Dec 2016 - KL to Boten - Golden Triangle - Mae Hong Son 1,864 Corners - Day 1

I have finally made it to the trip and came back in one piece. Total mileage clocked was 5,167 km in 8 days.

Day 1 Summary

Sat - Total distance 995 KM
RV RnR Sg Buloh at NSE at 3.30 am
KL (Refuel KM0/E1) - Gunung Semanggol (Refuel KM264/E1) - Changlun (Refuel KM186) - Hatyai (4) - Thung Song (Refuel KM238/4 & 41) - Chumphon (Refuel KM310/4)

Steven actually made it on day 1 at RV 3.30 am, honestly I didnt expect him to actually turn up for this trip.

After we fueled up at Sg Buloh then off we went. Our first check point was Gunung Semanggol RNR which was about 260 KM away where we would be fueling up. I always remembered this rest stop as the one just opposite Bukit Merah Laketown Resort which is about half an hour from Penang bridge. During the stop I had some cold nescafe coffee in a can and I was good to go again.

The weather was fine that morning and I did not feel that cold riding early that morning as my big ass windshield blocked most of the cold wind off my chest. There were some slight drizzle that I wouldn't call it rain on the way to G. Semanggol. We arrived Changlun soon enough and once we reach the usual coffee shop to have breakfast, it hit me. There were thousands of people in the queue awaiting to cross the border that morning.

I have never seen such a big crowd at the BKH check point before, with the amount of cars, coaches, trucks, bikes that were going through and 100 meter long queues, I did not anticipate this crowd. With the earlier delay at the coffee shop that took more than an hour to prepare our paperwork/insurance we were already 1 hour behind schedule. At the end, we paid a tout (abang ulat) RM 20 per person to cut queue but we still have to get our bike's paperwork done.

By the time we were on Thailand soil, it was already 10.30 am (MY). There was a long way ahead of us to head to Ratchaburi, which was the original plan. I've started to think that it would be a challenge to get there within the day.

It was nice riding in Thailand again, with a familiar feeling. The smell of rotten rubber in the south, the reddish dust, the unexpected u turns by the local pick ups, and the ever familiar taste of Amazon coffee at PTT gas stations. After refueling at Thung Song, we reached Chumphon district at about 6 pm (MY). I made the decision to stop here for the night as it was already a 15 hours day for us. After searching online for a couple of minutes for hotel, we headed for a decent looking one about 20 mins away. It was at Chumpon town which I have never visited and I was excited.

Steven cooling down his ride at Chumphon stop over before we ride in. I'd say this was probably the only naked XJ6 with a wind shield that big I have ever seen. 

The view from the hotel room. I sent this picture with my hand sign to my wife as proof of safe arrival.

View of the Chumphon Garden Hotel after we got cleaned up. The hotel has a big open area for parking and we left our bikes just by the main entrance. The room was 800 baht with breakfast if I remembered correctly. The room was not too bad, clean and quiet.

After asking directions from the hotel reception on where to get dinner, we decided to go there by foot.

Some local businesses.

Chumpon is a lonely quiet town. Didn't even see a massage place. This place will definitely grow on me.

We decided to have dinner at this small little restaurant called Mao Hoi by the end of the row, opposite the train station. Funny the name of the restaurant means closed in my dialect.

Walk down the row then you'd see peddlers selling all sorts of stuffs.

Behind the stalls was the train station. Location here.

Street food if you fancy.

Local market selling the latest fashion.

This furry friend was doing some shopping as well.

Seafood by the street.

My regular drink when I am in town, Singha beer, locally known as beersing. Steven only looking at me in awe as I drank 3 of these on my first night. It's always been beersing for me, no Chang, no Leo, no Heineken.

The cute looking waitress walked over and ask to take a picture with me. I wonder whether it is because I finished 3 bottles at one go.

The first day milestone was as per the below. We have a long way ahead of us on the next day if we were to arrive Chiang Mai on the second day. But we gotta remember not to push it too much, safety is still priority.

We went back to the hotel after dinner and get some rest to get ready for tomorrow.

Ride to Boten

A new journey is in the planning.

I might not be as spontaneous as RJ Rider and iron butted his GS from KL to Boten within 2 days solo, nevertheless I am still looking forward to the trip, probably with a little more planning on the route and schedule. It is my first time riding all the way there anyway.

Stay tuned!

Kedai Kopi Sun Yuen Cheong, Raub

Found a place to have a good breakfast to start the ride I just felt compelled to do up a write up just for this nice little rustic coffee shop in Raub that serves very nice nasi lemak in the morning. I was there at around 7.30 am.

The kitchen looks like its going to bake some pastries.

The Indonesian waitresses took my order and served my nasi lemak.

The supplies come from the back unannounced.

The seeming owner asked me whether I am riding alone and I said yes. He reacted oddly and said that you should be riding with some friends. He said that usually he sees a group a 7-8 riders.

