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| Saturday, 31-Jul-2010 03:55 |
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Road to China dec 2009 - January 2010
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Finally after many days on the road, China here we come
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Crossing Mekong, bike on boat
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Crossing Mekong River, 280bh
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Me with the bike crossing Mekong River
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Mekong, Great River that source from China
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Riding on Lao Road, towards Luang Namtha
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Each time we stop, swarms of children came lookin, touching
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Their faces tell the story....children of Lao amongst the hills
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Happier children going to school at city of Huay Xai
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We have heard it is possible to ride overland from Malaysia into China. During our last trip to Myanmar, we noticed that from North Thailand if we headed east into Laos, we can easily get into China from a little border town Boten. After returning from the trip, we made researched and planned out for this next big adventure.
Late December 2009, a group of 5 of us set out to do an overlander on small bikes to the Chinese Border. We had 18 days leave and a budget of rm2000 each to do it. We left KL at midnite, taking the PLUS hihway, north bound, and enter Thailand at Sadao. Piece of cake so far. We then headed North, sleeping at towns such as Cha-am, Kanchanaburi, Sukhotai, Nan and finally Chiang Khong., a border town with Laos seperated by the great Mekong River. We crossed Mekong on a little boat (easy for us as we travelled on small bikes 150cc) and enter PDR Lao. People's Democratic Republic of Laos. From Houay Xai we travelled westward to Luang Namtha. From then on ,... it s into China at Boten. It was late December, and temperature at nights were below 10*C. Bone chilling experience at some guesthouses we stayed.
All bikes make it safely, and on the return, after rententering Thailand we made a detour, touring the northern sates of Thailand.
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| Wednesday, 29-Apr-2009 13:23 |
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North Thailand, Golden Triangle and Burma Dec 2007
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The Golden Traingle, where Thailand, Laos and Burma meet..
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Katchanapuri death railway..
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Death Railway, a grim reminder of horror from the past..
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part of the road leading to Mae Sot, dirt and dust
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passing thru a Burma Refugee Camp..Mae Sarieng
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Taking a rest at the mountain country of North Thailand
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Cubchais? Did I hear right? ... These are the words I heard rom friends, after I told them that I wanted to do a tour to the Golden Triangle on a cubchai. I know it sounds crazy, but with proper preparation and good planning, it could be done..nothing is impossible. 
Travelling on small bikes have their advantages too. Its light, easy to manouvre, consume less petrol and parts are easily available too if it gets damaged. The only factor here, it is slow,. but who needs speed for adventure tours. Being slow you will have more chance of seing places as you passed by, and stopping immediately to take pictures would be a breeze.
We spent a total of 13 days on the road. Its was a fantastic journey. 3 cubs and 2 clutch-type150cc. Total distance was probably in the 5000km region and 3 incidents where the riders were thrown off their bikes. Read on guys, the captions on the pictures will tell the story....
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| Wednesday, 29-Apr-2009 12:20 |
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Taman Negara on Bicycles
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Our bicycles on top the car upon reaching Bentong Resthouse.
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A friend, Zul just before strating off
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The writer , at the juction to Taman Negara
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I had always wanted to do something different. I have seen places, a lot of places to be precise and I had spent a freezing night on summit of Gunung Brinchang in a tent too. Boy oh boy, that was crazy. but somehow I simply need a little bit more, an adventure to boost up my morale and someone suggest that we cycle. Bicycle? yeah why not? All these while I had been travelling on motorcycle and I presume cycling should be good for a change. Or at least to give a try? hehe
So on October 2008, me and some friends left for Taman Negara Kuala Tahan. The plan was to ferry our bicycles from Muar to Bentong on a car and from Bentong we will cycle to Jerantut, a distance of 120km. Put a night somewhere at Jerantut and continue cycling early following morning to Kuala Tahan Taman Negara which is approximately 66 kilometers.
Well, the plan worked out fine, and I survived... probably losing a kilo in weight in the process.
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| Wednesday, 22-Apr-2009 14:17 |
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Trans Peninsula Ride 2006
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Along the hiway reaching Kuantan
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At our favorite Chalet, Cherating
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The rest of the gang, Cherating
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I have done this a number of times. Traveling from west to east and head north to south, all within the Malaysian Peninsula. The sceneries are breathtaking. Most of the times I would travel with my male counterparts, however for this particular trip most of us brought our wives along. My wife Dr.tt had always wanted to feel how its like to travel the peninsula on her own bike.And this is a chance for her to do so. Its a 3 night 4 days trip and everyone had a superb time on the road, plus a bit of holiday on a boat touring the hinterland of Lake Temenggor and Belum Forest.
From Kuala Lumpur we head on east, taking the newly built LebuhRaya Pantai Timur, and stayed at Cherating. From Cherating we head on North to tour the east coast. If you want to see east coast on it's pristine season, allocate your time during May to October. Its the dryer season and the Monsoon has come to an end. Teh sea is always calm during this time of the year, great time to bask in the sun and have fun in the water. The water is clar too during this season.
Tok Bali was also on our list to stay. Strange name, Tok Bali used to be a small fishing village, but now slowly its been turning into a tourist destination. Also in our list is Tasik Temenggor, where we will stay on a floating Chalet, near Pulau Banding. We will also do a bit of boat tour around the lake and the many islands.....
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| Monday, 20-Apr-2009 12:56 |
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Cherating Weekend Retreat 2005
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Nice cosy landcape.. Tanjong Inn
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Getting there along the Tun Razak Hiway..
