Day 3 - Kota Bahru & Home

Day 3

I woke up at 8am. Very troublesome using the wash basin at the corridor. I got to make 2 trips, one to brush my teeth and one to wash my face, becos there is no space to put all the things. Luckily my room is nearby. It feels weird to be washing your face and brushing your teeth in the "public" area although I make there is nobody around before I started. I prefer to do everything behind closed door, more privacy. Most of the guests had checked out or gone out.

I thought all had gone out but Bob was still around. So I chatted with him while checking out my bike parked downstairs. He offered me a cup of coffee and a curry puff. That curry puff became the only meal of the day until I reached home around 1am. As I looked out the window, I saw a traffic warden checking on the clocking machines (like in Hongkong shows..) Seems like a few cars parked overnight and did not put enough coins cos kena summon by the warden. Kota Bahru don't use coupon, use coin machine one.

Very interesting.. call me suaku lor...u also never see b4 lor...

We talked for a while and he recommended to try out the few islands for exploring the next time I come Kota Bahru again. He has a tourist guide certificate which can bring visitors around Malaysia. I wanted to explore Kota Bahru so bid him good bye and he passed me a local map for directions. I forgot to ON the GPS nagivating system, so was wondering why it didn't show me the directions. I followed the directions given by Bob to the Central market but still got lost the moment I left the hostel area (aiya...used to it liao). As it was still early and traffic is light, I decided not to wear my riding jacket but brought it alone incase I wanted to go further away.

Kota Bahru town, look no differences from the other towns.....

I passed by an area which could be the Chinatown of Kota Bahru as I saw all the chinese restaurant and hotels with chinese names. There was also alot of chinese hawkers along this road. With the GPS, I located the Central Market easily. It looks no differences from our wet market; dry stock and wet mixed together but at different storeys. First storey is wet market; 2nd storey is the dry stocks and 3rd storey is selling shoes, silverware, clothing etc. The stall holders are almost all females from what I observed. The guys are just sitting around chatting or leaving on their motorcycles after purchasing.

From external.........

1st storey

2nd storey

3rd storey

At the carpark, a policeman and few people gathered to see me push out the bike. Guess they dun see big bikes around town (I didn't get to see any big bikes around while Im there.) and especially ridden by a gal....kekeke.....Paiseh sia...but act blur lor...

I was looking for the World War II memoriam but I couldn't seems to find it using the GPS. After riding round n round, I ended up at the jetty near the Royal Malaysian Custom... then I ride out and discovered that the Padang Bank and the memoriam is just behind the Custom. I went round the area 3 times and I didn't discovered it?!

forgotten what is this place...

The only picture I managed to get of myself on the bike, by placing the camera phone on a bench and using the timer. Bo pian, I dun speak malay and I doubt they understand english...and what if they ran off with my camera....?! Got a few stares when riding around town, but who cares...Im here to enjoy myself...so act blur lor....kekeke...something I learned on this trip..act blur and act lost....you dun feel paiseh when people staring at you while pretending to be busy searching for directions. Actually, most of the time...Im really lost and looking for directions...hahaha....

As I had lost my way for a while, my fault for not "locking ON" roads, I decided to make a last try for the 24m long Sleeping Buddha and hopefully to see the padi machine again. It was almost noon and my plan is to leave by 1pm if to reach Singapore before midnight. Luckily it was easiler this time and I found the temple easily (ok...I admit I miss the entrance again and had to reverse the bike abit....) I couldn't understand why I didn't see it the previous time I went pass. The temple feels like you are in Thailand instead of Malaysia land. Anyway, Kota Bahru feels abit like Thailand, lots of rural area mixed with urban areas. And you get to see muddy padi fields instead of lots of trees and plantations. Now I feel abit regret that I didn't try to go down and pick some rice stalks.....

I had been to the Sleeping Buddha at Thailand in 2001

Im a snakey.....

This bridge links to Kota Bahru town, the motorcycles are using the walkway as shortcut, one direction one side; so I also follow lor..

After this I went back to the hostel to pack my things and prepared to leave Kota Bahru. Maybe its a Sunday so traffic was still light. I choose to travel along the east coast from Penarik to Kuala Terengganu. Along the way, the houses and surrounding is like at the country side by the sea. I did not see the sea at all although the GPS indicated Im right near to it. But I can see alot of coconut and palm trees and the land there is mostly sandy soil. I saw many cow and goats along the side of the road and encountered twice of the cows and goats crossing the road. Bo pian, got to siam and give way to them..

they chose a blind corner to cross, almost hit them... almost miss the scene as I got to stop the bike, take out the glove then can take picture on the phone...after that I rode without the glove for a distance hoping to catch more..

