Perth+142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDtupwGDFuWunwNPyfle_j3i7Ar8xgh2K8fGPgH5tXgyaXbWn-QatjJZ9gy4EN1pHeZ50QpnhghHOKoBFcLVlIhUeMY30FI8TvwBz0Il9ty6N0WMfGgzM5w0N53gLIktCDFW8SynywsWt3/s400/Perth+142.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Memorial in remembrance of the victims of the Bali bombing</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrymyFMbBSlr7HZ6CUfr5YAWY_nyiqxNEwqH80n1D19MWQRZTFI44dIlvX5jSL1qhgUkYPN6_RUF2whavqO05KZDtdhBvOgWEWEyrj4i3UPlCxW_Fd58TLNBgxXQF8W22eimF8lqe3qd2g/s1600/Perth+161.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrymyFMbBSlr7HZ6CUfr5YAWY_nyiqxNEwqH80n1D19MWQRZTFI44dIlvX5jSL1qhgUkYPN6_RUF2whavqO05KZDtdhBvOgWEWEyrj4i3UPlCxW_Fd58TLNBgxXQF8W22eimF8lqe3qd2g/s400/Perth+161.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Tom cat patrolling </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkX0-r7XXcLgEFCWv8op4uamBr1UIkQ7Oq-Vu5MODpqfjF95La0IF_FgWvUXowYG9uEw3FEYabyCGHFSSQwWkVxI6-2wk0z0X_772WsTJzg1KjmHsHdMP4X0yBVol_7X9Jvi3OseWsOh9/s1600/Perth+177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkX0-r7XXcLgEFCWv8op4uamBr1UIkQ7Oq-Vu5MODpqfjF95La0IF_FgWvUXowYG9uEw3FEYabyCGHFSSQwWkVxI6-2wk0z0X_772WsTJzg1KjmHsHdMP4X0yBVol_7X9Jvi3OseWsOh9/s400/Perth+177.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Like paying for your dates.</b>....</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-efhwMoe6O1B-28yAfZTn2zoiCMTEDsYnNHNdWJg83_lDBzrdk-do4PEh8bqmaR0a6lgiRyilt5Fe8ez8G_QeNVY8uJNHoyqOHBErBM8_ZS_qc4A1BZuQ4SA0RQwusI9LGDtx2d7cKpKV/s1600/Perth+178.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-efhwMoe6O1B-28yAfZTn2zoiCMTEDsYnNHNdWJg83_lDBzrdk-do4PEh8bqmaR0a6lgiRyilt5Fe8ez8G_QeNVY8uJNHoyqOHBErBM8_ZS_qc4A1BZuQ4SA0RQwusI9LGDtx2d7cKpKV/s400/Perth+178.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A lone seagull in down town Perth</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudLVCUsdvRyV53bmJBPS5bZYVSlGLhyphenhyphenK3kQb19zvmJiwJCSGt5x68a0H29i3Nhf6ot9EiwTKZDpHg60h8jhZ9yMwib_jap6EQOC2ntk3oxJdt9AMNEy6f_eIbAs8-sxwMU0LnGJGK30QK/s1600/Perth+180.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjudLVCUsdvRyV53bmJBPS5bZYVSlGLhyphenhyphenK3kQb19zvmJiwJCSGt5x68a0H29i3Nhf6ot9EiwTKZDpHg60h8jhZ9yMwib_jap6EQOC2ntk3oxJdt9AMNEy6f_eIbAs8-sxwMU0LnGJGK30QK/s400/Perth+180.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The lion and the unicorn show how English Australia is.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM2F-26KQ6jAabUocS-daHkxVFq5XPsZ6r3ydR0X2Lj0qMDsMJgsVwfmcVOKXE7g12zXtDnRjInDzbKkiB4K51PmMXX6pfm1nR93mdVs2K5_R25tFYqj0FfXaoDAdHGpcYPzRSLM_EWEL/s1600/Perth+182.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiM2F-26KQ6jAabUocS-daHkxVFq5XPsZ6r3ydR0X2Lj0qMDsMJgsVwfmcVOKXE7g12zXtDnRjInDzbKkiB4K51PmMXX6pfm1nR93mdVs2K5_R25tFYqj0FfXaoDAdHGpcYPzRSLM_EWEL/s400/Perth+182.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>We subsist on this diet </b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGJHNtBqD56yAX7VKiujIvQekJphGb_HeRe-aT0tQYMgh3k2qXEmA9bgq7u-LNxHUpLsI7ePkLRi3KUeyKrqaJtlTrtanbkiWm57FPue6YAM7YkBCCzVlhOYdlsrCM4cm80SAoKyuRhTY/s1600/Perth+309.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGJHNtBqD56yAX7VKiujIvQekJphGb_HeRe-aT0tQYMgh3k2qXEmA9bgq7u-LNxHUpLsI7ePkLRi3KUeyKrqaJtlTrtanbkiWm57FPue6YAM7YkBCCzVlhOYdlsrCM4cm80SAoKyuRhTY/s400/Perth+309.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>I also have this tree in my garden though the flowers are not that luscious.</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGQlMVNYcBIZ2HqNDq_iPGGGL1KGxu1PzVrX6UxSdZ3n7CioF_hiGaeOvfqrCHZP7jMQ7dR-RQAuh1qRBrnUwC2PRTgGBTReede6Xwha2a-xoet2KCniX0SnCSwqsthJ56XcCBAKo1lAf/s1600/Perth+310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDGQlMVNYcBIZ2HqNDq_iPGGGL1KGxu1PzVrX6UxSdZ3n7CioF_hiGaeOvfqrCHZP7jMQ7dR-RQAuh1qRBrnUwC2PRTgGBTReede6Xwha2a-xoet2KCniX0SnCSwqsthJ56XcCBAKo1lAf/s400/Perth+310.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Playing with sand in Freemantle</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUfdo3NH1N_RFaJ7-luBqBKIwqcLgAadQ8gs1Or2NV1g50y2iP-mOP7Xfo8ucgnngSHzrg-tijV28oLoqTZmB3raf-lytsVtxe2m3BKaXm24NtoEGqCdgH3-lnu9QOSJlmslFjVPCTGJ/s1600/Perth+323.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGzUfdo3NH1N_RFaJ7-luBqBKIwqcLgAadQ8gs1Or2NV1g50y2iP-mOP7Xfo8ucgnngSHzrg-tijV28oLoqTZmB3raf-lytsVtxe2m3BKaXm24NtoEGqCdgH3-lnu9QOSJlmslFjVPCTGJ/s400/Perth+323.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>More Malay and Aussie beauties, this time they ( the Aussies ) are more modestly dressed</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O_L1rkreLdxloHaVozJRGa-wboQtnXV0zu8seOaYp5ATAM2PuA032bmLT4kb7TgZO18sVhIglK1EVxkSbNqxx2gW_LDLnMGV7nSAfjn-rXNtU6IgcT00NxwwjweJTWNwAFE_lgLqvgKc/s1600/Perth+354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5O_L1rkreLdxloHaVozJRGa-wboQtnXV0zu8seOaYp5ATAM2PuA032bmLT4kb7TgZO18sVhIglK1EVxkSbNqxx2gW_LDLnMGV7nSAfjn-rXNtU6IgcT00NxwwjweJTWNwAFE_lgLqvgKc/s400/Perth+354.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Sun set over the Pacific Ocean from our apartment in North Freemantle</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdVgdnjr0v-qePKzy7xsRoKoe57ko1zps86_k9U6drTBHtg9qPkfo6e7d7DkcafNCb-zDLOgB93Nlmerp02CZSHPmqdumS8E-NAuQMuCxUR3oNCZg-oS-hWagepqhSTnBRFk9zlsFtqNR/s1600/Perth+433.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxdVgdnjr0v-qePKzy7xsRoKoe57ko1zps86_k9U6drTBHtg9qPkfo6e7d7DkcafNCb-zDLOgB93Nlmerp02CZSHPmqdumS8E-NAuQMuCxUR3oNCZg-oS-hWagepqhSTnBRFk9zlsFtqNR/s400/Perth+433.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Oysters are aphrodisiacs if taken in sensible proportions</b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNxKLvGxNRzDIYjDyZHZg3T1EPpDgMr2qFcmapD3wT6JV7OBXBvuBUlfQjH4CkhUvgbayeht4F0vuNFIsZi0Y2E4FrCUlhCZud6gLXIZ9LmuzRzgHXbZgzABwhjhmMV99iJd2GlRA2Prn/s1600/Perth+467.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNxKLvGxNRzDIYjDyZHZg3T1EPpDgMr2qFcmapD3wT6JV7OBXBvuBUlfQjH4CkhUvgbayeht4F0vuNFIsZi0Y2E4FrCUlhCZud6gLXIZ9LmuzRzgHXbZgzABwhjhmMV99iJd2GlRA2Prn/s400/Perth+467.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Bicycles for commuting at North Freemantle train station.</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-42158863886806199482011-10-01T02:38:00.000-07:002011-10-16T05:28:21.959-07:00Mr. Mah, The Goldsmith<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCBYNOGpR5idVUPgw9VaqSmHXnw9c7DBchNbuU7vA3h7_Qe-YoCDBIJDeTuPnQQ2LUtmqAVpQTDZwe9HrT-i67sdbWgN2ee2uP3-9o1x-Qt05M8FWCSrqVMCKGcOygo6gg9V3J-1SyY3k/s1600/IMG_4616.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFCBYNOGpR5idVUPgw9VaqSmHXnw9c7DBchNbuU7vA3h7_Qe-YoCDBIJDeTuPnQQ2LUtmqAVpQTDZwe9HrT-i67sdbWgN2ee2uP3-9o1x-Qt05M8FWCSrqVMCKGcOygo6gg9V3J-1SyY3k/s400/IMG_4616.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Mr. Mah is one of the many succesful goldsmiths in Kota Bharu who trades in gold jewelleries and precious stones. He has been in business since 1957 and is recognised as a treasure trove and gold mine, excuse the pun, of information relating to gold business in Kelantan. Through him I came to know that a few years back people were not allowed to buy or sell pure gold as in gold bars but they could purchase ornaments made of gold. This explains why the <i>tok peraihs</i> in the Kota Bahru wet market have their arms, from the elbow to the wrist, fully adorned with gold bangles, to satisfy the primal urge to possess this shiny metal but a the same time to keep on the right side of the law. These gold ornaments were cast in gold that is peculiar to Kelantan, graded as Emas Kelantan, which is actually 22K in international standard or Gold 916 in local. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I have always been perplexed by the standard of measurement use by the Kelantan local in their gold trading. Gold is normally weighed in gram or ounce, but a Kelantanese lady who comes to a gold shop would tell the seller how much gold she wants as in <i><b>Riyal Berat</b></i>, like " Please let me have gold bangle worth five <i>riyals</i> in weight". Incidentally Kelantan men do not patronise the gold shop as there is a religious injunction against men wearing gold on their persons, that is the reason they stay in the back ground in the gold business. So how much is a<i> riyal </i>? Get this, a <i>riyal</i> is a weight of gold equal to 10 pieces of saga seed. I know what a saga seed is. It is a kind of seed from a saga tree ( scientific name <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><i>Abrus precatorius )</i></span>, quite small, light in weight, red in colour and very shiny in appearance. I have seen them as common when I was a kid, they were part of my childhood fascination but I hardly come across them anymore. Proton Saga our national car is named after this tree, besides benefitting from the double meaning of <i>saga</i> as in heroic tales. Nowadays with the scarcity of saga seeds, the weight of a <i>riyal</i> is standardised as equivalent to 2.7 grams of gold.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is only for Kelantan Gold that the <i>riyal</i> is used as measurement. The current price is about RM400.00 for one <i>riyal</i> of gold. Mr. Mah says it used to be RM10.00 many years ago. Thanks to him only now I understand the lingo of my mother and her contemporaries who collectively take it as a matter of course that all the value of the gold in the world is measured <b>Riyal Bera</b>t, which until now has been a code that is only understood between the Kelantanese ladies of old.</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-11573793619332355222011-09-16T06:45:00.000-07:002011-10-16T05:16:06.252-07:00Self Flagellation On The Slopes of Cameron Highland<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Our Route Tapah - Tanah Rata - Tapah - Kg Gajah</span></b><br />
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</span> </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a6845247e6036d21c&ie=UTF8&ll=4.339565,101.130524&spn=0.479272,0.583649&z=10&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></span></div><small><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">View </span><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a6845247e6036d21c&ie=UTF8&ll=4.339565,101.130524&spn=0.479272,0.583649&z=10&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Tapah - Tanah Rata - Tapah - Kg Gajah</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"> in a larger map</span></small><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Facts</span></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cameron Highland is named after William Cameron, a British surveyor who first mapped the area in 1885. The road from Tapah to the highland was constructed in 1931 and upon completion marked the transformation of the place into a successful hill station, market gardening was a parallel development and soon after tourism picked up and today it remains a popular destination. It is the highest point in the Peninsula that can be reached by a motorcar.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br class="para" /></span></span><span caption="Review this sentence for punctuation." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure you have properly used punctuation in your sentence, particularly when using an appositive.</p> <p>The appositive “<b>this tourist spot</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p>An appositive is a noun or pronoun (perhaps with some adjectives, etc.) which adds extra information to clarify a noun in the sentence. Take this sentence, for instance: “My mom Angela is a good cook.” “Angela” is the appositive for “mom”. If the appositive is not necessary to understand the sentence, there should be commas around the appositive. If the appositive is necessary to understand the sentence, don’t put commas around it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: A brilliant young painter the artist was given his own show at the age of 19.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive “a brilliant young painter” is not required to understand this sentence; there should be a comma after “painter” (but not at the beginning of the appositive, as it is at the beginning of the sentence). </span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher. </span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive, “Dr. Kendrick”, is necessary in order to understand which professor was a wonderful teacher, so there is no need for commas around it. </span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because “a deep red blood drop” is not necessary to understand what the rose was doing, commas are required on either side of the appositive.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/AroundAppositive/NpCommaNp" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Today this tourist spot can be reached by two different routes, the old road from Tapah and the new mountain class highway from Simpang Pulai." shortdescription="<p>The appositive “<b>this tourist spot</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The professor Dr. Kendrick was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for punctuation." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure you have properly used punctuation in your sentence, particularly when using an appositive.</p> <p>The appositive “<b>this tourist spot</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p>An appositive is a noun or pronoun (perhaps with some adjectives, etc.) which adds extra information to clarify a noun in the sentence. Take this sentence, for instance: “My mom Angela is a good cook.” “Angela” is the appositive for “mom”. If the appositive is not necessary to understand the sentence, there should be commas around the appositive. If the appositive is necessary to understand the sentence, don’t put commas around it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: A brilliant young painter the artist was given his own show at the age of 19.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive “a brilliant young painter” is not required to understand this sentence; there should be a comma after “painter” (but not at the beginning of the appositive, as it is at the beginning of the sentence). </span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher. </span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive, “Dr. Kendrick”, is necessary in order to understand which professor was a wonderful teacher, so there is no need for commas around it. </span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because “a deep red blood drop” is not necessary to understand what the rose was doing, commas are required on either side of the appositive.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/AroundAppositive/NpCommaNp" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Today this tourist spot can be reached by two different routes, the old road from Tapah and the new mountain class highway from Simpang Pulai." shortdescription="<p>The appositive “<b>this tourist spot</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The professor Dr. Kendrick was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today this tourist spot can be reached by two different routes, the old road from Tapah and the new mountain class highway from Simpang Pulai.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory clauses." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory clause, “<b>If you are driving the Simpang Pulai way</b>”, may require a comma after it.</p> <p>After a dependent introductory clause, we use a comma to separate the introductory clause from the independent clause. Clearly identify the dependent introductory clause, which may start with an adverb like “although”, “if”, or “when”.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: As the man was walking into the store he came face-to-face with his childhood sweetheart.</span><br/> <span class="grey">A comma is required between “store” and “he”, because the introductory phrase is dependent.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Because the rain was torrential, the day’s Little League games were postponed.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory clause, “because the rain was torrential”, requires a comma after it to separate it from the independent clause.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryClause/65538" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="If you are driving the Simpang Pulai way is faster." shortdescription="<p>The introductory clause, “<b>If you are driving the Simpang Pulai way</b>”, may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: As the man was walking into the store he came face-to-face with his childhood sweetheart.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: As the man was walking into the store, he came face-to-face with his childhood sweetheart.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you are driving the Simpang Pulai way</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is faster. The reason people go to Cameron Highland is to experience the English Summer, where day time temperature hovers around 25C. The night is chilly enough to warrant sleeping under a warm blanket. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>In fact</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="In fact it gets so chilly that morning showers can only be comfortably taken with warm waters from water heaters." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>In fact</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In fact</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it gets so chilly that morning showers can only be comfortably taken with warm waters from water heaters. It is one of the few places in Malaysia without air conditioning or even ceiling fans, the two essential items no household in the lowland would go without. The absence of the sound of the whirring of the compressors and sight of revolving blades are at first strange and then hit you that this place, merely two hours away from the tropical heat, is an island of its own climate.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Statistics</span></span></span></b></div></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To see the profile of the bike climb from Tapah to Cameron Highland go to </span><a href="http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/road-cycling-map/malaysia/tapah/27124006"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.mapmyride.com/s/routes/view/road-cycling-map/malaysia/tapah/27124006</span></a><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another profile is at </span><a href="http://www.strava.com/rides/malaysia-cameron-312733"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://www.strava.com/rides/malaysia-cameron-312733</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you want to compare another bike ride from Tapah to Cameron Highland, go to </span><a href="http://bikenuts.blogspot.com/2009/10/cameron-highlands-on-bike.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">http://bikenuts.blogspot.com/2009/10/cameron-highlands-on-bike.html</span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">My Way</span></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is considered a job to be done, no cyclist worth his salt would ignore Cameron Highlands. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="I have been cycling for the past five years and I have been to Cameron Highlands a few times and looking at it, the idea of the climb has to be translated into reality before I get too old." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been cycling for the past five years and I have been to Cameron Highlands </span><span caption="Review this sentence for punctuation" class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p> There is no space after the punctuation, “<b>( </b>”. Consider adding a space. </p> <p> Punctuation marks can be small things, and may be difficult for the reader to notice (particularly in handwriting); to make them more noticeable, punctuation marks are followed by a space. (The only exception to this rule is the apostrophe, which tends to come within the word, so it is not followed by a space). Some writers prefer to use two spaces after a period; this method is generally acceptable for APA format but not in MLA format. Modern writing standards permit one space after the period; this may be the safest format, unless otherwise specified. </p> <p> <span class="red"> Incorrect: As a table involves a flat,solid surface,it would be difficult to put books in a table.More likely,books would be put on the table,or in a bag. </span> <br/> <span class="grey"> It is obviously difficult to read this sentence. One space should be added after each comma, and one or two spaces may be added after the period. </span> </p> <p> <span class="red"> Incorrect: Matthew looked at Martha;he’d been expecting her to come up with a scathing remark–something about his work ethic,perhaps.She said nothing. </span> <br/> <span class="grey"> One space should be added after the semi-colon, before and after the dash, and after the comma. One or two spaces may be added after the period. </span> </p>" name="" replacements="(" sentence="I have been cycling for the past five years and I have been to Cameron Highlands ( by motoring ) a few times and looking at it, the idea of the climb has to be translated into reality before I get too old."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">( </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by motoring</span><span caption="Review this sentence for punctuation errors" class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p> The punctuation mark ("<b> )</b>") may not require a space before it. Consider removing the space. </p> <p> Commas, periods, colons, semi-colons, exclamation marks, question marks, hyphens, ellipses, closing quotation marks and closing brackets do not need spaces in front of them. A space should be used before dashes, opening quotation marks and opening brackets. Apostrophes may have a space before them if they represent a missing letter (or group of letters) at the beginning of a word. </p> <p> <span class="red"> Incorrect: Where have you been ? I 've been waiting for over an hour ! "Five o'clock , " you said . It 's 6 :30 ! </span> <br/> <span class="grey"> None of these punctuation marks require a space in front of them, except the opening quotation mark ("Five o'clock). </span> </p> <p> <span class="green"> Correct: I (not knowing where I was going) purchased a nice-looking map - anything to get me out of the endless loop of suburbia. </span> <br/> <span class="grey"> A space is required before the opening bracket, but not before the closing bracket. The hyphen in nice-looking does not require a space in front of it, but the dash between map and anything does require a space. </span> </p> <p> <span class="green"> Correct: I didn't clean my room 'cause I was busy watching TV. </span> <br/> <span class="grey"> The space in front of the apostrophe in 'cause is required because the apostrophe represents the missing be; the space before the apostrophe is separating the two words, room and 'cause. </span> </p>" name="" replacements=")" sentence="I have been cycling for the past five years and I have been to Cameron Highlands ( by motoring ) a few times and looking at it, the idea of the climb has to be translated into reality before I get too old."