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Dr Tt, wie were allowed to park bikes right at doorstep
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We had always love cherating. A good place to rest for a night or two. And the location from Muar is not that too far away.
And easy ride for both of us on our easyriders, Dr.tt on her Virango 535 and me on my trusted Vulcon 500. In just 4 hours of leasure ride, we could be at Cherating, enjoying the cool seabreeze and unwinding ourselves. There is a place called Tanjung Inn, a nice cosy resort with reasonable price. The landscape is simple, yet has this relaxing atmosphere.....
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| Sunday, 19-Apr-2009 04:19 |
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Taman Negara Via Kuala Tahan 2006
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The entry into Taman Negara through Jerantut..
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We rode up to taman Negara for an overnight stay with the wilds
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WSome of the particiapants
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Taman Negara, the National Park. Its a huge tropical rainforest park, and beileve to be the oldest in the world. It covers an area of more than 4000 squre kilometers. This lush forest is protected as an heritage of Malaysia, and a zero logging zone. The belt stretches from Pahang to Kelantan and terengganu. It is here too that the highest peak of Peninsula is located. The gunung tahan at 2187 meters stood majestically in the rainforest.
There are currently 3 roads leading to this National Park. From the north (kelantan) you may gett from Kuala Kerai . Another entry is from Merapoh. This entry is also from the state of Kelantan and it is accesible from Gua Musang. However, the more popular entry is at Kuala Tahan. From KL head towrds Bentong - Raub - Jerantut-Kuala Tahan.
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| Sunday, 19-Apr-2009 03:28 |
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Teluk Senangin and Charity at Orphanage Home 2006
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The nice quiant village of Teluk Senangin
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The riders, coming from the hiway into North Taiping Exit
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Ashburn and another college of mine, Hashim
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Again, in 2006 we organised another ride up north to a less known village Teluk Senangin. This village is in the Lumut District. The local villagers are mostly fishermen. However, due to its nice beaches and clear water, some villagers has built sort of huts for visitors to stay for and thus generate some extra income.
Facilities here are very basic, and there is no restaurants or stalls eating outlet. You may have to cook yourself or bring some ready cooked packs. But we did another option. We Befriended a local family and talked to them into cooking for us . As for fish , there are plenty here, we buy the fishermen when they return from their catch. There are plenty of crabs too. So, its a sort of homestay for us, home cooked dinner of fresh fish and crabs,.. just for a small cost.
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| Thursday, 16-Apr-2009 13:45 |
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South Thailand - Koh Lanta and Krabi Revisited 2007
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The writer and wife at Trang, refueling the bikes
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Dr tt on the ferry heading the Island of Koh Lanta
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The participants, refueling and taking a short break - Trang
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We have done South Thailand quite a number of times, but still cant resist the temptation of doing it again and again. Its truly a fascinating country to tour on bikes, there are simply too many places to visit. So early May 2007 we set off for a 6-day tour on our motorcycles. This time most of us bring the wives along. All wives came as pillion, except Dr.tt, my wife who persist on riding her own virago and Im glad she did, covering the mileage on her own definitely had built her confidence more, an experience money cannot buy.
Six days on the road,.. mmm it was an almost perfect holiday for all...and doing it in May which is down on the off-peak season in Thailand, most accomodations and packages had slashed their prices to more than half. This add more value for money in travelling...
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| Wednesday, 15-Apr-2009 13:22 |
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Ride Discover TAsik Cini 2006
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Tasik Cini, our destination
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Some of the ladybikers that came along.
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The boys with their mean machines.
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Year 2006, we had a fantastic time riding our bikes to variuos places of interest. The company that went with us are great too, With every ride, the bond between bikers grew stronger.
Together with Maharani Bikers Club, we took the challenge to discover Tasik Cini. I dont really remember how many bikers came, but I can tell you it was alot. A big number of us, travelling both on superbikes and easyriders. It was sheer fun.
Tasik Cini is located at the central of Pahang. You may travelled from PLUS to exit to Tangkak and head on to Segamat. From Segamat take the Tun Razak Hiway. This road links to Kuantan in the North. About midway, there is a junction to Tasik Cini, it passes through a little Felda village Cini..
What is interesting about Tasik Cini is the swampy vegetation. Boat ride is a must, and usually comes as part of the package to Cini. At certain time of the year, part of the lake is covered by blooming Lotus.....
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| Tuesday, 14-Apr-2009 13:44 |
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New Road Ride - The heartland of Terengganu - 2007
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mmm, new road,, sweeping curves, hills and forest.
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Rounding the eck point boys at checkpoint, Gambang
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Some of the superbikes, eagerly to try the new raod
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We have heard of this new road. It stretches the heatland of Terengganu from Tasik Kenyir and exit at Gua Musang, Kelantan. It cut across some lush forest areas and hills too. When a road is built amongs forest and hills, it must exhilarating. Ther must be plenty of bends and sweeping curves. This we must check, so in early 2007 a group of us decided to take the challenge. The road hasnt been gazetted for public use, and this add the thrills of traveling on a brand new which is deserted but yet a completed road.
The plan was to ride from Kuala Lumpur till Kuala Berang. At Kuala Berang we will put up a night at Sekayu Waterfall Resort and tour part of Kenyir Dam as well. Early next morning we will head on to the new hiway, taking the east west direction . After Gua Musang, we will ascend another slightly new road to Cameron Hinghlands. This road was opened up in 2004
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