A departed man's living dream part 3

Meeting time was 630am at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Objective is to reach Kuala Kedah before 3pm with the whole convoy to catch the ferry into Langkawi Island.

Our mission:

1) bring late Sam Leong’s helmet, as a significant of his soul, to Langkawi as he had signed up for this trip 2 months before he passed away.

2) donate out cash to the needy family. Cash was received from Sam Leong’s family.

3) make a stone bench with Sam Leong’s name at the Guan-Yim temple at Hatyai, Thailand.

We need to set off on 7^th June, 2am from Clementi. Knowing that we are using a small bike with heavy equipment, we expect to go slow on it. Working backwards, 630am to reach KL, 2am set off from Singapore, to have 6 hours of sleep we must go to bed at 8pm. After loads and packing, it was about 930pm when we go to bed. I only did 1 hour of deep sleep and the rest was rolling around the bed trying out a more comfortable position, also trying to tell lie to myself that this is the most comfortable position.

After clearing the Singapore custom, our hand pump comes in handy. A fellow biker on his Yamaha FJR had a flat tyre. We had this pump with us during our round the world trip and was a gift from Yang but we have never used it before.

The Yamaha Tenere 660XTZ has 1 piston and it was fitted with the Leo-Vince exhaust. The bike owner, Siong, made the passenger seat higher and pilot seat wider. 21” front and 17” rear, chain drive. Compared to my KTM 640 adventure, the Tenere has very much less vibrations. I could feel the petrol being sucked out when the RPM goes above 5000.

 

It was an official set off at 8am by the sponsors. Media were also involved and I believe it is an event that involves many VIP. Official traffic police also escorted the whole convoy of 100 bikes. They need to stop the traffic that is coming onto our way and regulate the speed of the whole convoy, making sure that everyone could catch up together and reach the destination on time. I see that it is a smooth ride for us. The eyes of the other road user were searching for the most important person that the police are escorting. I could hear noise, curse and shout from the other road user that were being stopped:

Road user #1: WTF, I’m late for work and I still have to give way to these ass holes…

Road user #2: Wasting tax payer’s money!

Road user #3: Everybody owns the road, why do I have to stop for you?

Unknowingly, I was the first few bikes of the convoy. When the convoy reaches the highway, they were going at about 130-140km/hr. The tenere has a hard time catching up, very hard. I have to catch up the guy in front of me making sure there is no big gap, also to make sure the one behind me is not too close, also, because 2 bikes are sharing one lane, I have to take care of the neighbour’s bike. At times, the marshall and traffic police that speed pass from our left. All these happening at the top stress speed of the tenere, with 2 big aluminium panniers, with a passenger.

After the first petrol stop, I told Samantha that we need to be the last bike.

The event director, Mr Azaha, came to us to borrow Sam Leong’s helmet. Because one of the camera crew has only a half cap and is filming on a fast moving bike, it would be much safer for him to wear a proper helmet. We are sorry that there isn’t any cushion inside Sam Leong’s helmet but at least, it is safer that the half cap.

Sam Leong’s first contribution was to protect the film crew’s safety.

The organizer booked a whole barge for us. We have to wait for the tide to be at the correct level so we could roll the bike onto it. Under normal operations, if one has to send the bike into Langkawi, he has to put the bike at the loading bay and wait for 3 working days to transport over. We are lucky enough to have this opportunity.

When we reached the ferry terminal, we need to make a U-turn. but the tide has flooded the road. and a GSA with Singapore registered number went through the flooded at high speed to make water splashing, creating an 'adventure effect' for the whole convoy to see.



See the picture below, right side of  the GSA, there is a scooter. I could witness the water from the GSA splashing onto his face, wetting his whole body and i could hear him shouting and see his angry facial expression. If I was that guy, i could have confronted the GSA. Lucky he was cool enough.

 

After a long day without any sleep, we reached the hotel and after the dinner, everyone gathered at the ballroom for briefing. The organizing committee observed one minute of silence with the entire participant for Sam Leong.

Thank you.

 

2^nd day was a free and easy day for everyone.

 

We went to do the tourist stuff. The cable car ride is a must.

Locals pay RM$15.

Tourist pay RM$30.

I wonder if the Garden by the Bay, in Singapore, has the same system, encouraging locals to visit our own pride.

Don't be mistaken by the above picture. you CANT ride there.

Samantha and I went around the island to explore. Right to 161, end of Datai Beach, was a dead end with a private residence. We went into the Andaman resort. We parked the bike, walked into the high class lobby and was greeted by a staff. We told him that we would like to walk through and look at the beach. Guess what, we are more than welcome to do that! He gladly showed us the direction to the beach.

 

It was really a classy place. The beach, so so…

 

When we are done, we walked out and get ready to move. One of the shy hotel staff wanted to take a picture of the Tenere. Both of them were pushing each other to start the conversation with me. In the end, I asked them:

You want to take a picture of the bike?

You want to sit on it?

                                          

What I read on the travel guide about being a foreigner in Langkawi is to smile at the locals, and it really works! The smile break the ice. We could feel the warmness from the local.

                                   

                    

                          

And we also went to Galeria Perdana, a museum displaying gifts and awards presented to former Malaysia Prime Minister Tun Dr. Mahatir ahd his wife. The gifts displayed were from world leaders, states man and fellow Malaysians during his term as the Prime Minister.