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> )</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a few times and looking at it, the idea of the climb has to be translated into reality before I get too old.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I have checked the boxes of the other two hills, Genting Sempah and Fraser's Hill and the third is a matter of course.</span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Shah Alam</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Shah Alam we hitch a ride from Zahir who is on his way to his work in Lumut." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Shah Alam</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Shah Alam</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Shah Alam we hitch a ride from Zahir who is on his way to his work in Lumut." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Shah Alam</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Shah Alam</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we hitch a ride from Zahir who is on his way to his work in Lumut. We are dropped at Tapah where we check in into NY Hotel. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for punctuation." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure you have properly used punctuation in your sentence, particularly when using an appositive.</p> <p>The appositive “<b>in Malaysia</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p>An appositive is a noun or pronoun (perhaps with some adjectives, etc.) which adds extra information to clarify a noun in the sentence. Take this sentence, for instance: “My mom Angela is a good cook.” “Angela” is the appositive for “mom”. If the appositive is not necessary to understand the sentence, there should be commas around the appositive. If the appositive is necessary to understand the sentence, don’t put commas around it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: A brilliant young painter the artist was given his own show at the age of 19.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive “a brilliant young painter” is not required to understand this sentence; there should be a comma after “painter” (but not at the beginning of the appositive, as it is at the beginning of the sentence). </span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher. </span><br/> <span class="grey">The appositive, “Dr. Kendrick”, is necessary in order to understand which professor was a wonderful teacher, so there is no need for commas around it. </span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because “a deep red blood drop” is not necessary to understand what the rose was doing, commas are required on either side of the appositive.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/AroundAppositive/In" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="It is a hotel typical of a budget hotel in any small town in Malaysia." shortdescription="<p>The appositive “<b>in Malaysia</b>” may require commas. Consider putting a comma on either side of this appositive.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The professor, Dr. Kendrick, was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The professor Dr. Kendrick was a wonderful teacher.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The rose, a deep red blood drop, stood out amongst the tiny white flowers.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a hotel typical of a budget hotel in any small town in Malaysia.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There is a reception where you enter your name and particulars in a very largish register book and then you find your own way to your room. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="This hotel is very suitable as a launching place to Cameron Highland as even though the rate is low, the rooms are quite comfortable to turn in a good sleep, and the location is in Tapah town, the largest place before we hit the hills and if there are any bike issues, there are bike shops available to put them right again." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This hotel is very suitable as a launching place to Cameron Highland as even though the rate is low, the rooms are quite comfortable to turn in a good sleep, and the location is in Tapah town, the largest place before we hit the hills and if there are any bike issues, there are bike shops available to put them right again.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for comma splices." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p>If two independent clauses are to be joined into one sentence, they must be separated by a conjunction or a semi-colon. They may also be separated into two sentences by a period. Clearly identify the independent clauses in your sentence, and decide how they may best be separated.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “koala bears are not actually bears” and “they are marsupials” should be separated by a semi-colon.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am not angry with you, I am not happy with you, either.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “I am not angry with you” and “I am not happy with you”, could be separated into two sentences by a period, or they could be joined with a conjunction such as “but”.</span></p> <p><strong>Exceptions:</strong></p> <p>Comma splices may be used for artistic or poetic effect, as when one is connecting several short independent clauses:<br /> <span class="green">She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span></p> <p>Comma splices may also be used if the two independent clauses are somehow contrasting, as when following a statement with a question:<br /> <span class="green">You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma splice separates two independent clauses instead of conjunction or semicolon." name="Punctuation/CommaSplice/CommaSplice/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="We dine at a stall near the hotel, a Chinese stall quaintly manned by an Indian boy who speaks fluent Hokkien." shortdescription="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Koala bears are not actually bears; they are marsupials.</span><br/> <strong>Exceptions:</strong> poetic effect and contrasting independent clauses<br/> <span class="green">Correct: She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We dine at a stall near the hotel, a Chinese stall quaintly manned by an Indian boy who speaks fluent Hokkien.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The meal is quite heavy and to avoid indigestion we retire quite late in the night.</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Checking in the hotel at Tapah. The bikes have just been assembled after the car ride from Shah Alam</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Tapah, at the foothill of the mountain, with lush vegetation and fruit plantation, I am surprised the King of Fruit is not welcomed, particularly so at this budget hotel, or probably, the operator is thinking this is an expression of class as you will find the same prohibition in airlines and snobbish hotels in Malaysia. This is durian country and ironically the royals are mistreated.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Checking out and the time is 7.00am</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The name of the hotel N Y as seen here.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnUerhqhe0GJ1Nb14KT1-gVGotke72gOrFdlT8fgLhzHdMCbsj13oozQE7S-6IJwywplwYzLhQ8J9oJNQTEgRZtcpUz_lgQ1HkPfsomYuXGmMXdPOaJyS-Gav4AnhfK0G0OMsRg-FgOmt/s1600/IMG_6732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipnUerhqhe0GJ1Nb14KT1-gVGotke72gOrFdlT8fgLhzHdMCbsj13oozQE7S-6IJwywplwYzLhQ8J9oJNQTEgRZtcpUz_lgQ1HkPfsomYuXGmMXdPOaJyS-Gav4AnhfK0G0OMsRg-FgOmt/s400/IMG_6732.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Last minute check on the bike before we start riding</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Tapah - Lata Iskandar, Nice & Easy</span></span></b></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The morning after, we wake up quite early and spend some time preparing the bikes. Extra attention is paid to the brakes as we are going for hilly rides. </span></span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="All system are in working order and we eagerly start our ride from Tapah town in the cool morning air." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All system are in working order and we eagerly start our ride from Tapah town in the cool morning air.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> We have to pass through the town center where traffic is a bit dense due to the morning rush to get to school in time. But after the town center, traffic immediately thins out and we are more or less on our own</span>.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We stop at a stall outside Tapah for an early breakfast</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is Indian and we have tosai and roti chanai with teh tarik</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">.</span></span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">W</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">e need carbs to store in order to have sufficient energy for the climb ahead. To get this we stop at an Indian stall and load up the with sugar and extra ration of rotis.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This stop is to refill the water bottles</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It is "Air Seratus" (100 Plus)</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it is time to stock our fluids we find a local convenience and fill up our bottles with mineral and carbonated water. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Until here, the route is winding with a slight elevation and we are still in relaxed mode." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Until here, the route is winding with a slight elevation and we are still in relaxed mode.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Soon after and before reaching Lata Iskandar, the gradient gradually rises and I start to need the use of the smaller gears." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon after and before reaching Lata Iskandar, the gradient gradually rises and I start to need the use of the smaller gears.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="I am on 20 speed with 50-34 for the front crank and it is not possible to hold on the 50 any more." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am on 20 speed with 50-34 for the front crank and it is not possible to hold on the 50 any more.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Forward speed is dropping to the average of 15 </span><span caption="Review this sentence for misspelled words and typos" class="MisspelledWords alert" critical="true" description="This is possibly a spelling mistake or a typo." name="" replacements="ph" sentence="Forward speed is dropping to the average of 15 kph although Mirza is still looking comfortable and hanging on the bigger front crank."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kph</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> although Mirza is still looking comfortable and hanging on the bigger front crank. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="I start to gradually fall behind and Mirza had to frequently stop to allow me to catch up." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I start </span><span caption="Review this sentence for split infinitives" class="ConfusingModifiers alert" critical="true" description="<p>The infinitive verb “<b>to </b>” has been split by the modifier “<b>gradually</b>”. Please ensure the split infinitive does not confuse the meaning or flow of your sentence. </p> <p>An infinitive verb, which is a verb preceded by the word “to” (e.g. “to do”, “to see”), should not be spliced. Modifiers generally should be placed before the verb. </p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I wanted to very much see the new documentary on Iraq. </span><br/> <span class="grey">The infinitive verb “to see” has been separated by “very much”. The sentence could be written, </span><span class="green">“I wanted, very much, to see the new documentary on Iraq.”</span> </p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The old woman instructed the teenagers to never set foot on her grass again. </span><br/> <span class="grey">The infinitive verb “to set foot” has been separated by “never”. The sentence could be written </span><span class="green">“The old woman instructed the teenagers never to set foot on her grass again.” </span></p> " grammarpoint="Infinitive verb split by modifier." name="ConfusingModifiers/SplitInfinitive/SplitInfinitive/196609" patterndate="1315217966000" sentence="I start to gradually fall behind and Mirza had to frequently stop to allow me to catch up." shortdescription="<p>The infinitive verb “<b>to </b>” has been split by the modifier “<b>gradually</b>”. Please ensure the split infinitive does not confuse the meaning or flow of your sentence.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I wanted to very much see the new documentary on Iraq.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I wanted, very much, to see the new documentary on Iraq.</span> </p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to gradually fall</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> behind and Mirza has to frequently stop to allow me to catch up.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="When we reach Lata Iskandar, which is 24 kilometers from Tapah, it is still early and the stalls are just opening up." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we reach Lata Iskandar, which is 24 kilometers from Tapah, it is still early and the stalls are just opening up.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="We stop for refreshment and I have bananas in the belief that if it can help the tennis stars it will do the same for me." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stop for refreshment and I have bananas in the belief that if it can help the tennis stars it will do the same for me.</span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Lata Iskandar </span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Lata Iskandar - Ringlet, Hairpins Approaching</span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Lata Iskandar, the ride is still easy. We pass a few </span><span caption="Review this sentence for misspelled words and typos" class="MisspelledWords alert" critical="true" description="This is possibly a spelling mistake or a typo." name="" replacements="tampons,kampong" sentence="We pass a few kampongs with houses hugging the hill sides and at one time are chased by a pack of local dogs."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">kampongs</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> with houses hugging the hill sides and at one time are chased by a pack of local dogs. They are doing it more out of fun, and are rather half hearted and after a few meters abandon their pursuit, their attention diverted to more interesting matters. To the cyclist, being chased by dogs are never welcomed as the sudden burst of speed are not friendly to that pump in the chest, it can get quite sticky with the overloads caused by the sudden demands for oxygenated blood.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Soon we reach the generating station, and then we ride across the bridge, I think it is Iskandar Bridge. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for comma splices." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p>If two independent clauses are to be joined into one sentence, they must be separated by a conjunction or a semi-colon. They may also be separated into two sentences by a period. Clearly identify the independent clauses in your sentence, and decide how they may best be separated.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “koala bears are not actually bears” and “they are marsupials” should be separated by a semi-colon.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am not angry with you, I am not happy with you, either.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “I am not angry with you” and “I am not happy with you”, could be separated into two sentences by a period, or they could be joined with a conjunction such as “but”.</span></p> <p><strong>Exceptions:</strong></p> <p>Comma splices may be used for artistic or poetic effect, as when one is connecting several short independent clauses:<br /> <span class="green">She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span></p> <p>Comma splices may also be used if the two independent clauses are somehow contrasting, as when following a statement with a question:<br /> <span class="green">You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma splice separates two independent clauses instead of conjunction or semicolon." name="Punctuation/CommaSplice/CommaSplice/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The roads that are following the contours of the hill take a sudden transformation, hair pins start to make their appearances." shortdescription="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Koala bears are not actually bears; they are marsupials.</span><br/> <strong>Exceptions:</strong> poetic effect and contrasting independent clauses<br/> <span class="green">Correct: She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The roads that are following the contours of the hill take a sudden transformation, hair pins start to make their appearances.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case4" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="If you have seen a hair pin you will know that there is a kind of U turn, you ride ahead and the road makes a turn into the direction you are coming from, except that the elevation keeps rising and you can see the road almost parallel to you down below." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have seen a hair pin you will know that there is a kind of U turn, you ride ahead and the road makes a turn into the direction you are coming from, except that the elevation keeps rising and you can see the road almost parallel to you down below.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="At this stage even the lowest gear is wanting, you keep wishing for another lower gear and there is none." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>At this stage</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="At this stage even the lowest gear is wanting, you keep wishing for another lower gear and there is none." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>At this stage</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this stage</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> even the lowest gear is </span><span caption="Review this sentence for verb form use." class="VerbTenses alert" critical="true" description="<p>The progressive tense verb <b>“wanting”</b> may not be correctly used in this sentence. Consider changing it to the simple tense.</p> <p>The progressive tense is used in situations when an action is (or was, or will be) happening for a certain amount of time; that time should have a clear beginning and end. Take, for instance, the sentence “His heart was beating in his throat.” The sentence is in past tense so we know the action has stopped, which gives it a clear end (in any case, one does not have one’s heart beating in one’s throat for a long time). However, with a verb like “to want”, the beginning and ending may not be so clear. “She wants to be a teacher when she grows up”; it is difficult to pinpoint when she began wanting to be a teacher, or when she will no longer want to be a teacher.</p> </p>If the beginning and end of the action is not clear, generally the past, present or future simple tense should be used.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The woman was appearing very tired.</span><br/> <span class="grey">“To appear” is a verb which is not usually used in the progressive tense. The verb should be changed to the past simple: "appeared".</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I will be knowing the answer to your question after I read this article.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The future progressive verb “will be knowing” should be changed to the future simple: "I will know..."</span></p> " grammarpoint="This verb not used in progressive tense in English." name="VerbTenses/IncorrectProgressiveUsing/NoUseProgressiveTense/BeInPresentOrPast" patterndate="1315217969000" sentence="At this stage even the lowest gear is wanting, you keep wishing for another lower gear and there is none." shortdescription="<p>The progressive tense verb <b>“wanting”</b> may not be correctly used in this sentence. Consider changing it to the simple tense.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The woman was appearing very tired.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: The woman appeared very tired.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wanting</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, you keep wishing for another lower gear and there is none.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The </span><span caption="Redundancies" class="OtherGrammar alert" critical="true" description="'end result' is redundant - consider using 'result' instead" name="" replacements="result" sentence="The end result is you are puffing and huffing and sweat starts to drip merrily down your body."