Ros and Seung Adventures

Of Sunshine, Rocks and Good Friends

2011-07-28T17:35:00.020+08:00

Thailand never ceases to amaze.. Just look at the photo (above), it is a road side coffee shop at a petrol kiosk! In there is a full fledged expresso machine and serving cappucino, latte, and mochas as well!

Yep - this ride is all about Thailand. So we skipped Malaysia in 10 hours, next day zipped right into playful Phuket. In more ways than you can count, Phuket is a 'play'ground. Yeah, here are the guys at lunch, immediately when we arrived in Phuket.

The Catch Beach Bar is a trendy place to hang out, with a non-stop flow of trendy music, generous portions of food and also all manners of toursits as you can expect in Phuket. Rounds and rounds of Thai food, followed by rounds and rounds of massage was to prep us for the ONE day we planed to go for Rock Climbing at Krabi... We chose a business affiliate of Climb Asia, these are the good guys at Base Camp Tonsai. Mr Ip (not of Ip Man fame) took fantastic care of us, taking a short hike to Diamond Wall and then kitting us up nicely. Diamond Wall is an excellent choice for outdoor climbing, with a shaded overhanging natural rock roof, and routes ranging from 5A to 6C.... we spent the morning with Ip and found that we could really PUSH our limits :)

The return leg from Phuket to Krabi was a fantastic day. Despite the sore arms from the climb, we rode in fantastic cool weather that invigorated us. An unexpected surprise came in a random photo we took roadside... A RAINBOW!

So it is also our 10th wedding anniversary... an impromptu purchase by the beach, possibly overpriced lantern, but for that moment, it was worth EVERY penny!

Totally shattered and tired by the time we reached Hatyai, but the guys were ahead of us and had gotta a menu prepared! Fresh seafood and aromatic lemon grass!

So what do we reckon is the formula for perfect motorbiking holidays?

- 3 to 6 bikes;

- fabulous adventurous friends;

- a flat & clean bed to sleep on;

- sunny, dry days!

- healthy, good food,

- mind blowing scenery,

If only we could go on travelling forever....

Kemaman, Makan & Lepak

2011-06-12T21:56:00.004+08:00

Let there be light to guide us.

The Best way to travel : two silver bikes. One 900cc twin, the other is a 800cc V4. Which is faster? ha ha ha This is our first time trying to bike & drive. Turns out to be a bit of a logistics mess, where the car will be left behind & the bikes shoot off ahead to mark the turns, etc, etc. Yep, bikes are superior animals on the road. Bikes are like gazelles leaping through the urban jungle, while cars are like hippos. wide and always getting held up!

The trip was going to head Cherating and the small town of Kemaman. The famous Ah Peng Coffee and the classic steamed fish & noodle breakfast.

Part of our small convoy is a red Beetle. Look at the happy owner... walked back to her car after breakfast and then there were two!

nothing fab to report in Cherating, but we went out hunting in the evening for a famed seafood store... If u can find this store at night, you will be rewarded with freshest seafood in all styles known to kampung malays :)

Warung Awang Ikan Bakar.

Here is a neat pic of the tree house for rent at Ruby's Resort in Cherating.

Imagine u need to answer the call of nature at night.... how, ah?

Teluk Iskandar 2010

2010-11-29T18:07:00.009+08:00

Have you actually thought of Mersing as a destination?

Well, Teluk Iskandar Inn is one of those places that might just change your mind.

We primarily sought out this place because the owners believe in the tropical living concept, with all rooms having excellent natural ventilation. Most peaceful is the simple & spacious garden. Just ideal for lazing underneath the mature mango tree that is 4 storeys tall, the sea breeze from the ocean cools the entire living space.

So this is place totally to chill out, veg out, retreat from the mad urban sprawl that is Singapore!

Modelled after some Aussie style B&B, that place has got 6 guest rooms and totally possible to sit at the Inn's al fresco dining space, just reading a book & helping yourself to unlimited servings of coffee / tea. If the mood strikes you, an assortment of lounging spaces are thoughtfully scattered beneath the guest apartments. This (in effect) creates a basement effect, but is actually breezy and the hammock is the BEST spot for 'leh-pak-ing'.

Up the road is a hawker stall in the classic Malaysian style... the guy set up a satay shop right in front of his house. We had been reliably told that he started off with only 1 table, but now had grown to more than 12 tables! We ordered Chicken satay and it was the most succulent chicken satay ever! just the odd burnt bits on the edges, but otherwise, the chicken chunks were still juicy on the inside. The enterprising owner even included free Wi-Fi connection for his guests!

Malaysia Boleh!

Chill out Ride to Muar 5-7 Nov

2010-11-13T23:34:00.005+08:00

Did a short ride to Muar over Deepavali weekend with some old friends back in town & also last ride for Cheong who's leaving Singapore soon....

Enjoyed the ride through the small towns Batu Pahat & Ayer Hitam along the way, not without first getting through a massive jam before Malaysian customs.

Muar has developed quite a bit , nothing like the sleepy town few years back. The food street reminded us about streets in Hatyai or perhaps Melaka's Jonker Street where you can walk a round savouring bits of local fare.

By the Muar River, there's wonderful assam pedas, the best being the stingray! The whole row of assam pedas stall as far as the eyes can see....

Last pic outside Muar Traders Hotel before we left....

Phuket Bike Week and World Peace!

2010-04-17T16:23:00.006+08:00

Right then, how it it that Phuket Bike week is full of motorbikers from all walks of life? when the the branding CLEARLY shows a Harley-esque slant, with all manners of skulls & eagle talons?

Dunno how, but the little carnival that was Phuket Bike Week has now blossomed into a three part event. Yup, there are now three organisers & all the events fall into the month of April!

Conveniently, this means that it branches Songkran festival as well :)
So how does this link with world peace? Simple.

Songkran is about "attacking" somebody else with water. Ice water, chalky water, smearing chalk paste onto stranger's cheeks, you name it.... and the rule is, the receiver should not get angry. So imagine being subject to humiliating attacks from strangers and not getting angry. And if that could be a way of life...... would we have world peace?

My solution : No more road rage, no more "one-up-manship", just happy people allowing others to get along their way!

A small chunk of peace that can be found on Phuket all year round is having dinner on Promthep Cape. No pics of the traffic nightmare to get there, but the sunset view and the seats offered by the hilltop restaurant are fantastic!

A new slice of Malaysia... Sepang Gold Coast

Then, on our way back, we stopped by a totally new resort called Golden Palm Tree, off the Sepang Gold Coast. It is 400 units of chalets, built off the coast of Sepang. Combined with time share holidays, it is a Club-Med styled vacation with all inclusive room rates and 5 meals a day :) We were part of a group of people allowed to "test drive" the facilities, so we happily shared our feedback with our hosts! But for sure, we'll make more visits to this part of Malaysia in the future!

Cameron Highlands 16-18 Jan

2010-01-18T22:48:00.005+08:00

Yet another trip to Cameron Highlands, this time we stayed at OMF Bungalow. A beautiful colonial bungalow built on a hill slope at Tanah Rata, with none of the commercialism... just peace & quiet.

This bungalow has 9 rooms & a common sitting room & dining room. Meals are provided by Mrs Chye who takes care of the place. The strawberry jam served at breakfast is as fresh as it gets.

Absolute peace, absolute quiet. On the first night, we could even hear the sound of silence!

