See the world before you leave it

[COLDCUT]

Great post and fantastic photos (as usual). I definitely have to figure out a way to get over to Kuala Lumpur. By the way, what type of equipment are you shooting those photos with?

 

[Dudewado]

Beautiful photographs as always, Nik.

But this time you win the award for "Best Ride Report Title".

I am stealing it for my new mantra:

"See The World Before You Leave It"

Thank you for showing us a part of the world some of us may never see.

 

[nik.hisham]

Thanks everyone, for your compliments and encouragement.

Another great report, Nik. Thanks. I was thinking what great motorcycle country you seem to have in Malaysia, but how unfamiliar and "exotic" it would seem to me. What I'd want is a good local guide. If I ever make it there, we'll go for a nice long ride like this together, ok?

Hey, if a good meal is only a couple bucks, maybe I really could afford to do it.

By the way, the slogan on that--what is it, leather wristband?--above the one in your thread title:

"Take all you can, give nothing back." Um, unusual sentiment. :huh:

Thanks Mike. Are you kidding me? Of course I'd take you around. :yahoo: Just tell me when and give me some time to plan my leave. Seriously.

Yes those are leather wristbands. And I know what you mean. The extreme opposite of the community here.

Really groovy, Nik.

Your stuff always is.

Thank you, amigo.

(And was that the Bee Gees on the screen in the bar? )

Thanks OM. Lol! Yep. Bee Gees.

That looks like some very cool riding I would love to check out that part of the globe but probably wouldn't have the stones to just up and do it with out knowing somebody there first. But who knows.

Very nice pictures thanks for sharing them.

Thanks Canyonman. Hey, you know me so that should count for something?

If you really are keen on coming over, let me know and we can plan. Perhaps you and SacramentoMike can do a trip together. It's all good for me.

(And was that the Bee Gees on the screen in the bar? )

I noted that too...just didn't want to be the one to recognize the BeeGees. :huh:

Hahahah.

 

[nik.hisham]

Great post and fantastic photos (as usual). I definitely have to figure out a way to get over to Kuala Lumpur. By the way, what type of equipment are you shooting those photos with?

Thanks Coldcut.

I shoot with a Canon 5D Mark II, EF 35mm F1.4L and EF 17-40 F4L.

Beautiful photographs as always, Nik.

But this time you win the award for "Best Ride Report Title".

I am stealing it for my new mantra:

"See The World Before You Leave It"

Thank you for showing us a part of the world some of us may never see.

Lol! Thanks. We just happened to spot it on the leather wristband and thought it would make a great title.

 

[nik.hisham]

Continuation...

Day 2 starts with breakfast! Ever tried eating rice with chopsticks? Nathan seemed pretty adept at it. I chose to stick with a fork and spoon.

Group shot in front of our hotel.

Along the way, we stopped at this strawberry farm.

You pay a few bucks, and they let you pick strawberries...

We were eager to hit the road and it had been a while since I tried any panning shots. Here are a few...

Feizal

Nathan

Another of Nathan

It was really, really hot and humid this day, so we stopped many times during our ride to rehydrate. Sometimes we stop at proper rest areas..

Sometimes we stop at random restaurants along the way...

And sometimes we stop at scenic places like this.

We reach Fraser's hill where the access road is so small it is open to one way traffic only. Odd hours, traffic goes up. Even hours, traffic comes down. This is us waiting to go up.

We got to the top and Nathan pulls out a cigar to signal the end of the day...

While my camera and I couldn't resist this piece of work..

Day 3 coming next.

 

[FJRBandit]

Lovin' the report Nik. Thanks for sharing your little corner of the world with us! From the title, I understand there are four days of this ride. Although I don't proclaim to be a math whiz, I figure that means we have 2 more days of this, awesome!

BTW, I know you have answered this question in past reports but I don't recall the answer. What camera is that you are using? It shoots the most incredible pictures. Of course the operator doesn't do half bad either and the subject matter is quite a sight to behold, but the quality and clarity of the photos is simply amazing!

 

[beachy]

really enjoyed your report nik the tea plantation was a really neat picture this helps my cabin fever while i am on the mend. keep them coming. thanks

 

[TomInPA]

Interesting report from a part of the world I may never see. If you get a chance to show a map of the trip, please do.

 

[SacramentoMike]

I know you have answered this question in past reports but . . . What camera is that you are using?

.

I happen to be an amateur forensic photography analyst. After careful study of these pics, I can say with 100% confidence he uses a Canon 5D Mark II, EF 35mm F1.4L and EF 17-40 F4L.

Hope this helps.

 

[drc32-0]

Another great ride report Nik.

Just for curiosity sake...can you rent bikes there?what are the best months for riding?

 

[nik.hisham]

Lovin' the report Nik. Thanks for sharing your little corner of the world with us! From the title, I understand there are four days of this ride. Although I don't proclaim to be a math whiz, I figure that means we have 2 more days of this, awesome!

BTW, I know you have answered this question in past reports but I don't recall the answer. What camera is that you are using? It shoots the most incredible pictures. Of course the operator doesn't do half bad either and the subject matter is quite a sight to behold, but the quality and clarity of the photos is simply amazing!

Thanks Bandit. Yes, 2 more days coming. I shoot a Canon - I believe SacramentoMike mentioned the model and the lenses. I also used a flash for some night shots.

Interesting report from a part of the world I may never see. If you get a chance to show a map of the trip, please do.

