Farewell to WarmShower Stay
November 30th began with gratitude. I left the WarmShowers host's home after washing my laundry—something that feels small but means so much on the road. Early in my journey, the toughest part of bicycle travel, aside from mechanical problems, was the smell of damp laundry. Over time, even that smell has become something I've learned to accept, even appreciate.
Before leaving, I took a walk around the neighborhood. In a shopping mall, I came across a display where plants were being grown with artificial light. Discovering such unusual things in the middle of everyday life excites me. Every day feels fresh, as if there's always a new corner of the world waiting to be seen.
Toward the Bike Shop
For the first time, I also sat down and watched some of my GoPro footage from the trip. Seeing the journey through the camera reminded me how powerful it can be for storytelling. I'll use it more in the future.
Cycling through narrow streets gave me a sense of being closer to local life. The deeper I go into everyday neighborhoods, the more I feel I glimpse the true nature of a place. Eventually, I reached today's destination: a bicycle shop in Kuala Lumpur.
The reason was simple. My front rack had broken. I had tried repairing it, but the only way to truly fix it was through welding. Since that wasn't realistic for the journey ahead, I decided to look for a new touring bike. After browsing, I found one for under 100,000 yen. It felt right. Still, I didn't purchase it today. I plan to return in ten days after a short trip back to Japan. The reason for this sudden return is a story for tomorrow.
Refueling with Street Food
Having made decisions about the bike, I felt lighter. But hunger reminded me I hadn't eaten all day. At a food stall, I ordered Mee Goreng Ayam—fried noodles with chicken—for 9 RM (about 303 yen). Affordable, filling, and delicious, it gave me the energy I needed.
Cycling in Kuala Lumpur itself remains a challenge, though. Cars rush by endlessly, and turning when I want to often feels impossible. Forcing it would mean risking an accident. In such moments, patience becomes the most important tool.
Arrival at a Unique Hostel
Eventually, I reached my accommodation: Geo Hana Guesthouse. To my surprise, it was located on the 26th floor—perhaps one of the highest hostels in the world. The rooms were capsule-style, compact but more than enough.
The view from such a height gave me perspective. The city below was noisy and busy, yet up here, I felt calm. By evening, I had finished all the tasks I had planned for the day.
Preparing for Tomorrow
Still, tomorrow promises to be demanding. I need to retrieve luggage I left at my previous host's home and ship it to a friend's house in Malaysia. It will mean retracing my route and handling logistics. There's a mountain of tasks, but I remind myself: just take them one by one.
