Touring with the Aussies again.

[nik.hisham]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I've had the chance to go on long rides. Too busy with work. I got word that some friends were taking a 5 day tour north of Kuala Lumpur. Unfortunately, I could only join them for the last two days as I couldn't get away from work.

Anyway, here are the pics.

As always, thanks for looking.

First day was me riding alone to meet the rest of the group. First time I'm riding alone over long distance.

Plotting my route on the GPS.

This was the route on day 1. I started at about 3 pm. Hoped to reach Alor Setar, where the rest are, in time for the sunset

Made sure to gas up before the journey got underway.

Rode on the highway for a while but got bored and decided to turn off onto the back roads.

Along the way, I saw these flags and thought this would make a cool shot.

I started getting a splitting headache and actually had tears flowing from my left eye. I was going slower and slower and had a hard time focusing. Had to stop before I fell off the bike...

This guy was parked beside me..

After a couple of aspirin, headache eased up and I hit the road again. Looked at the time and realized I was running late, so I decided to use the highway the rest of the way to see if I could make up some time..

Most of our highways are tolled. However, motorcycles are excluded - there is a small access lane to the left of the toll gate that allows bikes to get on the highway without paying toll.

Along the way, the highway crosses a mountain range. They decide to go under it instead of over or around it. This is the exit of the tunnel..

Stopped again for fuel and a to rehydrate.

Most of the R&Rs along the highway have stalls that sell local fruits..

A popular way to eat fruits here is to sprinkle the fruits with dried plum that is ground into fine powder. The powder is in the bottle beside the fridge...

Hit the road again and by now I realized that I would not make Alor Setar in time for the sunset. Highway was long and straight for the most part and I got really bored. I remembered how some of you guys took pics while in the saddle so I decided to give it a go...

Stuck my hand out beyond the windscreen for this portrait shot while going a 90 mph and almost dropped my mobile phone...

Night shot. *fugly*. A DSLR my camera phone is NOT.

Stopped for dinner at another R&R and had some chicken rice. Doesn't look like much but it was pretty good. Plus, I was really hungry...

At about quarter to 9, I finally reached Alor Setar. In most towns, or even cities, you'll find these structures welcoming you. They are called 'Pintu Gerbang'.

I had originally wanted a pic of this landmark during sunset..

There was lightning in the sky so I decided to head for the hotel. Just as I arrived, it started to pour. But I got to shelter just in time and kept dry..

Heh! Big bikes always get to park where other guests cannot

More to come..

 

[Queensland Ken]

Thanks for the pics and write up.

Cheers

Ken

 

[escapefjrtist]

Thanks for taking us along nik...great pics.

--G

 

[nik.hisham]

Here are pics for day 2

I met up with the other riders at the hotel. You may remember some of them from 'Thunder from Down Under'.

This is Mike and Anna, on their Multistrada 1200.

This is Dean on is K2

There are also a few more guys, Tony from New Zealand on a Versys, Feizal on his FZ1, Faizal on his ER-6f, and Naim on his SV1000.

We headed towards the Thai border for some pics.

Tony and Dean in Malaysia. Mike and Anna in Thailand.

After the border visit, we stopped for lunch.

After lunch we rode on for another hour or so and stopped at this lake for a rest.

Also because Tony's GPS fell off his bike when his mount broke.

Naim and Tony. Oldest riders in the group - but also the fastest. Tony was dragging the pegs off of the Versys every opportunity he could. He's only 65 and has been riding for 50 years.

The day was really hot so we took to the shade for some relief from the heat

Mike and Anna experimenting with liquid cooling...

Then Dean said, 'Do me!"

After cooling down, we plodded along and headed to Kuala Kangsar.

This is the Sultan's palace from 'a long time ago' - ok, I don't know exactly how long ago. But to give you an idea, they built this palace before nails were invented. So there is not a single nail, bolt or any kind of metal or cement holding this structure in place. Just wood.

This is a mosque nearby, located on the palace grounds.

We rode to this nearby cafe for some drinks while enjoying the view by the riverside

And then headed over to a village where this family made clay pots called 'Labu'. If you buy these pots in tourist shops or malls, they'll easily cost US 30. But here, where they are made, you can get them for US3.

