How my Motorcycling Tour from South Malaysia Started
Day 1/ 19th May 2016/ 20th May 2016
This might sound crazy, but my initial plan was to use a motorcycle to ride all the way to Khardung La, Leh, Ladakh, India to see the beautiful icy mountainous regions.
Unfortunately the idea was scrapped due to the fact that
1) I require a Carnet De Passage document upon entry to India. (I read from another website that motorcycles above 500cc require a USD 11,200 deposit for a carnet de Passage Document)
For Entry into India, the price will be doubled, that means I have to fork out USD 22,200 for a deposit even BEFORE I start my trip. I wouldn’t want to pay that kind of ridiculous amount, I would be dead broke even before the trip starts!
2) In order to go into India, I have to go through Myanmar. To go into Myanmar with a foreign vehicle, a compulsory 24/7 escort is required and the cheapest tour agency quoted me USD 500/ day. Yes USD 500/ day. You did not read that wrong. Sounds like a joke, but they mean it. I am not willing to part with my money like that. Whats the best part? You need to feed the escort too out of your own pocket when you dine! Great!
I was extremely keen in my pre planned trip already that I actually went to the India Embassy to get approval for bringing a Foreign vehicle into India. One of the consulate told me to give him my exact route I will be taking (Claims it is compulsory) if I am entering India with a foreign vehicle. I am not too sure about that but I did as what was required. Till today, no reply from them. Its ok, I have scrapped the idea anyway due to the ridiculous cost involved.
I started my current “shorter” trip on 19th May 2016, initially the main objective of the trip is to upgrade my diving license to “Advanced Open Water (PADI)” diver in Koh Tao, Thailand. I wanted to go Koh Tao as getting a PADI license there is much cheaper. I cut the cost about USD $148 by doing this.
I have also thought of exploring Thailand at the same time with my motorcycle so why not go for it, as taking a plane there means not being able to explore places, learn/ see things, and not being able to meet much people.
Taking a plane there most means transport to City (hotel) from airport -> direct to desired Location -> directly back to Hotel -> directly to desired location -> directly back to hotel. You get the point. Yup that was what I did and What happened when I went there by an aeroplane. Boring and expensive to travel just for a few kms around the city.
With a motorcycle, you can go to any place, at your convenience, to tight locations where 4 wheels are unable to enter.
I left home at 11pm 19th May 2016, this is the condition of the vehicle (As Above). Sexy condition!
Of course I prepared What I could thought of for breakdowns/ emergencies:
2 sets of Tyre Repair Kit
Lots of Patches/ Worms (Get the Red Orangey Ones, dont buy those Black ones) The black ones cant hold and fill the hole as good.
Foot Pump (Normal kind for pumping bicycles, tried and it works for my tyres)
Electric Pump (back up)
Tools for the vehicle
Tapes (LOTS of it)
Cable Ties (LOTS of it)
Super Glues
Power Bank Jump Starter
Jumper Cables/ Jump cables (Back up)
Fuses of 2 different variations and at different Amps
Spare 5L tank petrol
Chain Breaker/ Riverter Kit (Watched video how to use it but havent done it physically yet)
Spare Clutch Cable
So far these are what I can think of, I think there are more emergency stuffs in the vehicle. I can keep a huge load of stuffs in my boxes.
Note: These are only prepared for the intention to supposedly end my trip in Koh Tao, Thailand. Have I knew that I would be travelling much further, I would have brought more spares/ replace parts before trips like:
Brand New set of Spare Tyres
Brake Pads
Throttle Cable
Rectifier
Battery
Spare bulbs for front
Full set of Coolant hoses (and change the current set of coolant hoses before leaving country)
Oil Filters
Prior before this, I changed (in a shop)
engine oil
oil Filter
Wash the Air Filter
spark plugs (V Twin engine, 2 cylinders)
Bled the front and rear brakes
changed the rubber hubs/ ball bearings for front and rear,
changed the rear disc and rear brake pads 1 month before.
So most of the components are pretty fresh!
Gelang Patah Petrol station @ 112,810km. Did a full pump at the first few petrol stations in the North South Highway.
Gelang Patah petrol station. A Full Pump before I go up north!
I set off from Gelang Patah petrol station close to 1am. Road is extremely clear at night which means I can reach the border of Thailand (Hatyai) fast if it is not raining. Thank God it did not rain!
Reached the border of Thailand and Malaysia at around 10am (about 9 hours later).
Chilled for 1 hour at the Malaysia eatery, at the same time doing up the vehicle insurance there (1 month Vehicle insurance for the entire Thailand).
Previously I was on a rented Harley Davidson Road King (103 Cubic 1690cc) to Cameron Highlands. As it was in the day, we couldnt really maintain speed plus my sis at the back being a pillion. I cant jeopardise her safety just to go faster.
So the difference was: I remembered we took 13 freakin hours (YES 13 HOURS) just to reach Cameron Highlands from south of Malaysia. Reason being: We did not sleep the entire night as both of us had insomnia, unfortunately. Something exciting is about to happen the following day and so we kept thinking about it and we couldnt sleep. We had many rest stops to nap throughout the entire North South High Way, that explains the 13 hours!
This time: I passed by Cameron Highlands within 4 hours 30mins from south of Malaysia. What?! I cant believe the time difference! Yeap the difference was the road was completely clear at night, plus I had no one to jeopardise, so I went with what ever speed I like, of course safety is a priority.
Back to 1st Day:
I wasn’t entirely sure what to do (Though I pre printed TM2 and TM4 form for vehicle importation into another country) so I stopped at the eatery there (Saw many Malaysian registered bikes parked outside the shop, must be something fishy).
A few BMW Enduros (R 1200 GSA), 1 Honda Varadero EFI ABS (Same as me!), 1 KTM Adventure 950/ 990 (I cant remember), and a Ducati (Some street bike, forgot the model again).
I made a Uturn and glad I did it. I asked them for advice and they kindly guided me.They are entering Thailand too.
You see, whatever race or country we are from, when we are riding bikes, bikers can always click.
Its that easy when there is a common interest!
We set off together from the eatery/ insurance place and we split up as they were heading towards Phuket while I was heading towards Songkla.
First thing I did was to go to Color Hotel (Heard from other bikers that it is a safe place). Whoa its so expensive (for me) but I gave myself a proper rest as it has been almost 12 hours on the road (including rest,/documentations/ border crossing time).
I dont want to burn my pocket on the 1st day of travel for sure.
This is not directly at the border, have to head in much deeper into Thailand from the border of Malaysia and Thailand.
I rested for a night there and did the standard stuffs and I will carry on my journey to Don Sak, Surat Thani tomorrow.