Personal Insight of the Cycling Trip At Desaru

When I think back last weekend’s cycling at Desaru, I can still see the fleeting glimpses of images rolling behind my wheels:-

• The beautiful sunrise when we board the ferry at Changi Ferry Terminal for our journey to Tanjong Berlungkor, on the eastern part of Johor, Malaysia.


• The strangers we met and talk to along the way


• The long and lonely road, rolling up and down, void of traffic


• The endless rows and rows of palm trees on both sides of the road


• The stares of the local residents when we arrived at the small town of Sungei Rengit, thinking that Singaporean got better nothing to do or they must be "gila" (mad).


• The wonderful sight of Tanjong Berlunkor Ferry Terminal on the second day, after two days of strenuous ride covering a distance of about 130 km.

It’s a wild ride, at least for me, I don’t know about the others.

I am a virgin, as far as cycling in Desaru is concern. There were seven of us, age ranging from mid 40s to early 60s. I am in-between hitting 50 this year.

We have to slog up endless slopes and plummet back down the other side along the long and winding road.

We got roasted by the unfathomable heat on the first day, until I ask myself – “What the hell am I doing?”

We got soaked and trashed by the torrential rain, on the second day that I asked myself again – “Am I mad or what?”

And yet, through it all, when on the second day I arrived at the end point, I know that I have at least pushed myself to the fullest and taken advantage to enjoy every moment that I have, despite all the hardship and the pain and make it to the end safe and sound.

Thank God for that.

Yes – it was a challenge, there were times where I wanted to stop and give up.

We battled strong headwinds and fought for every inch of forward motion we managed to make, in spite of the ache that is in our thighs and buttocks.

We kept pushing ourselves against what appeared to be an impossible slope in the extraordinary heat only to face another slope waiting for us.

I suppose this is how life is, when you think you have cleared an obstacle; overcome some life crisis, unknowingly, another is waiting for you.

I personally have achieved a few milestones even though I never aimed for it at the first place. I am just glad that I am able to complete this grueling ride that weekend.

Chew Gek Cheng

Cycling at Desaru in Pictures - First Day 6th Jun 09

We started very early on the 6th Jun 09, with most of us arriving at the Changi Ferry Terminal by 6am.

Main entrance of Changi Ferry Terminal

This is our planned cycling route

On board en-route to Tg Belungkor

Beautiful sun-rise view from the ferry

Arriving at Tg Belungkor


This is how Tg Belungkor

terminal looks like

A bit of warming up before the

long ride

Photo shoot before we start

We met some friends on the way

Start of a hot and gruelling day

Riding a long and endless road

at 35 C

Pushing hard ahead

Still going strong

A bit of rest and photo taking

Rest stop at Balau Chalet

Pushing ahead to Desaru

Still pushing ahead to Desaru

Sure or Not? OK

Our rewards at Desaru

My Carlsberg stall is closed

Enjoying the view at Desaru

Best of Buddies

Moving off to next stop

Our Rest for the night

Cycling At Desaru in Pictures Second Day - 7th June 2009

On the second day we started off from the town of Sg Rengit.

After a good night rest and a hearty breakfast of durains we are all powered to go.

This is the sleepy town of Sg Rengit

Looking fresh after a good night rest

Raymond enjoying the morning view

Durains for breakfast to give us power

Choosing the best of the best durains

All raring to go after the durain

breakfast

Reaching our lunch stop

at Sebana Resort

This is at Sebana Resort

Taking a breather

First to arrive at Sebana

One of our leading rider

Lunch at Sebana Resort

Just look at their smile

View of the Marina at Sebana Resort

We were caught by the torrential rain

Taking the Ferry home

Who Says Only Children Have Toys

Those of us who have children will know that no matter what, young children will scramble to the toy section of shopping center or a departmental store.

When they become teenagers their taste for toys would have changed to gadgets like PSP, X-Box, or Nintendo WII.

When teens become young adults (especially nowadays), have no qualms getting a pair of branded sunglasses or shoes that cost 5 or 6 hundreds bucks. And we parents just can’t understand why they need to spend so much on these things.

But are we saying adults who are parents do not indulge in toys anymore?

NO!

Sometime we hear people telling us, “I don’t understand why this friend of mine spends so much money and time on his car or motorcycle. Or it could be a Hi Fi set or a Home Theater system.

Ever heard this familiar husband's remarks, “What? This handbag costs $2K or this pair of shoes costs me $1K!

So the point is – WHO SAYS ONLY CHILDREN HAVE TOYS.

Let me introduce the latest TOY bought by a member of Changi Cycling Group.

Cenilli Estrada - Full Shimano Dura Ace gear system A cool $5.5K all in.

These are our TOYs & Cycling is what we DO

This is our Toy - BICYCLE and cycling is what we do. Our spouse may not understand why do we need to spend thousand of dollars on our toys!

"What is wrong with the $80 bike that we see people park at MRT stations", they said.

As a consolation to our spouses, at least our TOYS are bicycles (costly they may be). When we cycle, we keep fit and stay healthy.

Just be at Changi Village Hawker Center or East Coast Hawker Center they will see some Senior Citizen with "THEIR TOYS" - young and sexy, enjoying seafood dinner with a jug of beer with their toys is what they do.

When our spouse compare our TOYs with these Senior Citizen young & sexy "TOYs", hopefully they will encourage us to cycle more and maybe,(I say maybe) they will know what to get for our next birthday

Posted by Chew GC