This is how they mix the clay

And these are the moulds

And these are the finished products

Thought the Ducati looked nice under the shade of the coconut trees..

That was our final stop for the day. We headed to a hotel in Ipoh, where we spent the night.

More to come...

 

[Maggellanos]

Thanks for the pics :clapping:

 

[Old Michael]

Always a treat tagging along with you, nik.

How is speed enforcement handled there? Strict? Penalties?

Local? National?

What do they use for patrol vehicles?

Thanks.

 

[beemerdons]

Incredible Nik, absolutely amazing! Oh Malaysia, looks so groovy mon, I just want to go!

 

[El Toro Joe]

Great pics, thanks for sharing

 

[nik.hisham]

Thanks all, for your kind words.

Always a treat tagging along with you, nik.

How is speed enforcement handled there? Strict? Penalties?

Local? National?

What do they use for patrol vehicles?

Thanks.

Thanks OM. Speed enforcement is lax for the most part. Only during festive holidays will there be cops with radar guns sitting along the highways. There are usually no patrol cars cruising the roads and even if you run into one, they are quite tolerant. You can got up to 20 km/h above the limit on highways.

On this particular trip, I was cruising at 150 km/h (about 90 mph) and a cop car came up behind me. I hadn't noticed him until he was almost beside me, which scared the crap out of me. I didn't slow down, but moved over. He came up beside me, our eyes met, and he gave me a thumbs up before he overtook me and sped off...

 

[Bigbeavk]

Ahhh nice to get up on a Saturday morning and take a trip with you Nik. Awesome pics!

:clapping:

 

[nik.hisham]

Hi all.

This is the final installment.

We left the hotel and headed up Cameron Highlands along the Simpang Pulai route. This route is probably the best and most popular road for bikers in Malaysia. If ever you come and ride in Malaysia, you must ride this route.

This is what it looks like on Google Maps

We reached Blue Valley and stopped for a breather

And then we had a spirited ride back down the mountains.

We then headed to this place called Gua Tempurung. Its a network of caves that can easily fit a few large aircraft.

Took this en route to Gua Tempurung

After Gua Tempurung, we headed to Teluk Intan where there's a leaning water tower.

We stopped here for lunch

This is Dean's ride (the K2). Believe it or not, he bought it for just USD 3,000.

After lunch, we made our way to an old fort near the coast. On the road, I tried another camera phone shot, this time over my head as I was leading the pack. Result wasn't very good though...

We reached the fort after an hour or so...

And met the locals there...

A final shot before heading home.

We left the fort and headed back to our final stop for the day for some drinks before everyone went their own way

We said our goodbye's as the sun began to set

It was only after dark that I got back home.

I hope you've enjoyed the pics as much as I enjoyed the ride.

Thanks for looking.

 

[leedavis]

I really enjoyed the photos. Thanks for posting the ride report!

 

[escapefjrtist]

Another great set of photos nik! Thanks for taking the time to post up the ride report.

--G

 

[fjrchooser]

You've a very beautiful country there Nik. Your photos make everything - even rest stops, look exotic. Thanks for taking us along !

 

[wheatonFJR]

Wow...very nice :clapping:

 

[FJR Steve]

So many memories of Malaysia in those photos. Thankyou Nik....a great read and very enjoyable photo's.

 

[nik.hisham]

I really enjoyed the photos. Thanks for posting the ride report!

Another great set of photos nik! Thanks for taking the time to post up the ride report.

--G

You've a very beautiful country there Nik. Your photos make everything - even rest stops, look exotic. Thanks for taking us along !

Wow...very nice :clapping:

So many memories of Malaysia in those photos. Thankyou Nik....a great read and very enjoyable photo's.

Thanks guys. Glad you liked them.

 

[Hudson]

I was just thinking about your last post, Nik, and hoping to see some more of your great perspective and beautiful country. Thanks for coming through, and don't let too much time lapse between posts!

We ride with a bunch of monkeys too in the PNW...

 

[EEZY E]

Great ride, Beautiful Pics and Country. Way better than boring old Florida. <_<