I also saw the beware of horse sign and I did saw a horse grazing among the bush as I passed the sign. Was thinking whether to go down and take a picture but I saw people coming and paiseh wait they thought Singaporean so suaku never see horse.

Along the way, I saw alot of these "keropok Lekor" signs and shops. Saw from the Lonely Planet that they are fried fish and supposed to be very famous product but I did not stop to take a look cos not interested in the food. I stopped at Kuala Terengganu to visit the Mosque Tengku Ten aka Floating Mosque as it looks like it is floating on the water at high tide as I had read. A very striking white building.

Kota Bahru and Kuala Terengganu has alot of colourful mosques and public buildings as I noticed. Very bright and attractive. From Kuala Terengganu, I went pass Marang, Dungun, Kemaman. Along the whole journey towards Kelantan, you will pass by town area then suddenly country side then town area again as you went through the several towns. Country side is totally nothing by the side, only beaches or a few houses scattered around the road. The road is actually quite smooth and nice to ride. Got some gentle corners and little traffic. You feel very relaxing riding here, don't feel tired at all.

stopped for a drink..

Refinerines I saw along the road...

Just after Kuala Terengganu on the way to Kelantan, I met a lone ZX6 or 9 Malaysian rider (forgotten liao since so long). He commented that my Bandit is a good touring bike (happy sia!). He had went back Kuala Terengganu hometown and was going back KL by Route E22. I was going by Route 12, so we ride together for a while until it started to rain and after I stopped to put on my raincoat, I didn't see him again.

It was around 6+ but the sky was still sufficient bright so I decided to speed up while it is still bright. I think I went up to 140km/H. As it turn dark, I started to have problems. Malaysia road don't like to have lights along the way so it was pitch dark all around. Throughout the journey,I am hiding behind the windscreen, lying flat on the tank to escape from the various insects that committed suicide on my windscreen and visor. It was so disgusting that at the custom, the officer take a look at my bike & visor and just look inside the box and let me go. I still could not understand why people like to hang their helmet on the mirrors. If you ever ride into Malaysia at night and see what collected at the back of your mirror, you would never ever put your helmet on the mirror again. Yucks!! Halfway through I regretted not going back by E22 as the route is like never-ending in the dark. E22 is much farer in terms of distance but I can make up for it in speed. However, later I found that my choice is not that bad too, you can really cut on the distance and time if you dare to go fast..

Luckily I had adjusted my low beam and high beam before I went on the trip so I can still see the road if using high beam. But when cars from opposite side is coming, I cannot judge whether are they staying on their lane or cutting into mine. So I keeping going to the left when I see opposite cars coming, incase they cut in and I can't siam. A few times I almost went off the road in the dark as I was going fast and it happened to be a gentle right corner. I got to keep flashing my high beam when all the cars in the same direction are far behind me to warn opposite cars not to overtake into my lane. Opposite cars like to overtake into your lane when they see you are the alone vehicle and sometimes they took up the whole lane and expect you to give way to them instead. There were also a few times I encountered lorries or motorcycles with no brake light at all. Suddenly you see something moving infront of you and then you go near to discover it was the back of a lorry or motorcycle. Very dangerous which I dun like.

My route took me into Yong Peng town where I couldn't find a Right junction that is suppose to be there on the map and it would bring me back to the highway. After making 2 U-turns and still cannot decide which is the correct junction, I decided to reset the GPS and go back by Johor Bahru. The time estimated would be 30mins faster than initial route.

After pumping petrol, I decided to be lazy and just follow behind the faster cars and let them open the road for me. Somehow it was a very lucky move. Just after leaving the town, somewhere along the road, I suddenly saw the car infront braked and a series of dark shadows running across the car's headlight beam. I think a family of small animals just ran across the road from opposite lane to our side. I saw a large white furry animal lying on the road and by miracle I missed it. It looks like a large furry cat to me. If I had decided to lead the cars instead, I think most probably I would be the one lying on the road if they decided to cross while I was at the car position. It was that kind of either you hit it or you miss it. Totally no time to siam in the dark. So I thanks my lucky star and guai guai followed behind at 60+kmh speed. After a while, I can't take it anymore. At this rate, I dunno what time then I can reach Singapore and I haven reach Pagoh R&R yet you know. So I decided to overtake and lead again. It was like fast and furious in the night (yeah, I admit Im a speed freak sometimes kekeke). Soon I find the expressway.

