SAT 2012 Route

With Blue Camel on practice run

Cali, Colombia to Ushuaia, Argentina

Day 1 Cali - Pasto, COL. (397.5 km; route 25)

Day 2 Pasto - Quito, ECU. (208 km; route 25; borderXing Ipiales,COL/ Tulcan,ECU)

Day 3 Quito - Cuenca. (425 km; route 35)

Day 4 Cuenca - Macara. (425 km; route 35)

Day 5 Macara - Piura, Peru. (163 k; route 35; borderXing Macara,ECU/La Tina,Peru)

Day 6 Piura - Chiclayo. (226 km; route 1N)

Day 7 Chiclayo - Trujillo. (198 km; route 1N)

Day 8 Trujillo - Huarmey. (275 k; route 1N)

Day 9 Huarmey - Lima. ( 273 km; route 1N)

Day 10 Lima - Pisco. (248 km; route 1S)

Day 11 Pisco - Nazca. (229 km; route 1S)

Day 12 Nazca - Camana. (373 km; route 1S)

Day 13 Camana - Moquegua. (326 km; route 1S)

Day 14 Moquegua - Arica, Chile. (275 km; route 1S; borderXing Tacna, Peru/Arica, Chile)

Day 15 Arica - Humberstone. (311 km; route 5)

Day 16 Humberstone - Antofagasta. (450 km; route 1; about 6 hrs ride time)

Day 17 Antofagasta - Chanaral. (371 km; route 5)

Day 18 Charanal - Vallenar. (319 km; route 5)

Day 19 Vallenar - Canela Baja. (376 km; route 5)

Day 20 Canela Baja - Santiago. ( 355 km; route 5)

Day 21 Santiago - Mendoza, ARG. (325 km; route 7; borderXing Santiago/Mendoza)

Day 22 Mendoza - El Sosneada. (367 km; route 40, 143 and 144)

Day 23 El Sosneada - Chos Malal. (348 km, route 40)

Day 24 Chos Malal - San Martin. (381 km; route 40)

Day 25 San Martin - Trevelin. (367 km; route 40)

Day 26 Trevelin - Facundo. (367 km; route 40)

Day 27 Facundo - Bajo Caracoles. ( 309 km; route 40)

Day 28 Bajo Caracoles - Tres Lagos. (348 km; route 40)

Day 29 Tres Lagos - Rio Gallegos. (410 km; route 40; about 8 hrs time taken; desert)

Day 30 Rio Gallegos - San Sebastian, Chile. (290 km; route 3; borderXing Chile; ferry)

Day 31 San Sebastian - Tilshun, ARG. (215 km; route 3; borderXing ARG; 7 hrs time taken)

Day 32 Tilshun - Ushuaia. (104 km; route 3)

Note:

* Riding days on the Southerly route = 32 days
* Spare days ( Rest, maintenance, visit etc) = 13 days
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Total days on Southerly route 45 days
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South America Trip

11 November 2011

News update - Yellow Fever vaccination. I went to a Military Hospital inside the Naval Base in Lumut recently to ask for this vaccination. Apparently they have no stock available and best get from private clinic, I was told. So, I went to Klinik Samudera, Sitiawan ( a panel doctor for Malaysian Seaferers) and the doctor refers me to Medical Centre in Ipoh.
So, for those of you live in Perak, the only place you could get Yellow Fever and other vaccinations is at Klinik Kesihatan at Jelapang, Ipoh , Perak. Bring your I.D and international Passport, the fee is RM 90.
KLR spare parts. I have placed an order for the following parts;
* Front and back tire tubes
* Brake pads
* Fuses
* Accelerator cables
* Clutch cable
* Bulbs
* Tire repair kits
* Plugs

Some basic tools I have got and these items will make for a huge weight and space for my total luggage. Let see how many more under wears I have to leave behind! Riding with without one is not a good idea especially when you have to endure some off-road condition.

What You See?

6 November 2011

How fascinating is travelling. You see, touch, smell, hear and think. That the way life as a traveller......

