Day 186 Oct 12 Fri - Bedridden in Bratislava

Scenery of the Dunav
A new Malaysian flag
Gabcikovo hydro dam
Now the water level in the chamber rises up to same level
Cruise ship waiting in the chamber for the water to rise

Happy hour with the students from Canada staying in the same hostel room
Around Bratislava
Road cyclists on their serious training session here
Peter who missed a 5-6 kilo fish
River Dunav , a good spot for the anglers

Today's Temp: 10 - 20c
Today's spending: 729 sk
Total Distance to date: 12151 km
Total spending to date: 1296 sk

Could not get to see much of Bratislava as I was bedridden again by diahoera this morning. I lost my appetile for the food that I cooked normally very good with nothing left,but this time I was struggling even to finish half of it.My body was really weak and find it hard to even walk up the stairs to 3rd floor.So the morning was spent sleeping after taken the pills. By 5 pm feeling a bit better tried walk around the town,surprisingly could not find one internet that can upload the pictures. The weather is really cold with dizzying rain ( or is it snow?) . I noticed I am the only one wearing sleepers on the street! Have a plate of hot rice with some meat & vege in a Vietnamese restaurant for 90 sk . It is a good sign to feel hungry,right?

Day 185 Oct 11 Thu - Corn Farm Camp in Narad to Bratislava

Beautiful bike lane to Bratislava
Patio hostel 480 sk ( 14 euro)
Wood craving items
Thank you for leading me to the Centrum Mr Ulo

Crossing the bridge to the Centrum , the famous castle on top of the hill
Another view of the bridge
Twin city liner operate between Bratislava and Wien
Lookout tower on the bridge

Today's Distance: 68 km
Today's Temp: 10 - 22c
Average Speed: 14 max 30
Time on Bike: 4 hr 51 min
Average climb: 2 % max 10%
Trip Altitude: 125 m max 170 m
Today's spending: 480 skk
Total Distance to date: 12151 km
Total spending to date: 567 skk

Rode in to Bratislava at 4.30pm. Started at 8.40am and soon Gabcikovo Dam was in sight. The Dam built across the Dunav to generate electricity, there is a step of concrete wall about 50 m high to block the water on one side of the river. In order for the ship to pass, the ship has to enter a chamber where the water will be raised to the same level with the higher side to continue the journey. There is a beautiful bike and roller skating lane all the way to Bratislava which is higher than the side road, but unfortunately the headwind is too strong for me to go on the bike lane,so I cycled on the lower road. Many people young and old biking or roller skating on this bike lane, a very relax atmosphere away from the city dust and carbon monoxide. Checked at the tourist information centre , and stayed in the Patio Hostel for 480 skk with internet but can not upload photos. Too tired to see anything in town and my stomach was feeling unhappy, really need a good rest!

Day 184 Oct 10 Wed - Commuter Camp in Dorog to Corn Farm Camp in Narad,Slovakia

Entrance to the Corn Farm Camp in Narad Slovakia
Corn Farm Camp

Mr Lee from Korea cycling from London to Greece
Mr Roland of OMV petrol station recommended a scenic route around the hydro dam
Bike lane strictly meant for the bicycle ,no motorbikes or cars
Slovakian Krone
Another view of the corn farm camp

Scenery along the Dunav

Went down from the road to the river side to enjoy a closer view
Border bridge crossing from Komarom ( Hungary) to Komarno (Slovakia)
Slovensko (Slovakia)

Today's Distance: 101 km
Today's Temp: 13 - 21c
Average Speed: 18.3 max 33.5
Time on Bike: 5 hr 31 min
Average climb: 2% max 7%
Trip Altitude: 124 m max 160 m
Total spending in Hungary Ft: 23305 Ft
Total Distance to date: 12083 km
Today spending in Slovakia sk : 87 sk ( 1 usd = 24 sk 1 euro = 34 sk 1 Rm = 7 sk)