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">end result</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is you are puffing and huffing and sweat starts to drip merrily down your body. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="A few of these hairpins take the wind out of me and frequent stops to catch my breaths again." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A few of these hairpins take the wind out of me and frequent stops to catch my breaths again.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> These stops besides giving some respite and rests are also great photo </span><span caption="Review this sentence for misspelled words and typos" class="MisspelledWords alert" critical="true" description="This is possibly a spelling mistake or a typo." name="" replacements="op,ups,os,pos,tops" sentence="These stops besides giving some respite and rests are also great photo ops as seen below."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ops</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> as seen below.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATcE1l7zmh95hydFa0uTYgL3Fpect7AOiGzPJkj19fzeHBmKVDI8uzeDTKdYGyvwMaojEwnhex_AzLl1_Ly8HeYzZ_UjiCM7y352MgIOxqXGWEz7SjSHLPsqOoe3BUjLPf9jKN-9iZZrw/s1600/IMG_6741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjATcE1l7zmh95hydFa0uTYgL3Fpect7AOiGzPJkj19fzeHBmKVDI8uzeDTKdYGyvwMaojEwnhex_AzLl1_Ly8HeYzZ_UjiCM7y352MgIOxqXGWEz7SjSHLPsqOoe3BUjLPf9jKN-9iZZrw/s400/IMG_6741.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mirza is at his wits end contemplating the fighting with the slope</span>s</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Another point of rest</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wild honey is sold by the local</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The locals resting in the bamboo shed. Cool.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I pass out from the exertion</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">Ringlet - Habu, Down Hill And Flat</span></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After the ordeals of the climb, it is a pleasure to reach the state boundary line of Perak and Pahang. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From the boundary it is downhill into Ringlet and as noon is approaching, we stop for a quick lunch at a restaurant in Ringlet town." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From the boundary</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From the boundary it is downhill into Ringlet and as noon is approaching, we stop for a quick lunch at a restaurant in Ringlet town." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From the boundary</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From the boundary</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it is downhill into Ringlet and as noon is approaching, we stop for a quick lunch at a restaurant in Ringlet town.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“but”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="When we are in Tapah we see the signage showing it is 47 kilometers to Ringlet but in Ringlet the sign is 51 kilometers to Tapah." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“but”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When we are in Tapah we see the signage showing it is 47 kilometers to Ringlet but </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>in Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="When we are in Tapah we see the signage showing it is 47 kilometers to Ringlet but in Ringlet the sign is 51 kilometers to Tapah." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>in Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">in Ringlet</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the sign is 51 kilometers to Tapah.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> May be, when we climb the distance get shorter or else when we descend, it gets longer. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The meal at an Indian restaurant is forgettable and our in spite of the hunger we cannot finish the rice and fried fish." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The meal at an Indian restaurant is forgettable and our in spite of the hunger we cannot finish the rice and fried fish.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="para" /></span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Ringlet it is downhill into the valley of Habu where it is flat as we ride parallel to a lake." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Ringlet it is downhill into the valley of Habu where it is flat as we ride parallel to a lake." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Ringlet</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Ringlet</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it is downhill into the valley of Habu where it is flat as we ride parallel to a lake. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The noon temperature is most pleasant and we feel we can ride forever in this condition." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The noon temperature is most pleasant and we feel we can ride forever in this condition.</span></span></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLsZyyCMhhc-h8JQbgFLu7fFj800yRUZB3pz5oz57hVRLPvfVo7Htg-FCqV2J8RxVXZff959kvFjX7QhkZeOcx9RBAxmJ50XL2Dvt35cjC6mrazjmsaKUIKjRygGvWtZd-OMXOn_o9xeZ/s1600/IMG_6754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLsZyyCMhhc-h8JQbgFLu7fFj800yRUZB3pz5oz57hVRLPvfVo7Htg-FCqV2J8RxVXZff959kvFjX7QhkZeOcx9RBAxmJ50XL2Dvt35cjC6mrazjmsaKUIKjRygGvWtZd-OMXOn_o9xeZ/s400/IMG_6754.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The state boundary is just before Ringlet and for the first time in the climb it is downhill which drops into the town.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XnvRCp7nWrZrN-XnC78n4xhViHJNjA2bXzf-gwAHokcJD86Bp_WFsUMa36RRjyBFKCrkPbqlOqDK0LOWVauNxig9tErdHr_0lIqXl7OGte1iiBA28by0kulYMy6egTeTz5RYGnoZIpdN/s1600/IMG_6755.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XnvRCp7nWrZrN-XnC78n4xhViHJNjA2bXzf-gwAHokcJD86Bp_WFsUMa36RRjyBFKCrkPbqlOqDK0LOWVauNxig9tErdHr_0lIqXl7OGte1iiBA28by0kulYMy6egTeTz5RYGnoZIpdN/s400/IMG_6755.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Strawberry is grown to to give an air of temperate climate in a tropical country</span> </span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IB497GoQZFC-L1uSVK2RwtjlhV8q5MfCJFI5hJ5Wr3RLiSETy_bBdS8DzXtFJUgtMFb9Y2EF97EJXvW0qdphATYDoMNWBGmC2NSVPUL0vSoZsILaBB6668lEeafEl4D86mtUzFDUplPe/s1600/IMG_6756.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3IB497GoQZFC-L1uSVK2RwtjlhV8q5MfCJFI5hJ5Wr3RLiSETy_bBdS8DzXtFJUgtMFb9Y2EF97EJXvW0qdphATYDoMNWBGmC2NSVPUL0vSoZsILaBB6668lEeafEl4D86mtUzFDUplPe/s400/IMG_6756.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We lunch at an Indian in Ringlet and the food is barely edible</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Habu - Tanah Rata, Swallowed Whole And Spat Out</span></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span> </b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the ultimate test, six kilometers of continuous hair pins one after another. If you have watched Tour de France you will remember the climb at Alp de Huez, where spectators have the grand stand view by shuttling between 2 hair pins, although this one is on far smaller scale, may be twenty times smaller. I hate this climb as it gives no respite and totally makes me suffer. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“but”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Rain starts to fall but it fails to cool my overheated body." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“but”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review your work for comma use." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>If a conjunction has been used between independent clauses, it requires a comma before it.</p> <p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p>When a comma separates two independent clauses (full sentences), there should be a comma before the conjunction. A comma isn't used before the conjunction if one of the clauses is dependent.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because both of the clauses are independent, a comma is required before "but".</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Mark likes coffee and Annie likes tea.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee, and Annie likes tea.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee but not tea.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because "not tea" isn't an independent clause, a comma isn't required before "but".</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/CompoundSentences/WithBut" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Rain starts to fall but it fails to cool my overheated body." shortdescription="<p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rain starts to fall but</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> it fails to cool my overheated body.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The will power slowly drains away, the mind playing the devil's advocate to give everything up. Each revolution of the pedal digs deep into my pain threshold. There is a constant bombardment on the mind as to its sanity. I should not be here at all. I should be in a warm bed watching cycling racing on TV.</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></b><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We stop at the tea shop for scones and tea, but the misery keeps piling up and we have no mood for any intake of food or fluid. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for comma splices." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p>If two independent clauses are to be joined into one sentence, they must be separated by a conjunction or a semi-colon. They may also be separated into two sentences by a period. Clearly identify the independent clauses in your sentence, and decide how they may best be separated.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “koala bears are not actually bears” and “they are marsupials” should be separated by a semi-colon.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am not angry with you, I am not happy with you, either.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “I am not angry with you” and “I am not happy with you”, could be separated into two sentences by a period, or they could be joined with a conjunction such as “but”.</span></p> <p><strong>Exceptions:</strong></p> <p>Comma splices may be used for artistic or poetic effect, as when one is connecting several short independent clauses:<br /> <span class="green">She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span></p> <p>Comma splices may also be used if the two independent clauses are somehow contrasting, as when following a statement with a question:<br /> <span class="green">You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma splice separates two independent clauses instead of conjunction or semicolon." name="Punctuation/CommaSplice/CommaSplice/Case2" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The problem is by far, I cannot spin the pedals with enough speed to give momentum to move forward." shortdescription="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Koala bears are not actually bears; they are marsupials.</span><br/> <strong>Exceptions:</strong> poetic effect and contrasting independent clauses<br/> <span class="green">Correct: She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The problem is by far, I cannot spin the pedals with enough speed to give momentum to move forward.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I cannot spin the pedal because I am not in the physical condition of a younger man and since I am not in this condition, I am in dire need of a smaller gear ratio, but which I don't have with the present set up. The solution is e</span><span caption="Review this sentence for faulty parallelism" class="FaultyParallelism alert" critical="true" description="<p>The gerund, “<b>failing</b>”, and the infinitive, “<b>to be</b>”, should not be used in the same sentence. Consider changing one of these verbs, so they are both of the same form (i.e. both gerunds, or both infinitives).</p> <p> When one has the option of using the infinitive of a verb (i.e. beginning with “to”), or the gerund (i.e. ending with “ing”), one must choose one or the other, depending on the tone of the sentence. Frequently, using the infinitive creates a more formal tone, while using a gerund is more common.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: My professor thinks understanding a second language and to be able to translate the second language are inherent.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The gerund, “understanding”, and the infinitive, “to be able to translate”, should not be used in the same sentence. The sentence would be better written: <span class="green">My professor thinks understanding a second language and being able to translate the second language are inherent.</span></span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: I wanted to go hiking and to see the waterfalls.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the infinitive, “to go”, is used before the gerund, “hiking”, this sentence is considered correct.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Gerund and infinitive used in parallel structure." name="FaultyParallelism/GerundAndInfinitive/GerundAndInfinitive/InfinitiveFirst" patterndate="1315217968000" sentence="Either I have to be stronger or failing that, a more forgiving gear ratio such as provided by a 30 front crank."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ither I have to be stronger or failing that, a more forgiving gear ratio such as provided by a 30 front crank.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="para" /></span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“so”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case2" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="With one kilometer remaining to go, I have nothing left inside so I get down and push my bike, but it is a sight that I am not proud of." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“so”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“so”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case2" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="With one kilometer remaining to go, I have nothing left inside so I get down and push my bike, but it is a sight that I am not proud of." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“so”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With one kilometer remaining to go, I have nothing left inside so I get down and push my bike, but it is a sight that I am not proud of.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I stop at a workshop and request a lift from the mechanic to get to Tanah Rata. We dismantle our bikes and soon after we are at Hill View Inn Hotel and after washing up and showers, we crash out and only wake up much later in the evening for dinner at a restaurant nearby.</span></span></span></b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCCCCU7vH8BabSjUwkWK31_Vit98z-hOZtt73Nvl1LIBxo4OJjFT39d-YFSALfCzL38NCOELAU8hvyTUdkeVCWVpaTj2MT_0GELo1qNsO9tEz2XXaJ5sYVXKlndrWMep0lnfafk4rpjju/s1600/IMG_6757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYCCCCU7vH8BabSjUwkWK31_Vit98z-hOZtt73Nvl1LIBxo4OJjFT39d-YFSALfCzL38NCOELAU8hvyTUdkeVCWVpaTj2MT_0GELo1qNsO9tEz2XXaJ5sYVXKlndrWMep0lnfafk4rpjju/s400/IMG_6757.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After Habu, the hill classification is category 1 and and somewhere in the middle of the climb, Mirza has to lie down to recharge his battery</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At the tea shop and all the muscles and nerves in our system are on the edge of rebellion.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One kilometer from Tanah Rata we take a lift from the mechanic in this picture, what a shame as it spoils what would be a perfect ending for the right to brag.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We check into the Hill View Inn together with our bikes</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As always, first duty is the laundry</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pretty garden of the hotel</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Tomatoes are grown in the backyards.</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJo6CtfOKRNgnYK4Q0EdMl3dYcKCr3LDpz8gyM4rhq2Oy_rw3789nsmNVWEXKyrwXVvks6RUfvy4H2nsCLre1AyiZCwO2rv-qNQZMyHxVqoVxDTIUDU2PnucpaLp9D4RXV1syEuxqfslI/s1600/IMG_6765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKJo6CtfOKRNgnYK4Q0EdMl3dYcKCr3LDpz8gyM4rhq2Oy_rw3789nsmNVWEXKyrwXVvks6RUfvy4H2nsCLre1AyiZCwO2rv-qNQZMyHxVqoVxDTIUDU2PnucpaLp9D4RXV1syEuxqfslI/s400/IMG_6765.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I would recommend this family hotel if you are in Tanah Rata, there is a lot of atmosphere and beats the sanitized and soulless establishment else where in this area.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6YSIW-G20BpIOvvLGbEkNEdRmZsCrP-urcMUOW2fcdV5BXvL2E1DStK_REfOQ7KF5u9A0R2a3Y5XfC42GTyH6GiGZ8GgeHDoRDFfpgSTl7uTLspBHbHcnyKLso0y7Q7Qfocw3zoYX6qD/s1600/IMG_6766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6YSIW-G20BpIOvvLGbEkNEdRmZsCrP-urcMUOW2fcdV5BXvL2E1DStK_REfOQ7KF5u9A0R2a3Y5XfC42GTyH6GiGZ8GgeHDoRDFfpgSTl7uTLspBHbHcnyKLso0y7Q7Qfocw3zoYX6qD/s400/IMG_6766.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I am told this is markisa fruit</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #e06666;">Tanah Rata - Tapah - Kg Gajah, Salve For The Thousand Cuts</span></span></b></div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span> </b><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The night in Cameron Highlands is chilly and we sleep soundly under the warm blanket." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The night in Cameron Highlands is chilly and we sleep soundly under the warm blanket.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for comma splices." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p>If two independent clauses are to be joined into one sentence, they must be separated by a conjunction or a semi-colon. They may also be separated into two sentences by a period. Clearly identify the independent clauses in your sentence, and decide how they may best be separated.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “koala bears are not actually bears” and “they are marsupials” should be separated by a semi-colon.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am not angry with you, I am not happy with you, either.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two independent clauses, “I am not angry with you” and “I am not happy with you”, could be separated into two sentences by a period, or they could be joined with a conjunction such as “but”.</span></p> <p><strong>Exceptions:</strong></p> <p>Comma splices may be used for artistic or poetic effect, as when one is connecting several short independent clauses:<br /> <span class="green">She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span></p> <p>Comma splices may also be used if the two independent clauses are somehow contrasting, as when following a statement with a question:<br /> <span class="green">You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma splice separates two independent clauses instead of conjunction or semicolon." name="Punctuation/CommaSplice/CommaSplice/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="I dream in after life, hell is is a place with endless bike ride uphill and stern hell keepers prod you with their sharp spears if you stop." shortdescription="<p>Ensure there are no comma splices separating two independent clauses.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Koala bears are not actually bears, they are marsupials.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Koala bears are not actually bears; they are marsupials.</span><br/> <strong>Exceptions:</strong> poetic effect and contrasting independent clauses<br/> <span class="green">Correct: She was beautiful, she was gorgeous, she was ravishing.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: You are coming to the party, aren’t you?</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I dream in after life, hell </span><span caption="Word repetition (e.g. 'will will')" class="OtherGrammar alert" critical="true" description="Possible typo: you repeated a word" name="" replacements="is" sentence="I dream in after life, hell is is a place with endless bike ride uphill and stern hell keepers prod you with their sharp spears if you stop."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is </span><span caption="Review this sentence for verb form use." class="VerbForm alert" critical="true" description="<p>The verb “<b>is</b>” which follows the form of “to be”, “<b>is</b>”, may not be in the proper form. Consider changing this verb to the past or present participle. </p> <p>After using the past or present tense of the verb “to be”, the following verb should use either the past or present participle. In these cases, the second verb may act like an adjective. This situation applies even if the case is negative (using “not”). </p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am tire.</span><br/> <span class="grey">After the present tense of the verb “to be”, the second verb should use the past participle, “tired”. </span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am tire easily; I think I am getting sick.</span><br/> <span class="grey">After the present tense of the verb “to be”, the second verb should use the present participle, “tiring”, because the action is continuous. </span></p> " grammarpoint="Verb following "to be" not in form of past/present participle." name="VerbForm/NoExpectedPastorPresentParticipleAfterAuxiliarytoBe/tobewithout/720898" patterndate="1315217967000" replacements="being,been" sentence="I dream in after life, hell is is a place with endless bike ride uphill and stern hell keepers prod you with their sharp spears if you stop." shortdescription="<p>The verb “<b>is</b>”, which follows the form of “to be”, “<b>is</b>”, may not be in the proper form. Consider changing this verb to the past or present participle. </p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I am tire.