Crossing borders of 2 countries.

The Journey

The sudden and unplan ride just struck 2days before it actually happened...did'nt really do much prep,except for replacing the engine oil,and semi-offrd rear tyre..Applied for 5days leave from work,and basically that's it.

Here's the plan...Gonna move off at midnight...to ride for about 900km straight to Hatyai,Thailand.So,basically i will be riding in pitchblack area most of the time as the North South Highway,Malaysia,got no lights.

Day 1 :
Around midnite,already crossed the Singapore-Malaysia border.gotten the passport stamped and some of my friends meetup with me to bid farewell...


And here's the all set to go BRP.

I've decided to go with a topcase instead of bags...1 reason.the rain,and lockable....
I've got all the necessary tools and tyre lever,plus 2 spare tubes,footpump,laptop,camera,chargers,and clothing...
I've brought with me a tent just incase...

Exactly past 30mins past midnite,i started my journey.dark,silent and chilling highway...with occasional lightings along some bridges or gas station.
My 1st stop,at 210km for refuel and toilet break.It's at Ayer Keroh,Malaysia.Its close to 3am that i move off again.


Rode for another 260km to Tapah for refuel,toilet break and light snacks.Timecheck about 5am.


At the mark of 630km,i could see that dawn is breaking.The sleepyness slowly fades.


And as i crossed Penang,Malaysia,the sun has given some energy to the weak body and mind.

At this point of time,wide awake.And another 150odd km i would be reaching the Thailand border.

At about 9am,i am at the Sadao,Thailand border..

Now all i need,is to buy insurance for few days stay in Thailand,and fill some embarkment forms.At the sametime,self photo.


Never failed to do this whenever i touchdown here.

So after the clearance,its close to noon.Now to ride to Hatyai,Thailand...for a hotel.
Another 80km ride.

Cheap and good hotel with safe parking lots for the bike.
500baht per night...this is what you get.



Air-con,cableTV,hot shower with bath tub,and very much cosy.
Took my shower,called for a "Thai massage"...
And slept like a pig through the afternoon....

To be continued...

Thanks for sharing AJ...Waiting for more!

Thanks Mr Focker...

Ok,let's continue for abit..

Woke up sometime around 8pm...took shower,and in time for dinner...and only this for dinner...other foods just don't seem appealing to me.

Need to get a new map...the last one got wet during the rain on my last visit.


Did'nt do much at Hatyai town that night,as i have to leave very early the next morning...so just a little work along the busy street.Head down to hotel,and soon i found myself on the bed sleeping..


Wokeup as early as 0530hrs.Shower,got myself ready,and packed all the stuff to be loaded to the pig once again.By 0630hrs,which is actually 0530hrs Thai time,the noise od the BRP could easily woke up the entire hotel residence..
It was dark....however,i still need to leave early to catch the early Ferry to the Island..I have to ride for about 400-450km to reach the ferry terminal.

Along the way,i stopped for photo on the sunrise.notice my rear number plate has gone missing...it dropped but i managed to get it back and tied it to my camping gear.


Its a very cooling morning ride as the sun finally find its way up...
I was travelling at 120km/hr cruising along 2way 1 lane highway with ease as the traffic is clear in the morning.It was a Sunday morning.


I stopped at Ban Lo Lo for refueling.

Although its just half a tank fill,but i just needs to have some snacks to fill the empty stomach...about anther 200plus km to cover from here.

Move off and continue riding and have to slow down a little as I was entering some town.
It started to drizzles and i have to slow down a little more to avoid unneccesary mishaps.
Soon,i was just kilometres away from the Raja Ferry Terminal which i need to take a ferry to get across to KohSamui.


After buying the ticket for the bike and rider,costing about 285baht one way,i finally reached the dock at 1000am.


I was 1st to enter the ferry...parked the bike at the corner far end of the ferry basement,i went upstairs to the passenger area.


Paradise Island Koh Samui,here i come.
At the meantime,took a nap during the 1hr 45mins ferry ride.


to be continued...its 0220hrs now...

I'm reading and want MORE! Thanks for posting!

Very exciting to read about adventures in foreign places.

Any more?

Sorry for the delays...been busy with the wedding prep and i just got married 2 days ago...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33572092@N03/

Well,for the time being to kill the waiting time,you might want to see how a malay wedding ceremony usually done...

the windy convoy


And the walking session.
Part1.

Part2.

First off! CONGRATULATIONS! Thank's for sharing this! I think many others will say the same!

I sat riveted in your Special Moment! Again Congratulations to you and your Wife!

Thank you very much ooweel....greatly appreciated your thoughts...

Great to see all the riders in the convoy!

Pig stories are great.

Ok,let's continue alittle...

on board the 1hr 45mins ferry ride...a cool one...


The sight of paradise is just a min away....and i could smell it as the ferry is nearing the dock.


Headed down to the loading bay,and took my bike and rode it off the ferry to the Island port.


Without delaying,i plan my route and headed to Lamai Beach,one of the popular area in KohSamui.
About 20km from the ferry port,i reached the New Leaf resort which considering a very good deal of 700baht per night.


Well,you got cable,aircon,hot shower,and a pool...what more can you ask for that little much of a 700baht...except for a thai girl massaging you...




It's about 2pm right after shower with lots of powder on my face...

Still feel fresh after the 5-6hrs journey of a 400ish km ride and a 2hr ferry ride,i decided to ride around the island...let's look at the island map shall we?

Rode to a nearby cafe near the cliff with amazing view...




