Cycling route in Borneo Island - East Malaysia, Brunei and Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat

www.bicycletouringmalaysia.com

I will be landing in Tawau Airport from Kuala Lumpur at 11.00am. Cycling route will be around 1400 km. First day start from Tawau, Sandakan, Telupid, Ambong, Kota Kinabali, Beaufort Weston, Limbang, Bandar Seri Begawan, Miri, Niah, Bintulu, Tatau, Sibu, Sarikel, Bandar Sri Aman, Kuching, maybe to Pontianak, Kalimantan Barat.

From, RE: [Warmshowers.org] Cycling in East Malaysia  
John Lonhienne (Kuching,Sarawak)
Hello,
Yes, I have done the road from Brunei to Kuching. A few things you should know:
Sarawak is one of the least densely populated state in Malaysia. This means that you sometimes will be cycling for many kilometres without seeing any villages. Actually, most small villages are not directly along the main roads, but off the roads.
It's still OK for food and drinks but sometimes, it can be a bit boring to see palm oil plantation for miles...
Just a bit south west of Miri, there is the Lambir Hill national park (you can camp) which has a few nice waterfalls.
From Miri to Bintulu, there are 2 roads. The new one (near the coast, palm oil) and the old one (more inland, with a few longhouses).
I  don't know if the coastal road from Bintulu to Mukah is ready yet.
After Mukah, you have 2choices:
1. The highway which goes through Sibu, Sarikei,  then down to saratok, sri aman, serian etc...But it's a big road, not very nice, lots of trucks etc...
2. From mukah, it's possible to cycle all the way to Kuching along the sea. Of course, you sometimes need to take ferry or small boats to cross the rivers,but that makes it more fun. Also, there are more villages (Malays fishermen) and very little traffic, so safer.
Let me know if you need more details.
Of course, you're welcome to my house when you reach Kuching (if I'll be around)
Good luck
John

At the Tawau airport met a Indian guy name Richard who works in a Plam oil Mill in Ladah Datu. He took to motor shop to refill air for my bike.

During the early days, Tawau airport was located on Jalan Utara, literally known as Northern road about 2 miles away from Tawau. The airport was officially opened in 1968 by the former Transport Minister of Malaysia, Tan Sri Haji Sardon. It was only used to cater to small aircraft, such as Fokker 50.
In the early 80's, Malaysia Airlines (MAS)'s Boeing 737 made a maiden flight to Tawau airport after the runway had been broadened. It has been taking in flights from Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Lahad Datu since then.

The wearther was fine the roads are not good and some drivers are fast specialy the lorry driver. It remind me cycling from Jagkarta, Indonesia to Bali in 2006.

Mostly plam oil plantation are along the roadside.

However on 15 September 1995, a Malaysian Airlines Fokker 50 from Kota Kinabalu touched down 500m before the end of the 2200m long runway. While attempting to carry out a go-around, the aircraft crashed into a Malay village, kampung Seri Menanti, causing 34 fatalities including two crews^[4].
Earlier, on March 20, 1995 a Cessna Caravan cargo plane had also crashed into houses following a failed take-off. Another Boeing 737 plane was skidded off the runway in October 2001 without any causing any injuries to the passengers.
According to a survey, the old airport has one of the shortest runways in the country. Soon, a new international airport was in the government blue plan to shift Tawau airport to a new location along Tawau - Semporna highway, 30 km from Tawau.
The airport was subsequently opened to public in December 2001. In year 2003, Tawau Airport was officially launched by the former Transport Minister of Malaysia, Tun Dr. Ling Liong Sik. Tawau Airport became the second largest airport in Sabah after Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Its very hard to fine food stall. Met a old couple selling some home made breads. They were friendly.

At the juntion to Kunak is the place I stay it's around 40km from Tawau Airport. These two guys are selling BQQ seafood. BQQ is very famouse in Kunak.