As The plane was about to land, I remembered that I would have to go through Hong Kong Immigration before I could get to Shenzhen. I have forgoten to fill up the landing card, so I will have to do it at the counter. Usually I would rush through point to point, but this time, I decided to take it easy. Clearing the plane, I followed the crowd and listen to some of the loud conversations as we all walk the long journey. It seams like the plane landed on another terminal as at then end of the walk was a train that leads to immigration.

I took my time to fill up the landing card and proceeded to the packed snake like queue. I lost count of the number of counters open. An officer lady in a distance was flagging people to a shorter queue and I quicken my pace. I compose myself as I waited for my turn. The immigration officer held up my passport and took a long look at me, the he check the passport again, and another long stare. The time seams to stop for a while. A sign of relieve when he continued to scan the passport and stamp it.

Off I go through baggage claim and to the ticket counter. There seams to be some changes, the counters were still there, but now running another kind of services, express visas and hotel transfer counters. Starbucks was just next door and I went for a mocha and a couple of pastries before went looking for the ticket counter. I decided to ask the Express Visa counter and the ladies there were very kind to take me to the Shenzhen Van ticket counter instead of just shrud me off or just point me to the general direction. She must get some commission out of this I thought. To my surprise, after showing me the counter, she return back. After a short queue, I bought a ticket to Shangri la and off I go to the van pick area.

It was a black Toyota Alphad MPV. I took the third row seat and hand over my passport. This is a first time I am in an Alphad and it is much more roomier and comfortable in the third row seat than my Alza, of course the price of one second hand recon Alphad can buy 4-5 Alza. We passed a couple of huge bridges that look like the Golden Gate and Penang Bridge. Disneyland must be near by as there was a couple of road sign in the shape of Disney logo.

The Hong Kong immigration at this part is very interesting. While still seated in the MPV, we just have to show our face and and the officer will process our documents. The driver continues and return us our passport.  The Chinese Immigration is where we alight and leaves the nice and comfy MPV behind. A short walk to meet up with the immigration officer again the officer took his time. Time seams to stop during these moments. A couple of stamps and a bag scan, I am in China. The MPV for this part were no more Toyota, but China own. Still ok and the journey to Shangri La was short.

We saw this place a couple of weeks back and we thought we should try it out. We arrived at about 6.30pm and the restaurant was already full. We manage to get the last empty seat for two and dive down into the menu. The menu is pack with Fish, Chicken, Pork, Lamb and Beef western style entrées. Overwhelm by the choices, I decided on the only item that caught my eye, the Stuffed Fish(RM10) and the Chicken Cordon Bleu(RM10) by my wife. Our orders were entered into the system at 6.38pm and we started to wait. A line started to form at the front of the restaurant. And we wait. Plenty of help and all the staff were busy delivering food or clearing the table up. And we wait. At 7.02pm, my order arrived, 2 minutes later the Chicken Cordon Bleu arrived.

The stuffed fish was actually Fish Cordon Bleu, ham & Cheese wrap with Fish and then covered with bread crumbs and deep fried. There were two pieces, the first was rich in cheese, while the second, I could merely taste any cheese at all. Mid Size Fries, coleslaw with onions, bun, green peas, one slice of cucumber, tomato and lettuce as sides. The Chicken Cordon Bleu has the same sides except for the coleslaw. Both the Stuffed Fish and Chicken were above average. We could not explain the crowd. The drinks were affordably priced, with some on Jumbo size at RM5.50. We spent RM25 for dinner for two, and this may be the reason for the crowd.

The restaurant was decorated to look like a sports bar(almost), with the large LCD TV on sports, an island drinks bar and several seating sections differently decorated. What’s missing are sports memorabilia. They didn’t need it, the restaurant was filled to the brim, even the seating overflow to the carpark. I rate this place 7 out of 10 for the food quality, ambiance speed of food delivery considering the restaurant was full.

Address: 21 Jalan Fetes Park, 11200 Penang, Hours: Tue-Sun 4pm-11.30pm, Facebook.

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Touring on my Fixie with Runkeeper keeps me abreast on the speed that I am on and the distance that I have travelled.  On top of that, I get to map where I’ve been and shares it on Facebook.  Best of all, Runkeeper is free.  I check out some of the other Cycling Apps on IOS and found the best one is free.  Runkeeper provide my basic need, showing the elevation, speed and also my calories burnt.  Its just a fun way to map where I’ve been. 

I check out a new route today and found an alternative road to take when the Bayan Lepas town traffic light is Jam.  This route cut from Caltex all the way to the Airport, right at Brothers Barber intersection.  Its not a good bike route because of the many bumps that mark the road along the way.  I did not even bother to count, just too many. 

I did 7.3km today with a 19m climb, not much of a climb, but since I just started, it was quite taxing for my legs. I was quite beat after the climb.  Tomorrow’s route will be without elevation, so it is going to be about speed, what would be my top speed and what’s the average…

After I bought my Fixie a couple of days back, I could not get off my mind cycling to work. I’ve got the urge to hop on the bike and ride all the time. When I got the chance yesterday evening, I went exploring the neighbouring kampung. Today, I went looking for an alternative route to work. Halfway on the route I was quite tired. The fear of not having enough energy to get back kicks in and I made a u turn. At this point the muscle pain on the leg sets in and I am not sure if I will be able to walk tomorrow.

On the bike yesterday and today brings out the joy of cycling. Fixie or fixed bike is very different from my previous bikes. It keep reminding me that I am not on a normal bike, especially coming to corners where I have to slow down. I have to use my led muscle to slow down and it’s something I have got used to. I still haven’t learnt to skid, maybe because of my front brake which I keep putting skiding off.

Riding on my Fixie to work is like living a lifestyle dream. I have yet to make it as a sustainable lifestyle, but I am getting there. I’ve got the hardware and the will, what’s left is just living through it…

I was smitten by Fixies of late and finally bought one today.  It was slightly over the budget but it was a great deal and I would be a dupe not to get it.  Cycling on a fixed gear bike certainly needs some getting used to.  The bike is a Chromoly Frame with Lasco Crank, Aero Sport Front Rim and XDS triple Wall Rim on the Rear, with Kenda Tyre and Tektro brakes and weight somewhere between 11-13kg.  This will be my transport to work with the goal of reducing at least 20kg in the course of 3 months.  In September, there will be a round island cycling event organized by the G Club of Penang, the 3rd year Campaign for a Lane event in Penang. The route will cover 81km in distance with a window time of 5hrs to complete.  I was particularly interested on the completion medal, which is a Pewter in a shape of a bicycle crank.

Fixies are now an in trend in Malaysia, with groups from North to South of Malaysia.  The southern parts like Melaka and Johor, there are a few online shops that sell Fixies over the web, either through mudah.my or bicyclebuysell.com or Facebook.  They charge ~RM40 for courier and the bikes can go as low as RM380 for GoMax Fixie, and best of all, they look great.  On the northern part, cycling shops do not carry many models, and mostly carry XDS models, which are much more expensive.  To learn more about Fixies Malaysia, simply goggle it.