</span><br /> <span class="green">Correct: I am tired.</span> </p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">is</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> a place with endless bike ride uphill and stern hell keepers prod you with their sharp spears if you stop.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> In heaven, it must be riding on flat country sides will tail winds behind. We sleep through the morning and have a late breakfast in the hotel. Our target today is Lumut where we are to join Zahir who works there and is staying at an apartment by the sea. But we delay our departure and only leave Tanah Rata well past afternoon. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="It is made worse by a puncture that threatens to turn into a blow out and precious time is spent in attending the repair." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is made worse by a puncture that threatens to turn into a blow out and precious time is spent in attending the repair.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="para" /></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going down hill is briefly interrupted by a climb into Ringlet and after the state boundary it is 51 kilometers of non stop down hill. Around 3 </span><span caption="Review this sentence for misspelled words and typos" class="MisspelledWords alert" critical="true" description="This is possibly a spelling mistake or a typo." name="" replacements="Pm" sentence="Around 3 pm we reach Tapah and enquire for the possibility of lunch at the Chinese stall that we had dinner when we first arrived."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pm</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we reach Tapah and enquire for the possibility of lunch at the Chinese stall that we had dinner when we first arrived. I point to the noodles but decline when told that it comes with pork. Goodness me, it appears the proprietor expects me to eat the pork as I eat other meat. Sorry, I have nothing personal against eating pork, its just hard wired inside me that it is prohibited and if I can pick the reason why, its because pig and humans are closely related. You don't eat your cousins or your close friends, don't you.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="para" /></span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Tapah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Tapah we take the main road heading towards Ipoh." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Tapah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Tapah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="From Tapah we take the main road heading towards Ipoh." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>From Tapah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">From Tapah</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we take the main road heading towards Ipoh. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The road is quite busy but there are wide shoulders to cycle on and we feel somewhat safe." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review your work for comma use." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>If a conjunction has been used between independent clauses, it requires a comma before it.</p> <p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p>When a comma separates two independent clauses (full sentences), there should be a comma before the conjunction. A comma isn't used before the conjunction if one of the clauses is dependent.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because both of the clauses are independent, a comma is required before "but".</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Mark likes coffee and Annie likes tea.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee, and Annie likes tea.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee but not tea.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because "not tea" isn't an independent clause, a comma isn't required before "but".</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/CompoundSentences/WithBut" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The road is quite busy but there are wide shoulders to cycle on and we feel somewhat safe." shortdescription="<p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The road is quite busy but</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> there are wide shoulders to cycle on and we feel somewhat safe.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> There are slight elevation followed by down hills but there is no trouble at all and we really enjoy this terrain. There are found man made lakes dotting the country side, the area being ex mining land. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>On our right</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="On our right we can see the majestic dark blue of the Cameron Highlands against the soft blue sky." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>On our right</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On our right</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we can see the majestic dark blue of the Cameron Highlands against the soft blue sky. The </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commonly confused words" class="ConfusedWords alert" critical="true" description="Ensure you do not confuse similar words with different meaning." name="" replacements="site" sentence="The sight is breath taking." wiki="site,sight"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">sight</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is breath taking. The cuts suffered in the climb are soothed and forgotten.</span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Before Kampar we take a left and there are more lakes." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>Before Kampar</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Before Kampar we take a left and there are more lakes." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>Before Kampar</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“and”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Before Kampar we take a left and there are more lakes." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“and”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>Before Kampar</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Before Kampar we take a left and there are more lakes." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>Before Kampar</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before Kampar</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we take a left and there are more lakes.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>On this stretch</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="On this stretch we encounter less traffic." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>On this stretch</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On this stretch</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> we encounter less traffic. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“but”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The sky begins to look dark and threatening but only light showers fall and it increases the joy of cycling, less heat to be bothered as the showers act as a natural coolant." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“but”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review your work for comma use." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>If a conjunction has been used between independent clauses, it requires a comma before it.</p> <p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p>When a comma separates two independent clauses (full sentences), there should be a comma before the conjunction. A comma isn't used before the conjunction if one of the clauses is dependent.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because both of the clauses are independent, a comma is required before "but".</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Mark likes coffee and Annie likes tea.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee, and Annie likes tea.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee but not tea.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because "not tea" isn't an independent clause, a comma isn't required before "but".</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/CompoundSentences/WithBut" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The sky begins to look dark and threatening but only light showers fall and it increases the joy of cycling, less heat to be bothered as the showers act as a natural coolant." shortdescription="<p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sky begins to look dark and threatening but</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> only light showers fall and it </span><span caption="Review this sentence for subject/verb agreement." class="SubjectVerbAgreement alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure the subject agrees with the verb, particularly if the subject is plural and the verb ends with an “s”.</p> <p>The plural subject of your sentence (“<b>only light showers fall and it</b>”) may not agree with the verb (“<b>increases</b>”). Consider changing the verb to the plural.</p> <p>A list of items – even if each item is singular – creates a plural subject. A plural subject (a subject with two or more items; look for the word “and”) requires a plural verb to modify it. Most plural verbs do not end in “s”.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Financial responsibility and familial obligation weighs heavily on the shoulders of most parents.</span><br /> <span class="grey">The subject of the sentence, “financial responsibility and familial obligation”, is plural (note the word “and”); the verb “weighs” should be changed to the plural: "weigh".</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: In the coniferous forest lives pine, spruce and fir trees.</span><br /> <span class="grey">The plural subject of the sentence, “pine, spruce and fir trees”, requires a plural verb to modify it. The verb should be changed from “lives” to “live”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Dan and Jack share a house with Bob.</span><br /> <span class="grey">“Dan and Jack” is a plural subject, so the verb “share” is correct.</span></p> " grammarpoint="Noun and Verb Number Agreement" name="SubjectVerbAgreement/NounandVerbNumberAgreement/MultipleSubjPlusSingular/MultipleSubjectsPlusSingularPredicate" patterndate="1315217968000" replacements="increase" sentence="The sky begins to look dark and threatening but only light showers fall and it increases the joy of cycling, less heat to be bothered as the showers act as a natural coolant." shortdescription="<p>The plural subject of your sentence (“<b>only light showers fall and it</b>”) may not agree with the verb (“<b>increases</b>”). Consider changing the verb to the plural.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Financial responsibility and familial obligation weighs heavily on the shoulders of most parents.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Financial responsibility and familial obligation weigh heavily on the shoulders of most parents.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">increases</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> the joy of cycling, less heat to be bothered as the showers act as a natural coolant. We pass through quaintly named town, one being called Tronoh Mine. There used to be a lot of tin mining in this part and Tronoh is sitting smack in the center of it all. But now the mines are closed down and everything is quiet and peaceful.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“but”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="The sky begins to look dark and threatening but only light showers fall and it increases the joy of cycling, less heat to be bothered as the showers act as a natural coolant." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“but”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are two stops, at the first I have </span><span caption="Review this sentence for misspelled words and typos" class="MisspelledWords alert" critical="true" description="This is possibly a spelling mistake or a typo." name="" replacements="Lassa,lassa" sentence="There are two stops, at the first I have laksa and the second Mirza says there are rat droppings in the ice."><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">laksa</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and the second Mirza says there are rat droppings in the ice. Yuck, there is no need for further investigation, suspicion is enough and we beat a hasty retreat without finishing our drinks.<br class="para" /><br class="para" />I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">t is quite dark when we reach the Ipoh Lumut main road. </span><span caption="Review this sentence for run-on sentences." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction <b>“but”</b>.</p> <p>When two independent clauses are joined by a co-ordinating conjunction (e.g. "and", "but", "or", "so"), there must be a comma before the conjunction or it will be a run-on sentence. Clearly identify the conjunction in the sentence with two independent clauses, and insert a comma before the conjunction.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “Matthew went to the library” and “I headed back to the science lab”, are independent; a comma should be inserted before “and”.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: The wind was brisk but the sun was strong.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the wind was brisk” and “the sun was strong”, are independent; there should be a comma before “but”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: The man’s business was failing, so he was searching for alternative income.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The two clauses, “the man’s business was failing” and “he was searching for alternative income”, are independent. The co-ordinating conjunction, “so” requires a comma before it.</span></p> " grammarpoint="No comma before coordinating conjunction." name="Punctuation/RunonSentence/NoCommaBeforeCoordinatingConjunction/Case1" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Traffic is not only busy but they go astoundingly fast, this stretch being of a highway standard." shortdescription="<p>This may be a run-on sentence. Consider adding a comma before the co-ordinating conjunction (<b>“but”</b>).</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Matthew went to the library and I headed back to the science lab.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Matthew went to the library, and I headed back to the science lab.</span></p> "><span caption="Review your work for comma use." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>If a conjunction has been used between independent clauses, it requires a comma before it.</p> <p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p>When a comma separates two independent clauses (full sentences), there should be a comma before the conjunction. A comma isn't used before the conjunction if one of the clauses is dependent.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because both of the clauses are independent, a comma is required before "but".</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Mark likes coffee and Annie likes tea.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee, and Annie likes tea.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: Mark likes coffee but not tea.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because "not tea" isn't an independent clause, a comma isn't required before "but".</span></p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/CompoundSentences/WithBut" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Traffic is not only busy but they go astoundingly fast, this stretch being of a highway standard." shortdescription="<p>The conjunction (insert conjunction) may require a comma before it. Consider inserting one.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: I'm behind in my work but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: I'm behind in my work, but I desperately need to get some exercise.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Traffic is not only busy but</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> they go astoundingly fast, this stretch being of a highway standard.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>on reaching Kampong Gajah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/PrepositionalWithGerund" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Even though the shoulders are wide, the creeping darkness makes us very uncomfortable about the safety of the ride, and on reaching Kampong Gajah we decide to abandon the cycling and phone for assistance which comes in the form of Zahir with his car." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>on reaching Kampong Gajah</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Even though the shoulders are wide, the creeping darkness makes us very uncomfortable about the safety of the ride, and on reaching Kampong Gajah we decide to abandon the cycling and phone for assistance which comes in the form of Zahir with his car.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We pile the bicycles in to his car and finish the balance of the journey in less than an hour, which would have taken us another 3 hours by bike.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br class="para" /></span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>After a night</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="After a night in Lumut, the next day we take a bus at Lumut to Shah Alam and from the terminal ride home to our house." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>After a night</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>After a night</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhrase/SpecificWithPP" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="After a night in Lumut, the next day we take a bus at Lumut to Shah Alam and from the terminal ride home to our house." shortdescription="<p>The introductory phrase “<b>After a night</b>” may require a comma after it.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After a night</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in Lumut, the next day we take a bus at to Shah Alam and from the terminal ride home to our house.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #191c1e; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will I return to Cameron Highlands ? </span><span caption="Review this sentence for commas after introductory phrases." class="Punctuation alert" critical="true" description="<p>Ensure the introductory phrase is properly punctuated; a comma may or may not be required.</p> <p>An introductory phrase is like a clause, but it does not have its own subject and verb; it relies on the subject and verb in the main clause. Unless the phrase is very short (less than 5 words) and begins with a preposition ("to", "for", "at", etc.), there should be a comma between the introductory phrase and the main clause.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="grey">The introductory phrase “fighting against reason” requires a comma after “reason”.</span></p> <p><span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span><br/> <span class="grey">Because the introductory phrase “by flashlight” is short <b>and</b> begins with a preposition, a comma is not required.</span> </p> " grammarpoint="Comma-mark missing where expected." name="Punctuation/MissingComma/IntroductoryPhraseGeneral/YesNo" patterndate="1315217971000" sentence="Yes definitely but only after I fix the triple crank on my bike." shortdescription="<p>Ensure the introductory phrase is properly punctuated; a comma may or may not be required.</p> <p><span class="red">Incorrect: Fighting against reason Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: Fighting against reason, Martha decided to pull an all-nighter in hopes of passing the exam.</span><br/> <span class="green">Correct: By flashlight we made our way along the path.</span></p> "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Yes definitely but only after I fix the triple crank on my bike.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VKMgcXXCrTjO44jer3a8Vg-8HqcdBMdUyJXA8Wu-46ABEv3ZtEMRR3vSsyMrs4QnvcHETNM3mo7eQonGmYAIrxuN-GYEyElTHSNmvbDu5rAdxEqa3v0PaoRIH8kJDNC2kJfaJIkRKTcf/s1600/IMG_6767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VKMgcXXCrTjO44jer3a8Vg-8HqcdBMdUyJXA8Wu-46ABEv3ZtEMRR3vSsyMrs4QnvcHETNM3mo7eQonGmYAIrxuN-GYEyElTHSNmvbDu5rAdxEqa3v0PaoRIH8kJDNC2kJfaJIkRKTcf/s400/IMG_6767.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One reason I like this place is the dining hall which overlooks a garden of flowers and full breakfast is available for a modest price</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Before checking out we pose for the last time</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What is a tour without flats. The main road is behind and we are attending the repairs on the slip road to a deserted hut, so it is not as reckless as it looks.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Goodbye Ringlet.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Somewhere near Tronoh Mines we stop for refills and find rat droppings in our ice.</span></span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Wonderful dinner at Lumut water front</span>.</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw4xG8a3WMHFmEQuEU2DAFMhIFBL457Z0mfTft2qm5zI3vumGTG3YiIAXPIKrOZ7utEkWWEH9rV1EMUFYiUszqDY503c3dnyby9BT5mgqMObpiGidq-B8TS1xnWgMKedqmmYXRhe1wBMe/s1600/IMG_6778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlw4xG8a3WMHFmEQuEU2DAFMhIFBL457Z0mfTft2qm5zI3vumGTG3YiIAXPIKrOZ7utEkWWEH9rV1EMUFYiUszqDY503c3dnyby9BT5mgqMObpiGidq-B8TS1xnWgMKedqmmYXRhe1wBMe/s400/IMG_6778.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The last leg of the tour, at the bus terminal in Lumut where we pack our bikes into the cargo hold of the bus and reach Shah Alam later in the day</span>.