South America Motorcycle Roadtrip

Small town called Sevilla, Colombia


Prepare for test run


Colombian Coffee cafe beside a kiosk station

Day 8 - Day 13 (17th till 22nd Jan 2012)

Test run towards Bogota on a sunny day. Along Ruta (Route) N25 was fun indeed. The bike works fine and cruising at legal speed limit (100 kph) along this PanAmerican stretch was no problem. But you get bored quickly along this highway. I decided to get into the secondary road which alot more thrilling. Bends, slopes and potholes!
Along mid-day I arrived a town called Armenia. This is one of the many coffee plantation towns - the popular Colombian coffee. I had a cuppa there. It is just awesome.
My first impression of Colombia in terms country"s physical landscape, the vegetation and agriculture products can be summarised as quite similar to Mindanao. The land is very fertile.
On my return journey to Cali, it rained almost all the way but the test run is assessed as very successful with only few things to make good; head lamp bulb blew and a mul-fuction GPS power connecter.

South America Motorcycle Road Trip | London - Madrid - Cali, Colombia

D-Day + 1 till 7 - Flight from London to Madrid to Cali, Colombia.

Arrived London for some administrative preparation. Weather in London as usual can be described in a single word - sucks! Flight to Cali was from London - Madrid - Cali, Colombia. At Madrid, Aviancia flight to Cali check-in counter I was almost refused on board because the official said I do not have visa! The argument was the duration between my entry into Colombia and departure Colombia exceeds the 90 days tourist visa policy as set by the Colombian Immigration. Aiya!

Despite a lengthy explanation about my trip that official simply do not understand and asked me to buy a new return ticket that meet the 90 days policy. I argued to see the supervisor and the official did present to their supervisor about the situation and return to say " You OK to go".
Point noted.

At Casa Blanca Hostel, Cali Colombia

I arrived Cali and settled at Casa Blanca Hostel. You may want to visit this bikers friendly place. For more on Casa Blanca Hostel, click here.

What do I think about Cali?

Cali is a nice city. There are obviously many new buildings and contemporary structures and designs overtaking the Cali Old City. The best way to see the city is by walking along the streets passing many cafes serve typical Colombian coffee. Under USD $2 you get a 'kick' cup of coffee. The streets are lined with many old trees providing shades to pedestrian walkway and traffics.

The People in Cali.

Two points illustrate the people in Cali or Colombian as a whole. The male are just stunning. The women, big boops and wide butts. Hehe!

South America Motorcycle Road Trip | Kuala Lumpur - London

at the LCCT airport, Kuala Lumpur, before the flight


D-Day 10 Jan 2012

When the Airbus 300 jet engines roar and lifted the 400 tons plus wide body plane from KLIA's runaway, I told myself the adventure to South America has begin.

Follow my upcoming trip report. Adios!

South America Trip (SAT) 2012

D Day - 3

Its Saturday 7 January 2012, another 3 days before my departure for SAT 2012. My packing list is just one ruck sack, one 27kg bag and whatever I wear and riding jacket.
Just like the pic above. It is much less than my Europe Ride.

Kaabah Direction

29 December 2011


I want to share this information with you, if you have not find it before. During our riding we constantly looking for the direction of the Kaabah (Qibla) to pray. Much easy in Malaysia or within this region as the basic rule applies - look for the direction of sunset i,e almost Westerly direction. Bring yourself a compass, it helps.
If you are looking for Qibla direction from a PC, you must first have an internet connection. Follow these steps:

1. Go to http://www.qiblalocator.com

2. Enter city or your position Lat and Long , you see your actual location

3. Locate your existing position or house

4. You will find a (+) sign in middle of the page. Put the centre of this sign above your existing location/house

5. You will find a RED LINE starting from the centre of the (+) sign and end at the Kaabah

6. This line is your Qibla Direction


When you are planning your route, do this at your would be stop over places. You know Kaabah direction well ahead.

