Sponsor of a KTM 200 EGS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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