</span></b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-14655801397863669432011-09-02T06:03:00.000-07:002011-09-02T20:09:03.986-07:00Id with Jack & Maria<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">On the arrival of the Id we had a visit from a cycling couple Jack and Maria, who came in to Kelantan on a tandem bicycle. They had been cycling from New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and are on the way to Thailand when they passed through our area. You can follow their adventure at <a href="http://www.thejackstaffordfoundation.com/fr_blog.cfm">http://www.thejackstaffordfoundation.com/fr_blog.cfm</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.thejackstaffordfoundation.com/fr_blog.cfm"></a>During the duration they were my guests having known them through a hosting web site at <a href="http://www.warmshowers.org/">http://www.warmshowers.org/</a> where I am registered as a host. Previously I had received inquiries from a number of cyclists passing through my town but due to my absence, I had not been able to receive them. Jack and Maria have the distinction of being my first cycling guests and I am told by them they are immensely pleased to have been given the opportunity to share the Id festival with us. Well Jack and Maria, I too am pleased to host both of you and I am glad for the sharing of your cycling experience.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Fooling around with Jack's tandem with full "Raya" attire, with Sofia and Pie at the back much to the amusement of Jack and Maria</b></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: justify;">Concurrent with the Id we had a traditional ceremony at our home to welcome my second grand child, Ziad Ashaz. Two goats were slaughtered and the mutton was shared with the relatives who were invited over to share our pride of me being a grandfather (not forgetting my wife, a grandmother). For this ceremony not any goat will do. It must be free from defects, preferably a male as a female may be with fetus and thus imperfect, and the animal must be fully grown. A goat is considered fully grown after it had shed its milk teeth and normally this is reached when it is two years old. This is the reason we have to pay a premium for this kind of goat as extra expenses is needed to get the animal to full maturity.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To crown the ceremony a small portion of the hair is cut. But it is preferable the whole head is shaved and traditionally the hair is gathered and weighed and money sufficient to purchase gold of equal weight is distributed to the poor.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>This is Ashaz after the shaving ceremony, beautifully bald.</b></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span id="goog_58680772"></span><span id="goog_58680773"></span>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-81728276518420458102011-08-15T01:50:00.000-07:002011-09-24T06:11:00.294-07:00An Evening In Paris<div style="text-align: justify;">Arriving in Paris I swore that on no circumstance would I pander to the urge to showboat "that tower". It is too touristy and no one wants to look at that damn tower anymore, but like other star struck tourists I thought I have discovered "the shot", and so, another addition to the boring subject is here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I wanted originality, something of Paris from angles which have not been looked at. Very high aspiration indeed, instead I ended with the mundane and forgettable shots. I thought it would be high culture, instead it was haggling with the Pakistani vendor at Pigalle over tacky cheap souvenirs.<br />
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And it rained incessantly. It was not possible to go out and not be soaked. We did not try to brave the rain as it was freezing cold. After a few days the sky lifted and we had sunshines. Our sojourn coincided with the Id and we took the opportunity to celebrate with the Paris citizens at the renowned Paris Mosque. Unfortunately we missed the sermon. It would be nice to know in what language the sermon was delivered, French or Arabic ? The crowd was mostly of North African descent, so more probably it would be Arabic. If so, Islam would remain a foreign religion in France, and would remain outside the pale of the majority of the French. If you speak a foreign tongue it would be extremely difficult to reach out to the local group and Islam in France would remain parochial and race based.<br />
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But seriously, I cannot see the religion of Islam making any meaningful headway in this country. The structure of the religion itself is anathema to the Gallic culture. How on earth can you get a Frenchman from the heart of France to forego their wine, their national pride for thousand of years. It must be retold that in "The Tale of Two Cities" the citizens of Paris practically scooped the spilt wine from the ground with their bare hands, for a chance to imbibe it, it just confirm the height and the depth this alcoholic beverage occupied in the esteem of the people here. Asides from Judaism, Islam is the only religion that outlaw certain food and drinks and condemned its followers to permanent residence in hell for transgression of the dietary rules. With such impossible gulf between the twain, it shall never meet, unless the people is subjugated by force, a situation that will not happen more so after the Battle of Tours more than a thousand years ago. Even coexistence is barely tolerated as evidenced by the constant bickering between the government and the Muslims in France.<br />
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As a cyclist I kept a watch out for the cycling habit of the people in this city. Bicycles were available for rental from docking points around Paris. There were many docking points scattered around the city for bicycle renting. One could pick a bicycle from one point and return it to a different point. I thought of trying the renting but the system appeared complicated to me and further more it was winter and the idea of cycling perished with the freeze. I heard this public bicycle for hire scheme is highly successful and very popular among the cycling fraternity here.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The first time I was in Paris was in 1987, not counting the transit on a flight from Kuala Lumpur to London in 1984 by Pakistan Airline where we waited for the stopover in the Paris airport lounge. The price of the return economy class ticket then, was RM1,300.00 and what a journey it was. We departed from Subang International Airport around 10.00 pm by Airbus, tracked down south to Singapore to pick up passengers and then flew to Colombo for another stop where we arrived around midnight local time. I remember getting down from the plane to the terminal and was shocked to see people lying down on the floor sleeping. Like a coach journey, some passengers ended their flight here and some boarded. After Colombo we reached Karachi in the early morning and this time every body had to get down to the terminal and onward passengers were issued new boarding passes for the next leg to London this time by B 747. It was an old creaky aircraft, my seat was falling apart but it was my first time on a jumbo jet and the excitement from the novelty sort of evened out the anxiety. A lot of 'Shukriahs' later we touched down at Frankfurt around afternoon. We were not allowed to disembark but from the opened door I took photographs of white men doing manual jobs. Horrors, as all the while I had thought the white were a superior race of 'sahibs' dispensing orders to the 'coolies' to pick up the 'changkuls'. The notion of racial superiority now safely deflated, we then flew to Paris where on descending I had my first sight of the tower. The final leg, at last, was London and we arrived in Heathrow late afternoon. The reason I am recalling this journey is to compare the time taken and the choices available to fly from Kuala Lumpur to London then and now. Aircrafts were not advanced enough to fly direct, refueling was necessary at some half way points. The cheaper the tickets, the more stops you have to endure. Today with non stop flight it only takes 12 hours as opposed to almost 24 hours then. But it is not as bad as it sound. One pound was only RM3.00, and a penny was not a coin to be sniffed at, as a Tube ride was 30p, Times 20p and London Bridge to Brockley return train fare 60p. B & B was 10 Pounds per person and the girl at the Marks & Spencer cash till looked at me as a celebrity by calling her friends to marvel at the 100 Pound note I handed to pay for the purchase.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">In 1987, Paris was the last city I visited, on a train journey through Brussels, Strasbourg, Milan, Amsterdam, Geneva and Lucerne. After 17 days of rail travel, I was dead tired and was only looking forward to finish the business and just go home. With 2 small kids in tow, it was a blur, arriving at strange places for the first time, hunting for accommodation, searching for food and sustenance, changing money, overcoming the language barriers, they all took a toll on my stamina. Europe that I saw was reduced to train journeys, train stations and hotel rooms with no energy left for anything else. That was the last of my attempt to see as much in the shortest time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">We had to apply for visa to enter France but not for other countries that I went to. The currency was French Francs and similarly Holland with their Guilders, Switzerland Swiss Francs and Italy Liras. The Italian Liras denomination was very small, something like hundreds of thousands for 100 US Dollars. Every time you crossed the border, you have to convert and to make it easy I brought US Dollars. Whenever the train crossed a border, immigration officers will board at the last stop to check our passports like the train conductors checking the tickets, and it meant that the passengers did not need to disembark for passport control like you did on Singapore-Malaysia or do on Malaysia- Thai crossings.<br />
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As Paris was my last stop then, I had been acquainted with the booking of accommodation through the information booths in the train terminal. Reservation was confirmed at the station and you were directed to the hotel that was booked. But in smaller towns when you arrived without reservation it was still plodding the streets asking for vacancies, and walking with luggage on your shoulders was not a joke. Then I tried leaving the baggage and family at the station and went hunting for hotel rooms alone. Both were not satisfactory and the best deal was always the information booth, time saving and less taxing on your energy reserve.<br />
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By the way, the title of this post is a tribute to the legendary Hindi actor, Shami Kapoor, who passed away a few days ago and is taken from a Hindi movie of the same name which he starred with Sharmila Tagore. The story is improbable but the shots of Paris are great. It is Paris in the 60s and if you followed the movie you could see that asides from the pesky scooters (model Lambretta), Paris today still remain refreshingly unchanged. One lovely aspect of Paris is that its architecture is frozen in time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Kuala Lumpur to Paris we fly by Malaysian Airline, manned by these two fine pilots who let me a peek into their cockpit for this photo op.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We arrive into the wet, cold and gloomy Paris, it rains and it rains, and the streets shine like silver.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hot crepes keep the cold away</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A lonely pigeon in Paris</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really, if you must get a shot, try Trocadero as it is elevated and you can get interesting angles.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We join the faithful at Paris Mosque celebrating Id.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A shot of the Paris Mosque</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the Id prayers and later in the evening, we join the tourists in Champs Elysee to gawk at the Christmas lights.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUsIzS7tYFyQSXgjmas9yG8U06NqbYPTwrTLW9QBVLPaVKY5gfe3z_g7d8aqIN7KIx1drW5EPsie75fZdq16fLFnrpBPKY0aFkpZIy424ukcc-UJCVI2EziPKKR1FIvy_ZU4pOYhfLgpj/s1600/Photo+441.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfUsIzS7tYFyQSXgjmas9yG8U06NqbYPTwrTLW9QBVLPaVKY5gfe3z_g7d8aqIN7KIx1drW5EPsie75fZdq16fLFnrpBPKY0aFkpZIy424ukcc-UJCVI2EziPKKR1FIvy_ZU4pOYhfLgpj/s400/Photo+441.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He is happy because the customer is ready to pay, Turkish food for us as it is cheap and filling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11sHBWOsncrvNbNc65tfi4UzYtk-WvxU1NJtYi2z-8RHG3Ky5Zuu0IyWH-t8OT0OJIjbvLjNjBbR_OPp-IE-g68_MzTYGqim8bADd7hsqUYNj1skU2nYTusgHdZ4VBTeP-N7J5BXVEnTY/s1600/Photo+456.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi11sHBWOsncrvNbNc65tfi4UzYtk-WvxU1NJtYi2z-8RHG3Ky5Zuu0IyWH-t8OT0OJIjbvLjNjBbR_OPp-IE-g68_MzTYGqim8bADd7hsqUYNj1skU2nYTusgHdZ4VBTeP-N7J5BXVEnTY/s400/Photo+456.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A unique view of the distant Sacre Coeur bathed in the early morning golden winter sunshine, taken from our flat at Rue de Les Courbet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-91942633619719793982011-08-06T06:12:00.000-07:002011-08-06T06:12:13.845-07:00100K in 100F<div style="text-align: center;">My Solo 100K Loop</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a6343495bdc34dbca&ie=UTF8&ll=3.162456,101.4505&spn=0.479918,0.583649&z=10&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a6343495bdc34dbca&ie=UTF8&ll=3.162456,101.4505&spn=0.479918,0.583649&z=10&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">100K Loop</a> in a larger map</small></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">To keep in good cycling condition, it is important to cycle regularly and when you feel your condition is good enough it is important to have it tested and measured. One standard I hold as universal is the solo 100K.To the enthusiast and the advanced it is not a major but we talking of differing leagues. Compared to them, I have to ask for heavy discounts. I am a recreational cyclist not a competitive one and the benchmark of 100k in a day is a bar that I look at with seriousness. As I have said it is done only when I feel good.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;">On one of the days that I wake up feeling light and cheery, I prepare my bike for a long and lengthy ride. Brakes and tires are checked for the state of working conditions. Essential items like pump, puncture kit, tire levers, allen keys and water bottles are lined up and and secured on board. I start riding intending to make a circuit as in the map above by heading toward Klang. Sunday morning traffic is minimal and soon I reach the climb along the Federal Highway, opposite the Uitm. It is about a kilometer uphill and is quite a test for the sleeping muscles, which wake up on reaching the top when the heart beat is poked to to up and running. Going downhill after the top, I hit 50KPH on the odometer.<br />
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I ride through Klang town and is extra careful to get the right junction to Kapar as the wrong turn can easily lead to the highway to Port Klang to the west, which I had done once in the past. Along the old road parallel to the main road, the cycling is easy as there are less traffic. I soon make a stop for breakfast and on resuming the journey the time is already 10.30 am. The sun is becoming intense and the need for rehydration starts to be felt.<br />
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After Kapar there is a strong headwind which cools you down a bit but at the same time slows down the progress. The drop into smaller gear is necessary to overcome the resistance caused by the wind. By around 12.00 noon I reach the junction at Bukit Rotan and after considering the heat that is building up, I change the idea to lunch in Kuala Selangor and instead take a right turn towards Ijok so that I can finish the run earlier than planned.<br />
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I stop for shade and drink at a stall but after 1 hour I get restless and convince myself that the noon sun is bearable. Heading towards Ijok there is a tailwind. It is enjoyable as far as you can endure the heat, and average speed is 30 kph. Reaching the town of Ijok the need for a respite from the stifling air, makes me stop at an eating place. I am not hungry and just load up on the iced drink. Even under the shade of the stall, the heat is palpable. The stall owner tries to sell an energy drink, good for hot weather, so he claims, but the price is too much for a bottle of water that looks suspiciously similar to other bottled drinking water, so I politely decline.<br />
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Waiting for 15 minutes for the afternoon blaze to subside feels so pointless and at 1.30pm and I start to move again to submit to the hammering of the tropical sun. The air is still and muggy as I slog on. There are newly planted palm trees along the way with monsoon drains lining the road, filled with aquatic plants, and I can sometimes see water life in between. It is lonely and hardly there is any traffic. After 40 minutes I start feeling defeated and take a rest at a roadside stall. Again I gulped down iced drinks, this time of many varieties including one called coconut jelly. The stall is shaded by trees and I find some respite from the heat and decide to stay longer.<br />
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I don't habitually smoke, but now I make and exception and bum a clove cigarette from the son of the stall owner. May be, the combination of the exhaustion and dehydration, makes the drag a pleasure. My apologies to the those trying to stop smoking for spoiling your party. The next half an hour is spent listening to the local gossips, like the one about the shotgun wedding and I nod in faked interest. A few cars stop and everyone goes for the iced drinks. It is that hot.<br />
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There is another stop near the junction to Meru. The stall is bigger and there are more choices of drinks. I am not feeling tired but the heat is becoming unbearable and so, I linger a bit longer and have my lunch of laksa. It is now 3.00 pm. Shah Alam is merely 15 kms away and should not be any problem. But the road from here goes straight up into the air and it is a problem. Exerting on the pedal under the mid afternoon sun makes my heart beat goes extremely north. The body starts to overheat and I splash water from the bidon over my head to cool it. The climb is followed by down hill and the road keeps rising and falling for endless time, so it feels.<br />
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Before reaching the housing estate of Sunway Kayangan, the road goes through a forest . There are a lot of illegal rubbish dumps by the road side and this spoils the beautiful scenery I am cycling through. Even though there are warning signs prohibiting this practice it looks like not many are heeding. This is sad as the forest will not able to absorb the punishment without changing for the worse. I hope something is done to address the pollution before it is too late. <br />
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The long climbs begin to take its toll on me and soon I think of giving up by calling for a rescue. I stop under a shade at the roadside to rest my weary muscles and phone for transport. However the person I call cannot locate my position and after futilely giving the plan, I decide to brave it out and what luck it is as the climb ahead turns out to be the last. Soon I reach the junction of Guthrie Highway and from here it is flat rides all the way home to Kemuning Utama, although at the last stretch, for a few kilometers I am in a zombie state.<br />
