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. 

KL to Betong Ride Jan 2014

A public holiday on a Tuesday may lead to many things.

For me, I called up a few guys and interested them to go on a short overnight ride to Betong, Thailand.

Since it was the first time ever for the guys to travel accross the border and we only had 2 days, I decided to lead them through my short version of long way up from KL to Betong, Thailand.

The trip was distanced a good 556 km, exactly the same route I took last spring with Terry.

This time around with 2 other riders Ray on his Honda CBR 500 and Johnny on his Naza Blade 250r (or Hyosung GT 250r), we started off by meeting up at the usual RV point at BHP Gombak. It was a really good sign as a start as both of them were actually early.

We started our journey 10 minutes after 8 and arrived at our first rest stop Sg Koyan Mobil station. It was the first time ever I arrived so early as it was only 9.30 am. After refuelling and a toilet break, we headed towards Gua Musang via Kuala Lipis on the 8.

The last time when I was on this road, this highway was still under construction. With new silky roads, we stopped and took some photos.

Johnny's new Shark S900c is really standing out here.

While Ray's spanking new CBR500 is looking sharp.

Beautiful road with very little traffic. 

And the same on the other direction. 

Something told me that I would see this pose again from these 2 guys.

Moments later we arrived Gua Musang at about noon. We refuelled and settled for malay folk food at a medan selera. GPS location was 4.862, 101.962. 

This was Ray picking his dishes. 

This was how the medan selera looked like. The food costed of us about RM 12 each. It was considered expensive as we just had plain rice and dishes. Anyhow, we started our journey after I briefed them how the next stop look like at Jeli. 

We took the D29 and 66 and headed for Jeli. After about 110 kms, all 3 bikes arrived at about 2.40 pm. It rained for about 20 mins along the way and I stopped to put on my rain coat.

On the way to Caltex station at Jeli 5.683, 101.851, while it rained, I rode through a flock of small birds that looked like swallows which were flying really low. I hit one and it flew. I hope it survived the accident somehow. 

The next stop, I explained the the boys that we would be stopping at Titiwangsa rest stop 5.606, 101.543. 

Many fun corners later, we arrived. 

Unfortunately the condition of the road with many holes and rough surface made the ride less enjoyable. But it was still a blast to ride after a whole day's boring riding. 

 Here's Johnny trying to get some heat off the bike on his frozen hand.  

Some sweet teh tarik was consumed here and we were then on our way. I briefed the boys that the next stop would be a fuel stop after the police stop near Gerik.

Somehow along the way I lost sight of the boys but I was happy to be signalled down by them at Tasik Banding 5.55, 101.349 for another photo stop. The lake looked stunning as ever.  

The Zed is really feeling at home with the twisty roads coming here.

The boys were also enjoying the ride away from home. Something new apart from the routine Genting ride, I presumed.

I have got to get a photo with the CBR. Stunning bike. It was a really busy bridge and I didn't think that it was a very good idea to stop for very long.   

Johnny pose again then off we went.

After the police block we stopped at Shell station5.454, 101.192, just few kms away from Gerik. 

We arrived here at about 5.20 pm. The boys are starting to complain about fatigue. Let's go guys, only another hour to go, less than 60 km then we'd be at the border. On the bike!

I always enjoy the last few twisties just before Betong on the 76. We took the 1157 this time around without passing Pengkalan Hulu and it was equally entertaining despite narrower roads. Finally we arrived the last check point 5.748, 101.03.

Few high 5s were exchanged and we were officially on Thailand soil.

We checked into Mandarin hotel at Betong. As I expected, we got our rooms with no problems at all, due to the recent bombing the place is quiet, at the price of 1480 baht per room. I got my room on the highest floor as I liked it. I chose this hotel as it has proper parking for our bikes under a nice shade.

After shower, we went out and hunt for some nice Thai food. We arrived at the same restaurant i came the last time. 4 dishes consists of otak, a chili steamed Barrmundi, hot tom yum soup, and a fried shrimp with petai and 2 big bottles of Singha costed us around MYR 120.  

We took a short walk around town before heading for our massage.

 Funny looking bike. We saw a couple of these midget bikes around town. It was a Honda.

And the massage at Sri Betong hotel starts. Johnny was complaining about back ache, and he was relieved that he got a strong masseur.

On the way back we saw a food stall with lots of local fruits.

 They looked really nice.

Beautiful flowers.

I stopped by at a 7 eleven, with the hope of getting some beers. Unfortunately, beer is illegal for trade after 11 pm local time. Shame.

Next day morning, I met the guys for breakfast downstairs at the hotel. Room rate was inclusive of breakfast. Thereafter, we went out on our planned sight seeing outing. We went to Phra Mahathat Chadi Phra Phuthammmaprakat to see the Thai temple with a very nicely built pagoda and the biggest bronze Buddha in Thailand. 

Very nice structure was seen here.

The pagoda was behind Johnny and Ray.

 There were many dogs around. Watch out for dog poo.

Ray risked his life by crossing the busy morning street of Betong standing in the middle of the street to take this photo of me and Johnny

The location was 5.772, 101.078. 

We checked out and left the hotel at about 10.30 am and returned to Malaysian soil just half hour to noon after formalities at the check point.

Important note: keep a habit of always checking the outbound stamp at the customs. The Thai immigration is really relaxed and if you crossed the border without stamping, you may be arrested the next time when you return.

Day 2 of our short tour is about 363 kms, approximately 5 hours to get back to KL with stops.

 As planned, we stopped to rest at Jambatan Raja Muda Nazrin 4.997, 100.951. 

Somehow I knew this was coming.

We continued out journey and had Mc Donalds for lunch at Ipoh. It was really hot and we needed the AC. We reach our last stop at about 4.30 pm then we bid good bye.

It was a really fun 2 days riding. The boys were great, they listened and they were punctual. Hope to ride with them again soon.


All pictures taken with Samsung Galaxy S4.