In The Cargo Hold

I have to say, it is fun to travel on a comfy bus full of cyclists! You get nice wide reclining seats with lots of legroom and a blanket to keep out the cold.
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Traveling exclusively with cyclists also means that the bikes are systematically organized in the cargo hold; even though it seems like twenty four bicycles won’t fit underneath. Even the space for the driver’s sleeping mat was utilized for the more compact folding bikes.
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Thanks guys!
Campaign for a Lane 2012

The left side is now closed for business!
Campaign for a Lane 2012

The right side is waiting for the late check-ins. Come on guys, we’re boarding already.
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Oh, and a couple random photos. Hahaha.
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

What To Do In Penang When You’ve Got Three Hours

Wander, of course!

I mentioned in the last Campaign for a Lane post that I had some time to kill before awaiting my friends’ return to the Penang round-island bicycle ride’s starting point. My itinerary was to wander around for a bit, have some breakfast, then wander around again before heading to the hostel to hide from the noontime sun. I’ve been to Penang before and did the tourist route. The town’s layout is a bit familiar, even with bad sense of direction and all.

There are scattered installations of art all across Georgetown’s historical district and I was hoping to see those along the way.

I start at the reason why we were in Penang in the first place (besides the food, of course) — bike lanes!

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Little Children on a Bicycle is on Armenian Street.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Also somewhere in Armenian Street.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

There were many of these found too. Instead of boring plaques, they had wired sculptures depicting the history of all the street they were in.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

In Burmese Street, there are two Buddhist temples that face each other. The first one I stopped by was the Dhammikarama Burmese Temple. There was a sign in front saying no bicycles were allowed, but I rolled the Brompton while folded and nobody batted an eye.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

The Thai temple Wat Chaiya across the street houses a reclining Buddha. Unlike the Burmese temple, I was able to bring the Brompton in the complex without having to fold it. I just left the bike outside the doors of whatever temple I was in, alongside the footwear of worshippers and tourists alike.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Long shadows always tell you it’s still early morning. By this time, I was looking for a place to stop and have a drink.

Campaign for a Lane 2012

Somehow, I ended up at Gurney Drive before calling it a day.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

Campaign For A Lane 2012 – Starting Off

Just a warning, this is going to be a photo heavy post with no flash whatsoever. I’m not a big fan of flash photography.

I awoke extremely early on a Sunday just to send my friends off as they participated in the Campaign For A Lane 2012 ride in Penang.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

I wasn’t joining the ride myself (I was there as a tourist and didn’t bring shoes — stupid move, really.) but I wasn’t going to let lack of sleep hinder me from being with my friends at the thick of it all. At the event’s starting point, there was a photo wall. Of course I got my friends to pose with the CFAL background.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

There was a lot of tomfoolery going on while we all waited for the start whistle to sound.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

I love how these two always deliberately go for goofy poses!

Campaign for a Lane 2012

Uncle KC never fails to take photos of his beloved Llama.

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

By the time the organizers announced that the participants should ready themselves, the sun was already up.

Campaign for a Lane 2012

And they’re off!

Campaign for a Lane 2012
Campaign for a Lane 2012

One by one, cyclists slowly passed under the starting balloon until I was the last one left.

Campaign for a Lane 2012

I decided to spend the time going around town by myself until my friends
finished the ride. By then, I should’ve already eaten breakfast, gone through a couple tourist sites, and rested at the hostel before going back to the event at the Padang Esplanade.