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The total distance is 112 kilometers and since I am my own examiner I take the liberty by overlooking the total time taken, and give me an overall pass with distinction in tenacity and will power.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pgk5l3mFsMQGc8Rk1WXQy2m91NLNGibRj93bY5NVvSjqdqlPmaH0rNfNcHG1alLlTbbBk-J-ozuicB64269U1DBkqywGvANyOv24KzqHu464pkBR6XuJDRdYrGW1gRkqF6x8Ilji8_ok/s1600/IMG_6042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pgk5l3mFsMQGc8Rk1WXQy2m91NLNGibRj93bY5NVvSjqdqlPmaH0rNfNcHG1alLlTbbBk-J-ozuicB64269U1DBkqywGvANyOv24KzqHu464pkBR6XuJDRdYrGW1gRkqF6x8Ilji8_ok/s400/IMG_6042.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting out in the morning. I oversleep and miss the planned starting time of 7.00 am, instead it is now 9.00 am, two hours of delay, a factor contributing to the frying under the afternoon sun.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very interesting wind vanes in Kapar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Past Kapar and variety of farms are seen. This is a cane plantation</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">When I die I, bury me under this shady tree. What an afterlife it would be. Shades from the hot sun and singing birds for company. Better still, let me come back as the tree, swaying in the breeze and and worshipped by the denizens resting underneath my roots. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOuK_YIbSMJ2yxpefVJtSD9vYDxPyC_nPwqO8t3XuJjK5z6u0LPsKS87unx6ZXu65nOteO0NV-9JFC0UsjUWOgIK2NCTxh_pFj_dQUCwaiieeZyBQusqWKemuKTiuR31UeEp0mKXIXA6O/s1600/IMG_6054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicOuK_YIbSMJ2yxpefVJtSD9vYDxPyC_nPwqO8t3XuJjK5z6u0LPsKS87unx6ZXu65nOteO0NV-9JFC0UsjUWOgIK2NCTxh_pFj_dQUCwaiieeZyBQusqWKemuKTiuR31UeEp0mKXIXA6O/s400/IMG_6054.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading towards Ijok with the Main Range looming in the distance.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fHCrLIaFwcS0EDpr77C2jeRpS-Z3sal5Lrz6e142cRGbPwGZvDRTjJNyiFsu1lJka7MABOyaaPwReXlJLI3yTLWMX-D9zV_M7W5jIdLyxWnl1uZB7kbr_jpU5CFNwer-iHXniEQuBytK/s1600/IMG_6056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7fHCrLIaFwcS0EDpr77C2jeRpS-Z3sal5Lrz6e142cRGbPwGZvDRTjJNyiFsu1lJka7MABOyaaPwReXlJLI3yTLWMX-D9zV_M7W5jIdLyxWnl1uZB7kbr_jpU5CFNwer-iHXniEQuBytK/s400/IMG_6056.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Ijok, along the Batu Arang Road, new housing estates are coming up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSKHIB21u3z5KSol00IPO-5aJY499CKCNbynWLhIkNfESPSYtaelgOoADwP0tBlCBPcwRuQc0UMxGC9OdUB96oyv35sLWmqggAsTAAmqx_YiH6jmG35DiExz_VCeQZcrHkDQByW28YktJ/s1600/IMG_6057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSKHIB21u3z5KSol00IPO-5aJY499CKCNbynWLhIkNfESPSYtaelgOoADwP0tBlCBPcwRuQc0UMxGC9OdUB96oyv35sLWmqggAsTAAmqx_YiH6jmG35DiExz_VCeQZcrHkDQByW28YktJ/s400/IMG_6057.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another cemetery, this time a Chinese one. It is the day of worship and the area is given a clean makeover.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uitm campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw46dSXAZfa0YTky5moj0nq1ZE1DhRCXHwBxhJJv_pQ9ozyjhgSkSOhIWxtFaYAqrmn8BlpARU-cp9ft20Cc4X5KuZvONDWBtFIEPlrGVvvwTHgybrhBWfbveXy9KOU-WR0st3qJ0yVljA/s1600/IMG_6059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw46dSXAZfa0YTky5moj0nq1ZE1DhRCXHwBxhJJv_pQ9ozyjhgSkSOhIWxtFaYAqrmn8BlpARU-cp9ft20Cc4X5KuZvONDWBtFIEPlrGVvvwTHgybrhBWfbveXy9KOU-WR0st3qJ0yVljA/s400/IMG_6059.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The road start to rise and fall after Puncak Alam</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadkill </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVdC5quwNhP0WWh3RXUANNaTTzjyjIHJXjwhN_Y2D91dpaI-bF1Jiz_a5KCkAhe6dL28t-Q4nZOqAWxk8szc7qi0Lk4B1FdZEqDYrb2AY0xyPS-QDe05StkY7RNfn1alB7d4QtPi_AevM/s1600/IMG_6061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinVdC5quwNhP0WWh3RXUANNaTTzjyjIHJXjwhN_Y2D91dpaI-bF1Jiz_a5KCkAhe6dL28t-Q4nZOqAWxk8szc7qi0Lk4B1FdZEqDYrb2AY0xyPS-QDe05StkY7RNfn1alB7d4QtPi_AevM/s400/IMG_6061.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climb in the afternoon is a killer unless you are well conditioned, and not to be attempted without prior practice.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgH1Bfqhoo-LbIRjrgKMbw6_GB_9rZVdrsxFFUaLzbFfwddpESbYSwXL1ZkC5AoDj_aR3ltAT1G21YYosFyh6ZajGEoBJpKsMpEu9yg7riEZ9mlng9giniAVYj2uGYvzwmz4srfwWpMJZ/s1600/IMG_6062.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFgH1Bfqhoo-LbIRjrgKMbw6_GB_9rZVdrsxFFUaLzbFfwddpESbYSwXL1ZkC5AoDj_aR3ltAT1G21YYosFyh6ZajGEoBJpKsMpEu9yg7riEZ9mlng9giniAVYj2uGYvzwmz4srfwWpMJZ/s400/IMG_6062.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Zombie, after being baked, roasted, grilled and fried by the sun.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-15325380495534578612011-07-27T00:46:00.001-07:002012-03-30T06:42:21.203-07:00Christmas in Portstewart<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;">This journal has nothing to do with cycling. It is about friendship we share with and the hospitality we received from the family friends in Northern Ireland. Why Northern Ireland? A place torn by and infamous for sectarial violence. Well, there are people who have come into our life by their kindness shown to Zahir the time he went boarding in Choleraine, a small town in on the north coast of Northern Ireland. But again, why go to school in Northern Ireland? Well, its a long story, to cut short it was encouraged by my former teacher in Sultan Ismail, an Irish man, and he being Irish I now come to realise he was biased towards his home country and thus did not hesitate to exaggerate its fine points in boardings notwithstanding the political situation then and now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is now fifteen years since we were last in Northern Ireland. We expect changes but surprisingly there were few, the most talked about was the rise in house prices. Asides from that and asides from the children who had grown up and the adults who had aged, we had come back to a place that stayed the way it was, the same friendly hellos, the green country side and the incessant winter rain.<br />
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It was quieter back then. After dark, people stayed indoors to be safe from the bombs and we had the streets to ourselves. There were roadblocks manned by serious looking soldiers with machine guns and automatics hiding from behind sand bags. The police stations were triple wired and bomb proofed. When we crossed the border into Republic of Ireland, we had to stop our car at a designated spot and instructions were given by loudspeakers ordering us to stay put while remote cameras whirred and scanned our faces. A kind of remote controlled vehicle slowly moved under our car presumably searching for bombs. All the checking were done without meeting a single person.<br />
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Ironically through all the heavy security we felt safe. Being visitors we were outside the gun sights and we were assured from talking to the local people, the killings and the bombings were purely acts of vendetta and retribution between the opposing sides. It would be extremely lucky to get caught in the cross fires. Statistically speaking we were told a tourist was more likely to die crossing the streets in London than from a bomb blast in Belfast. If it gave you comfort, it is false as similar claims are now being made in Baghdad and Kabul.<br />
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Today Northern Ireland is not as dangerous as the past. Things are more calm although the suspicion still clings heavily against real peace. The Protestants and the Catholics still go to different schools, drink at different pubs and play different sports. If you tell somebody you are going to Derry instead of Londonderry, right away you show your true religious camp. There is less violence but I wouldn't bet against a new conflagration breaking out any time in the future.<br />
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Politics asides we had a meaningful time in Northern Ireland and wish its people the best of luck. We went visiting old friends on both sides of the divide and especially felt the experience of celebrating Christmas in the country as something unique and memorable.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4gJHXM_lOm7LQEJYzGNtDy0MvywXrCOMVMQ71237a1MIwkoixbmVllSmbDTyCOkdryHvzXACsacPrUDh-sPuYVITktF_6Zvo5OA62r_-CD0WaCAbg_clytcrq6NIfzV98_HsklLHX_u-/s1600/IMG_4247.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx4gJHXM_lOm7LQEJYzGNtDy0MvywXrCOMVMQ71237a1MIwkoixbmVllSmbDTyCOkdryHvzXACsacPrUDh-sPuYVITktF_6Zvo5OA62r_-CD0WaCAbg_clytcrq6NIfzV98_HsklLHX_u-/s400/IMG_4247.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Easy Jet over the Emerald Isle, the 40 shades of green of Ireland, the IEDs of the IRA, but now, the cold weather has everybody indoors unlike summer when parades by both opposing sides are flash points leading to escalation of more violence. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n-JZYXlvAvUFmRjFk4OJTtvDxvG_rtTpTDNRUYVZL11T93VyjkooUl6rsSOvdrC_w8r-jT0-AwDwQDhLFKl6N2yyFZnEduesW-Z5cMKHSpxqDdRJj_-85wA4vuo6h1Kb16Sv6DoLsSOP/s1600/IMG_4249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0n-JZYXlvAvUFmRjFk4OJTtvDxvG_rtTpTDNRUYVZL11T93VyjkooUl6rsSOvdrC_w8r-jT0-AwDwQDhLFKl6N2yyFZnEduesW-Z5cMKHSpxqDdRJj_-85wA4vuo6h1Kb16Sv6DoLsSOP/s400/IMG_4249.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Touch down in Belfast after flying from Paris. This international airport is comparatively small, may be the size of Kota Bharu airport. Temperature is around 5C, it is cold because there is nothing between Northern Ireland's north coast and Greenland. The chill from the wind is from the original Arctic freeze. From the hats worn it is more likely we are cowboys from the Prairie, and yes, our teeth are chattering from the cold.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gJ47jW9d8TrbaubcsTj9UJ16okWFStwpUg5SSgc_HANEVNHOxUzTbFRVxN5IN09Ty4GMsiJAdsQiMsOUd2KhXfCWOpIJVL9V0mo56AMYn8LgLUtBnqeS7CJ8099ou2hea2GYYssFy6ac/s1600/IMG_4331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3gJ47jW9d8TrbaubcsTj9UJ16okWFStwpUg5SSgc_HANEVNHOxUzTbFRVxN5IN09Ty4GMsiJAdsQiMsOUd2KhXfCWOpIJVL9V0mo56AMYn8LgLUtBnqeS7CJ8099ou2hea2GYYssFy6ac/s400/IMG_4331.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We pay a visit to Margaret at Castlerock, our old friend and former landlord, and are shown around the house and the new bathroom. We are always impressed by the high standard of bathroom maintenance, this is an ordinary house with ordinary bathrooms and it beats the 5 star hotels in our country anytime.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v5ILRANV8vpqGbsGRdBuelg-XWgWaYo9xyjMgSS5yI8YSiDMxpjKCYEREPVfggzlw7BZuwrwitmLeHm3gUiaL5Dzg5-iy18dnLulPmRBmqVYvUfQDfW3h55Ptsin6furEcBTAHyNglBN/s1600/IMG_4363.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6v5ILRANV8vpqGbsGRdBuelg-XWgWaYo9xyjMgSS5yI8YSiDMxpjKCYEREPVfggzlw7BZuwrwitmLeHm3gUiaL5Dzg5-iy18dnLulPmRBmqVYvUfQDfW3h55Ptsin6furEcBTAHyNglBN/s400/IMG_4363.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Obligatory visit to and obligatory pose at Giant Causeway, a collection of volcanic rocks formed by ancient volcanic activity. It is a miraculous work of nature that shaped the rocks into identical hexagon form, it mirrors the work of man. The local myth attributes the rocks to giants on two sides of the sea having a stone throwing fight.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnsTVzamMpJPLduLjtc06Z6tXqRn-gs9rfOZMSDWhA8U5bMi4EeJurgtwkvJn5NC68l7U69U2ZznPgL42UJIQUJuWVmWzvPq8eQ1adqPAfX6_HitS-zo7eqNbW1HZFJW3SlKF7yn2dc-r/s1600/IMG_4468.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHnsTVzamMpJPLduLjtc06Z6tXqRn-gs9rfOZMSDWhA8U5bMi4EeJurgtwkvJn5NC68l7U69U2ZznPgL42UJIQUJuWVmWzvPq8eQ1adqPAfX6_HitS-zo7eqNbW1HZFJW3SlKF7yn2dc-r/s400/IMG_4468.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joan and Stanley are kind and gracious to treat us to a dinner meal at a fine restaurant. I have duck cooked the Irish way. Stanley is the former headmaster of Choleraine Academical Institution, the boarding school Zahir went to in his student days. Zahir is not able to join as he has flown to Holland to see his girl friend for Christmas.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibywg6kVwrGqgR5Aflz8pMpUnLgIjA81Dh5MY7XfBame3Lg5M-plMvcMQCKijuRaE63VjvuEubPKXH3dy1FjJP_GCD7uVqsaISWZvZPAQp4Ezcsde1oKdwJxvYdW_fMlIWJTUzYX9y9pFq/s1600/IMG_4487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibywg6kVwrGqgR5Aflz8pMpUnLgIjA81Dh5MY7XfBame3Lg5M-plMvcMQCKijuRaE63VjvuEubPKXH3dy1FjJP_GCD7uVqsaISWZvZPAQp4Ezcsde1oKdwJxvYdW_fMlIWJTUzYX9y9pFq/s400/IMG_4487.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We walk along the Strand, a sandy beach 2 miles long, in the blustering wind. We are wrapped up to protect against the cold. Walking boots are necessary to keep out the sand and water. After the long and exhausting walk we retire to the pub for a taste of Irish conviviality and strong brew.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoOv1UV5HB7F3W3y2DnuLKyV6AS9iyuhQAUsq7GtGJfk3tMOkgc8Go70hlUO-ht2dEC5z_m4_k1adXlS-MTxSybSRuR3xF32q94T75br9Q94f7NLNQW4ZWcIuRUbWennh2Yga54gzKeP5/s1600/IMG_4565.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkoOv1UV5HB7F3W3y2DnuLKyV6AS9iyuhQAUsq7GtGJfk3tMOkgc8Go70hlUO-ht2dEC5z_m4_k1adXlS-MTxSybSRuR3xF32q94T75br9Q94f7NLNQW4ZWcIuRUbWennh2Yga54gzKeP5/s400/IMG_4565.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We golf at Royal Portrush, a famous course which once hosted the British Open, though we are restricted to the par 3 pitch and putt.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nice shot of the sky line showing the low afternoon winter sun </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's what it costs to play a round of 9 holes. The beauty is you can drop in any time of the day to play. It's not too hot and member of the public are welcomed. Golf is an egalitarian game in this country. You play because it is a sport, not that you are forced to to advance your business ties, and there are not many shoulders to rub on, on the course.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our old friend, Hazel and her husband, Howard. They are farmers and their house sits atop a high hill near Downhill, an eponymous settlement with the road plunging down from the hill to the beach. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas morning we attend mass at a church. This is the priest. He gives a sermon which I do not understand a single word due to bad acoustic and hard to follow Irish accent though I laugh along with other attendees, pretending the jokes are funny. Somehow I feel a sense of <i>deja vu</i> as the the way Christmas morning is celebrated in the Church is eerily similar to Id prayers in our mosques. First we sing the hyms ( <i>takbir</i> ), then there is the sermon ( <i>khutbah</i> ) and finally lining up for sacraments ( handshakes and happy wishes ).</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All ready to receive the Christmas guests</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boxing day on the way to Dublin airport, the temperature plunged to sub zero</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jack Frost came last night to visit and left his call card.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The freeze in Ireland</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas tree decoration in Dublin airport. We fly by British Airways from Dublin to Gatwick and the train fare to London costs more than the air fare from Dublin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The taxi that takes us from London Bridge to our rented apartment in Surrey Quay.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6198835075313957269.post-7080313569775692102011-07-16T05:54:00.000-07:002011-09-05T07:37:35.923-07:00Cycling In Bali<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">This journey was purposely done to atone for the failure to cycle the whole of Bali, attempted in June 2009. It was during the second day of cycling that my son was hit by back pain so extreme, that we had to abort the plan and stop the tour abruptly. It was like a medical evacuation as we had to call for a van from Denpasar to transport us from Lalang Linggah back to the hotel near the airport. We then booked for an earlier flight and this meant giving up the tickets for original booking Bali- KL for a loss. He was in acute pain all the time and on reaching Kuala Lumpur was diagnosed with a slipped disc and had to undergo an emergency operation on his lumbar. That was bad luck but it did stop me from harbouring a secret desire to complete the uncompleted maybe sometimes in the future. The chance came in 2010 and again it was with Mirza, my reliable cycling partner and youngest son, that I leaned on to fulfill my wish.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b>Route of the Bali Tour</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a8270de9f9dbf1d17&ie=UTF8&ll=-8.418036,115.098267&spn=1.901808,2.334595&z=8&output=embed" width="425"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=211965404447085858390.0004a8270de9f9dbf1d17&ie=UTF8&ll=-8.418036,115.098267&spn=1.901808,2.334595&z=8&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">Bali</a> in a larger map</small></div></div><h1><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Equipment</span><o:p></o:p></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36.0pt;">1.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>My trusty Merida Road with Shimano 105 groupset<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36.0pt;">2.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Brook 17 saddle<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36.0pt;">3.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Merida Road with mixed groupset for Mirza<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36.0pt;">4.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Bag with sliding bottom for each filled with personal items only as this was going to be a credit card tour.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 54.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 54.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -36.0pt;">5.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Puncture kit, one spare tyre, 2 spare inner tubes, set of Allen keys and no 15 spanner for the nut pedal<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>10</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June 2010<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>LCCT KL - DENPASAR</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to fly from LCCT KLIA with the bikes neatly boxed</td></tr>
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We flew with Air Asia from LCCT to Denpasar. At the boarding gate the No 15 spanner and set of Allen keys which were in the carry on pannier were confiscated by security.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We arrived at Denpasar at 10.00 pm and hired a van to to take us to our hotel in Seminyak. The driver claimed he was a native Orang Bali but even after managing to run a commentary about the significance of the statues along the way he took quite sometime to locate the hotel. To newcomers Bali addresses look very confusing but no there is no excuse for a local driver to lose his way like our man did.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As it was still early I walked around the hotel and was quite surprised to see a gay club. There were many restaurants with live music which my mother would definitely disapprove.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>11</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>SEMINYAK - CANDIDASA</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I was recovering from a flu, was easily fatigued and woke up with a feeling of rusty joints. The next morning, I took a stroll around the hotel and decided to have breakfast at a corner restaurant. The toast, egg and coffee surprisingly add up to quite a lot of money.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> I could see the people were extremely friendly. They were easy to smile and never hesitate to enquire about where one was going to. One even took the trouble to ask my name and offered for R20,000 a pillion ride on his bike to a supermarket where I purchased the replacement for the Allen keys and spanner.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However the spanner did not fit but we managed to screw in the pedals by hand although the Allen keys were crucial in assembling the bikes. We rode out of the hotel to start our journey and left the bike boxes for safekeeping at the hotel telling the staff we were coming back for them later. We thought by doing so there would a place after we had completed the tour but it was not so for when we came back 5 days later there was no vacancy for us. Coming back to them was not a booking, but being a budget hotel in Seminyak, where demands were high, we had only ourselves to blame for not being clear of our intention.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Unlike last year when we took the clockwise route, going west first, this time we shall try the anti clockwise way. Perhaps with this different choice, Lady Luck will bless us unlike last year when she deserted us prematurely.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Before we formally started out Mirza had his breakfast at a small but comfortable restaurant. I had coffee Bali and feeling confident we took north easterly into Denpasar with the aid of a map we brought with us. We failed to locate the new eastern highway starting from Denpasar through Nusa Dua which would take us due east, and instead drifted further into the city of Denpasar. I took the opportunity to test my Barclays cashcard at one of the ATM machine and felt happy with the success. I was feeling a slight bonk, and before it deteriorated we stopped for a small lunch but which Mirza did not participate as he had late breakfast.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">There was heavy traffic into Denpasar but the shady trees lining the road lessened the effect and problem of afternoon heat. Amazingly, everywhere in Bali road lined trees were more the rule than exception. One peculiar practice of the traffic flow we noticed that on approaching roundabouts controlled by traffic lights, instead of going left before going right, traffic here simply took right in the face of vehicles from the front which of course had stopped at the red light. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbabRTSXQo9iCAWKTLpyKcPHSIH0Z3T7BMUCGiQ310H3iTVxF8LczLrrctngT68RMO4UQvGSU_gimDc_azKzrq1G6P2b9FXe8zmHh3h75hWWaazZ7X6ww5edcnMgmRkKv53935i8mYM1V/s1600/IMG_1584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPbabRTSXQo9iCAWKTLpyKcPHSIH0Z3T7BMUCGiQ310H3iTVxF8LczLrrctngT68RMO4UQvGSU_gimDc_azKzrq1G6P2b9FXe8zmHh3h75hWWaazZ7X6ww5edcnMgmRkKv53935i8mYM1V/s400/IMG_1584.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Light refreshment at a <i>warong</i> in Denpasar </td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At last we got out of Denpasar proper and headed east towards Kalungkung, the site of the <i>puputan</i>, mass suicide by the Balinese in their war against the Dutch occupation early in the last century. By this time the terrain had changed from flattish to undulating, the gradient was quite acute to necessitate the change into smaller gear ratios. Repeatedly we were climbing and freewheeling without any lengthy breaks. We gave Kalungkung a miss and took bypass towards Padangbai. The first flat came somewhere between the two it was Mirza’s that claimed the dubious distinction. The front went first followed not soon after by the rear. When we attended the punctures we had to perform before an audience of a crowd of inquisitive and curious children. For the second puncture we saved our time by making a replacement of the inner tube with a new one. We will repair the tube when we reached our resting place later in the evening.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQh6EsM4SzK8TEsdOtlkkpYP0faIgMH_HxVSE3YCErd-hEWn8iTZA_bNdP1VxU179F82FK9UvToGVAjXSX4-kU_6pTB0IpaMKgSUpTutpS4NdI8pWjkolc2mGz9C3mRe4i8xV6OFhOnY9/s1600/IMG_1593.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQh6EsM4SzK8TEsdOtlkkpYP0faIgMH_HxVSE3YCErd-hEWn8iTZA_bNdP1VxU179F82FK9UvToGVAjXSX4-kU_6pTB0IpaMKgSUpTutpS4NdI8pWjkolc2mGz9C3mRe4i8xV6OFhOnY9/s400/IMG_1593.