P.Malaysia's Main Range Ride

6 Dec 2008.

2 bikes 2 riders. Me and Radzi (Mr Big). We started from KL on 6 Dec 08 morning after typical breakfast (boiled eggs, bread and kopi; sorry no nasi lemak cos bad diet for riding). Our initial route will take us KL-Temerloh-Jerantut-K Lipis-Gua Musang-Gerik. Overnite Gerik then upward to Baling-K.Nerang-Alor Star-Kangar- and downward to Butterworth- K.Kangsar- Parit-Tk.Intan-Sabak Bernam-K.Selangor-Rawang-KL. My estimate the total journey would cover almost 2000km.
KL to Temerloh was not interesting. Too much heavy traffics and just the Karak Highway ride. Rain started as we passed Karak and throughout the day ride. Raincoat? Forget it riding in this type of rainy season. It just keep on pouring over you. Temerloh is a nice small town. Jerantut is confusing, many turns and one-way. We had to tour Jerantut twice before we managed to get out to correct road towards K. Lipis. K.Lipis to Gua Musang is very nice road though many turns and with wet road and some passing palm oil plantations and refineries can be dangerous. No fast cornering Babes! Since the Raya Haji falls on 8 Dec 08, the traffic flowing North was heavy. Stream of cars. No choice but to overtake them, some on double lanes. Ooop! sorry guys.
At Gua Musang after lunch we decided to ride to C.Highland instead of Gerik but due to my own stupidity of miscalculate Camel fuel consumption I found that Camel would run dry before we could arrive C.Highland. So, we have to about turn towards Gua Musang to fuel Camel. Blessing in disguise, after calculation we decide to stick to our original plan to head for Gerik through Jeli. Jeli to Gerik was like navigating ship in darkness without radar! Visibility was restricted due to thick fog and dark road. Boy! Like riding from Monaco to La Spezia, if you know what I mean. We arrived Gerik around 9pm. Soak wet and hungry only to find the Gerik rest house restaurant did not served dinner. Reason, no water! We had to instruct the waitress to tell the cook how to prepare sandwich and scramble eggs. I think I annoyed the cook. He came out and sat at the counter staring at us. Hungry man angry man, right? We finally settled down for the nite feeling disappointed about the service at the rest house. However, we slept like log. Zzzzzzzz
7 Dec 08. We decided to cut short our tour due to last minute commitment. So we headed straight to Perak via K Kangsar - Parit. We disengaged at Bota Kiri; Mr Big drove to Tk Intan while I went to Sitiawan. I rode to KL alone on 9 Dec 08. The rain still pouring through out the KL ride.
In summary:
a. Total distance covered - 1100km
b. Average speed - 100km/h
c. Cost - RM 130 fuel
- RM 25 Accomodation
- RM 70 Food/drinks
d. Rating - 7 over 10

Mindanao Travel - The people and places

Mindanao Travel - Lake Sebu

There are few lakes in Mindanao, the biggest is Lake Lanao. Lake Sebu is located in the Province of South Cotabato, some 100 odd km from Cotabato. A good place to relax and enjoy the cool and green surroundings. The best part is, the fresh water Tilapia is yummy cooked in the traditional "Lumad" (Indigenous people) style. There are many small resorts that provide typical lake activities.

Kawasaki KLR 650 (Camel)

Bought Camel on Oct 9, 2008. Over that weekend I drove Camel covering 1600km, thus completed the engine breaking-in as recommended by the User's Manual. Phoow! Even Kapchai and Municipal Lorries overtook me. My thought was, at least Camel is ready now for more 'punishing jobs'. I have to temporary say Bye to Camel on Oct 20, 2008 as I parked him at Ah Kit's shop at Jln Kuchai Lama for safe keeping for another two and a half months while I am gone to continue my duty in Mindanao, the Philippines.
There is only few words to describe Camel during that breaking-in run - Awesome machine.

Mindanao pointers

On average, it is best to have 2 weeks to cover Mindanao. Whether you start from Zamboanga or Davao as entry and exit point there are places where you need to pass as quickly as possible or stay a little bit longer. I always feel excited to ferry your own bike from Sandakan to Zamboanga. The overnite trip is not so much happening. From Zomboanga you can ride to Pagadian some 300km distance apart. Pagadian is like Los Angeles , very undulating town. No wonder they improvised the tricycles in an inverted fashion. Very fun to ride one of them. Cheap cheap.



During the Monsoon season or when each passing typhoons (about 21 times a year), the road linking Zamboanga to Pagadian can be obstructed by landslides or collapse. Beware to make a detour or even long wait (common).



Road Zamboanga to Pagadian is mixed (part concrete and disconnected by gravel). You may wonder why? Done on purpose? Your guess is good as mine. So be careful not too excited with long straight road as you may suddenly hit gravel and pot holes. Go slow Brother! That my advise.

6 Oct 2008 - Mindanao Travel

Mindanao is a nice island, forget about the conflict which dragged the island 5-10 years backward in term of development and infrastructure. I lived and work in Cotabato for the past 13 months and I found home here. There are varied places and cultures to visit. For Malaysian travellers, the easiest entry point to Mindanao, aside from Manila, is Zamboanga city. There are regular overnight ferry services plying Sandakan to Zamboanga (to and fro). You can ferry your bike or car together.
Some tips when riding in Mindanao or the Philippines in general:
1. There is no traffic rules in practical terms
2. Most drivers owned their licenses through 'purchase' and no formal driving lessons
3. Horn is a must
4. You do not know when somebody going to turn or stop, regardless of others
5. Beware of tricycles and pedestrians - they rule
6. They give way if you persist
7. Road signs are meant just to be there

More to follow..

Ride a bike tour

This is the beginning of a life adventure for me. Still unsure why I am doing this but reading from many around the world who have done the RTW and other motorcycle touring, I am inspired

I do not have any experience riding a motorcycle outside Malaysia other than a short trip to Phuket few years ago. However have been riding since 1977 with a few years of lay off because of work commitments. The HU website comes real handy and useful for me to use as a reference manual ( some say 'Bible' and must read for potential motorcycle adventurers).

Thats a quick introduction of my adventure.

Still learning

Still learning to go about writing and managing my own site. Way to go.

Billy the Goat on top of a bus