3NCR to Penang

2009-09-30T09:34:00.003+08:00

3 Nation Charity Ride to Penang

The NS highway beckons again & here we are with 2 inline fours again. Just like back in '98 with the Super4 & Zephyr. This time with two Suzuki 1200s, the road seem to pass faster. Sort of....

The thing is, in between the nine years of riding trips, I started to enjoy more countryside riding than highway shoots. So this trip is one in a long time that the destination is Malaysia, but ALL highway roads. Guess the only time I'll do another highway ride would be if we're going to cross the 2nd border to the Land of Smiles. :)

Outside the hotel Equatorial

Burly bikers bringing the kids from the village home a spin on their bikes....

Kuantan - Ride to Eat

2009-08-17T22:12:00.002+08:00

Happy National Day Singapore!

Our ride to Kuantan, after a 5 month dry spell.... Our ride to Eat.

Food, as we've discovered... there's so much that we've never tried before.

Firstly, there's Ikan Batu, served with mee sup. Both items had a dollop of sambal belachan on top. That's breakfast food.... The same shop serves the usual mini nasi lemak too.

Then there's Kedai Kopi Hai Peng. Well decorated coffeeshop.... see the trike on the wall as decor? :) Serves toasted kaya buns, also fermented rice wrapped in leaves & sweet glutinous rice too. All on the self service table....
The outside of the coffee shop :

Here's our cosy hotel. Very friendly staff & clean rooms. Highly recommended if you're in Kuantan. Easy parking too.

More food..... a shop that only sells otak & related fishy stuff...

It's delicious otak hidden in these triangle shaped leaf pouches, all grilled in a row.

Lastly, the not to be missed stuffed crab. Crab shell stuffed with crab meat + veggies + onions, then covered with egg & deep fried.

Told you it was a food trip.

Nikoi Island

2009-04-14T22:42:00.002+08:00

Nikoi Nikoi Nikoi...

sounding like an ancient Koi fish of some sort, Nikoi island is not an ornamental fish, nor is it an island off the coast of Japan. Instead, it is a privately owned island resort with perfect blend of the rough and the refined.

Rough? = sleeping in grass roof huts with no aircon
Refined? = each hut has hand crafted teak furniture & beds with pristine white sheets

Rough? = unvarnished wood decking on forecourt of each hut
Refined? = the granite slabs lovingly hand laid into the straightest walls possible

Rough? = lightly cooked & still crunchy veggies
Refined? = dishes garnished with the freshest herbs from Asia and Europe

Yes, this is the tropical paradise that is Nikoi island!

Ros and i were part of a team fortunate enough to spend three days & two nights on this paradise, helping a select group of Nikoi Island guests have their first taste of rock climbing. For now, we'll let the pics say those proverbial 1000 words.

4x4 Drive KK to Ba'Kelalan 31 Mar - 7 Apr

2009-04-09T09:04:00.011+08:00

This is our first off road drive.

Journey started in Kota Kinabalu where we met Malcolm, Eunice & Mel Jr. Driving from KK to Lawas was on road, before we changed to off road tyres at Lawas. Here, Eunice gave us a short briefing of the day's drive.

From Lawas to Merarap was gravelly roads. It rained along the way & vision got really bad. What was more worrying was the road we're going to be the next day.
Arrived at Merarap Hot Springs Lodge to spend the night & we were greeted by a little kitten, probably 2 mths old, which we adopted as Ah Meow during our stay. She would follow us wherever we went & was especially attentive during meal times. The lodge is located amongst forest & next to gushing rapids. A couple of hot spring pools were in the compound for visitors to soak in the 40 degree water.

Next day's drive was Merarap to Ba' Kelalan. This section was on logging trails, followed by mud tracks. And MUD it was. Apparently, it's been raining for a few weeks already plus many vehicles have been traveling in & out of the area, so the soft ground was totally turned over & over like cake mixture! Yup brown chocolate mousse cake...

Mel digs his arm into the mud to hook the tow rope on.

A bit of shovelling will help the front wheel get out.

An interesting log bridge...
Arrived at Ba'Kelalan Apple Lodge in the evening. Ba'Kelalan consists of 9 villages,in the Bario highlands of Sarawak. They have apple & mandarin orange orchards & also a couple of vanilla trees & vegetables. Paddy fields produced their special Ba'Kelalan rice, which was served during lunch time... fragrant & chewy texture, in between glutinous rice & regular polished rice. The grains were smaller than thai rice too. Opposite the lodge is the local air strip. 19 seater planes from Lawas & Miri arrive 2 times a week.

The airport:

The view of the villages from the hill top:
Taken with the lady of the Apple Lodge:

Hatyai & Cameron Highlands : Eat-Massage-Ride

2009-03-28T23:06:00.006+08:00

Decisions decisions.

We had 5 days, 23-27 March, to spend riding & it wasn't until the night before, that we finally decided where we'd be going. Dying for a good massage & Seung wanting his mountain air... Hatyai & Camerons, here we come!

Monday morning, we shot straight to Hatyai, arriving in the evening in light drizzle. The rain came down heavily soon after we checked into New Seasons hotel. Had a hot bowl of kuay teow soup with the usual Thai standard generous veggies, plus an extra dish of crispy pork belly to feed 2 hungry riders.

We wasted no time to get a foot massage for the legs that have been curled up in riding position for 10 hours.

Tuesday morning, we claimed our 2 hour Thai massage at our favourite "Only One" massage centre. The masseuse detected all the knots on my shoulders & went on to attack them one by one with gusto. 2 hours later, we hobbled out onto the streets, feeling well pinched, twisted and pressed..... fresh enough for some street roaming.

Another session in the evening after a light seafood dinner, this time an hour of oil massage to complete the day's activities. If only we could have such luxury back home!

Next morning, we rode out of Hatyai and up Cameron Highlands. Great winding roads from Simpang Pulai where the CBR got a cheerful flick. About 20km before reaching, we were again greeted by a shower. :(

We had booked a backpackers lodge for 2 nights, but after we checked in, we found the cigarette smoke too much to endure. So we decided to check out an alternative place for the 2nd night.

Father's Guest House became our new favourite place to stay in Camerons. An old colonial bungalow with nice, simple & very clean rooms. RM80 for room with attached shower, & front opens out to a nice garden. 2 movie screenings daily in the evening in the lounge area & good parking area in the front. Couldn't have been better! Yay!!

Camerons has changed quite a bit since we last visited. Now there's Starbucks, KFC.... the old bus station is also a pile of rubble and a new bus station is built. Changes changes... Wondering how to keep all the old memories without all the modern stuff intruding. But that's just me wanting to enjoy the local sleepy coffeeshops on my holiday.

Teluk Iskandar chill out 13-14 March

2009-03-15T18:23:00.004+08:00

This is our third stay in Teluk Iskandar Inn.... it's listed very highly on our favourite places to stay in Malaysia. Just outside of Mersing town, its our quiet retreat / getaway / veg out place.... whatever you want to call it.

Just about 2.5 hours ride from S'pore on half highway half countryside roads too. Nice :)

This time we're there with Kin on his CB1000R. We took Zumi & CBR out this trip to enjoy a bit of mileage while the Transalp twins guarded home turf.

