This is it?

This is the day before the trip. It's a huge difference compared to the last one. During the last one, by now I had packed all my stuffs, bike cleaned and serviced and ready to go. The itineraries are all set to the hour of the day and every detail of activities along the way. This time; none of that, yet. But then again, there are very little similarities between these two trips. Both are domestic rides but this one is only less than half the distance but with 2/3 of the time.

The last trip was about covering the distance in order to arrive at the destination whereas this one is just about cruising along a general route but more to enjoy the little things along the way. I was tempted to go about my usual way of detailing every stop in every route but I decided not to "dictate" the events upfront this time but to try for once to let things unfold by itself and let day by day unravel what they may have in store for me. I'm so used to plan-plan-plan and then work exactly according to plan (20 years of project management works will somehow turn anyone into some sort of a planning freak...) that perhaps it will be a good change to have it free and easy.

So here's the best that I can do with not-planning my trip. The only accommodation reservation I made is for Banding Inn since there will be no other accommodation on either direction nearby to this. As for the rest; any hotel or rumah tumpangan or even masjid or surau would do.

Day 1: Home - Kuala Selangor - Sabak Bernam - Sitiawan - Taiping - Penang 2nd Bridge - Kulim
Day 2: Kulim - Alor Setar - Bukit Pinang - Kuala Perlis - Kangar - Padang Terap - Baling - Gerik - Tasik Banding
Day 3: Tasik Banding - Jeli - Kota Bharu - Kuala Terengganu
Day 4: Kuala Terengganu - Kertih - Chukai - Kuantan - Pekan - Kuala Rompin
Day 5: Kuala Rompin - Mersing - Kota Tinggi - Pengerang - Johor Bahru - Tanjung Piai
Day 6: Tanjung Piai - Simpang Renggam - Segamat - Jasin - Bandar Melaka - Port Dickson
Day 7: Port Dickson - Tanjong Sepat - Home

Some of the places I do have things to see or do but for the rest of them, they are just a name on the map. So, if you do know these places or other places in between them, do recommend me places to visit, or place to stay for the night or, most appreciated - places to eat!

I joked with Zarina that this is so much so a short trip such that if I ran out of time, I could just reach home from wherever I was within a day! So, really, I shouldn't be in a rush and should just take it easy and take everything as they come... I hope I don't sound unenthusiastic this time. I am. I really am. I'm actually even nervous thinking on what to expect from this trip. But then again, my nervousness is maybe more about whether this is going to turn out to be an exciting trip or not. If this short trip resembles the story of my life itself, then I'm pretty sure there will be something truly exciting waiting for me just around the corner...

Here's the bike, all cleaned up and ready to go. Now to continue packing my stuffs and hope I can sleep well tonight with the excitement and all and manage to have an early start tomorrow. Please pray that I will be safe throughout the journey and back.

Let's ride...

The 4-year itch

It has been four years since my last motorbike adventure. If you missed the last one do check out my adventure in my blog "To the Red Centre and back" from Day 1 of my 7,000 km solo ride across the Australian outback from Brisbane to the Red Centre and back in 2010.

I have been itching to get back on my saddle and hit the open road again but many factors held me back. One of the major one was being hospitalized for 3 months due to a spine surgery (3 surgeries actually!) in early 2013. It was some kind of an "adventure" too and perhaps I did learn and experience as much as, if not more, than in one of my motorbike rides. Full story here at my other blog "The Unexpected Journey" about my hospital adventure.

I have been secretly making plans. Zarina caught me a few times with paper maps in hand, Google Maps on the PC and a grin on my face. Now I can't resist the calling any longer. My bike has been through a major repair after being abandoned for almost a year last year and now should be in a good condition to be on the road again. It took a bit of convincing on Zarina's part that I am now fit to go for long rides again. But she has to. Even my rehab doctor has certified me as having gone through a "remarkable" improvement since she last saw me. I'm now super-busy at work too but hey, my work will never end anyway. Sometimes, you just had to drop everything and do something you really like, just for yourself. I have a very understanding spouse, almost-grown-up and almost-independent kids and the best team ever assembled to work with me. There is no excuse. I have to go.

I settled for something small for now. Let's just take a short and easy ride around my own neighborhood. Let's not go for distance, or speed or harsh conditions this time round. Just let me get to know my country better and let me enjoy the little secrets and treasures it has along the way...

So, here's my 7-day plan of a solo tour around the back roads of Peninsular Malaysia:
(You can click [ ] to enlarge the map)



7 days of rides covering approximately 2,500 km in total, mostly along trunk roads and minor roads only - highways will be avoided at all costs! The route is designed around the edges of the peninsular and the stops are mostly places of my childhood (in the Northern part) or places I had always wanted to see (in the East and South). I will also be making a few stops to meet some old friends but mostly it's actually about riding, riding and riding. I can almost picture myself stopping by the dusty roadside in the blazing sun, quenching my thirst on some fresh young coconut, or parked near a beachside stall enjoying "sotong celup tepung" (deep fried battered squid) while watching the sunset, or perhaps taking a dip in the cool mountain stream surrounded by nature (yup, it's not always about food okay...) and breathing the fresh countryside air... Imagine that...

So, here we go - I would welcome any input and suggestions - where to stay, what to see, where to visit, which is the best route to take etc.

Let's ride...!!!