I just smiled.

Location is here

Weekend ride away - KL to Betong and Back

See a video I put together riding from


Kuala Lumpur - Bentong - Raub - Kuala Lipis - Gua Musang - Jeli - Gerik - Pengkalan Hulu - Betong

Betong - Pengkalan Hulu - Kuala Kangsar - Kuala Lumpur




Thanks for watching.

All videos are shot with Xiaomi Yi Action Camera

Wall-E is that you?

Wall-E is that you? 

Port Dickson International Triathlon 2016

I participated this triathlon out of curiosity.

I could do running and the occasional swim in the pool (of course I was a much better swimmer in my younger days) and I recently started experimenting cycling. However, I was thinking to myself, not another expensive hobby after photography, motorcycling and now cycling? Seriously enough I had a friend's help and bought a RM 200 single gear bicycle for the purpose. It won't be fast but my objective is just to finish the race. I was doing a sprint with 750 meter swim, 20 km cycling and finishes off with a 5 km run. 

Lots of emotion in this event as later on I found out that someone actually died in the morning swim. prayers and condolences to the family. 

http://www.sinarharian.com.my/semasa/peserta-pdit-2016-mati-lemas-1.554350 

The named event is being held yearly at the Avilion Admiral Cove.

Race pack collection was done at the club house.Seen here club house entrance with several booths selling their products including suits, watches, sunglasses, swim wear, running gears etc. 

The same race info on the website on display.

Entrance of the race pack collection where you'd get your racing bib, timing chip (or band), swimming cap, t-shirt etc. More of that after this.

You have to sign this release form.

Not that long a queue.

After I collected my race pack, I went around the beach and see the preparation works.

Much work to be done for the organizers.

Suunto was one of the official sponsor.

This was how the finishing line would be on the next day.

This was the route back to the transition area, where you park your bicycle.

The finishing line.

The briefing held after the dinner at the hotel. The fee paid was including buffet dinner for one. Additional meal tickets could be bought during the race pack collection by the hotel staff at about RM 37 per pax, halve that for kids.

The atmosphere of the briefing was somewhat casual with jokes being cracked by the organizer uncle Chan. He also announced that he will be retiring and will let both his sons be in charge of the yearly event next year.

During the briefing it was also the same night Lee Chong Wei beat Lin Dan at the Rio Olympics for him to proceed to the final which he lost to Chen Long eventually the next day after. The drama. The video below shows the crowd cheering after knowing that LCW has beaten Lin Dan.

Back in the hotel room, these are the items inside the race pack. T shirt, running bib, timing tag (to be velcroed on your leg), a race sticker on your bicycle helmet and another race flag to be pasted below the seat of your bike. Finally the tattoo which, according to the race info, to be tattooed on the upper left arm.

Here are the details from the race info provided by the organizer on the race info website. Below are the information on where to display your racing bib and your bike race number on the bike and helmet. 

And the info on how to put on the timing tag on your right leg. 

The race info website was taken down just a day after the event. The below was the course of the race sent by the organizer. But I find it not very accurate especially you can't google most of the landmarks in the map. 

For the swim, as you can see from the red parabolic icon which was about 300 meters away from the hotel. the swim was actually a square rather than the L shape as above. There were 5 large floating buoys which you have to swim pass on your left during the race. 

This is how I thought the swimming course look like. A square course. After the swim, you will run a short distance (through a shower tunnel) to the transition area where your bike is parked with your belongings. 

  

I would really advise first timer or those who are not a very good swimmer to get one of these for the swim. Especially if the wave is strong. 

Here is the actual cycling course in google map. I could not get google to show the cycle route as strangely cycling is not available for this route. Regardless, the route takes you from the hotel head towards the Seremban - Port Dickson highway and turn right after about 6 km onto the trunk road N8. The route was only slightly hilly and u turn at a small Felda village, ladang Sua Betong.  Distance between the hotel and the village is about 10 km, the complete track was 20 km.  

For the 5 km run, the track was quite scenic. From the hotel, you turn left onto the main road and you will reach Bay Beach Resort half way at 2.5km where a water station. On the way there at around KM 1.5 you have to detour just beside the narrow beach road to avoid traffic and run off course with a very nice scenery. More of that after this. 

This is how the transition area look like. Bicycle were hung on the railing. 

A small basket was provided by the organizer where you place your shoes, goggles, t shirt, swimming cap etc.

This was the course for 5K.

The road was still open, beware of traffic.

This was the detour at KM 1,5.

Beautiful scenery.

The track, not so scenic.

This picture is taken after the half way mark, after the water station.

Running on the beach.

This is the marking that tells you that you are still on course.

2 more KM to go then I was done.

I feel like I was trespassing.

Hope that there are no sharp objects here. Those who are running barefoot be prepared.

Finally back at the finish line.

This is where you return the timing tag and get your RM 50 back.

The medal.

Big ass medal.