Arrived on Friday in time for yummy Malay lunch prepared by Kamariah followed by relak time on the recliners in the porch. I pottered around the sea side to take pics of the tiny sea snails, which were about half the size of my little finger nail. At least 5 varieties of shell patterns found!

Home journey, we did some action photo taking.
Kin's CB1000R
Me on Inazuma
Seung on Inazuma

Zumi, the luggage mule....while unloaded CBR6 takes on CB1000R....

What's Next?

2009-02-23T17:55:00.002+08:00

Many people got to know us through our Enduro Africa last year. Colleagues, friends, bike club members, relatives, and some acquientances ........

We became 'the adventurous couple'. With Africa done, the question was : what's the adventure for 2009?

Yes, there's always that search for the next thrill, next challenge, next milestone to get to. I must say, there IS something in the pipeline for both of us, which we're very excited about.

So, more news will be coming up soon. :P

Rompin' at Rompin

2009-02-18T09:26:00.007+08:00

A post trip review on our cycle into Endau Rompin, Malaysia on 7-8 Feb.

Our drive up started at 6am on Sat, packing 4 mountain bikes onto Halil's Rav4. Passed customs smoothly, though the M'sian customs officer was pretty amused & wished us luck when we told him of our ride.

Quick lunch stopover & registration later, we were at the start of the 52km off road section leading to the chalet near Kampong Peta. Time to unload the bikes.
1st section was mildly up slope track among the oil palm planation. Some loose soft sand at the sides & the rear wheel slided occasionally to keep us on our toes. Road was dusty, especially at the start since it was a Saturday & trucks were travelling in & out of the plantation for work. 3- 4 uphills later, Sarina & I packed up into the car, taking over the wheel from Seung at the 22km mark. Sarina's front fork was under-pressured, with too much air released by an over-enthused 'unofficial mechanic' ;P

The boys continued the next section, which saw lots more steeper & longer hills, and definitely more potholes. We were glad to be driving, having our stereo & cushy seats!

Halil championing up the hill first... ^

Followed by Seung & Terry.... ^

The much awaited 'brown signboard' to mark the end of the 52km ride!

Reward for making it in.... Deluxe BBQ dinner right outside our chalet.

The morning after, spent at the river 10mins from our chalet.... before we headed out. The boys did a 30 min bike out on their choice section after a mid day snack & we were all ready to head home.

Happy 2009!

2009-01-01T17:13:00.001+08:00

2008 came & went.

Despite the gloomy economy, I think its up to us to find our own little adventures to keep us going.
Looking forward to the new year & what surprises it might bring.

Happy New Year!! :)

Photo show at Eden

2008-11-27T09:49:00.004+08:00

Last Saturday, about 40 friends joined us at Eden Sanctuary cafe, as we presented our photos from Enduro Africa.

It was a nice cool evening spent under the lush greenery.... with African music & pictures. Some loved the setting & food so much they brought family & friends back to the cafe the next day :)

Thanks everyone! We hoped you've enjoyed it as much as we did!

Channel NewsAsia

2008-11-20T16:47:00.000+08:00

Yesterday afternoon, we had a film crew from CNA drop by to our place to talk about Enduro Africa.

With a thunderstorm coming down just before they arrived, it dashed the hopes of catching us on our bikes. But it was a nice chat about what it's like to bike as a couple.

It got us reminiscing about our past :)

Catch it on CNA 9.30am - 28th Nov. That's next Friday. Repeats during the weekend too.

YoYoYoYo! Let's get this party started!

2008-11-12T00:02:00.003+08:00

Come join us at Eden Sanctuary Cafe, 44 Rochester Park for our show & tell session!
Date : 22 November, presentation begins at 6pm onwards.

To ensure we have ample seating, please indicate your attendance with yuseung@gmail.com or rosalind14@gmail.com.

On air!

2008-10-31T13:54:00.001+08:00

This morning, we had the privilege of being invited to be on air on The Living Room 938 Live with Stanley and Pamela. Both great hosts, we had a wonderful time chatting about the trip and even managed to put in a short spiel about the wonderful sponsors we found within the Singapore community!

Repeat broadcast will be tonight from 11pm till midnight.

Done & Dusted

2008-10-28T23:54:00.000+08:00

18 strangers brought together by a common cause. Here we were, the Orange Team at the end of the 2000km enduro, not just any ordinary tour, but one with bumps & bruises. Temporary scars but permanent friendships.

The journey wouldn't have been possible without the helping hands of fellow team members, stepping forward to help the other fallen biker through the ruts, rivers & ravines. It wasn't about getting to the end first by yourself, but more to get the whole team to the endpoint safely.

On our final dinner together, contacts where exchanged, momentos signed & a plan to meet up again soon.

Muddy Cakes!

2008-10-27T04:44:00.003+08:00

25 Oct - Mansfield Game Reserve to Port Elizabeth

200km day. We rode out of Mansfield going through gravelly roads & some good tarmac. Lunch was at Schotia Game Reserve, where we went for a 4x4 ride through to see the animals. Warthog stew was served during lunch.

The last leg of the day was a police escorted convoy of all the teams into Port Elizabeth. We were expecting an uneventful highway ride when we were let to turn off a final off road section! A surprise planned by the organisers to let us all have a go at the sandy motorcross trail. All hell broke loose. There was so much sliding & wheel spins amidst the jumps ... All agreed it was the sting in the tail for this event. Ros managed to do a few jumps & was getting the hang of it with a big smile when she misjudged a landing & fell hard on on the side just a short distance from the end point.

With that section cleared & sand in our boots, we got to the final hotel for our stay. The night of celebration & final pictures with the friends that we've all made in the last gruelling week together.

24 Oct - Katberg Inn to Mansfield Game Reserve

260km today. Climbed a mountain pass outside the hotel, ascending a rock strewn jeep track, with loose cabbage sized rocks causing the bike to bounce violently. On the descent, the trail reminds of Camerons backroad. Riding was almost at max speed of the bike, sun shining but wind chill sufficient for everyone to put on raincoats. Even the Dainese D-Dry was zipped up to the top and that was barely enough. A free lunch at Grahamstown KFC as the manager thought the British royals were with the orange team!

After lunch, Red team attempted to filter thru our group and Seung stuck onto the tail of Prince William. Turns out he is an excellent rider, Seung having to use the mountain bike racing skills and max revs a couple gears to keep up. At the end of the 10 minutes, we came to the regroup point and William was looking thrilled for the ride. He was also suitably impressed by the speed at which the Johnson girls were riding at. Descending the roads, Kirsty had a spill just minutes from the resort... Evening at Mansfield private reserve, on an open air platform in 12 degrees temp with 10 other people in double deck beds.

During dinner, made it a point to have a short chat with William, just talking about bikes and riding in our respective countries. Turns out he owns a Ducati 1098 and rides in the UK with just two body guards in tow. "i'm not like the President of America with 1000 body guards.", he said matter of factly and with a regal smile.

23 Oct - Morgans Bay to Katberg Inn

290km on a scrambler on country roads! Leave Morgan Bay in the morning, cross country riding on 30km of super muddy jeep tracks. What a waste of freshly laundered riding gear.

Stopped by The Internal Combustion Museum. This place showcases various i/c engines, especially a single cylinder diesel engine with displacement of 27 litres! Then we headed to Thomas River historical village for lunch. At this place, there was also a small museum of antique cars & vans. Unlike anything we've seen. The day rolled on and Seung managed to try out Eddie's CRF250. So much more power, lighter, longer suspension! Ironically it would be less tiring to ride that bike. Last 1 hour to the Katberg nature reservce was a bad combination of sun in our eyes and dust plumes in glowing orange. Ros went too fast in a left corner, headed into the bushes instead.

