Not my way, but the Highway...

That's in general how I experienced Malaysia; Cycling Highways (although sometimes with motorbike lanes), too much traffic, endless palmoil plantations (they smell!) and heat!

However, I purposefully made the decision to take the busy and more boring west coast, instead of the more beautiful east coast, considering the amount of rain along the east coast. (Later on, I heard this was a wise decision, it turned out to be one of the wettest raining seasons in years and several eastern provinces were flooded)
The west coast did not receive so much rain, although almost every afternoon ended with a huge thunderstorm, luckily most of the times I already found shelter in a hotel. The raining season also brought the (humid) heath! Sometimes, when stepping off my bike (to pee, buy some fruit, ask for water of just waiting for a traffic light) I felt the sticky, thick blanket of heat. Thinking about doing something ridiculous as cycling in those temperatures seemed crazy :) However, to be on the bike was actually the best (coolest) thing you could do, since there always is some breeze (Although I must confess that cycling uphill through a narrow valley, with on my lefthand side a highway and righthand side trucks overtaking me slowly, exhausting black fumes, was not exactly nice, cool or healthy...)

My arms, face and shirt black of the exhaust of the cars and trucks

Apparently, the shade from the (still warm) truck is cooler then outside in the sun

In Malaysia, I notioned some changes compared to Indonesia, probably related to the different level of development: 1) the amount of cars relative to the amount of motorbikes, 2) womandrivers, 3) roads in perfect condition, 4) absence of fruit/vegetable markets, 5) toiletpaper and sitting toilets, 6) flat-like hotels instead of bungalows (implying carrying my bike up several stairs) and 7) fellow (local) cyclists. Some changes came in handy, but most of the time I missed the charme of underdevelopment when I saw the so manyth KFC or Pizzahut. And instead of the "picture Mister" I heard the more modern version "Can I add you on facebook?".

Although the roads and the landscape were not really something special, the people I met make me remember this country!
To begin with, it was really handy that everybody spoke English (being, apart from Chinese and Malay, the third national language). I was surprised the hear Chinese and Malay inhabitants speak in English to each other.
I stayed at several warmshowerhosts. All of them welcomed my with such warm hospitality, offering me a (preferably cold) shower, bed and food. But the best thing was that I had somebody to chat with (as a talkative person, that's maybe what I miss most, cycling alone :). They introduced me to their country and own specific culture. In Klang, there was Keat, a Chinese Malaysian. Together we cycled into the Cameron Highlands (the most beautiful part of Malaysia that I've seen) and he let me taste the Chinese hotpot.

Tea plantations

Then there was the David, who picked me up from Penang where I was stuck because of Thai-visa-waiting-time. David likes to host cyclists so much, that he even has spies along the road, calling him when they spot a cyclist. Being an Indian Malaysian, he took me to an Indian wedding and showed me the most delicious Indian (vegetarian) food.

Just when I thought hospitality had reached its utmost point, I arrived at the bicycle shop of father&son Muhammed. They not only let me sleep in their bikeshop, but also repaired my bike for free! Wow!! No wonder that they already hosted 80 other cyclists within one year.

Father and son Muhammed

With my Thai visa in the pocket, I continued north, towards Thailand. Looking forward to cycle something else then flat, boring roads, to relax at some tropical islands having some company of some other tourists again and finally my loving (fruit)markets :)

A personal touch to the street art in Penang

The other tourists also wanted such a picture..