Guess what did we do after driving at the Sepang International Circuit? We went cycling at Putrajaya in Malaysia. It had been ages since I went cycling and I was wondering if I would be able to cycle again! But I did fine. Cycling is one activity that everyone can identify with, the bruises sustained while learning to ride, the kindly person who taught us how to cycle or the joys and the mobility it offered once we mastered it.
When I was growing up we didn’t had the cycles kids learn on these days. My daughter for example has a small cycle with two extra wheels so balancing is not a problem for her. I learned on a cycle with just two wheels. And it was a cousin (who used to stay with us) who taught me cycling. I didn’t fall while learning but I did get a few cuts and bruises after I learned. I also used to bicycle to school after 6th standard. I learned cycling when I was in 4th standard. The floodgate of memories one simple event can open! And in my days there was no concept of helmet while cycling, I suspect in my small town no one still wears a helmet while cycling.
I used to have a cycle even when I shifted to Gurgaon and sometimes I would go to market on it. In one of my jobs, I used to cycle to the bus stop and chain it to a tree. I remember coming back one day to find that I had just chained the tree and not the cycle but no one took it away. That was the last I had a cycle.
So coming back to cycling around Putrajaya I was not sure how I will fare. I even thought that I would not do it if there were more Malaysia Tourism Hunt 2012 participants and less number of cycles. But that was not the case at all. So I found myself in middle of a big bunch of cyclists. My cycle had gears, adjustable seat and I was wearing a helmet this time.
We were escorted by the police team till we were on the main roads but once we came on the cycling/walking track we could go as we liked.
The cycling/walking track was well maintained. It was largely flat and went just a little bit of uphill and downhill. I did change gears to go uphill. The path was largely empty with a few walkers sitting around and enjoying the view. There was one guy who was practicing complicated dance moves (like they do in street dancing sequences) and was all concentration.
Soon we would cycle less and click more pictures!
The local cyclists who were assisting us on this day took us through a few short cuts as well. The path goes around the lake with plenty of rest stops. I initially did not take my camera out. But after a while I decided that I can cycle with the camera around my neck.
There was a point on this trip where we could see a lot of birds. I could spot egrets and yellow billed storks quite easily. There was another group of large birds that looked familiar but I could not place it. I was told that they were purple herons and what graceful creatures they are. After this bird spotting point we headed back to the bus and our hotel at Putrajaya.
I don’t think I will ever spend a day again where I get to drive around a car at a F1 circuit and then cycle in the same day!
this was indeed a power packed trip!
nice post, Mridula!!! i too learnt to cycle when i was in 3rd or 4th std.. and that too on a hired cycle. it was only when i learnt how to, that i got a cycle of my own!! my school was too far off to cycle, plus it was too dangerous since i had to ride on the highway, but i loved to cycle to the library every day! i have never read as many books as i did then!!! the habit was lost when i was in college, but got another cycle when i was at iit… and then i fell one day, and sprained both my ankles… and that is the end of my cycling story… since i read your post i have been wondering if i still remember how to!
Oh, what a fun and action-packed day!
That seems like an awesome experience.
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what wonderful experience you are having..great Mridula..