Parked bunkboat.




And just in a distance...


After taken my lunch,I explored alittle to the northern part of the island.



If you notice,i have been riding without my rear no. plate just before i reached Sadao border,Thailand...it was hanging with 1 screw so i have to removed them and now that i have found myself in a bikeshop,i took the oppurtunity to fix the plate,and mount it back.

The chap made an extra reflective yellow linings at the edge of the plate.

And it's nicely done with very little spend..very very little...


I kept heading north and since the island is just one big circle,so,now i am at the north eastern part of Kohsamui.

Very nice ride report!

Pineapple pie at McDonalds....what else was on the tray?

That was one short Honeymoon? Or is she riding with you?

ooweel wrote:That was one short Honeymoon? Or is she riding with you?

Every minute in the saddle is the honeymoon!

Awesome stuff AJ...Congrats on the Wedding and thanks for sharing.

It's great to see that you can be out there doing it when I'm stuck in this garbage.

Doug wrote:Very nice ride report!

Pineapple pie at McDonalds....what else was on the tray?

Well...in thailand,compared to what i have here in Singapore,i can tell ya,the salt and sugar is way cheap...becoz the fries are freaking salty,and the ice nescafe is damn sweet...aside from that,the fishfillet burger is neutral...

ooweel wrote:That was one short Honeymoon? Or is she riding with you?

Well,the honeymoon is postpone till this coming February...as i am going for my err...Reservist tomoro after christmas for 2 weeks until 8th Jan 09,its kinda reporting to the National Service thingy...where the government will call you up every year once...

This trip was done last year September...so basically i am just trying to recollect those past adventure of riding solo for the 1st time covering about 2700km on the pig...nope,she is not riding with me...

Focker wrote:

ooweel wrote:That was one short Honeymoon? Or is she riding with you?

Every minute in the saddle is the honeymoon!

Awesome stuff AJ...Congrats on the Wedding and thanks for sharing.

It's great to see that you can be out there doing it when I'm stuck in this garbage.

Thanks Focker...wow...snowing heavily yeah....sux...here,it was raining from morning till late night yesterday...it's like it stop for less than an hour,then it started again...
I was home with the gf....errr...wifey the whole day...

The story is halfway done...will continue later in the day or late night before sleep...
Merry Christmas Guys....

Okay.....let's continue alittle...

At the junction of the city street.Incase you guys been wondering what's behind the rallye fairings....nothing fancy...just the stock speedometer and on the left,that cash sucking device that is called ERP...electric road pricing unit...You will only see this stupid thing on a Singaporean vehicle...

I reached to Bangkak Tourism Port.



At the fishing port.




The fisherman seperating the catch of the day...

So the ERP calculates how much you drive and charges you?

It's already past 4pm...so i'd better do my last exploring of the East side of the Island...

I am now at the Big Buddha...


It's one of the tourist spots...
Below is some souvenier shop..



As i was about to leave,i saw this particular dog that reminds me of the character in MIB...the dog who sang "I will survive"...


Riding beside the Sea with the breeze and overlooking mountains is so kewl...


I stopped here to snap some shots at these beautifully built temples...






It always gave me the creeps staring deep and closely at those statues...I supposed it's the holy guards..

Here is one unfinish temple..



Up next....the barber...i saw signboards of a local MX track...so basically i was riding around searching for it...but alas...unsuccessfully....which end up in a barber shop.


However,it is difficult to tell them how you want it to be done...


So,the only thing that cross my mind at that time is,to point on the photo that was hang at the wall...hoping that it will turn out to be like that...

But,it was always disappointing whenever i step out of the barber hoping to look something like Brad Pitt...

Nope,sorry...no photo of the aftermath....has'nt it been horribly looking before the haircut?

And it's getting dark...Dinner time...yes....again...

Mac D.

I have to parked the bike somewhere in view....just incase ya know...foreign land...if the bike is gone,I'm toast!

As usual,but additional MacNuggets.


I know....don't i get better food than that?
Well...one thing for a fact that i am thousands of kilometres away from the girlfriend,and the appetite for food or hunting for better meals are becoming less appealing....usually on short stop and to kill the hunger,i'll just settled for instant cup noodles and a coke or something...


So guys,that's all for tonite...it's quarter past midnite...and i have to report to camp at 8am...so,i have to shower and go to bed...

Tata...to be continued...stay tuned...



Cheers,
AJ

Doug wrote:So the ERP calculates how much you drive and charges you?

Hi doug,well...

In Singapore,the is some areas affected with heavy traffic...they built gantries in this affecting areas...so you have to buy a cashcard,with say value minimal of 5bux,so each time you pass the gantry,it's like $0.50-$1.25 deducted...you want to find out how it works,please fly over here for your next holiday...it's crazy i tell ya with many gantries built just for the past 1yr...in this tiny island...i think this is just an excuse on how the government actually wants us the citizen to actually legally pay them money...

oh,incase you notice the tentage at the back of the bike,it's for some "just incase" matters...like no hotel to stay,no money,or no luck....

But it's all good...the tentage is never needed to be use...

Excellent stuff, AJ!

Singapore is definitely on my list of "must see" places.

Are there any bike rentals available?

Dave

Excuse my ignorance! BUT?

What's with the excellent English skills? U seem to either have had a good education and or ??? What's the deal?

Just Curious????????????

So its more like a toll for the roads. Got it. We have something similar on certain roads.
Yup...Providing a smooth journey for all.
Aj, great write up. I like reading about your adventure and seeing the great pictures.

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