Melaka cycling and food trail

Lee CH and I played host to Wooi YT, his wife and 2 friends from Penang last Sunday 5th July. They were in Melaka for a company seminar and took the opportunity for a holiday.

We met them at Newton food court beside Dataran and although we have never met them before, it wasn't hard to spot them as they were in cycling jersey and with bicycles. After the formalities of hand shakes, we took them on the kampung road that led to St. John's hill.


Lee CH suggested giving them a taste of cycling amongst the graveyard of Bukit Cina and we were about to cycle in when one of the friends bike had a pit stop to change tubes.

We hope they enjoyed this trail as this is one of my favourite trails when we cycle at night!

I was worried the joggers will not be happy to see us as Bukit Cina trails is famous as a jogging site. So far no problem and we thanked them when they gave way to us.

This is probably one scenery that you hardly get on St. Paul's hill. Tourist with mountain bikes.

Well, since we're up here, might as well take the opportunity for a photo with my daughter, Michelle.

The statue of St. Francis Xavier with his missing right hand. There is a reason for it. Come to Melaka and I will tell you the story.

After that was the ride along the Melaka river. Another cycling trail that I am proud to bring guests.

This is one of the best projects Melaka has done to promote tourism.

Sam Poh temple at the foot of Bukit Cina.

I am not sure if our Penang friends had drunk the water from the well and legend has it that the person will sure to return to Melaka if they drank it.

We went for an early dinner at Ole Sayang for Nyonya food. Thanks to our friends for the treat. It's off to the 2nd part of the river ride.

Cycling on the boardwalk with the Eye of Melaka in the background

The night ended with us going to this "food stall" as Wooi mentioned they want to eat food that has shells.

Sometimes, the best kerang can be found at the back lanes.

We hope our friends from Penang enjoyed the short 6 hours ride along the streets of Melaka and we welcome them back for another ride, perhaps during the Burung Hantu Night Jamboree in October.

Durian Ride 1.7.09

Last year was the first durian ride and looks like it is going to be tradition with this year having another durian ride.

Big group riding last Wednesday tells you these are hungry durian lovers.

Rushing for a piece of durian

Ken showing off the durian that she chose

Sorry, too busy to talk as I have a durian in my mouth. Lee CH about to have his bite.

Simon (left) doing the durian macarena

The fruit farm owner busy trying to cope with the demand.

Demand more than supply

Ah Chye and Ah Yong admiring the mother of all durian before eating

Saren, a new rider enjoying the fellowship and ride

Parit Jawa, Muar Ride 14/6/09

I decide to join with some of our ECC members for a ride at Parit Jawa, Muar after hearing how good the trail is. Lee CH was the driver for this trip and we caught up with the other Malacca ECC riders along the way.

Our ECC members with Keni (left) from Muar

It was uphill ride for the first half of the short 11 km ride

It started to rain halfway and we took shelter at a hut smack in the middle of a durian farm. What better place to wait for the rain to subside and enjoy the free droppings of Malaysia's strongest smelling fruit.

Payback after the tough uphill. Awesome downhill for the brave. Our fellow ECC rider Ah Hee was unfortunately injured when his front wheel got stuck and he flip frontwards and landed on his face.


GPS trail available for download at

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=241599

Gunung Ledang Ride (31.5.08)

Last Sunday (31.5.08) was a ride to Gunung Ledang. ...Ok, let me repeat and emphasize a particular word.
Last Sunday was a ride to GUNUNG Ledang. Yep, a group of us rode up Mount Ophir. Not an easy feat if you are not a regular cyclist. Almost all of us cycled up to (almost) the peak of 1300 meters above sea level. We could have gone all the way to the top if not for our security forces prohibiting civilians from entering the water catchment dam area which is considered Restricted Area. Well, almost is as good as it gets.

Woke up at an unearthly hour of 6.30am on a beautiful Sunday morn. Actually, struggled to get up because the night before, my wife and I went to KL for a function and got back about 1am and only hit the sheets at 2am.
Quickly put my stuff in the van and drove to Ah Keong's house as I am car pooling with him.. Met the rest of the gang at Ayer Keroh Heights foodcourt for breakfast and then headed to the tol to Tangkak.

Regrouping at Tangkak town.
My old faithful Specialized with her new friend Ms Cannondale
Muscles all loosen and warmed up and ready to go after the group photo

After the nice steady ride up which I considered an achievement for not putting down my foot, I thought we had reached our destination but found out that this ranger station was actually the start of the ride. Ok, regroup for another group photo.
Nice parking bay for our bikes

Beautiful scenery and many of us felt as though we were riding in Penang during Kayuh Lasak.

The bridge where our bikes are parked.
Pang singing Beatle's song, The Long And Winding Road as he rides
I've never fancied eating tuna but when you are hungry after riding more than an hour going up all the way, sandwich never looked so good and yummy.

Taking a well deserved break
Not a good sign for smokers. Every cigarate butt is accounted for
Scenery worth cycling for.Good job to everyone for riding up 1300 meters above sea level and hope to do it again,

Friday (25/4/08) Ride

Life is full of surprises. Sometimes good, sometimes bad. Sometimes interesting, sometime..well you know what's coming up.

Every time after we finish cycling, we always end up at either Daud's stall or somewhere else for "after ride" supper. We'll talk about any thing under the sun but the hot topic nowadays seems to centre on the darkness of night. When you sense of sight is compromised, you use the other senses to tell you what you think, heard and saw. We're taking about a certain she-vampire that sobs. It was reported she was sighted at Pulau Gadong bridge and probably recorded by a hand phone camera.

This site is not foreign to us as we've been cycling this route umpteen times and we've never heard or seen any supernatural beings. Well, there was another location where we rode one night that was along some secondary jungle, very deserted and one rider who claim to look up at the trees and saw a lady sitting on the branch.

I have smelt sweet smells while riding and they say, it's a sign but I would rather take it as someone lit up an insence for some offering.

Last Friday's night was rather interesting as we stumbled upon this large reptile lying across our path. It must have been about 15 feet long and I bet it was hungry because for such a long python, it was rather slim. Maybe someone gave it a Herbalife nutritious weight loss drink!

Our commotion woke up the people staying nearby and when one Indon maid saw the snake, she wanted to get a bamboo stick to kill it but we told her not to. Just before we rode off, I used the bicycle tires to disturb the snake into moving to the scrubs area where it is safe from the would be snake killer.
As for the she-vampire, we might not be able to catch the real thing but I can recommend another sighting of a different she-devil that takes a human form. No need to go far. She lives just a few houses away.

Friday Night Ride 22/2/08

Ride leader - Abdul Wahid

Start from Nissan showroom in Cheng.
Time: 8.30 pm Ride off @ 9.00 pm

Delicious after ride makan will be provided by Wahid.

See you there!

The 11 most bike friendly cities

1. Amsterdam
2. Portland, Oregon
3. Copenhagen
4. Boulder, Colorado
5. Davis, California
6. Sandnes, Norway
7. Tronheim, Norway
8. San Francisco, California
9. Berlin
10. Barcelona
11. Basel, Switzerland
(Source: TreeHugger)

I would like to recommend Malacca as another bike friendly city. Malacca city has been upgraded to lure tourist and many of the pathway and streets have recently been repaved and new ones created. These paths are ideal cycling areas. I highly recommend night cycling around city area where you get to see lights like below
Or outskirts where you might chance upon unique signage. The cows in this particular area are educated and know where their boundries are.
Lastly, what better reason to cycle when you have good pals to cycle with