Rode into Slovakia , my 10th country visited , thru the border town Komarno from Komarom in Hungary over a bridge across the Dunav on Rd 10. Converted all my remaining Ft to Sk ( 1120 sk). The very first important thing to do when crossing to a new country, is to know the exchange rate,so that when you shop,you know whether an item is expansive or not as compared to your own currency. No problem with the custom , followed Rd 63,a very smooth flat road with broad shoulder unlike Hungary. met a Korean solo cyclist Lee cycling from London who recommended a beautiful route along the Dunav to Bratislava.And also a friendly Slovakian Roland who works in the OMV petrol station recommended to visit the Hydro dam in Gabcikovo. Well,all that recommendations have to wait until tomorrow as today I only managed until Narad on Rd506 , 12 km to Gabcikovo , a subsidiary road from Velky Meder on Rd 63.Camped next to a corn farm, a very quiet place away from the cars and trains.

Day 183 Oct 09 Tue - Budapest to Commuter Camp in Dorog

World War 2 cemetery for the Hungarian soldiers
Bike lane along the Dunav to Komaron

Commuter camp in Dorog
Sunset on the track just 5 meters from the tent

Today's Distance: 55 km
Today's Temp: 14 - 25c
Average Speed:17 max : 52.5
Time on Bike: 3 hr 11 min
Average climb: 2% max: 7%
Trip Altitude: 290 m max: 313 m
Today's spending: 4972 Ft
Total Distance to date: 11982 km
Total spending to date: 23305 Ft

Leaving Budapest at almost 1.30pm after spending 2 hr at the internet to update yesterday city bike tour and a warm reception at the Malaysia Embassy. Budapest is a charming lovely city with many architectural buildings and beautiful bridges over the Dunabe, was once under the Turkish occupation in the 16th century , a Soviet invasion in 1944,almost no buildings in the city centre remained unscathed and then the retreating Nazis blew up all the Dunabe bridges . Today's Budapest , not only the country's administrative ,political,commercial and cultural centres but the regional centre of Central Europe.It has become a genuine rival to Vienna.

Day 182 Oct 08 Mon - A Visit to the Malaysian Embassy in Budapest

Visit to one of the Chinese restaurant in Budapest
Fried rice sweet and sour chicken with onion ,carrot and a lemon tea ( 1080 Ft)
Hostel Yellow Submarine self service kitchen
With cooking gas
Entrance to the hostel

Around the city on bike

Parliment House Budapest
Church
Many Bridges over the Dunav River
Another view of the Dunav
Cycling around the city- Buda castle

Thank you Encik Salman ( right) and Encik Salleh (left)

A Giant Malaysian Flag was officially handed to carry home
Encik Salman's office
Picture with our Counsellor Chitra Devi Ramiah

Today's Distance: 21 km
Today's Temp: 13 - 20c
Today's spending: 7130 Ft
Total Distance to date: 11927 km
Total spending to date:18333 Ft

A big "THANK YOU" to the staffs of Malaysian Embassy in Budapest for a very warm and hospitality reception, especially to Encik Ahmad Salman Mansor,the 3rd Secretary who happens to come from the same hometown ( satu kampong ) as me in Kuala Kangsar,perak,Malaysia. Besides handed over a new Malaysian flag ( Jalor Gemilang) , he also contributed personally 10000 Ft ( Rm 200) to me so that I can eat better food after seeing my skinny body.Once again ,thank you . My thanks also to Chitra Devi Ramiah , the counsellor and Encik Salleh , it was indeed very nice and happy to meet you all! This was my first visit to a Malaysian Embassy since started April 10 in Beijing and also the first 3 orang Malayia I met ! The feeling was like being back home,we chat about how much we missed our own Malaysia foods like : Nasi Lemak,Nasi goreng,Nasi Campor,Pisang goreng , mamak teh tarik and roti canai etc..etc ,a long list .Unfortunately the Mr Ambassador was not around being on duty in New York. Anyway,pls send my best regards to him when he comes back - " Apa khabar dan Selamat Hari Raya !!!!