Ride Safe Ride Far,

The Year 2011

Dec 2011

Jan 2011

28 December 2011

Its year end again. My travelling episode this year has brought me covering few countries; The South East Asia ride in the early part of 2011, New Zealand somewhere in mid of the year, few trips to Thailand at the 3rd quarter of 2011 and finally Indonesia in December this year. The Bike KLR 650 (I called it CAMEL) has been great through out. Merit to its popular codename Mr Can Do All. Sadly or not, in Malaysia this is not a popular bike compared to countries like the US, Canada, Australia and some parts of Europe.
I thank God for my health and safety during this whole year. Insyallah, next year the adventure ride continues starting 10 Jan 2012 on the South America Tour.
Adios and Happy New Year to you!

SAT 2012 Route

Overview SAT 2012 Route


Ushuaia, Argentina to Cali, Colombia.


Day 1 Ushuaia - San Sebastian. (319 km; route 3; borderXing into Chile)

Day 2 San Sebastian - Monte Aymond. (160 km; route 3; ferry)

Day 3 Monte Aymond - Rio Gallegos. (131 km; borderXing into ARG; route 3)

Day 4 Rio Gallegos - Puerto San Julian. (370 km; route 3)

Day 5 Puerto San Julian - Fitz Roy. (273 km; route 3)

Day 6 Fitz Roy - Comodoro Rivadavia. (155 km; route 3)

Day 7 Comodoro Rivadavia - Trelew. ( 363 km; route 3)

Day 8 Trelew - San Antonia Oeste. (267 km; route 3)

Day 9 San Antonia Oeste - Bahia Blanca. (421 km; route 3)

Day 10 Bahia Blanca - Azul. (369 km; route 3)

Day 11 Azul - Buenos Aires. (344km; route 3)

Day 12 Buenos Aires - Rosario. (304 km; route 9)

Day 13 Rosario - Cordoba. (393 km; route 9)

Day 14 Cordoba - Santiago Del Estero. (405 km; route 60, 157 and 64)

Day 15 Santiago Del Estero - Labos. (426 km, route 9)

Day 16 Labos, near Salta - La Quiaca. (380 km; route 9)

Day 17 La Quiaca - Villa Abecia. (200 km; route 9 and 1; borderXing La Quiaca, ARG/Villazon, BOL)

Day 18 Villa Abecia - Potosi. (257 km; route 1)

Day 19 Potosi - Macha Camaca. (334 km; route 1)

Day 20 Macha Camaca - La Paz. (261 km; route 1)

Day 21 La Paz - Puno, Peru. (258 km; borderXing at Desaguadero into Peru)

Day 22 Puno - Cusco. (350 km; route 3S)

Day 23 Cusco - Chalhuanca. (230 km; route 3)

Day 24 Chalhuanca - Nazca. ( 188 km; route 3)

Day 25 Nazca - Pisco. ( 229 km; route 1S)

Day 26 Pisco - Lima. (248 km; route 1S)

Day 27 Lima - Huarmey. (273 km; route 1N)

Day 28 Huarmey - Trujillo. (275 km; route 1N)

Day 29 Trujillo - Chiclayo. (198 km; route 1N)

Day 30 Chiclayo - Piura. (226 km; route 1N)

Day 31 Piura - Mancora. (181 km; route 1)

Day 32 Mancora - Naranjal, ECU. (278 km; route 1, borderXing Zarumilla, Peru/Huaquillas, ECU)

Day 33 Naranjal - Quevedo. (278 km; route 70)

Day 34 Quevedo - Quito. (232 km; route 70 and 30)

Day 35 Quito - Pasto, COL. (208 km; route 25; borderXing at Ipiales)

Day 36 Pasto - Cali. (397 km; route 25)

Note:

* Riding days this Northerly route = 36 days
* Spare days, rest, visit, maintenance etc = 9 days

Total days this Northerly route = 45 days