Hi Tom. I'll put up the map at the end of the report. I started working on it on google but had some trouble getting it to be the way I want it. Guess I'm google challenged...

I know you have answered this question in past reports but . . . What camera is that you are using?

.

I happen to be an amateur forensic photography analyst. After careful study of these pics, I can say with 100% confidence he uses a Canon 5D Mark II, EF 35mm F1.4L and EF 17-40 F4L.

Hope this helps.

Lol! Great photography forensic work Mike!!

Another great ride report Nik.

Just for curiosity sake...can you rent bikes there?what are the best months for riding?

Hi drc32. There are only a couple of rental companies renting out big bikes. Best time of the year is basically all year round. We only get some heavy rain between Nov and Jan - but that makes it quite interesting. There is some flooding during that time of year, but only in the northeast.

 

[puppychow]

I have been refraining from commenting on your beautiful locales and skillful photography, so as not to distract you from posting more of what we want, but alas I couldn't resist any longer - YES! MORE PICTURES PLEASE!

 

[nik.hisham]

Continuation.

Day 3.

So we start off the day with another rider joining us.... this is us waiting for Sundar.

We're soon on our way, heading into the twisties and tracking south towards Malacca. This is Sundar, btw.

We soon find ourselves alongside this lake..

From R-L - Sundar, Nathan, Feizal.

Rested, we took a group pic...

...and continued carving up the twisties...

We stopped here to rehydrate after about an hour or so..

Then we were back at it...

After a morning of spirited riding, we got hungry and stopped for lunch...

That's my drink, grass jelly with longans. Supposedly good for cooling your body...

This is the appetizer, local fruits not quite ripe, served with a sweet, sour, and spicy dip.

After lunch, we headed for the coast and stopped here...

to enjoy the views. This is not really a place to take a dip due to its proximity to a super busy shipping lane..

However, the little island was something Nathan wanted to explore. During high tide, that ridge to the island would be completely submerged.

Just down the road, we made a stop for some afternoon drinks..

This was where I parked...

This was the view

This was where they prepared the food..

And this was what we had. Banana fritters with a sweet and spicy soy sauce dip. Kind'a funky if you're not used to it, but nice.

We eventually got to Malacca and headed straight for the hotel. Here's the pool...

And this was my room...

Night time, and we went out for dinner at this seafood joint. You choose the seafood... (fresh - just came up less than a few hours)

Nathan wanted stingray..

Then you get it weighed and tell them how to prepare it. Sometimes, they suggest for you..

And then when the food arrives, you take a picture of it..

Before gobbling it all down. Best eaten with clean, bare hands. Table manners welcome but not necessarily required.

Its a pretty popular place, and always crowded.

To be continued shortly...

 

[nik.hisham]

Continuation of Day 3..

After dinner, we went to check out the night scene in town...

The buildings along the Malacca river is all lit up..

We eventually wound up at Jongker Walk - a bustling night market stretching for a few km's in the middle of town.

We ended the day stuffed with seafood and spent from riding.

 

[escapefjrtist]

Great pics Nik. With those night shots of the river, it almost feels like we're there with you.

Thanks for sharing!

--G

 

[Hudson]

By far your best RR, Nik, and that's saying a lot. The joy on the faces of your fellow citizens really shows through in your pix.

 

[LagerHead]

Man, what great pics! All that food looks delicious! Man I want to try all of it. Ok, now I'm hungry.

 

[JT 384]

Love the pics Nik! Thanks for sharing.

JT

 

[nik.hisham]

Thanks for the kind words guys.

This is the final installment.

Day 4.

Woke up early and we were ready to go. We were going to do a tour of the historic Malacca town before heading back to Kuala Lumpur.

But Sundar was held up a bit, so I swung round the back of the hotel to capture these...

We finally got on our way and wound up at the a'famosa fort, built by the portuguese during their occupation of Malaya in the 16th century...

This is called Stadhuys, built by the Dutch during their occupation, after they wrested Malacca away from the Portuguese.

I have a habit of parking my bike in no parking zones. The building behind my bike was originally quarters for high ranking Dutch officers, but has now been converted into a museum documenting the chronology of Malacca rule from when it was founded by Parameswara, and through Portuguese, Dutch and English colonial rule, through to its independence in 1957.

Here's a look inside the museum

The portuguese fought using muskets. We fought with Elephants.

The layout of the fort, as it was during British rule

A view of the square in front of Stadhuys from inside the museum

Dutch ride vs my ride. A replica of Flor De La Mar, a Dutch trading ship during the 17th century.

By mid day, we left Malacca and began our journey home. We made a few stops to sample a famous local dish called Lemang.

It's basically glutinous rice mixed with coconut milk, cooked inside bamboo over a slow fire.

We also stopped for some dragon fruit.

Tasty, but don't any on your shirt.

Along the way, we passed the Sepang F1 circuit and decided to take a photo.

Jump!

Our final stop was Putrajaya, the administrative center of Malaysia. Behind Nathan is the Prime Minister's office.

And this is the other end of the boulevard

The other main landmark is the Putrajaya Mosque.

After 3 days of sunshine, the clouds were starting to threaten rain. We decided to head back and bring our trip to an end..

Just as we finished our ride, the skies opened up. We got a little wet, but I was kind'a hoping for it too..

To mark the end of our 4 day ride, we sit at this cafe, recounting our adventure while Nathan puffs on his Cuban Cigar.

That's all for now. Hope you enjoyed it.

As always, thanks for looking.