Epic ride time - 132km with a head wind.

We set off from Murua with a send off from Sven at the Wakaliliy lodge, knowing it was going to be a big day - but we didn’t know quite how big at that point.

First stop was Malacca for a spot of breakfast with a very nice coffee and baguette. We also tried a gorgeous chinese pow steamed bun with a sweet by savoury filling of red beans.

Then we started a long ride along the coast on a very pleasant road. Not too much traffic, not too many potholes.

Gradually the environment became more and ​more like a seaside resort. Small hotels became larger hotels. Small cafés became larger restaurants and the shops just stopped short of selling Kiss Me Quick hats. 

We stopped at the Hisbiscus Resort, a network of apartments on stilts over the water arranged in the shape of a hibiscus flower, but it was out of our price range, and a little lacking in class too. ​

So, we searched around and found an apartment at Coco Beach that sounded good, so we headed off up the road. On the way we clocked up 100km for the day - but not far left to go. 

When we arrived at the apartments it was a little rough from the start. It became clear that the owner was subletting without the knowledge of the management office. It was also looking like a seriously shabby block of apartments.  

The owner texted through instructions for our “self check in” and we set off to find the key safe. However, when we opened it there was no key inside. Oh.  

A phone call late it turns out the cleaner hasn’t cleaned the apartment yet - and we’re outside waiting to get in.  

So we canceled and booked a hotel up the road. Quite a way up the road it turned out. Hence the 132km total for the day. 

Luckily there was a pool and we flopped, exhausted into that, still in cycling kit and slightly ignoring the strict Islamic dress code required.