More riding

2008-10-22T22:47:00.003+08:00

22 Oct - Morgan Bay
Non riding day today at Morgan Bay. Bikes all got serviced with new oil, cleaned up air filter & lubed chains. The group visited a creche & painted their walls, donated mattresses, blankets, colouring books & made a huge swing for the kids! Mid day was a charity soccer match....Prince Harry & William also on the field with the boys. The final score was 6-2 with the local team trashing the tired bikers. Mike Glover from Red Cherry Adventures donated 10,000 Rand per goal.

21 Oct - Mazeppa Bay Hotel to Morgan Bay
only the low road option is offered today, but it was planned to be a short day. so we did a beautiful day in the saddle! Blue skies, scattering on white clouds and a trail that wound it's way from hill crest to valleys with occasional shallow streams to cross.

20 Oct - Hole In The Wall to Mazeppa Bay Hotel
Seung was now nursing some facial scars & a swollen palm. Ros also wanted a easy day as she was having aches in her arms & shoulders. So we both chose the high road option. Turned out to be an excellent choice and we travelled 150km on country tracks.

Full day on the bike

2008-10-20T22:30:00.003+08:00

19 Oct - Mbotyi River Lodge to Hole In The Wall
The day starts off with two groups being formed, the high road & the low road.
Ros, arms still sore from yesterday's hard ride, went for the high road. The group rode through scenic tarmac road, with long sweeping curves. Smooth debris-less road felt like such luxury! And time to take pics too.

For the morning low road, Seung went thru single track in the forest, while having more chances to try out stream crossings and managing to simply ride to the crest of any nearby hill. There was a forest section with tight single track climb, culminating in shallow plateau.

We converged for lunch & continued the day together on the technical route. Then the drama....
Having made his way successfully up steep rocky steps, Seung was so relieved, got off the bike & took off his helmet to help the rest of the riders up, only to step forward & miss his footing falling flat on his face! Battle scars now marked. ;(

News spread fast & Seung was nominated as "spirit of the day" award. All 90 riders heard of his infamous story...

18 Oct - Durban to Mbotyi River Lodge
7am breakfast, 8am ride off! After 5km of tarmac section, we head straight into off road with river crossings, steep downhills, off camber traverse on grassy slopes. At times we felt like kids riding thru a monster sized playground with no rules! Choose where u want to go and just whack! Somemore got spare bike by the organiser.

Then came the tough bit! We were made to ride up a 30% incline that was strewn with cabbage sized rocks. Ros fell three times while i fell once... All falls were at low speed, so we flopped harmlessly onto the thick grass, while fellow bikers came to rescue. Followed by a whole afternoon of roaming the rolling hills with grassy plains, horses, cows, and villagers strewn all over the slopes. What do they do for a living? Lining the tracks were scatterings of villagers and the kids waving hello. Where were the adults? Surreal... We ended by a scenic stop at Magwa Gorge and spent the night at Mboyti River Lodge .

Johannesburg & Durban

2008-10-17T23:58:00.003+08:00

17 Oct - Johannesburg to Durban
Made it to the airport on time! Hook up with the rest of Enduro Africa group of guys, turns out we are definitely the only two Asians in the group! we are also in the Orange group and Ros quickly makes friends with three British sisters. All of them are signed up on this ride because their dad is also doing it!

16 Oct
We do a day tour of J'burg, Soweto, Pretoria and take in some sights.

15 Oct
We touchdown in Johannesburg & the hotel that we originally booked is FULL!
So they organised for us to stay at a nearby b&b Thyssen House, run by Johan & Myra...

SMSA - not just for the elitists !!!

2008-10-13T10:23:00.001+08:00

Running the Enduro Africa project has shown us there are more good Singaporeans out there. And perhaps we are truly on the way to becoming a gracious society in a First World economy...

Discussions with the Singapore Motor Sport Association have confirmed that we are eligible for support from the Association as we are (1) taking part in a motorsport event, (2) representing Singapore. Thus, negotiations have resulted in their agreement to assist us with the airfare for Enduro Africa.

We are planning to put their sponsorship into the cash sum being paid towards Enduro Africa, thereby ensuring their contribution gets the maximum mileage.

Sponsorship from SASOL

2008-10-10T16:53:00.000+08:00

Another piece of good news!

Sasol - a global brand for chemicals & fuels, has kindly sponsored our petrol expenses in South Africa. Incidently, they're a South African company but has an office in Singapore!

Looks like SA & S'pore are linked in more ways than one. :)

WOW! We might get to meet Royalty!

2008-10-10T13:04:00.001+08:00

News has it that Princes William & Harry will be going for Enduro Africa too!!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/theroyalfamily/3160737/Royal-Princes-William-and-Harry-to-take-part-in-Enduro-Africa-motorcycle-rally.html

I'm speechless.

Goggles... by Smith

2008-10-09T21:33:00.002+08:00

So... here's a little intro for non-bikers.

Motocross or scrambler riders have a specific type of helmet that give them that look. Pointy chin guard & an obvious peak on top of the helmet + aggressive graphics.

And motocross helmets don't have visors like normal helmets cos the dust & dirt just get thrown up in the trails & visors can't keep all the dust off your eyes. So in place of visors, there're goggles. Strapped firmly on your face so that there's little chance of dust blinding you.

Testing our these Smith goggles for the first time, they were very comfy & moulded well to our faces. Best part was, Jameson, the importer was happy to sponsor them for our ride!

Mine in fuschia :)

One week to go. Kit list - check.

2008-10-08T12:03:00.001+08:00

Surreal as it feels, next week this time, we will be in the plane flying to Johannesburg. Our flight is at 2.20am on 15th Oct, so we need to get to T2 by midnight on 14th.

Packing for a trip has not been this complicated before. The organiser's kit list printed out & pinned up. We scan it thoroughly to make sure we have everything.

Helmet
Goggles (need to get!)
Upper Body Armour (need to borrow!)
Jacket
Elbow Protection
Protective Trousers
Knee Protection
Enduro boots
Gloves 2 pairs
Hydration Pack
Emergency rations/energy bars
Waterproof oversuit
Money (duh??)
First aid kit
scarf/bandana
towel
sleeping bag & roll mat -- confirm got camping
swimming kit
ear plugs
sunglasses
torch
sunblock
fleece
trainers/sandals
casual trousers
toiletries bag
mosquito repellent & mosquito net
magnetic map carrier

Personal list:
Canon G9 - lots of pics!
Nokia N82 - more pics!
Nokia E90 communicator - to blog on the move
SD memory cards
Malaria medication
Air eTicket
Copy of insurance papers

An excellent gentleman

2008-10-07T12:18:00.001+08:00

Last night, we met the most excellent gentleman with his head firmly screwed on his shoulders. He is none other than CK Lim, the humble & down to earth guy behind the KBC helmets in Singapore.

He had airflown in two pieces of KBC Motorcross helmets for us, just to meet the deadline for Enduro Africa. In the bag were a pair of blue/silver helmets, 100% matching the Dainese jackets that we had received earlier.

