Planning for my first solo trip......

Initial plan was to go up Cameron Highlands with friends. Later due to insufficient people, I could not get a roommate and not wanting to be lightbulb as only 2 couples going, I decided not to join them. Of cos, paying the room rate by myself is also very siong. Since my leave is already approved, why not just make my own plans and proceed up North, since I had been looking forward to the trip.

The plan was this. Visit Batu Caves--> Cameron Highland--> Gerik Highway--> Terengganu--> Home. Gerik Highway was added due to recently not able to join a group going up. As for Terengganu. No choice...Either stop at Kuantan or KL, which KL is too far in one day and Kuantan seems abit boring. Haven decided to come back by Mersing side or Highway. Highway is faster but longer route. Mersing side would be shorter but cannot go fast.

First day go through KL to Batu Caves, then on to Cameron Highland. The plan is to reach Batu Caves before 10am, stay awhile and to reach Cameron Highland by noon. Find a hostel and check in. Then plan to visit the strawberry farm(s), tea plantation and ride around. I had been to Cameron Highland once, 6 years ago but we never get to explore the place at all. And I had an accident on that trip on the way up. Second year I was supposed to go up with friends but met with an accident in Sg the day before going up. So it had always been my wish to go up again and complete the trip without an accident.

Second day to check out and explore Gerik Highway before proceeding to Terengganu. Wonder what is the fuss all about on Gerik Highway. It is suppose to be a very nice place for motorbike to ride through.. Actually if given the time, I wanted to squeeze in Genting Highland and Fazer Hill for the corners but I think it would be pushing abit too far. I don't want to spend all the time on the road. Upon reaching Kuala Terengganu, to visit the float mosque and maybe some attractions before finding a hotel for the night at Kemaman. There are a few hotel at Kuala Terengganu but I wanted to see the fireflies at Kemaman. Riding through the night in unfamiliar land and with a bad night vision is not what I would want to do. From Kuala Terengganu is 100km to Kemaman which is scary. Actually I had wanted to stop at KL from Gerik Highway, as I am more familiar with KL and it is nearer to Home. But by the time I reach KL would be night time, and I don't want to spend the whole day on the road. If stopping at KL, I will go to the night market and up Genting Highland to visit the casino and see people gambling. If not it would be so boring to sleep so early.

Third day from Terengganu would be to check out and ride back. Estimated the trip will take me 4-5hours to reach Singapore so must leave early then can take a rest at home. I had not decided whether to cut through KL or Melaka and go back by Highway or to go back through Mersing. Mersing distance would be shorter but I cannot go fast. Highway would be much farer away but I can ride faster. Maybe Mersing. It took me from Tanjong Leman back to Singapore with 1.5hours but I got to go through the Singapore jam.

I hope I can enjoy this trip. However traveling solo is kind of boring. Im not the type who like to go noisy places, always need someone to accompany me. Usually if alone I go to nature areas like beach and disturb the sea creatures :p

I should be feeling scare traveling solo, but somehow I suspected my emotions had been casted in concrete due to recent events. I did feel scare about traveling alone, and not able to speak Malay and all the bad happenings but they were like at the back of my head instead of shouting at me in RED WARNINGS like before. I had never dare to venture in Malaysia alone, not even to JB shopping centre, only pump and go at Caltex or 2nd link. This is a major step in my life.....

Hope I don't need to donate any cash to Malaysia TP on the way. Actually this trip is kind of daring. Infact very daring according to my standard. I had not gone for a major trip since 4 years ago. And I had just ridden this bike for 2 months and had not been able to bond with this bike yet. Somehow I am able to bond with my bikes within months of getting them. Maybe it is not in the colour I wanted and not under my name so the bonding is not strong. And I had just changed to a bigger rear tyre which my bikeshop warned me that sharp cornering might be dangerous as the bike tends to dip down due to the round profile. I had almost dropped the bike at the petrol station making a turn after changing the tyre. Hope nothing goes wrong during the trip.. Touch Wood!!! And this trip going to take me round Malaysia in 3 days. Wow.

I had bought a GPS, hoping it would help to guide me as Im really very idiotic in terms of recognizing roads. I can get lost in Singapore roads if I had not been to the place before or had stopped going there for some times. I had tried the GPS in Singapore but it is kind of confusing if you are going fast.

Tanjong Leman beach

Went for a trip to Tanjong Leman at Mersing, Malaysia yesterdy. Supposed to reach JB custom at 8am but wake up late, and reach at 9.45am. The reason for going is I haven been on a trip for sometime. And I wanted to bring back old memories of our times at the beach.


Remember in your powerpoint you were saying "do I want to go to the beach alone?".... Im doing that now, though not of my own accord.

The whole trip took me 1.5 hours to reach. I was surprised as I remembered it took us 2hours then. Maybe becos we are travelling in a group and that takes longer time. Along the way, Im the only singapore bike. The road signs to Tanjong Leman was clear. However, as per usual, I overshoot 2 turns (going fast and did not see the sign until I was very near which is too dangerous for me to stop and make the turn).



I also remember the jetty location on the wrong side of the beach, causing me to go into a mud track someway in before I decided that the road was wrong. I almost dropped my bike due to the uneven ground and potholes.




I bought 2 burgers at the jetty food centre for lunch. At the beach, I parked at a corner farest away from the beach as there were alot of people. I think there were a few singaporeans as they were surprised to see a lone singapore bike there. Going alone had its disadvantage. I kept looking to see if anybody trying to disturb my bike. After a while, seeing no harm I dare to go further away from the bike.


Overall, I spent a few hours there, trying to look for hermit crabs to kidnap back singapore :p
Found a few small ones but cannot find the big one I captured that time. I still dun want to go until the raindrops fall forced me to go back. It was a sudden downpour and all the people at the beach started their cars and go off.


From Tanjong Leman, I was ridding in the rain till JB town. The whole journey was surprising short, 1.45hrs back in the rain. I used the shoulder lane (motorcycle lane) most of the time to overtake the cars. A point to note, at the singapore cusatom there was a long jam. I kept my engine running and after 15mins, smoke start coming out from the bike although the engine did not die off.

It was a nice trip and Im surprised the journey was so short (less than what I expected). I guess I could make it a frequent trip and it is not so scaring as I thought to ride alone.

Suddenly, Cameron Highland and Gerik Highway seems so easy to reach....hahaha....
Im still waiting for my GPS!!

Oh....Im maybe planning a weekend trip to malaysia the next few months. Maybe Cameron Highland. It has been a regret of mine since my Phantom time, when I buang during a corner. I wasn't able to make it on my Bandit too... so it had been on my mind to complete the trip without an accident.

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Update : A few days after this trip, I received my first summon of all my 6 years of riding (exceeding speed limit of 90km/h by 21-30km/h : 6 points + $150). And the speed they caught me at...? 111km/h. What the hell...?!!

Must appeal!!