Day 15

Present location: Singapore
Running Distance Covered: 2,117.4kms

12:30pm     Flat tire.... Both tires at the some time!!!

5:00pm... Back tire leaking.....need to pump air every half an hour ...

6:45pm Thai time....... I am in Singapore!!! As usual, got lost again. Jyotiriishvar picked me up at Braddell road.... Ahhhh, it's so surreal, and a big relief as my back tire is leaking air more faster.

To The Supporters of this event....

Thank you so much for helping raise funds for the university school tuition fees of the children. As i have mentioned before; empowering children through education is lasting and best gift you can offer them... Thank you so much...

For sending donation or needing more information about Baan Dada Children' Home and Community Services please visit the web site:

                  www.baandada.org

To My Dearest Children...
All the pains, all the hardship and troubles that went into this solo cycling for education is nothing because you are all worth it... and i love you all so much!

Richard (dada)

Day 14

Location: Alor Gajah
Running distance covered: 1,806.8kms
Took highway E2... .this goes directly to Johor Bahru. Luckily no police  waved me down.
5:00pm  front wheel punctured.... Fixed and went.
past 6:00pm.. got another tire problem.... Back wheel leaking air. Can't fix it as it is as it raining. Luckily the air is leaking slowly so i just pump air every few minutes.
This is one  situation you don't want to be in.  Had to pump air every 2 to 3 kms of cycling..
it is dark and raining as well.... The nearest town is still more than 20kms. I need to find a place to stay.
When i reached Alor Gajah i asked some people whom i saw along the way if they now any guest house nearby... Yes, one replied, about 20kms from here. My heart sank as it is past 7pm and really dark. Aside from that i had to pump air every 3 to 4 minutes.
Cycled  to the direction they  pointed... Now the rain more heavily, ohhh my Lord, please!!!..i saw an eatery shop and ask a person for direction. A Muslim man asked me to have a sit first as it is raining, and he asked me if i would like to drink something hot... I asked for some hot chocolate. We talk... told him what i am doing and he offered to take me to a guest house. Thanked him as i really need that as i am really exhausted and feeling cold from the rain. We went to find a guest house as soon as the rain stopped.
The man who helped me is Mr. Bahrain Tahir. He we went out of his way to help me although he said that he is already free. We had a photo afterwards.
Later, in a half conscious half sleeping way, i checked all my wheels and removed 3 wires from shredded truck wheels. Patched up the inner tubes and found out that i only have 2 patches remaining. I hope i won't have another punctured tire tomorrow.
Please visit the web site below if you would like to donate...
    www.baandada.org
Missing the children so much.....

 

day 12

 Got up at 4:30
Did meditation.... bath..... packed up....
Cycling clothes still wet so i used the extra shirt which is dry. When i got out it is raining.... I should have used my wet shirt.
Today is a record breaking event:  SIX FLAT TIRES!!!
Walking on the street with my bike asking for some  bicycle shop... Most of the people i asked don't know.... Motorcycle shops don't want to fix inner tubes ... rented a vehicle to find a shop... Ended up as a good decision as the driver knows where.
Replaced my thin tires which they call slick tires into thick Mountain bike tires.
Most of my flat TIRES since the beginning of this cycling are from broken tire with wires exposed
I think i won't be able to reach Singapore in two days!!!

 

Day 12

Got up at 4:30
Did meditation.... bath..... packed up....
Cycling clothes still wet so i used the extra shirt which is dry. When i got out it is raining.... I should have used my wet shirt.

Today is a record breaking event:  SIX FLAT TIRES!!!

Walking on the street with my bike asking for some  bicycle shop... Most of the people i asked don't know.... Motorcycle shops don't want to fix inner tubes ... rented a vehicle to find a shop... Ended up as a good decision as the driver knows where.

Replaced my thin tires which they call slick tires into thick Mountain bike tires.

Most of my flat TIRES since the beginning of this cycling are from broken tire with wires exposed

I think i won't be able to reach Singapore in two days!!!

Day 11



Location: Tanjong Malim (70kms from KL)
Running distance covered:  1559.2kms.
Started the day on the road getting lost. Took almost an hour to locate the right path.
Earlier today two men gave me a sunglasses after telling him i lost mine. He also gave me a medicine to relieve muscle pain.
Could not cycle fast as part of the roads are narrow and when a truck passes by it is so near me that i javelin to go to the dirt part pf raw road... Dangerous.
Decided to stop early at 5:00pm to patch up punctured tubes.  Too tired to think.....
My dearest children, i miss you all so much...

Day 10

Location:  Ipoh
Running Distance Covered:  1423.7 kms.

4:45 am....wake up, bath, meditation

6:45am:  started cycling. Stopped at 7/11 store and got a packet oreo biscuit..

A man told me yesterday that it is prohibited to cycle on the highway... I replied that  "i have not seen any sign that says that and no officer has waved me so i'll go through the highway still."

As i was cycling on highway E1 my sunglasses fell off without me knowing it. Looked for it but it is gone. Someone got an early Christmas present. used my spare clear goggles... Too much  sun glare!

Finally i saw the sign that bicycles are not allowed in this highway. Went cycling again and i noticed that my front wheel is slipping........front tire punctured!

Fixed it and came off the highway. Now going through route 1..... Almost got lost earlier trying to find it. A kind Indian man guided me all the way till we reach route 1.

Hit something hard on the road... Back wheel busted......That fixed... All reserve tubes used up.... need to patch up the tubes later. Not a good start; 2 consecutive flat tires those morning. Next time when i go for a long cycling i will use a thick mountain bike tires.

9:30.... stopped for some oreo and water...

Past 11:00 stopped for some oreo again.

Past 2:00 pm.... oreo meal again.

Proceeded to route 60..

Almost 5:00pm...  oreo meal is almost finished. Bought one ringit of banana chips. Asked the vendor if there are any cheap hostel around. He said not around here.... only in Ipoh.    Great!.... It is 67 kms from where i am and it is getting dark... and drizzling. Not a good idea to go fast on my thin tires..

Can't see clearly as eye goggles dirty... Cleaned it to no effect. Took it off.... Ahhhh, better.     Now the water and dirt is going to my eyes.... Stopped to turn on all my LED flashers.

It is not a good idea cycling at night time especially if there are no side road.. Vehicles just whizzing by a foot or two on my side.

8:20 pm.  Found a hostel. Bath... Meditation.... 10:00pm  had my first real meal for today. Not doing this on purpose. My atm card has some problem so i am trying to budget my expenses. For as long as i have water to drink and every just a snack is enough to keep me going.

All the while i was cycling in the dark i keep thinking of all the children who will benefit from this fundraising event. That matters more than my convenience or comfort.....

Day 9

Location:  Butterworth
Running distance covered from yesterday: 1233kms

Went to the bank early morning... The staff told me to wait at the atm machine where it got stuck. Their agent Will come to service the machine.

Ahhh... Hungry. A group of people passing by was telling each other "oh.. That cyclist is strong... one of them smiled at me and i smiled back and nodded"... I think the right thing for them to say is "oh, that cyclist is hungry."

I guess the unseen force would like me to take rest, slow down, do a little fasting.... no problem.

Some police and home security officers approached me.... I explained why am i waiting outside the store and they were amused, and sympathetic to my situation. They tried to contact the bank... I asked them if can stay at the police station temporarily.

They said yes.... A patrol car came and escorted me to the police station.
Used their computer to send emails... Found out that their are Western Union branches in the area.

Went out to find the bank again and luckily i saw the main branch.
Ahhhh..... Got it back. I'll use it only on weekdays during bank hours. Can't afford to let it happen again.

A day wasted... A rest well earned!