The Old and the New

2008-09-21T21:49:00.002+08:00

Deja Vu and it's all about coming one full circle.

This weekend we went for a day ride to Mersing town in Johor, just for a saddletime and wanting to get away from it all. And that was when the old and the new came together.

And it came together on three levels!
In 1997, we went to Mersing with our riding buddies, people like Bryan, Francis, Terence & Vincent. We would frequent the conveniently located Restaurant Ee Lo, located at one of the two circuses in town. Today, we went there with new friends like John, Donny & Roger. and we went to the newly renovated Ee Lo, in the same familiar location!

The old and the new also came in the form of riding Aron's former CBR600F4, now serving us faithfully since the last three years. The F4 was doggedly pursued by Roger's F4, Donny's 15 year old Zephyr 750 and John on the spanking new Guzzi Griso 1100. Bringing up the rear was the heavyweight GSX1200 Inazuma ridden by Ros. The Griso and the Inazuma are also interesting bikes as they are modern takes on the old air-cooled engine concept.

So, it was a fantastic day, old friends in a new location on a couple of retro bikes!

Dainese - Riding Gear for Safety!

2008-09-18T10:41:00.003+08:00

It's been a couple of months in the discussion, and finally Peter from JR Pte Ltd had come into the support for Enduro Africa! They have gladly given us Dainese riding apparels for the trip and being bikers, we had a good chat about biking and how to make it a lifelong passion!

Apart from the legendary Dainese safety armour built into the jacket's shoulders and elbows, each jacket also features D-Dry fabric and thermal liners for riding in 15-20 degree weather! (D-Dry keeps you dry while keeping the rain outside!)

Peter owns a limited edition R1 with Ohlins & Marchesini goodies! A FAR cry from the 10 year old CBR600 that we have!!! So now you know WHO'S THE DADDY!

The Camera!

2008-09-07T17:55:00.001+08:00

Well, it's been some time since we got the Canon G9. We picked it simply because it was one of the few pro-sumer cameras with kick ass image quality, combined with hard core build quality in the form of the aluminum body & housing.

Looking back at the photos in the sections below, many of our friends had commented on the excellent sharpness and vibrant colors! Even was able to take the night shots of the F650GS when tripod mounted :)

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/
Anyone want to buy a used SLR? heh heh heh...

Vaccinations Vaccinations Vaccinations

2008-09-05T18:54:00.003+08:00

6 weeks to go before Enduro Africa.

Last bits of stuff to do, includes our travel vaccinations before we head to South Africa. Visited Tan Tock Seng hospital for that last week & was given a menu of jabs :

Typhoid
Tetanus
Influenza
Hepatitus A & B
Cholera
Polio (oral)

Got to get our Malaria tablets to take before the trip too. :(

Whirlwind Weekend!

2008-09-01T09:30:00.003+08:00

How does it happen? That Singaporeans could have 4 biking events over the same weekend???

SHEriders preview of BMWF650GS & F800GS
Long time friend Kelly Ho invited us to join the SHEriders for the preview of the latest BMWF650GS. This bike is using the newest engine design from BMW, able to produce 71hp to 90hp, depending on the state of tune. It probably also sets the record for the best hp : fuel economy ratio, with an amazing 25 - 30km per litre economy!

Harley-Davidson 105th Aniversary at Singapore Flyer
Rosalind helped out at this event, manning the event booth, while Seung spent the evening catching up with old friends like Kin, Ju Len & Rod over scrumptious burger & dogs supplied by the good folk of HD!

Krankin @ Kent Ridge
Reprising his old role of biking & emceeing, Seung spent a good part of Sunday at our premier mountain biking event in Singapore! Besides being the announcer at this event, he also took part in Men's Senior A category and came in 6th position in the race :) a good mountain bike race is always useful in feeling young again! Adding to the good old feeling was meeting old friend Ng Mong Heng (aka Ah Boon)

MotoGP Sepang
Tourism Malaysia had put together a publicity event to bring motorbikers to Sepang for the coming GP. To achieve this, they paid for a barbecue dinner for local bikers and people we met (again) people from the previous evening, coming together for a good time. The good folk of Moto V were there, and so were the SHEriders and Team27. Rosalind scored a lucky draw prize : a free air ticket to KL, as part of the lucky draw prizes! Joining us for dinner were our friends Shannon & Jerry, together with Siew Yen & Maverick!

The good folk at Moto-V

2008-08-23T22:17:00.001+08:00

Have you ever wished to find the goodness in humans?

Well, it happened last night when we were invited to the Moto V gathering at Buddeez Cafe in Tanjong Katong Rd. The members were most interested in our fund raising event, because Brenden and Ruth had made special effort to start a thread about our going to S.A. More importantly, they literally "Passed the hat around", gathering $400 in cash & wine sales just for us.

The little impromptu handing over ceremony was officiated by Alan, while we all stood gamefully by the roadside for a photo to mark the occasion.

So, many many thanks to the good folk at Moto V. And who ever says bikers are rufty tufty types with Hells Angels inclinations should spend an evening with these people. Moto V is a good ambassador for the public face of motorbiking!

And here's the thread which they've created on their website, specially for us!

http://www.moto-v.sg/forums/index.php?showtopic=1121&st=0&#entry27928

Photos from our Nokia N82. The night scene mode really rocks!

Sponsors & Sponsorships!

2008-08-19T09:08:00.000+08:00

We had a MOST pleasant surprise from a corporate sponsorship from Cityneon! They had given us a cash sum with the simple message : go out there and do Singapore proud!

This is (of course) the bestest situation any fund raiser can wish for : )

Fundraising Tie Up with CornerStone Wines

2008-08-15T17:38:00.005+08:00

We’re excited to announce our most recent collaboration with CornerStone Wines as part of our Enduro Africa fundraising.

Info about them can be found at http://www.cornerstonewines.com/

The items we have are :
- Red Wine : Chianti 2006, Tuscany, Italy @ S$24
- Red Grape Sparkling Juice @ S$5.50
- White Grape Sparkling Juice @ S$5.50

The Chianti is a customized blend of Tuscan Sangiovese and eventual addition of Canaiolo grapes. Purplish red, Floral bouquet with notes of mammola. Balance of fruit & soft tannins for easy drinking. Medium bodied claret. Made specially to match Asian cuisines.

CornerStone Sparkling Juices are made & bottled in France, delicious choice for non-alcoholics... no preservatives or sugar added.

Email to rosalind14@gmail.com to purchase now!

Weekend Ride to Musang Kenyir Resort 8-11 Aug

2008-08-14T00:37:00.003+08:00

This trip was planned at least 2 months ago, waiting for the good time & willing people to join us. It's also part of our training for Enduro Africa, for the long saddle time. Helps to train the butt!!
10 hours of riding by countryside roads along the eastern coast, & the weather couldn't be better. It's also our first trip with the Canon G9.

We met at GP Esso at 7am on Friday. First stop, Yong Peng for fishball noodle breakfast, followed by DURIANS! Quality was excellent. Smooth creamy & fleshy...

Riding past Kuantan & Kuala Trengganu, we met Mr Chong on the way at Gawi jetty at around 5pm & we followed his car to the bike parking area. Carefully parking our bikes & covering them, we left on the boat to the resort.

The wooden chalets were built in a row on stilts & facing the lake. Peaceful place, set in the jungle. Simple rooms with fan & attached bathroom. Because we were at an altitude, the air was cool, especially in the evenings.

