MTP 2014 - Day 1 - KL - Seremban - Tangkak - Muadzam Shah - Pekan - Kuantan - Paka - Kuala Terengganu

The plan was to make a trip around Malaysia - ala Chopper Garage's Malaysia Trans Peninsula MTP.

The date was set on a Saturday in May, and as usual with me planning the route, Ray and Johnny to get the rider's list. The riders were Johnny, Ray, Winter, Steven, Alan, Me (leader) and Horace (sweeper). 

Basically the plan was to cross all 12 peninsula states within 3 days, from KL on the NSE down south to Johor riding pass Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka, then from Johor head east towards Pahang and bunk at Kuala Terengganu on day 1. Head towards Danok on day 2 from Kuala Terengganu riding into Kelantan's Jerteh and Jeli, then up the mountains (where I would call Malaysia's version of thousand corners) from Jeli to Baling - 120 kms of non stop pure bliss with beautiful scenery and of course, beautiful roads, then to Gurun up north and stay over night at the border on day 2 then head back home on day 3 passing Perlis, Kedah, and Penang. 

Sound simple, isn't it?  

A week before the ride I have called for a meeting to discuss the route and details. My version of group riding guidelines is as per below. My mandarin is graded F so it is direct from google translate.  

"Hi all please see the below few important notes for the trip
大家好，请参见行了下面几个重要的注意事项

1. Always wear your protective gear - this includes jacket, helmet, boots & gloves etc.
总是穿你的护具 - 这包括夹克，头盔，靴子和手套等。

2. Always try to stay within the group, do not stop on your own. We rest together, refuel (pump petrol) together. Take your time when putting your gear on to make sure that all your gears are in place i.e. gloves, helmet buckle, ear plugs, etc. double check that you have all of them on before start moving. We wait for you.
应尽量将留在集团内，不要自己停下来。我们一起休息，加油（泵油）在一起。把你的时间把你的装备上时，确保所有的装备到位即手套，头盔扣，耳塞等。  仔细检查你有所有的人之前开始移动。我们等你。

3. We do not have a marshal, but for this ride, the leader bike will be me / Johnny / Ray. The sweeper bike would be Horace / Johnny.  
我们没有一个Marshal，但对于这搭，领导者的自行车会是我/约翰尼/雷。清扫车是贺拉斯/约翰尼。

4. Please try not to overtake the leader bike, or go slower than the sweeper.
请尽量不要超车领导骑自行车，或去比慢清扫车

5. If need to stop, please inform the leader bike or sweeper. Under normal circumstances, we will only stop during emergencies and very heavy rain. Therefore, please be ready for rain at all times. It is advisable to wrap up your electronics during the ride at any time.
如果需要停止，请告知领导骑自行车或清扫车。一般情况下，我们将只在紧急情况下，很大雨停止。因此，请准备好雨在任何时候。这是明智的乘车过程中随时来包装你的电子产品。

6. At the trunk road (jalan lama), try to stop at a clearance the opposite side of the road i.e. ride inside a shop lot, car park, bus stop. Do not just stop beside the road.
在旧路，尽量停在店屋，停车场，公交车站的道路，即乘坐的对面。不要只是在路边停下来。

7. We set our riding speed on the trunk road as 110-120 km/h. Maximum 2 by 2 riding formation. If need to adjust, we can discuss later during the trip.  
我们旧路为110-120公里/小时设置我们的骑行速度。最大2by2骑的形成。如果需要调整，我们就可以在旅途中再讨论。

8. Please do not overtake from the left side, always overtake on the right side. If possible, please stop at any junction when the group is turning to another direction.

请不要从左侧超车，超车总是在右侧。

9. Always wait or ensure everyone is accounted for when making a turn or a stop.  

是等待或确保每个人都占在转弯或停车时进行

8. If you are lost, please call the number
如果你丢失，请拨打该号码
The higher possibility for us to get lost is in the city, i.e. Kuantan town, Penang Island town area, during traffic jam, etc.
较高的可能性，让我们迷失在城市，即关丹镇，槟城岛市区，在堵车，等。

9. I will collect every rider's emergency contact on day 1.
我会收集第1天每骑手的紧急联络人。

10. Recommended things to pack: change of cloths, spare motorcycle keys (in case you lost it), copy of your bike grant (has to be your own name), valid passport, slipper, international adapter and few of plastic bags in case it rains.
推荐的东西包：衣服，备用摩托车钥匙（如果你失去了它），你的车grant 副本（必须是你自己的名字），有效护照，拖鞋，国际适配器和几个塑料袋，以防下雨。"

This was the day 1 route - total we rode 690 km from KL to reach Kuala Terengganu. I could recommend this ride for groups who are discipline and would enjoy the scenery in the afternoon by riding by the beach. The route would pass some very nice beaches like Teluk Cempedak, Cherating and the famous Tanjung Jara in the afternoon.

This was the first rest stop for breakfast at Tangkak. We had roti canai for breakfast at about 8.00 am.  

We started riding after breakfast towards Segamat via Tangkak. 

Steven on his XJ6 naked.

Alan with this Shark Race R pro. 

Johnny on his Naza Blade (re-badged Hyosung GT250R)

Alan on his beautiful Kawasaki Ninja 250.

Horace on his Yamaha XJ6 Diversion.

Group stops for lunch at Telok Cempedak for lunch. It rained in the morning an hour before we reach here. 

We arrived at the border into Terengganu before Chukai, Kemaman. GPS location is here.

We took a break at a local coffee shop at Paka. GPS location is here.  

Paka is a small fishing village. But later on I found out that this town house the largest IPP Independent Power Producer in Malaysia. 

Ray's CBR 500R. 

Horace and Winter at a beach nearby. 

Village kids. 

Ray doing his thing.

Winter looking with his touring helmet. 

Horace and Steven looking good. Both of them were first timers on tour. 

Steven and Horace again, at Tanjung Jara beach. 

Beautiful public beach. Location here.

I really like this photo. We were riding on the 3.

And then we reach Marang beach. 

The gang, from left Ray, Winter, Alan, Steven and Horace standing. 

My Kawasaki Z800, on touring mode. 

We stayed at Batu Burok Beach resort for the first night. I wouldn't recommend anyone to stay in this hotel as there are lots of mosquitoes. But the location is just right smack in the middle of Kuala Terengganu and the hotel is nice enough to let us park at the main lobby area which is quite secure. 

We had dinner here at China town. Food was so-so, considering this is a local tourist spot. 

We went back after dinner and slept early for day 2. 

All pictures and videos are shot using my Samsung Galaxy S 4 and Nikon D7000 on my Nikkor 35mm f1.8.