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have appreciative audience whilst performing the action of tube repair</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Before Padangbai we stopped for a coconut drink at a roadside stall. I had a helping of mangosteen and rambutan. They tasted very much the same with the fruits in Malaysia. Mirza said the soil in Bali being very fertile because of their volcanic origin, paradoxically the plants would not be able to give good harvest of fruits, as plants need some restrictions, like changes in seasons, in their intake of nutrients before they could flower. In Bali it was like a perpetual heaven for plants, year round sunshine and unlimited access to food intake, so much so that they did not need to invest too much for reproduction. Good theory Mirza.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JZg5YZCF7u3EwbJBXf54aeH8E3PVrHudXm_QzLWlm6Lh6vVT76jWjuGX0isamNkD79hsZCOvnO2JVY07FIUzaqST90liCXL4vPrZAKtTd9NxT1joXzQxOxtxrmQH52Y_ZIeSAxCXa8lo/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JZg5YZCF7u3EwbJBXf54aeH8E3PVrHudXm_QzLWlm6Lh6vVT76jWjuGX0isamNkD79hsZCOvnO2JVY07FIUzaqST90liCXL4vPrZAKtTd9NxT1joXzQxOxtxrmQH52Y_ZIeSAxCXa8lo/s400/IMG_1595.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the junction to Padang Bai where we stop at a stall to try the local fruits and clove cigarettes.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">When we reached the junction to Padangbai, it was still early afternoon and we decided to push on to Candidasa and gave Padangbai a miss. Entering Candidasa we started looking out for accommodation. The first one we inspected was not too suitable. Its theme was back to nature and we felt we wanted more modern comfort and amenity. The second one was a homestay sited next to a bay and the price was reasonable at IR80,000.00 with breakfast for two. It boasted the coldest beer in Bali and the tag was indeed justified. We parked our bikes on the ground floor and had to climb a staircase to reach the rooms. After a shower and doing the laundry, that night we had our dinner at a restaurant nearby. I had baked fish and although the waiting was a tad too long, it was worth the wait as the meal was simply fabulous. That night we had a good sleep and did not feel disturbed by the traffic, which passed right at the doorstep of the homestay.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcnNp258qKpz5XtHeQGfYRT1JNts2mJjGnPEV43AHy35KqwONN03TlNPlZbQW8ilWu2VsgtLjeAOL3FLFux-EzPe_8-NLrv5wNbsZZIH3LvaqX1Rv6KrKdXfs-uvMOayWWzYx7esw6bUC/s1600/IMG_1601.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcnNp258qKpz5XtHeQGfYRT1JNts2mJjGnPEV43AHy35KqwONN03TlNPlZbQW8ilWu2VsgtLjeAOL3FLFux-EzPe_8-NLrv5wNbsZZIH3LvaqX1Rv6KrKdXfs-uvMOayWWzYx7esw6bUC/s400/IMG_1601.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wonderful dinner at a cafe in Candidasa. The service is slow but the food is great.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>12</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>CANDIDASA - BESAKIH</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiM4-U8P5EvvZV4KsvRM57zTMo9XELhqNugAoMdISowUfcBpjg1GqQXCNKTbwIVp5xuno60VKoHZqCrcgwUqSnYJ5V5grVSnWMjjyT_pbPU1AFz6ffpVJOxBhg80xZ3yKzoZ8L5v8BIwW/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiM4-U8P5EvvZV4KsvRM57zTMo9XELhqNugAoMdISowUfcBpjg1GqQXCNKTbwIVp5xuno60VKoHZqCrcgwUqSnYJ5V5grVSnWMjjyT_pbPU1AFz6ffpVJOxBhg80xZ3yKzoZ8L5v8BIwW/s400/IMG_1603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work with the puncture carried from yesterday at Bob's in Candidasa</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The next morning after breakfast we attended to the punctured tube. Bob, the Aussie owner of the homestay, thought that our journey by bike around Bali was a crazy job. I told him it was no big matter as we were doing it sitting down. Just as we were to start out, the heavens broke. It was already afternoon when the sky cleared. We stocked up our water bottles hit the road again. Immediately after leaving Candidasa there was a climb which was quite steep but it did not trouble us too much as the distance was not very long. After the hill, it was quite flat and for the first time we had a view of Gunung Agung, the highest volcano in Bali and a venerated and holy place for the Balinese. The original plan was to hug the coastal road but on reaching Amlapura Mirza said why not do the hills early in our journey instead of saving for the last when we may be too tired. This meant cutting west at Amlapura. The decision was quite correct but the timing was entirely wrong as we found out later. Amlapura was at the foot of the hills to Gunung Agung and we when started the climb it was already in the afternoon. We had a light lunch at a warong and I bought a bottle of wild honey.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aLXpNybBiC38khGvJ84yz2jdqCwecQLB3UU0kOS8SgLZ6uA-RyUALmtxZWLaiLT3WqcyQHTJHoD_yTwj4Xhwgd8V7zUcwUFxhQQxI7m67OcWVcGrY0soCKe9g0zd3WXXXN779q6WQUq4/s1600/IMG_1607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1aLXpNybBiC38khGvJ84yz2jdqCwecQLB3UU0kOS8SgLZ6uA-RyUALmtxZWLaiLT3WqcyQHTJHoD_yTwj4Xhwgd8V7zUcwUFxhQQxI7m67OcWVcGrY0soCKe9g0zd3WXXXN779q6WQUq4/s400/IMG_1607.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cycle with the majestic Gunung Agung in view.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh078KWv_f-Q6J17hBI57bmdRQm6wY7lTJqY9JzCXtDvDarlXHDd7UAfBnJY33MDkapSo2zeckoP90M7kEc83I1PkzGieIlIencoPxM1Ani0dgS14bUq7vGnfqOx90nNY-PiI3gNBDh9hL5/s1600/IMG_1609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh078KWv_f-Q6J17hBI57bmdRQm6wY7lTJqY9JzCXtDvDarlXHDd7UAfBnJY33MDkapSo2zeckoP90M7kEc83I1PkzGieIlIencoPxM1Ani0dgS14bUq7vGnfqOx90nNY-PiI3gNBDh9hL5/s400/IMG_1609.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We stop to chat with the village wood carvers and also to ask for directions</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After climbing for 2 hours we started having apprehension about our stay for the night. We found out that the next possible accommodation was not reachable within the daylight hours. Well, drastic problems required drastic solution. We stopped a bemo and inquired whether he would take us to Rendang, a settlement where we hoped to find accommodation. He agreed for IR180,000.00 and off we went together with our bikes on board. The scenery was beautiful, there were Salak plantations hugging the hills and we regret not having the time to cycle this part of the country. We saw people doing the whitewaters somewhere along the way.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEh9N6xQIML_UlvRfNHc0_bkOiv0dUp3UuBXRqYj1kznneA7GoyoMMauwCH7xEsKigpTwJOqAq3Yk5I_c3jjcxePHjqwyWpha01e22o5csVCw8lzfMz1hUzjJbCsqZQ2IQ-FdB05fbOGw/s1600/IMG_1610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEEh9N6xQIML_UlvRfNHc0_bkOiv0dUp3UuBXRqYj1kznneA7GoyoMMauwCH7xEsKigpTwJOqAq3Yk5I_c3jjcxePHjqwyWpha01e22o5csVCw8lzfMz1hUzjJbCsqZQ2IQ-FdB05fbOGw/s400/IMG_1610.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Terraced rice fields taken from inside the bemo</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We reached Rendang quite late in the afternoon and asked around for accommodation. In Rendang there was one of a five star status and we were told there was another cheaper hotel on the way to Besakih. After finishing my salak I bought during the bemo ride, we started cycling in search of the hotel. Then Mirza’s pedals started to come loose, as some screws holding it had to be replaced. Luckily we found a bike shop and after trying to replace the pedals, the shop owner came to a solution by just taking the screws out of the new pedals and fixing them on the faulty one. When we asked how much, he said it was too little to charge. We were so grateful because the size of our problems was immense in this situation, as a bicycle without a working pedal would not be able to take us anywhere. For want of a nail, a kingdom was lost, if you know what happened to the fable.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">While waiting for the repair of the bicycle we were told that accommodation was available in Besakih in the form of chalet and the price was IR250,000.00 per night. The cost was not what we were exactly looking for but looking at the time of the day and the lack of choice, we decided to sacrifice this splurge. A van from the chalet was available for us and we loaded our bikes to be taken on a steeply inclined road to the chalets in Besakih.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTUnQs9eeqXGEGQwsOVem48Pqg7O43GZ1joaRfY7p6L-OP6sRSE3O-u3d7N4FjXSmpyPJJ7NXno0hZtu08RuUErdcyzZeAcHzMLS5t8nqP6e_bRVzoXmNl_3e5gbjxe7ZWi5LFrvy67VR/s1600/IMG_1611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUTUnQs9eeqXGEGQwsOVem48Pqg7O43GZ1joaRfY7p6L-OP6sRSE3O-u3d7N4FjXSmpyPJJ7NXno0hZtu08RuUErdcyzZeAcHzMLS5t8nqP6e_bRVzoXmNl_3e5gbjxe7ZWi5LFrvy67VR/s400/IMG_1611.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our chalet in Besakih</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj2CTOYHVlToXsYjXml6WWCWjtdeMpdwfxXREIzTw7pjAsUpt7zS5Kk3Vt3vyUH033V-ExJ3mvbpHpoqk2jObnU-xPwLxjMBy5nlJgyFt0Op78dkXSjV7jXOnEj6O7SrupV6buIwuriF3/s1600/IMG_1612.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijj2CTOYHVlToXsYjXml6WWCWjtdeMpdwfxXREIzTw7pjAsUpt7zS5Kk3Vt3vyUH033V-ExJ3mvbpHpoqk2jObnU-xPwLxjMBy5nlJgyFt0Op78dkXSjV7jXOnEj6O7SrupV6buIwuriF3/s400/IMG_1612.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before we start I seek the blessing of the cycling <i>dewa</i> to give me courage in conquering the slopes to come</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The chalets were very new and they were sited at the foothill of Gunung Agung just a walking distance to Pura Agung, one of the oldest puras in Bali. There were 10 chalets available and we were the only guests. After being shown our chalet we rode to the warong near the Pura and had one of the worst meal that I could remember. I did not know what we ate but we had to force the carbs down our throat in order to have fuels for tomorrow’s ride. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Coming back from dinner, a man was waiting for us. He was the caretaker of the chalet and introduced himself as Made, which was a common Balinese name. Every Balinese will either be a Ketut, a Wayan, a Made or a Nyoman, depending on the order of birth in the family. He was very friendly, a bit too friendly for my liking. He offered to take us up to Gunung Agung of course for a fee and we were told for IR500,00.00. That was a wee bit too stiff for us and we declined the offer. Next he offered to take us around Besakih on his bike. I should have detected the catch behind this ploy but I felt a bit reckless and let go. Riding pillion I was first taken to his relative’s home and there was served coffee. We chatted a bit and I gave IR20,000.00 to a baby who looked sick and was just discharged from a hospital. Next he said let’s visit the Pura and I said yes, even though I was quite wary of the situation. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Pura Besakih was one of the oldest temples in Bali being about 1000 years old. From the Pura there was a path that could take you straight to the top of Gunung Agung. When Gunung Agung exploded in 1963, it caused a lot of destruction to the area around it but miraculously the Pura was spared in spite of being on the path of the ashes and lava flow. Reaching the Pura I was taken around and then come the tourist trap that was forewarned in Lonely Planet guide. He said let’s pray for safe journeys and I thought why not as I was interested to see up close how the Balinese Hindus prayed. A pendita was fetched and he opened up one of the many prayer houses and we were told to sit down facing the temple and he chanted as he sprinkled holy water on us. The holy water was brought down from the summit of Gunung Agung and to them it had special properties. It reminded me of Zamzam water, which was equally holy to the Muslims. Being Muslims it was wrong to partake in non-Islamic ceremony but as the intention was to learn how people of other religion pray, I hoped God would grant me the exception. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">After the prayer was over, sure enough, there was a request for donation. It would be embarrassing to quibble at this stage and reluctantly I parted with IR50,000.00. On the way down as part of the closing ceremony I had to drink water near the temple and to do so I had to purchase a bottle of drinking water. On reaching the chalet I felt cornered into giving a gift in the form of IR50,000.00 to Made for his time and the bike ride. So it proved right that Pura Besakih was one big tourist trap where even human kindness and god’s blessing were sold for a price.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">However asides from the money taken from you, the Balinese were decent people. They tried hard to please and that night over numerous cups of coffee prepared by Made’s wife, we had long chats on the hut in the cool mountain air. In the end I forgave them. Their economic condition forced them to look to us their source of income. All the rupiahs were for basic sustenance of their life and almost everybody looked needy.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>13</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June </b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p><b>BESAKIH – PENELOKAN – BATUR - SINGARAJA - LOVINA</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We woke up fresh and eager and we hired for a van to take us to Penelokan, a town near Lake Batur about 15 kilometres away from Besakih. The reason we needed a ride was because we wanted to ensure we reached our next destination, Singaraja, before sunset. It was uphill from Besakih to Batur and if we were to average 5 kph we might not have enough time to reach our target.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">At Penelokan where we were dropped, we had rice for breakfast where I learned <i>lada</i> was <i>cabai</i>, and then took a few obligatory photos of Gunung Batur an active volcano and the lake, a caldera. Touts and peddlers were swarming around tourists who were arriving by buses but we were left alone, as cyclists were unknown creatures, yet. Even then, one of them weakly attempted to pass on souvenirs to us but after showing the size of our panniers, they seemed to understand our limitations. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr30JuUXhgSNVA1_AfRqE5N8Q2F9ed7PfOHQ4qL326Z9gGJYQSfvyH8z6izmg-z3aI3VyHE_i0bJSvRdiN2W58VsnI3tDveUIA7tV8_wSLC8pcQkortOs3BTX0ygoxGvLt8N-FF5tFITJO/s1600/IMG_1615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr30JuUXhgSNVA1_AfRqE5N8Q2F9ed7PfOHQ4qL326Z9gGJYQSfvyH8z6izmg-z3aI3VyHE_i0bJSvRdiN2W58VsnI3tDveUIA7tV8_wSLC8pcQkortOs3BTX0ygoxGvLt8N-FF5tFITJO/s400/IMG_1615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunung Batur in the morning mist</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZeC0ValM-YtMhrLhbbaL5zaOTKek_8C7WewfANUmW1Bs7nO20oQnbqvTr98yiRdRnjHfWXDql8PbJiHgMHTWku9jTMnzfD0iPNCx9NEYoiOPZWecVXfHo62z_m1D_udmVaLHNtAJVjHF/s1600/IMG_1618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZeC0ValM-YtMhrLhbbaL5zaOTKek_8C7WewfANUmW1Bs7nO20oQnbqvTr98yiRdRnjHfWXDql8PbJiHgMHTWku9jTMnzfD0iPNCx9NEYoiOPZWecVXfHo62z_m1D_udmVaLHNtAJVjHF/s400/IMG_1618.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can have meals while observing the cloudy volcano.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OzXqoK7V7Lj8N-5cRy7N1-RSC8U-NEpH0RNGKPCTHTUHCANC2C994zhzL0xP8BqUDrqZl7Az3g5Gm_WeCnfFVPbcEE8oe7_0iKl2YC5dnWJroBVdGbiNpdB8HIhru2V-UvqphhT3yWYo/s1600/IMG_1619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0OzXqoK7V7Lj8N-5cRy7N1-RSC8U-NEpH0RNGKPCTHTUHCANC2C994zhzL0xP8BqUDrqZl7Az3g5Gm_WeCnfFVPbcEE8oe7_0iKl2YC5dnWJroBVdGbiNpdB8HIhru2V-UvqphhT3yWYo/s400/IMG_1619.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunung Batur and the crater lake</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Clouds were enveloping the lake and the volcano obscuring their view. The morning air was chilly and the place was still empty of human activities. What an ambience but we had a date with our next destination. We loved to hang out longer and reluctantly we had to start cycling. And what a climb it was to be. Both us had done a few hills back in Malaysia, like Fraser’s Hill, Genting Sempah and Ulu Langat dam and had acquitted ourselves reasonably well in getting to the tops with something to spare in the tank. But we were facing a different monster here. In Malaysia the mountain roads generally hug the contours of the slopes and even though the climb may be long we did not worry too much about the gradients. Over here, forget about contours. From Penelokan onwards, we were cycling along the ridges, which was fine as the view was breathtaking and gradient was manageable. The killer came in getting to the next ridge where the road simply followed the slopes. First it plunged down a bit and next a wall was facing you. The climbs really sapped my energy and I had to stop a few times to catch my breath again. After having done the mountains many times back home I had learnt the trick in tackling the slopes. Pace yourself comfortably, do not exceed your normal cadence and most of all, stop when you felt you were gasping for air. Do not feel ashamed you had to stop. A fiver would help you to recover and continuing after would make all the difference. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXfsJMuJjsDT0A9L_xQqdoRdlzbrAxz7EO0fDiD34Lm3dkFjLBgrAREp_4pmo5_c52gQv0xjuFTTMuySXYWSoNaDWHy7vJLAm9uwA0NitK72eR-bFYkryrjkjb48DfSF6YOjmfzjBXmCT/s1600/IMG_1625.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJXfsJMuJjsDT0A9L_xQqdoRdlzbrAxz7EO0fDiD34Lm3dkFjLBgrAREp_4pmo5_c52gQv0xjuFTTMuySXYWSoNaDWHy7vJLAm9uwA0NitK72eR-bFYkryrjkjb48DfSF6YOjmfzjBXmCT/s400/IMG_1625.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The photo cannot really tell the steepness of the gradient.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8LEeNR6UiXIVLnNUSr3xbn3USqPsix13inFloIYG33iei8ud5zGr-QroD0-8sttrTgNlCKVzoWNXlVFNR9TYhsUY3_V6Vwz-rP2V7w7dAtQTYDJw1yOYzjnpLBIQEPtqlMCr_aoZgdZC/s1600/IMG_1629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE8LEeNR6UiXIVLnNUSr3xbn3USqPsix13inFloIYG33iei8ud5zGr-QroD0-8sttrTgNlCKVzoWNXlVFNR9TYhsUY3_V6Vwz-rP2V7w7dAtQTYDJw1yOYzjnpLBIQEPtqlMCr_aoZgdZC/s400/IMG_1629.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The occasional fivers to rejuvenate the tiring body</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLxF4CwCcaJgB_fw1cdFpJ1hxXpBaG6TOwMd72zR40IllNXHA8TbX0YlQ91bDW7OqDfsKtOLZbAL3fG0K6QP93F7qtIK4k2GmgGkRmBLE11EXK_ZP1xP3r6u-LLMb5fa07Zp5qhmX24aU/s1600/IMG_1622.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLxF4CwCcaJgB_fw1cdFpJ1hxXpBaG6TOwMd72zR40IllNXHA8TbX0YlQ91bDW7OqDfsKtOLZbAL3fG0K6QP93F7qtIK4k2GmgGkRmBLE11EXK_ZP1xP3r6u-LLMb5fa07Zp5qhmX24aU/s400/IMG_1622.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We cycle along the ridges of the caldera</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The stops, besides from recharging our spirits, allowed to get closer to nature and absorbed the beauty of the area. The climbs took us pass Kintamani where there was a morning market going on at that time. After Kintamani the gradients got worse as we were nearing the highest point. We laboured on and just as Mirza was about to burst into tears at the sight of a huge wall of a road, we took a turn to the left into Penulisan where we stopped and took a rest in front of a pura. This place I found out from the people manning the provision store was the highest point and yes, to our immense pleasure, was downhill all the way to the coast. We rested and enjoyed the view of the pura, which was sited at a junction, and we saw many travelers stopping by paying their respect to the holy place and in return were blessed by the gods for a safe journey ahead. Inside my heart I found an agreement with this practice. I had successfully reached the summit after an epic struggle and I thanked whoever was in charge for this reward. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Constantly applying the brakes on the way downhill did cause tiredness to my finger muscles. This was the only complain but it was a very long downhill that I surprisingly felt the need to stop for all the silly reasons, just to rest my fingers. A cyclist with tired fingers was a rare breed indeed. I had too much of freewheeling, too much that the pleasures in the end turned to boredom, just like a golfer scoring holes in one in heaven or as the jokes went, a miser bringing gold to that place to find out that it was only paving materials. Success repeated, took away the excitement as it became mundane and ordinary. The pleasures were actually in denials and in getting it when hopes were gone.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Anyway it was lunchtime when we hit the town of Singaraja. We stopped for a meal at a restaurant and I had rice with fish Eastern Java style, whatever that meant. The town was by a coast and it was flat. After the meal I inquired the girl the counter about the distance and the way to Lovina where we planned to find accommodation for the night. I was mildly surprised to be informed that Lovina was a very, very long way off and it sounded from her tone that it was destination that was beyond us to reach by bicycle. This could not be right as from the maps it did not look a long way off. May be from her point it was a long way for a cyclist. If it was so, we decided not break her notion about cycling distance by telling her where we came from. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Lovina was actually about 15 kms from Singaraja, hardly a sweat for us and we found a home stay by the beach. It was about 3 p.m when we checked in and the first order was the laundry. After changing we rested on a hut by the beach and it was so pleasant that I dozed of and was awakened by a rain shower. It was light rain and I continued staying under the hut for the rest of the evening absorbing the view and the atmosphere. When night fell we walked along the shores to a restaurant where I had Greek salad. It was a memorable night as I had a good sleep resting the tired muscles that went overdrive early in the day.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAybA60_CAJWsRRBZ1aumjXe7nfrwTcvDFQW7iUJRDp39Wh1TpFq40ts5bvn3WJsjpkVqhAJEyNRsH7zAL1Z4HGdn9C4dy8u9I1wKQqU0zGEaj0YTMK21RP9Y4wSPT60uZAhsJBDQ2yT1r/s1600/IMG_1630.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAybA60_CAJWsRRBZ1aumjXe7nfrwTcvDFQW7iUJRDp39Wh1TpFq40ts5bvn3WJsjpkVqhAJEyNRsH7zAL1Z4HGdn9C4dy8u9I1wKQqU0zGEaj0YTMK21RP9Y4wSPT60uZAhsJBDQ2yT1r/s400/IMG_1630.