Saturday morning, Tony & Catherine were out early in the lake trying to catch some breakfast.

Today's plan was to go to the waterfalls. It took us a hike of at least half hour in the jungle before we finally got to the falls.

Great view & cool waters welcomed us after the hot & sweaty hike. We climbed over to the large rocky platform...

Back to the resort for lunch... listening to Mr Chong tell stories!

Post lunch, some of us decided to take the boat out again for some fishing. Especially excited are Hubert & Tony... suspect that's their main purpose for this trip. According to web info, this area is supposed to be an angler's paradise.

Tony in soft sand.... which promptly swallowed his leg up to knee level. Undeterred, both of them continue crawling on all fours & still managed to cast their fishing lines!

Sunday - a day entirely spent on fishing. Woke up & were at the jetty by 7am to take the boat out before breakfast. Managed to catch a glimpse of a wild young elephant near the water. When it noticed us & our cameras & fingers pointing excitedly, it trumpeted (maybe angrily) and ran off into the trees to hide.

Not much luck with fishing, we came to an area of shallow waters, to have a dip. Water was clear & gently flowing as it was just a short distance from a waterfall. The shin deep water was just perfect for lazing & enjoying the company.

Having tired ourselves out, lunch was served. For all 3 days, Mr Chong was our personal chef, cooking up pro-standard dishes, which we promptly polished off in no time. Apparently he learnt his skills from friends in the food business.

Here we are, lounging around & chatting the afternoon away, contemplating to go out for another fishing trip or not. Then the sunny weather took a turn & the distant dark cloud moved over & we were in a middle of a torrential downpour!

Glad that we're not out in the lake. We stayed in, watching the raindrops on the water surface & felt so relaxed... The magpie which was around earlier stopped chirping .... but soon after came back again to chirp. Signalling that the rain is stopping soon, indeed it was just a passing shower!

Dinner that evening was a nice BBQ with lots of food. Great treat to end our stay, with lamb chops stealing the show.

On Radio 91.3FM

2008-08-14T00:04:00.001+08:00

7 August 2008.
Dark clouds loomed & it stormed as I made my way to the studio... reached there with soggy feet & clammy trousers.

We're going on air with The Married Men crew - Rod Monteiro, Andre Hoeden & Audrey Lim. First time on radio for the 2 of us, & so excited! Brought our Canon G9 to take pictures with the celebrities at work ;P

The DJs seemed to be having so much fun at work, I don't think it even feels like work! But according to them, there's lots of preparation before each show can be presented, so that's what we don't see or hear about. What's true is that there's a whole lot of amazing hi tech stuff in the studio that they're using.

We talked about Enduro Africa on air & shamelessly publicised this blog to the whole nation. So those of you who've actually come to this site because you heard us on air, THANK YOU!!

Here they are in between the interview, Andre & Audrey having a chat, while Rod is pressing the 101 buttons & switches to make sure the next song or jingle gets in correctly..... Cool yah!

Here's their website, with schedules listed in there : http://www.radio913.com/

Singapore Bike Fest on 2-3 Aug 2008

2008-08-06T21:19:00.002+08:00

Last weekend, bikers all over the island gathered at Kallang Leisure Park, for the S'pore Bike Fest 2008. Convoys roared into the parking area, one on each day, attracting cheers from the crowd. Bike stunts were also the draw for most.

Organisers Team 27, very kindly allowed us to publicise our Enduro Africa project at their booth. With poster & laptop in tow, we got a video running and had leaflets to distribute.

Much credit goes to the earlier article in Motorculture magazine, as some of the bikers read about our trip & were asking us more questions... Glad to say, we managed to sell a couple of Sins vouchers and about 20 bars of chocolates to supportive friends. Others simply donated cash to support our cause.

Behind our booth was the private collection of a guy who has great tastes in restoring classic Japanese motorbikes. Looking at those classics inspired us to get our own classic bike someday.

On the 2nd day, we parked our Transalps at the bike park & set up a mini display with a poster between the 2 bikes. Must have attracted some curious stares outside too!

Live band played into the night & Singha beer was the drink of the event. The open air pub atmosphere ended each night.

With Peter & Jack from Team 27...

Hooking up with some hardware

2008-08-02T08:04:00.000+08:00

In preparations for the ride, we had been thinking about what equipment to bring....
starting off with the hardware like phones and cameras.

So we have settled on a Canon G9 digital camera, a Nokia N82 and a Nokia E90. Here are our thoughts on choosing this equipment....

Being lifelong canon fans, we felt the Canon G9 is the only camera which could do advanced photos, take movies, while retracting into a small package that fits smoothly inside a riding jacket pocket. As we only recently got the camera, no photos worthy of posting, so we'll write more about this another day.

Nokia N82 & E90 - simple combination, really. Both phones have GPS enabled maps, so we WON'T get lost. N82 is touted as a blogging phone with kick-ass 5MP digital camera focussing via a Carl-Zeiss lens. E90 is for those longer rest sessions where we feel like penning down random thoughts thru a qwerty keyboard.

Guess we'll be using quite a bit of this new kit in the coming months!

Piaggio X Evo - mega scoot!

2008-07-23T20:55:00.001+08:00

I rode the Piaggio X EVO!!!

it's a 400cc scooter, with a single cyclinder engine!

Thus, making it (technically) a thumper!

While thumpers are usually rough in engine vibrations, this thumper is the total opposite.

Smooth power delivery is name of the game, and the bike simply surging away from the lights with generous torque. It is this reliance of torque that allows the engine to operate in a lower rpm range, so regardless of speed, all i could feel is a gentle beat of the thumper keeping me company.

Underseat space is excellent, with enough room for two helmets, while the windscreen and fairings allow for cruising at illegal speeds!

Quite the perfect companion for commuting and trips into Malaysia.

CarBuyer Club blog

2008-07-15T11:57:00.001+08:00

We are currently on CarBuyer Club website:

http://community.carbuyer.com.sg/kickapps/_We-love-motorbiking/blog/80775/20855.html

Here, we will be posting our pictures from Enduro Africa.

We're in MotorCulture Asia!

2008-07-15T11:23:00.001+08:00

Our Enduro Africa project is currently being covered in Singapore's leading bike magazine - MotorCulture Asia - Vol 3, Issue 12.
Check out the full page article!

Sunday morning at Tanah Merah

2008-07-09T17:50:00.001+08:00

This is my first attempt at doing some off-roading at Tanah Merah (not counting some previous unplanned experiences in Malaysia/Thailand).

The goal was to take a ride with the KTM, which was obviously more suited for the trail. But as luck would have it, the bike died & failed to respond to my kickstarts while I was less than a km away from home. So with not much of a choice, I pushed it back to the carpark & took the Transalp out for the ride instead.
There we were, 2 Transalps heading towards the eastern part of Singapore, & meeting up with Chuah's Africa Twin. All above-200kg elephants headed for the muddy trail. What were we thinking??!!

Once we entered, we chose the safer lines whenever we saw puddles or soft sand. Here I am crossing gingerly on the hardpacked ground.
Slightly further up where Seung & Chuah decided to inspect the road ahead while I waited at the back...
My road tyres, obviously unsuited for the dirt was caked up in no time (especially after the dramatic wheel spin & getting stuck in a hole)
The inevitable happened & my Transalp landed on its side, when the front tyre slipped on a muddy slippery area. Here's the right side with the result of the mud mask....
Seung takes on the little enduro trail with ease, of course...with his mountainbiking skill. Wished I had my mountain bike with me!
It was a nerve racking but overall fun ride. Next time, we've got to bring in lighter weight bikes.

