Cycling The Globe

Distance: 87.71 km
Ridetime: 03:35:46
Average: 24.4 km/h
Total distance: 9389 km

I love crossing borders (well, most of the time). As you cycle closer the anticipation builds with questions such as. How different is it on the other side? Are things expensive? Where do I change money? How is the traffic? How to find a place to sleep?

Malaysia made a great first impression. Thumbs up for the free 90 day stamp issued with a smile at the border. That’s the way it should be.

Malaysia is a Muslim country and a former British colony. Both things make it very different from Thailand. The first thing I noticed apart from the mosques was the many Indian and Chinese restaurants and shops. The country hosts a big minority of people from those two countries. My first meal was served by a guy from Chennai who spends 9 months every year working in Malaysia.

It was a hot day so I found this sign tempting.

A few moments later I was reminded how Muslims take their hospitality seriously. I was buying a cold drink in a shop and had a chat with the owner. Before I left he told me to wait for a moment when he went back into his shop and gave me a bar of chocolate, some bananas and another bottle of water as a gift. Overwhelmed by the generosity I thanked my new friend telling him how I already love Malaysia.