South America Tour

General View from Colombia to Ushuaia


The Red Camel
5 November 2011

The preparation continues...

South America Tour

3 November 2011

The South America Tour top my list now and basic preparation is currently underway. The plan is simple; take a flight to Colombia, South America, buy a bike there and ride down towards Ushuaia, Argentina make a bout turn and return to Colombia. Sell the bike and take a return flight home.
The route will cover; Colombia - Ecuador - Peru - Chile - Argentina - Chile - Argentina - Chile - Argentina - Bolivia - Peru - Ecuador - Colombia. I estimated the total distance about 14062 km and time taken about 4 months.
The bike is KLR 650, Colombian registered.
As of today I am making appointment with a doctor to get a Yellow Fever vaccination. This is a must to enter Colombia. A certificate of prove is required. Maps and GPS checked but a compass is my basic instrument for navigation. My complete list of items to check and take follows in next article.
Stay tune for me story...

Adios!

Have Bike Will Travel

August 14, 2011

No matter what motorbike model you ride, it just the same feeling, the environment surrounds you. That is the beauty of riding a motorbike. Have bike will travel.



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Malaysia/Thailand Land Border-Crossing

August 10, 2011

Mal/Thai Border-Crossing

You can find many write-up about this topic in other references and articles, and this may be a review for those who have known about it but from another perspective. Let me say this from the beginning, in any border-crossing, each of them is different and unique because the officials dealing with you are different person all the time. So what? So, always prepare to encounter with tough situation, allow about 4 hours of border-cross and smile from ear to ear. If luck is with you or you are such a beautiful girl or handsome enough man the chance are you get pass quickly, then it is considered a bonus. Or else stick to my basic rules.
At the time of writing, there are 6 legal Mal/Thai Border cross points. All accessible by motorbike and car. They are, Pasir Panjang/Sg Kolok; Bukit Berapit/Betong; Bukit Kayu Hitam/Danok; Padang Besar; Wang Klian/Wang Prachap and a newly open near Padang Terap (Malaysian side).
If you intend to travel from Malaysia to Thailand or reverse in the Eastern part of both countries, then your choice will be limited to Pasir Panjang/Sg Kolok, Bukit Berapit/Betong and the newly open points.
Some of the observations at each of the check points are:

Pasir Panjang/Sg Kolok

* The Custom office on the Thai side is newly build and the counters are not yet operational
* You have to use the pedestrian counter to stamp your international passport
* There is no insurance agents office on the Thai side. You need to go to next nearest town, Yala or Takbai.
* RM2 insert in your passport as you get it stamp. The official just ask if you forget. Dont do on the Malaysian side, you offend the officials.


Bukit Berapit/Betong

* On the Malaysian side, the nearest town is Pengkalan Hulu. Get your requirement here. There is nothing at the border point of the Malaysia side.
* The check point on Thai side is a huge building and newly build. Betong is about 6 km from the check point.
* RM 2 each for your passport and bike temporary import permit Thai side. No, on the Malaysian side.

Bukit Kayu Hitam/Danok

* The popular and well established border points on both side.
* Avoid weekend and holidays as you may have to get into a long queue with other traffics
* RM 1 for immigration on the Thai side. Not on the Malaysian side.

Padang Besar Border Cross

* Used to be the main entry point between the two countries before the Bukit Kayu Hitam/Danok point was opened.
* The Railway line linking both countries pass trough these check points.

Wang Klian/Wang Prachap

* The road leading towards Wang Prachap check point from Satun, Thailand is still under construction.
* Satun to Wang Prachap check point is about 12 km.
* RM 2 each for Custom and Immigration on Thai side. Nothing on the Malaysian side.


Caution

Illegal possession of fire arms and drugs trafficking are serious offences in both countries.In Malaysia if found guilty it carries a mandatory death sentence. On each side of the countries after the border check points you will encounter with road blocks from the enforcement agencies.
Have a safe and enjoyable journey.