Online "Donate" button added!

2008-07-04T15:32:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone,
This post is for all who have been checking back on our fundraising status.... Thank you!

We have added in a DONATE button on the right, so that you can easily contribute to our fundraising efforts!

All you need is a PayPal account or a credit card.

As of today 4th July 2008, we have raised S$5,475 out of the target $30,000.

Still a long way to go!

Cycling in Bintan 21-22 June

2008-07-03T10:04:00.005+08:00

Our weekend trip with Jerry & Shannon to Bintan for some cycling. This is another part of training for Enduro Africa -- Endurance Training. over 70km on road cycling this weekend!

Early Saturday morning in Tanah Merah ferry terminal...checked in our 4 mountain bikes. We looked fresh as we waited like forever for the ferry to arrive.

About 2 hours later, we unloaded at Tanjong Pinang & met up with the resort representative Tracy, who took our luggage & led us out of the town. We're on our way to our resort some 37km away. Bright sunny afternoon.
A halfway stop where we took a break & refilled our water bottles.
A self-taken photo by Seung while cycling... We managed to ALL get into the picture!
37 km & some hills later.... Our resort at Ocean Bay.
Walking in to our rooms, the setting was really perfect. Surrounded by water, the rooms were on stilts "kelong style" & stretched out to sea. The wind blew freely through the gaps in roof & walls.

Spent the afternoon chatting on the wooden walkway, enjoying the sea breeze & sound of waves. Total relaxation. The sun set onto the horizon in front of us... creating the silhouette of the stilts against the water's reflection.

The evening was spent having a nice seafood dinner, followed by a mini fireworks display by the beach.

The next morning, we woke up to a very low tide. The sea had receded & all the plants beneath were visibly flopped onto the seabed. Looked as though we were in the middle of a plantation!

The early morning serenity broke into a drizzle & then it poured! Rain was dripping through the gaps in the roof & made a little puddle on the floor. Good thing it was only a passing shower.... We went for breakfast & was glad we weren't cycling in the rain.

Jerry & Shannon with their matching brolly :)

After the lazy morning, was lunch! Scrumptious feast of charcoal heated steamboat fish (first time for me!), chilli crabs, honey chicken & hotplate egg/veggies was our last meal here before we get onto our bikes again. All the 3 meals have been super solid... with fresh seafood & fish deliciously prepared. That's enough reason for me to come again!

We started on our journey again.....back to Tg Pinang ferry terminal.

About 17km from the resort, we passed by the durian stalls, which saw the day before. Stopped for energy boost of a durian & some mangosteens. See how happy we were!

Another 13km before we hit the town & traffic was getting heavy. It's a Sunday & all the folks were out & about. One thing we discovered were that the locals like to honk all the time, whether they're passing us or whatever.... Maybe its their way of saying "hello", "hi tourist", "excuse me while I overtake", "nice bike" or "nice butt"!

The city ride was about 7km. We managed to manouver through the crowd and finally got to the terminal. We're an hour ahead of time!

Nice chillout place & highly recommended!! http://www.oceanbaybintan.com/

KTM gets a good scrubdown

2008-06-12T22:57:00.001+08:00

We gave the KTM a good scrub & hose down over the weekend. All cobwebs cleaned out & greasy fingerprints erased.

Gleaming & happy.... check out those sparkling gold rims! Okay, time to go for a roll in the mud :)

Sponsor of a KTM 200 EGS

2008-05-26T18:32:00.001+08:00

It's strange how sometimes things fall into place when you need help...
As I watched the video of Enduro Africa, I knew that what I needed to do (other than fund raising), was to go out and practise riding off road.

Finding a 2nd hand scrambler to buy, hopefully not burning a hole in my pocket, was another challenge. But having a friend from the off roading circle like botak Daniel has its advantages & through a casual chat, I found that our mutual friend Shireen has a 200cc KTM needing some TLC!

I offered to be bike nanny (oh I wish this can be my next job!) for her bike, & she generously allowed me to use the bike for the next few months!

Just did a servicing last weekend at Ideal Motors, and bike is in great shape to go for some training....

Pictures coming up soon.

A Video Preview of last year's Enduro Africa challenge

2008-05-15T23:19:00.002+08:00

Many friends have asked us questions, like

- How many days will you be in Africa?

- Where will you be riding?

- Is it a race?

etc....

Well, we will be out of Singapore for 12 days, of which there will be 8 full days of riding in the off road conditions. Meaning, to see tarmac road will be a luxury.

Our route takes us around South Africa, starting and ending in Johannesburg. And, no it is not a race. We will take it at a pace that we can handle & hopefully get to the finish point safely.

Below, we have found 2 event videos on YouTube of the Enduro Africa 2007. It will give you a good idea of what we will be going through....

N. Malaysia & Hatyai Ride - 30 April to 4 May 2008

2008-05-08T23:30:00.003+08:00

What makes a good vacation?

- Great company, scrumptious food and lots of riding!

Day 1 : 30th April -

Morning started at 7am, meeting Roger, and getting through the Malaysian customs. A short ride later, rumbling tummies told us it was time for breakfast. Where else but at Yong Peng for a good serving of Wanton Mee to energize us for the day's ride.

The monotonous ride on the NorthSouth highway, led us to the Tapah, where we met up with KayKian at the base of Cameron Highlands. The dude rode down from Bangkok the day before, and was suppose to meet us at 2pm but the excitement was too much to bear & he was at the meeting place 2 hours before!

The ride up Camerons via the old route proved to be challenging to say the least... Landslide zones were abundant and it was nothing like the condition in March when we went up with another bunch.

Slippery roads meant jittery nerves and twitchy tyres. Not good for the sportbikers... nope.

Took a break at the waterfall midway :

All seemed fine until we decided to stop at a tea house for some Camerons tea, and all it took was a strip of gravel on the road and a slight miscalculation?

Roger's CBR6 took a lowside, and had a bit of his bike rearranged. Taking stock of the damage, there was a broken turn signal, scratched crankcase cover, the left mushroom decided to take shelter inside his cracked fairing & oh shit! the gear shifter's broken!

Seung "McGyver" decided it was time to summon his whatyacallit thingy.... oh yes, it's a grip lock pliers? and gripped it onto whatever remained of his shifter lever.

Ta Dah!

Sheepish grin from the owner with hardly a scratch, thanks to his armoured, padded riding suit. There....I told you so....got to wear proper riding gear ....

Reaching our hotel at Camerons & with dinner settled, we managed to find some fix-it items to replace the grip lock pliers, although it got Roger up the rest of hill okay.

A packet of cable tie, epoxy, a table fork (from the kindhearted boss of a tze char restaurant at Tanah Rata) and some creativity later...

CBR has a new gear shifter. Better than original! Who can boast of a fork as a shifter huh? Roger had half the mind to keep the design permanently as such. (By the way, this set up got him all the way to Hatyai! Almost.)

Day 2 : 1st May -

The morning was great and we descended from the cool highlands into the sweltering heat. Today is the day for great roads. Taking a long loop from Camerons, down through Gerik highway to Gua Musang, and finally to Ipoh.

