Roti Run through Malaysia en route to Thailand: 6 Jan 2013, Singapore to Batu Pahat

An early start - we used a minibus to get across the border into Malaysia. 

At Pontian, we joined the Route 5 which is a good quality road with motorbike lane 
for about 60% of the journey to Batu Pahat.  The weather was glorious with a 
light headwind.  After 2 hours, we stopped at a small town for water and 
breakfast which had to be roti canai together with teh tarik.  
We did have a slight technical problem with David's derailleur.  We tried to get 
it fixed at a Chinese bicycle shop in Senggarang.  The old shop owner seemed to 
have only three tools, a huge screwdriver, big hammer and spanner.  When he 
started knocking the derailleur with his hammer and a screwdriver, we quickly 
thanked him for his work, for which he refused to charge.  Whatever he did 
seemed to do the trick because the problem is gone.
Along the route we passed small inlets from the sea where colourful fishing 
boats were parked up.  The bird life was very similar to most Southeast Asian 
countries - kingfishers, orioles, spotted doves, koels, oriental magpies and of 
course, the bandits - the mynah birds.  We are now staying in Batu Pahat which 
is very much a Chinese town.  Since it is a Sunday, everything is closed except 
street restaurants.  We have had double-boiled pork rib and lotus root soup and 
even found a can of chilled Guiness brewed in Malaysia.
Stayed at the B&S Hotel which has all one needs - clean, cool and friendly 
service.
Tomorrow we attack the road to Melaka.  Souped-up cars are a common sight in 
these parts of Malaysia.  Have seen some spectacular examples of overtaking, we 
have abandoned the idea of cycling in the dark and plan to start as soon as it 
is light, which seems to be around 7 am.  This may change if we find it getting 
too hot around midday.
Total mileage: 72km