The eight hundred meter loop passes many businesses.
The alleyway separates two very busy roads. One street has mostly cafes, restaurants, bakeries, shops and hotels, the other one is dominated by light industry businesses such as auto repairs, spare sparks, tyre replacements and the occasional restaurant and a duck shop and two hotels.
The alleyway separates two very busy roads. One street has mostly cafes, restaurants, bakeries, shops and hotels, the other one is dominated by light industry businesses such as auto repairs, spare sparks, tyre replacements and the occasional restaurant and a duck shop and two hotels.
The contrast over a loop is enough to keep me busy.
I know most of the business. And they know me.
It's far more colourful than pounding the pavement of a park. And much safer. The park is isolated and a great place for a mugging. Here, there are little diagonal allies to make quick escapes to either of the two roads. You can even duck into a back end of a business if you are really under attack.
I'm pounding the pavement, covering distances from five kilometres- a slow day- to twenty, a long day.
The Chinese guy who works the lathe at a metal shop shows me his Hanuman tattoo.
I show him mine.
He's now another ally.
I'm slowly winning all the businesses over.
A few are still asking questions.
But it's pretty obvious what I'm doing.
I'm exercising, says Cornelius, who rights the Malay staff at the hotel who thinks it's pretty weird that I'm walking past it every ten minutes. I should be aiming at eight minutes a loop, though.
Nothing weird about exercising. It's just persistence. And hard work.
I'm aiming for 100 kilometres this week.
There aren't many obstacles to navigate. The surfaces are flat.
The roaming dogs look at me with suspicion.
I'm just as cautious.
I've stopped terrorising the cats.
They are quick to jump under a car when they feel threatened.
One well-groomed tan coloured dog has jumped the threshold and lets me pat it.
I need to walk some more.
I'm aiming for 150 kilometres in one week.
That's a lot of walking.
Yesterday I walked while the rain cooled down the city.
My passport got wet on the edges.
Nothing major but it pays to be vigilant.
Walking in the non-tourist district reaps more rewards than the well-trodden tourist haunts.
I get to meet the people.
I'll stop and say hello and ask what's cooking.
I'm even singing that song from Sesame Street. 'Who are the people in your neighbourhood.' Ben the Malay sign writer thinks that's funny.
In some ways, it really is.
Think it's time for some fish and chips.
I've done 15 kilometres today and The Bottle serves great fish and chips.
It pays to know your businesses. This one is very reasonable.
I'm sweaty and stink and I'm eating at the staff smoking table on the side of the road.
I'm really not offended.
Think it's time for some fish and chips.
I've done 15 kilometres today and The Bottle serves great fish and chips.
It pays to know your businesses. This one is very reasonable.
I'm sweaty and stink and I'm eating at the staff smoking table on the side of the road.
I'm really not offended.