Somewhere along the expressway, I was guai guai on the left lane when one car started to tailgate me. I got abit felt up, I on left lane & right lane no car you still want to tailgate me, ok lorI play with you abit. I also wanted to know how fast this bike can get away from cars who disturb you. The moment I crunched down and opened throttle, the speed hits above 200kmh quickly from 120, 140kmh. Above 180kmh the car started to lag behind. So its like catching lor, I slow down the car comes up again. I passed by a group of bike convey while running away from the car. As the GPS indicated that there is a speed trap infront, I slowed down and tried to see which clever guy try to play but the car was no where to be seen, cos I cut cut cut through the lane & the car cannot follow. Advantages of bike and without side boxes, haha.

I intended to go back by 2nd link but was thinking the bike so dirty better give her a good wash in JB first. As per usual, I couldn't find Crown Prince Hotel, think I missed by a street but when I come out was on opposite lane and Im lazy to do a U-turn, so I just go back Singapore lor. There was a jam at JB custom, forgotten that it is NORMAL and should had gone back by 2nd link although it is much farer. My GPS run out of battery halfway through while playing with the bike so I got no idea how much I traveled for this trip, as somewhere I had reset the wrong counter. I still feel very alert when I reached home although I had been on the road for 11 hours and no lunch no dinner at all.

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It was nice to pick up back touring after 4 years, I was looking forward to it but it was kind of boring to travel alone. Although I can change my plans and stop anywhere I like, I didn't stop to explore more cos Im the kind of touch and go people, more suit for scenery riding. Only with more people then I would follow to see see look look. With group at least you got some form of security. Hmmm.... I like the kind of flexibility that riding alone gives you. You do not need to wait until everyone is free to join then you can travel up. Sometimes I see people organise trips but due to poor response so they cancelled it. I mean you can just go ahead with the interested people. People will get disappointed when they are looking forward to the trip then the trip is called off becos not enough people. You wait and wait for next organiser until you become not that excited anymore. And when there is one, maybe you are not free. My bf is the type who happy happy can go up Malaysia or Thailand by himself. He is not worried that he would get lost and even if lost, somehow he is able to find the correct way back. I cannot, I confirm lost one.

With this trip, I wanted to explore more areas now than I got the experience of traveling alone and found it is not so bad or scary to go alone. But I will still be worried afterall Im a gal and I can't really speak malay. I check into the rooms must check every corner to ensure it is secure and locked everything. My next trip Im thinking of going Thailand, not sure where but hopefully with group cos I don't get a good feeling about going Thailand alone. I would like to explore Malaysia more and maybe another trip up Kota Bahru again. Got to quit my part-time job then can suka suka go up Malaysia during weekend, but that would means a shortage in extra $ to explore.

Im still very surprised that I finished this trip to so far and back without any incident. When I reached Cameron and Kota Bahru and lying on the bed, my thought was "wow. can't believe Im here" especially at Kota Bahru. Its like on the other end of Malaysia and it seems so far away on the map. Actually I took a very great risk by placing my trust on the GPS and ride up alone. If the map is not accurate, my paper map would not help much as I am not good at remembering the routes I had taken. So the GPS helps greatly in the sense that it shows you your location as you traveled, and how much farer away from the next junction so you can be prepared. I often missed the junctions as I cannot see and predict where is the junction. The only thing is the adjustment of the scale has to be correct so that the GPS can refresh in time and ensure that GPS shows the directions before your movement. With the GPS as a guide, I can travel through the towns like a local. It is that amazing to me. I did my homework, planned out all the routes and had back-up routes incase I couldn't reach my destination in time. If any breakdown, I got my tools with me and if worse case, I just need to call back Singapore and ask for Malaysian contacts.

The bandit is a comfortable bike for touring. It has a thick and wide seat, which I refused to cut any of the seats to compensate for height issues and an upright position though in my case I was leaning slightly forward becos Im short. The windscreen is okay if you hide behind it but I need a taller one as the wind is blowing at my jacket causing it to pull against my neck. I did put a zero gravity sport touring windscreen after I came back. The comment were the same as given in the US/UK Bandit forum, "block alot of the wind blast but noise level increased greatly. Need ear plugs and a Double Bubble would be better in terms of noise reduction" However, I think I will stick to this one due to cost and waiting time of new screen. The bike is good in acceleration and is torquely, one reason I stick to upgrading within the bandit series. I would like to have higher top end, though I may not use it often but the kick is there. Seriously thinking about getting an aftermarket legal exhaust and jet kit for the bike.

One thing must mention about my bikes. All my bikes very pai miam, only the Bandit600 good life, own for 3.5yrs only went up Genting & Fraiser. The rest, Phantom 150 4months and Bandit 400 1 month after I got them I brought them up Thailand; Bandit 1200 2months went up till Kota Bahru on first trip with me.... There will be more to come...her COE finish 2010...hahaha..... I guess she will be the one to follow me go Golden Triangle soon if I can raise the $ and annual leave.