This stretch of gentle bends and scenic landscape is a bikers dream come true. It was at least 7-8 years ago that we last came through these roads and this time was no less perfect.

We took a break as the pack took in the beautiful scenery at the look out point. Could almost hear them whispering to each other. Yeah, what a good ride! Hope the guys will take us through more! :)

We met up with Kin at Ipoh's Heritage Hotel, who arrived in the afternoon from Singapore.

Day 3 : 2nd May -

The ride from Ipoh was a rather uneventful stretch of highway riding. Getting to the Thai border was an interesting bit though for first timers Roger and Kin.

We did the obligatory photo op with the Thai customs checkpoint in the background, before the customs process.

The EVENT came about 20km after the customs. Roger's chain broke loose while we were all negotiating through traffic, causing him to almost loose control of the bike. All 200 pounds of him fought with the violently fishtailing bike and managed to keep it upright till it came to a stop at the road shoulder.

No Chain = No Go. :(

After several attempts to find work shops to fix a new chain, which was impossible outside Hatyai town, we managed to get a pick up at a nearby car workshop to bring the bike to Hatyai.

CBR gets a ride on the back of the truck. Was it a silent protest for the hideous cutlery so stuck on his arm? I wonder...

With bike in hospital now, we headed for a nice restaurant/pub to chill out. Happy faces now...

Day 4 : 3rd May -

A day spent fully in Hatyai. Roger & KayKian headed for the workshop to pick up the bike & then to Songkhla beach.

Kin & us took to getting massaged, tummy filled along the way.

Such are street hawkers that we don't find in Singapore... As Kin stares intently on the barbequed crabs & huge prawns, wondering if his stomach has space for supper.

Day 5 : 4th May -

Reluctantly, it's the last day of our trip. KayKian will be heading up north to Bangkok, while the rest of us have 2 borders to cross to get back to Singapore.

Last breakfast together at a dim sum shop...

Enduro Africa 2008

2008-04-27T16:31:00.002+08:00

Things have started building up towards our Enduro Africa fundraising. The early jitters of not knowing where to start has gradually worn off & it's now the count down to the fund raising deadline. The minimum target of S$30,000 is no small amount, but we hope to hit and even exceed it.

We have 4 months to go before deadline and 6 months to the event!

As more & more friends get to know about our project, we're happy to say most have very encouraging things to say to us. Some offered invaluable help like contacts and ideas or shop space for posters, and others were more direct & dropped cheques to our fundraising piggy bank....

We're grateful to have a deal going with our favourite chocolate brand Sins, who has come up with 2 luscious chocolate bars (Chocolate Caramel & Chocolate Cappuccino). We are selling their gift vouchers, which are redeemable for these chocolate bars, & part of the proceeds will go towards Enduro Africa. Lots of people who have sampled the chocolates gave extremely good reviews on them! The bars come in Chocolate Caramel version, which is Lindt milk chocolate, pine nuts, coconut, apricot & orange peel..... and Chocolate Cappuccino which is really for the coffee addict with real ground coffee and pine nuts among its ingredients. Phwoah!!

Coming up, we’ll find more creative ways to bring in the sponsorship monies… Now, do we have any other stuff in our flat to sell??

Vanilla Feb 2008 - our love story in print

2008-03-18T09:21:00.004+08:00

Text - Pamela Ho

Photography - Joel Low

Styling - Fongfan

Stylist's assistant - Yvonne Cyrus

Makeup - Larry Yeo

Hair - Jasper Lee of Monsoon

Cameron Highlands Ride - 1st March 2008

2008-03-18T00:11:00.000+08:00

It was 1st March, a regular weekend, but we decided to ride up Cameron Highlands to enjoy some cool mountain air.
The place Cheong booked was at the Malaysian Nature Society, set in the Boh Tea plantation, in what used to be the plantation workers quarters.

Beautiful setting & a nice ride up.

The last 500m to the accomodation was a little daunting, with just 2 gravel tracks made by 4 wheelers. Slippery grass in the middle was something to avoid, as some of the bikers found out, the hard way.

Private driveway parking for us all, with the residence at the hill top.

The long corridor in front of our rooms proved to be a great gathering place in between meals to exchange ride & life stories.

Rooms were clean & spacious, with a granny's house feel. Walls were thin so good luck to you if your neighbours were loud snorers!

Interesting bright yellow toilet & shower room. Glad that the water heater worked...

The mist came in, as evening approached. Nice dreamy look it gave to the solitary tree.

Dinner time, warming up next to the steam boat. Simple meal but it was the company (and hot soup) that mattered.

Our morning greeters- these two were galloping up and down the corridor all night. Yet in the morning they're still full of energy. Waiting to check out each open room door ... will there be breakfast brought out??

One group shot before we head down the hill...

That's me, trying very hard to avoid the grass patches, made even more slippery from the rain. I love my Transalp! :)

History of our rides

2008-03-16T21:07:00.000+08:00

We've come a pretty long way in terms of touring from our humble 250cc scooter, upgraded to litre-class touring bikes, to our current pair of Transalp650's which we found ourselves to be totally at home with. Most pictures taken before this blog was started....

1996
Mersing, Malaysia
Kota Tinggi, Malaysia

1997
Langkawi, Malaysia
Genting Highlands, Malaysia

1998
Kuala Selangor, Malaysia
Hatyai, Thailand - 4 Nations Charity Ride
BMW Safety Riding Course in Pasir Gudang Race Track

1999
Fraser’s Hill
BMW Advanced Safety Riding Course in Pasir Gudang Race Track

2000
Fraser’s Hill + Ipoh to see the film set for “The King & I”
Wedding Photo Shoot with Varadero & Deauville
Sepang Motor GP, Malaysia
Lake Kenyir & Cherating, Malaysia

2001
Track Day in Sepang, Malaysia
Ipoh, Gua Musang & Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Hatyai, Songkhla – 3 Nations Charity Ride

2002
Krabi & Phuket, Thailand
Cherating, Malaysia
Lanjut, Malaysia
Northern Thailand, 30 day tour, including Chiangmai Bike Week 2002

2003
Pangkor Laut Resort, Malaysia
Trang – 3 Nations Chairity Ride, Thailand
Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia
Phuket, Thailand

2004
Taman Negara, Malaysia
Bekok Waterfall, Malaysia
Moto GP Sepang Malaysia

2005
Fraser’s Hill, Malaysia
Cameron Highlands, Malaysia
Mersing,Malaysia
Hatyai, Thailand
Cherating, Malaysia
Malacca, Malaysia
Moto GP Sepang, Malaysia
Phuket, Thailand

2006
Penang, Malaysia
Ducati GT1000 Launch, Bologna Italy

2007
Malacca, Malaysia
Taman Negara National Park, Malaysia
Songkhla, Thailand

Harley daze...

2007-07-20T21:49:00.000+08:00

On the way to Phuket in April 07 for Phuket Bike Week...

My orange Sporty & me... at the Wild Hogs movie premiere

My fav ride pictures

2007-07-16T23:04:00.000+08:00

Just sharing some nice pictures taken on our rides...

On the road to Penang - Jan 2006

In Bologna, testing the Ducati GT1000 - April 2006

Transalp wing mirror at the bridge near Kota Baru, Malaysia - June 2006

Thailand rides - 2002