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our beautiful hotel bed in Lovina, fresh flowers on the white bed sheet.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>14</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>, June.</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p> </o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">LOVINA - GILIMANUK</span></div><h1><o:p></o:p></h1><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The morning on Lovina beach was quiet and lovely. A small breakfast was provided. We checked out early after passing the offer for a dolphin sighting by boat. I had actually been looking forward for a dolphin adventure but the guidebook told us that the finding the dolphin was not a guaranteed event. Taking the boat for a morning ride to sea and nothing else was not what I had in mind. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgq03DqOrybcsSCY9t9i1XZ7DnppUiS2q3he1pQtcvc2LFwLpZDX4IuPKq-WgR7tDMlBmKlnr1e08ljKCzxwYx1FBuvMcGKXA79sERNad4dUfG9KE6kDMxzf0egTX3sVlpUjvCg0wGWCm/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgq03DqOrybcsSCY9t9i1XZ7DnppUiS2q3he1pQtcvc2LFwLpZDX4IuPKq-WgR7tDMlBmKlnr1e08ljKCzxwYx1FBuvMcGKXA79sERNad4dUfG9KE6kDMxzf0egTX3sVlpUjvCg0wGWCm/s400/IMG_1634.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grape vines near Lovina</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mxJpuOEey4TuQjC6cUYVkqFhyphenhyphencE7cBqj-ETI1NdufiHce3xYm4T5pjemSX9VBBXx3mbgb4GiKyRCquFjPSPw3dvQas7UcMp1DwdDSqrCgUzzitnZJGua4IJ0Y-H_wm41oRuci30tVLrR/s1600/IMG_1635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9mxJpuOEey4TuQjC6cUYVkqFhyphenhyphencE7cBqj-ETI1NdufiHce3xYm4T5pjemSX9VBBXx3mbgb4GiKyRCquFjPSPw3dvQas7UcMp1DwdDSqrCgUzzitnZJGua4IJ0Y-H_wm41oRuci30tVLrR/s400/IMG_1635.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I am told the grapes are turned into wine and exported, and this is tropical Bali, not France.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The route we took towards Gilimanuk was a coastal road hugging the shores. On our right was the seas and on the left the hills. The terrain was undulating and we rather enjoyed the ride, as the views were magnificent. Somewhere along the way we were greatly surprised to see grapes growing on the vines and we stopped to take photographs. I read somewhere wines were produced from this area and this explained the abundance of grape vines and fruits. There were a few stops for replenishments and short rests. Noontime we found a small restaurant by the roadside and we stopped for lunch. We ordered baked fish and it came with delicious sauce. After the meal it was too hot to ride and so we rested under a shady hut beside the restaurant and the heavy rice meal made us sluggish and both of us had a short nap. We woke up freshened and eager to continue. We next hit a small hill but it was not a big problem. Light showers started to fall but we did not mind and continued cycling. We passed through a forest reserve and the road was quiet and shaded by large trees. We reached Gilimanuk late afternoon and searched for accommodation. We were shown one that was very cheap. It was so cheap it came without running water and electric power! A few minutes away we found a more suitable homestay with promise of breakfast and air conditioning. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We took our panniers into our rooms and Gilimanuk being a port town with ferry terminals, we decided to pop into the neighbouring island of Java. Java was a short ferry ride away from Bali across the Straits Of Bali and we cycled on to the ferry for an adventure. There was a strong current going from south to north and to cross the water the skipper of the ferry let his ship drifted to the north and only when she reached the middle of the straits, did he put on the power. The ferry then ploughed on against the current and was skillfully maneuvered to dock at Ketapang terminus. Hats off to the captain for the display of excellent seamanship! On reaching Java, the time was one hour later. We cycled to the town of Banyuwangi and on the way I stopped at Giant supermarket and tested the ATM for cash. By the way, this Giant was a similar brand to the one back in Malaysia. We saw election posters and I was amused to see a giant sized one belonging to Emilia Contessa. She was a famous singer in the 70s and I was her fan. I hoped she won this one and I remember one line from her popular movie, Akhir Sebuah Impian, that she was a simple girl from a small town called Banyuwangi. It was art meeting real life. Thirty years down the road the simple girl from Banyuwangi was running for a major position in the small town of the same name.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhYdX4EQRtxhR_ix2awA7fEud-pJUgLmX4rYu0hCpaW7EYZXVmmWFCaqsS3Dzc_Ll-qpxW3ThJhhyphenhyphen-J_S4dQ9dP6qbnRMi7Zaxj6XvW5ceNg1ZkZ9OXZqZBS91ct2rBbrfd7_IoIV4iU-/s1600/IMG_1637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhYdX4EQRtxhR_ix2awA7fEud-pJUgLmX4rYu0hCpaW7EYZXVmmWFCaqsS3Dzc_Ll-qpxW3ThJhhyphenhyphen-J_S4dQ9dP6qbnRMi7Zaxj6XvW5ceNg1ZkZ9OXZqZBS91ct2rBbrfd7_IoIV4iU-/s400/IMG_1637.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west into Java</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU7KPLd0_ehCzOVkedtexHXGX20eV_7ds5MOJPPBLAFp-5zLqwuI2pvv3yun6mi9Z8RCIK21zfFNj5J6tj0MCJP6x4oeDBZG417GoHoThdS2bXx69NDJQs6OyK7W5NbBRZnIJXebGgzlM/s1600/IMG_1638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpU7KPLd0_ehCzOVkedtexHXGX20eV_7ds5MOJPPBLAFp-5zLqwuI2pvv3yun6mi9Z8RCIK21zfFNj5J6tj0MCJP6x4oeDBZG417GoHoThdS2bXx69NDJQs6OyK7W5NbBRZnIJXebGgzlM/s400/IMG_1638.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hot drinks and steaming <i>Maggee Noodles</i> (from Malaysia) are plied by vendors when the ferry docks</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2utRHxxAWhliB3Qgvt9wfWrPFDIB0vKNSX37abFCfZcQlTqAIO8k6q975mqlThx_WZ6ar-NH4sDH5Eeq033sgJH5K6gEyP3auLinvFfUcLe0044u-7n5bvB3ccoKvOhkq9rJlXtkkE44r/s1600/IMG_1639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2utRHxxAWhliB3Qgvt9wfWrPFDIB0vKNSX37abFCfZcQlTqAIO8k6q975mqlThx_WZ6ar-NH4sDH5Eeq033sgJH5K6gEyP3auLinvFfUcLe0044u-7n5bvB3ccoKvOhkq9rJlXtkkE44r/s400/IMG_1639.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking west into Bali</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">As we did not want to be caught riding in the dark without adequate lighting we decided to get back to Gilimanuk while there still was daylight. We made our way back to Ketapang the ferry terminus opposite Gilimanuk. On the way we stopped at restaurant to have an early dinner. We caught the ferry back and saw sunset over Java. It was 5.00 pm in Ketapang and 6.00 pm in Bali. Departing Ketapang we heard the Maghrib azan from a mosque and to be truthful, Maghrib at 5.00 in the tropics was quite on the early side especially if one was all the while used to Maghrib at 7.00 p.m. There were quite a number of tourists on the ferry making their way from Java to Bali. When the ferry docked at Gilimanuk it was already pretty dark. On reaching the land we cycled back to our hotel and used the new headlights to illuminate the way. Before reaching home we stopped at the town and bought salak fruits from a very pretty girl at one of the ubiquitous fruit stalls that lined the main road. I think her name was Linda. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">That night the sleep was disturbed by the noisy air conditioning and I could not wait for morning to come. Midnight I went out of the room and sat in the lounge chatting with the man manning the reception. He was from Lombok and had married a Balinese divorcee and was planning to set up his own business one day but was having difficulties in leaving his present employer to whom he as heavily indebted for the kindness that had been showered on him. I mostly listened to his ramblings and hardly contributed to the conversation. Anyway, the listless monologue acted like a portent sleeping pill and soon I was yearning for the bed. Goodnight and thanks for the company.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>15</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>GILIMANUK – NEGARA – MEDEWI</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The next morning we had kopi Bali with our breakfast. We started out quite early and the riding through the forest reserve was cool and pleasant. Very soon we began to meet heavy traffic, as this route was the main road connecting the port of Gilimanuk with Denpasar. Buses, lorries and sundries of vehicles were jostling for space on the narrow single lane road. We were on extra alert all the time. We saw overtakings by the dare devils in the face of oncoming traffic. A few times we had to quickly get down on the road shoulders because of the imminent danger from the vehicles overtaking towards us and were encroaching on our way. Vehicles coming from behind was another source of danger, with only inches to spare. I did not feel very comfortable cycling in this part of Bali but if we kept to our common sense like giving ways without being forced to, there was good reason to complete this journey in one piece.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Initially I planned to stop at Kampong Malaya, a settlement of Malays who came to stay from the Malay Archipelago. They are different from the Balinese or the Javanese as they speak Malay and practise Malay custom. These people would not be able to understand the Balinese or Javanese unless they speak the lingua franca of Bahasa Indonesia. The planned visit was not realised as we missed a turn and soon were beyond Negara, the town that we were supposed to stop. It was then too far for us to turn, so we continued riding.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">We stopped for lunch at a restaurant catering to bus pit stops and had Eastern Javanese meal, rice and tempe, not much of culinary delight but nutritious and at the same time filling. After a short rest we took to the road again. The scenery turned beautiful and even thought the terrain was now rising and falling we pretty much enjoyed the ride. We rode with the sea on our right and the rice terrace on our left. Lulled by the enchanting view we became complacent and momentarily dropped our guard. This was a serious omission as an overtaking truck took a swipe at Mirza and caught his helmet which rolled down the bottom of a ravine. That was one close escape. We regained our composure and thanked the <i>dewa</i> and our lucky stars we were still in one piece to continue </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">By late noon we reached Medewi and checked into a beach hotel. There were two classes, the expensive chalet and the budget linked room and naturally we were drawn to the budget. Medewi is famous for surfing and there were surfers staying at the hotel who came here annually just to surf. We could see out in the sea surfers strutting their stuffs.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There were food stalls by the beach and there I had my first <i>bakso</i>, which surprisingly turned out to be good. <i>Bakso</i> is a Javanese noodle in beefy soup spiced by herb and made fiery by lots of chillies. It was so good I had my second helping just as the rain started to fall. It was quite a shower but I stayed on the beach under the shades of the stall, talking to the <i>bakso</i> man and another stall keeper about their trades. It surprised me that lottery draw was a passion in this country, the <i>bakso</i> man thought I was his lucky charm and ribbed me for the numbers that he will be buying. It surprised me because the bakso man was a Muslim as much as the his friend the other stall keeper who kept stocks of <i>Bintang beer</i> for sale. Apparently gambling and alcohol were no issues to the Muslims in Bali. It reminded me of Kota Bharu, my hometown forty years ago in the 60s and early 70s. Shandy was sold in the canteen of government office, beer and liquor in every cafe and restaurant, dancing and music in the hotels and clubs at night and the mother of all pleasures; chatting up with hostesses in low lights over overpriced nuts and overpriced drinks in <i>Biaritz Park</i> and if you caught their fancies, company for the night. Naturally there were drunken fights over the rights to the best girls. My conclusion was that Muslims in Bali were 40 years behind and in years to come perhaps they would be more religious than Muslims in Malaysia.<br />
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</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qRdn1CAyzujGegmlu2tKhdiMQ2VRTaqDCGnJytL8snbfljPn1POX-bDqSpnlwF9kpC8tEIoojebYY2uAqQ6Gl1wKxtO5pLtEdqqXCZaANqe0ddmwSeKmboTRw6hzB6WCci7xVnRqAaEC/s1600/IMG_1641.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qRdn1CAyzujGegmlu2tKhdiMQ2VRTaqDCGnJytL8snbfljPn1POX-bDqSpnlwF9kpC8tEIoojebYY2uAqQ6Gl1wKxtO5pLtEdqqXCZaANqe0ddmwSeKmboTRw6hzB6WCci7xVnRqAaEC/s400/IMG_1641.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cart drawn by a buffalo</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>16</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>MEDEWI - KUTA</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
This stage was approached by the sense of <i>deja vu</i>. I had cycled the same roads the previous year with my other son except that this time it was in the opposite direction. We stopped at Pekukutan to look for the lady who was kind enough to offer her van for hire to Kuta to transport my stricken son. She was not around this time although again I had the addictive <i>kopi bali </i>at the same stall, now served by an old hag.<br />
<br />
There were climbs and downhills all the way until Tabanan where we stopped for lunch and again I had <i>bakso</i>. After Tabanan, we cycled through villages and temples and by now the gradient was gently falling towards Kuta. It was very pleasant ride and in a short time we were in Kuta where while searching for the hotel Mirza had another puncture. After the repair we checked into the hotel in near the airport where we stayed the previous year.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVYmmQDAfJyKEPlFeoWseiFLEJLXsMAAgpNokgtJfk5tkyKMxnWFehWWSUEleN1129HAsNLNGKV4TH3iKFSyvBRETrQxvhLBVHQ7ENFEB-FzznS1vLq7TrziZ35FK7-p2yTPKR0bCQpU_/s1600/IMG_1645.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglVYmmQDAfJyKEPlFeoWseiFLEJLXsMAAgpNokgtJfk5tkyKMxnWFehWWSUEleN1129HAsNLNGKV4TH3iKFSyvBRETrQxvhLBVHQ7ENFEB-FzznS1vLq7TrziZ35FK7-p2yTPKR0bCQpU_/s400/IMG_1645.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Punture repair in down town Kuta</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>17</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>KUTA - JIMBARAN</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Our journey was now at the end and we had a few days to spare to catch the flight home. We spent the time lounging around Kuta and the surrounding places.<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-yM9AB-JbomNswoZQ-cOfrgj7WYt1Bn7nex1iqdljEun6dA3APGV-usxQKy19hP2tuudJBR4Ft-JxNw8wuMo94KVtsPsIG377jYgbCwU7loTBM854iVZm7OQfaXjH8c3xFk0JPc9qyKW/s1600/IMG_1646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8-yM9AB-JbomNswoZQ-cOfrgj7WYt1Bn7nex1iqdljEun6dA3APGV-usxQKy19hP2tuudJBR4Ft-JxNw8wuMo94KVtsPsIG377jYgbCwU7loTBM854iVZm7OQfaXjH8c3xFk0JPc9qyKW/s400/IMG_1646.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jimbaran Bay</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxAADhBcbW_0CgoplTMS99m8r0UGsI1b7YgUf89Q0yyqpqAab6ZopkPurcoTspDCjTfALiznFsSUyxXau7LQQGQNuN3gRSfZn5nRllDuSeh8qnHuOu8HT9wrRoffjX9ztLCOIb3DpUtV/s1600/IMG_1648.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLgxAADhBcbW_0CgoplTMS99m8r0UGsI1b7YgUf89Q0yyqpqAab6ZopkPurcoTspDCjTfALiznFsSUyxXau7LQQGQNuN3gRSfZn5nRllDuSeh8qnHuOu8HT9wrRoffjX9ztLCOIb3DpUtV/s400/IMG_1648.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We come to Jimbaran for fish, you can have them grilled, baked, steamed, fried or any style as long as it is fish.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIswSDxQLYsXRHgybojb9mwWo5psGhQANcMKhGTfXuTPyesOj-ao5osCm-VtffYBcCDXULT9uA1_8mVzZXyV8zQmV1BYyt5hvOcSvEEuaG8eYFDlB_UmiC7UBQhg1P4a8UDyLYSGYKd3Zu/s1600/IMG_1650.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIswSDxQLYsXRHgybojb9mwWo5psGhQANcMKhGTfXuTPyesOj-ao5osCm-VtffYBcCDXULT9uA1_8mVzZXyV8zQmV1BYyt5hvOcSvEEuaG8eYFDlB_UmiC7UBQhg1P4a8UDyLYSGYKd3Zu/s400/IMG_1650.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At a fisherman wharf in Jimbaran I see these newly caught tuna fish</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>18</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>Around Kuta</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
Really I was hooked on <i>bakso</i>. Every afternoon I would repair to a stall to satisfy my craving and by now I know the best <i>bakso</i> in town.<br />
<br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0dyJnvmlcoknJy3kigl16c1LpqevpORYflQ_hNYtQSjoGpSYSdyWWjoaJNJsqV6vWdEK5ulqmaclORIylYPdBz6_XijgQy8y637KqmyRvbDrWerGXsoJDPnk2wGzHXCkanRFWwF4I7Ut/s1600/IMG_1653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0dyJnvmlcoknJy3kigl16c1LpqevpORYflQ_hNYtQSjoGpSYSdyWWjoaJNJsqV6vWdEK5ulqmaclORIylYPdBz6_XijgQy8y637KqmyRvbDrWerGXsoJDPnk2wGzHXCkanRFWwF4I7Ut/s400/IMG_1653.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our hotel, we stay on the ground floor and parking the bicycles is very convenient</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFlTaCMFylHO-EX9ei2d6QRrL-WRecEgcC65b6OVSmrcgXDnUAME2xRgvIfbLD32tEz-wuMdWdvq62BiyHuPtJXWDGLeW8IySktKIZxR0W6_7e4ejLVOuNwcDGIeHbC8_ytrT-YtsOZli/s1600/IMG_1654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPFlTaCMFylHO-EX9ei2d6QRrL-WRecEgcC65b6OVSmrcgXDnUAME2xRgvIfbLD32tEz-wuMdWdvq62BiyHuPtJXWDGLeW8IySktKIZxR0W6_7e4ejLVOuNwcDGIeHbC8_ytrT-YtsOZli/s400/IMG_1654.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Around the lush garden of the hotel in Kuta</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCSRdNMRg-RLgAhSg-EoJe2xdRFuTfeCShEMjs2at3d05PZ4HUYWb3o_22ReAUctZK5geJIpnx1qKYKXBWRaZduaR3F6DOv6edSwAJsrHuFmESPlMzaBgWDz5CXXPVTDCf0NCoI4Q8DGe/s1600/IMG_1661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCSRdNMRg-RLgAhSg-EoJe2xdRFuTfeCShEMjs2at3d05PZ4HUYWb3o_22ReAUctZK5geJIpnx1qKYKXBWRaZduaR3F6DOv6edSwAJsrHuFmESPlMzaBgWDz5CXXPVTDCf0NCoI4Q8DGe/s400/IMG_1661.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mirza learns to surf.......</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX2vX3a0cY4WRnLp-UGMEP11nNejs2HS5FTsf3Fa3P1XY09gSj9SXFgzDzZQZIqunvGqxiz26ACBNmXwRQceQeixTCMV4mTtz4HYzzBKP29AODxyvaJNPf0J6BtIKOCUbiudav_PktRGb/s1600/IMG_1662.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiX2vX3a0cY4WRnLp-UGMEP11nNejs2HS5FTsf3Fa3P1XY09gSj9SXFgzDzZQZIqunvGqxiz26ACBNmXwRQceQeixTCMV4mTtz4HYzzBKP29AODxyvaJNPf0J6BtIKOCUbiudav_PktRGb/s400/IMG_1662.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">.......though not yet a master</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>19</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>. June<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><o:p><b> </b></o:p><b>Around Kuta.</b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 65.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b><o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 65.25pt; text-align: justify;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6EuVJgU4p_W1JuNhZeOOfr_muM9siKrhWXMHyEC9AYFUkwzN9EjrqepHybCH4vEKH2ZlWEND0a0dH_TNPcJNmuFk5Q320hY-32ZaQSxvNkipFvalCx7YUehJhpp1ywX8OZowYHXwCLM8/s1600/IMG_1667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC6EuVJgU4p_W1JuNhZeOOfr_muM9siKrhWXMHyEC9AYFUkwzN9EjrqepHybCH4vEKH2ZlWEND0a0dH_TNPcJNmuFk5Q320hY-32ZaQSxvNkipFvalCx7YUehJhpp1ywX8OZowYHXwCLM8/s320/IMG_1667.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We sample upscale lunch in Seminyak</td></tr>
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 65.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b>20</b><sup><b>th</b></sup><b>, June</b><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 65.25pt; text-align: justify;"><b>DENPASAR - LCCT KLIA</b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
First we had to fetch the boxes from the hotel in Seminyak. Then we hired a motorcycle with a rider to carry the folded boxes back to our hotel in Kuta. We tried to carry them with our bikes but there were too unwieldy and we were afraid we would not be able to negotiate the traffic safely back to our hotel.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIoQut9wuIQnphSrFu_PiwxmKX-jw9f3R1HKQGOR9LJNs-ajh8NJtr_acoe59O6pjhbch3dlkYY6XtIM-N517xEmnRMm9n_1KycXy_WKsGYDnP5i_on-2t3lfk6Y_WysBgNyMVnebL16h/s1600/IMG_1669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIoQut9wuIQnphSrFu_PiwxmKX-jw9f3R1HKQGOR9LJNs-ajh8NJtr_acoe59O6pjhbch3dlkYY6XtIM-N517xEmnRMm9n_1KycXy_WKsGYDnP5i_on-2t3lfk6Y_WysBgNyMVnebL16h/s400/IMG_1669.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ready to fly home from Denpasar airport, trolleys are hidden and we have to apply craft and stealth to secure one.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><b>Useful Tips </b><br />
<b><br />
</b><br />
1. Air Asia charged RM80.00 for the bike in the box under sport equipment. My box weighed less than 12 kilos so I am not sure what the charge would be in excess of the baggage allowance.<br />
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2. There is an exit tax on departure from Denpasar, so make sure you have enough Rupiahs to pay.<br />
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3. Along the coastal roads there are ample places to stay, in the interior mountains there are less.<br />
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4. If you are tired of cycling hire a bemo. It can easily accommodate your bicycles but make sure you agree on the price before getting in, just to avoid embarrassment at the end.<br />
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5. Traffic along the Gilimanuk - Denpasar is exceptionally heavy, made worse by the narrow roads. It is a bit dangerous but the scenery is to die for.<br />
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6. If you are on a road bike, I would suggest compact crank or better still triple crank for the climbs in the mountain, assuming you are equipped with 20 speed.<br />
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</div>Cycling Grampahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12986486955631995033noreply@blogger.com0