                

              

             

3^rd day was the event ride event.

                      

Ride to the main Eagle Square to take group photo.

                    

Go plant a tree.

Ride back to Pantai Chenang where they invite the needy family and some disabled children for lunch and to receive cash, laptop and daily necessities from the organizer.

            

They need a helmet to go around all the participants to collect cash donation. Sam Leong’s helmet was gladly invited to do the job.

 

Picture extracted from official event's facebook.

It was a touching moment that they want to use the helmet for cash collection.

Picture extracted from official event's facebook.

Sam Leong’s 2^nd contribution was to help collect more cash for the needy.

Also, we did what we suppose to do: to put the cash, given by Sam Leong’s family, to the needy.

Our #1 and #2 mission was completed.

Thro out the whole ride with the convoy, the tenere 660XTZ was feeling not so welcomed. It is slower then the rest of them riding 1400cc, noisy and blasting with the Leo-Vince exhaust. We are so sorry for the other riders that were around us. This is our very first trip with this bike and it belongs to Siong.





Most importantly, we have fulfill a departed man's living dream.

Rest In Peace, Sam Leong Chee Wah.

A departed man's living dream part 2

So, what happened?

I went to the insurance at Anda Insurance Agencies Pte Ltd, 18 Sin Ming Lane, #02-10 Midview City Singapore 573960 tel: 65542288, email: thomson@anda.com.sg

It was a complexed building. To change the name of the Next rider cost $80.25.

After the name was changed, i was only allowed to ride the bike legally on the next day.

In the night, Siong came to my house with the Tenere. He warned be about the stiff handling of the steering and handle bar. i took a small ride and it was really dangerous. he had a Hepco and Becker rack, so we tried putting Hope Too's pannier on but something is not right. The rack is the same size but we just couldnt squeeze it in.

We need panniers for the bike, else i have to go alone with a backpack. soft luggage cannot be tied at the rear as the exhaust were fitted very high.

I sent Siong back to Jurong.

The next day, i drove my lorry to M-technik just to deliver the 2 panniers and go home.

Then i rode the dangerous Tenere to Alexandra village to rectify the handling problem. I went to Hock Kim Leong.

The mechnic could instantly know that it is the steering cone bearing that was broken. but they do not have any parts.

'its about $150'

i was telling myself: WTF?! $150?! but i kept cool.

 After checking out the part number, they couldnt do the job because they do not have the bearing on hand. They ask me to go Serangoon to get the bearing and come back to let them do the repair.

i asked: which shop?

Mechnic: the SKF shop

I replied: ok... i try (but i don't know where).

i walked across the street where there are some car spare parts sales.

'uncle: do u have bearing number: 32006JR and 32005JR?'

oh yeh! they have it! $25 for 2! they have 32006 and 32005, with out the JR. as long as the size is the same, it fits!


Yamaha XT660Z Tenere's steering cone bearing number is: 32006JR and 32005JR. Tapered type.


i went back and Hock Kim Leong and they were sure impressed on how fast i ride to Serengoon and back within 8 minutes.

The labour to change the bearing was $80. They also changed the rear brake pad for $25. i didn't see the packaging of the new brake pad.

Next, i rode the Tenere to Mtechnik. With Chan's magic hands, he was able to fit the panniers onto the rack. I believe that i could not do it myself so, i would keep the panniers on the bike as long as Chan is not around me. Thank you, Chan.

Now, the bike is working again, the panniers are good, we did a small test with Samantha for a short ride to Kulai, Malaysia.

Being on the back feels so different because the seat for her is very high. the bike is most comfortable at 120-130km/hr. i tried a 160km/hr but dont feel safe, feeling that the panniers may fly away.

i stopped and looked at the engine during the petrol stop. noticed some brown water stain on the engine. could it be mud splash or corroded coolant water or coolant breakage? i couldnt find any break.

The bike does not come with center stand. i have to make a wood so that i could oil the chain or make the bike stand by itself if the wheels are needed to be taken out during puncture.

we are meeting at +3° 5' 58.32", +101° 38' 7.98", Naza World, KL, Malaysia on 7 June 2012 630am.

will be riding up with Samantha to meet them.

for the 

The Langkawi International Charity Ride 2012

At last i have a new riding pants. it suits me well, from Ho Kai Weng.

Something out of the Topic. I saw this truck with S1962CD on the road... it is a vehicle of the Diplomatic Corps in Singapore. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_Singapore

then, on 23 May 2012, around 3 pm, i saw 2 enforcement officer, parking their work bike at a non-desitinated lot, going to a motorbike shop for leisure shopping. are they abusing their authority?


Our life has always been chased by these people. we park to buy our lunch for 10 minutes and by the time we are back, the $10 fine is there. There is not a space for the commoners in singapore to breath. NO SPACE TO BREATH, U BLOODY #Y%*@@#?! ARE U LISTENING?! it is too tight. 


don't let us have a chance to bite back because once we see the chance, we will bite, chew, tear and make sure it bleed non-stop!


well, the picture below shows a thousand word. 


Don't push us too much!

 

this is Siong's Tenere. it just clocked the first 10000km.

A departed man's living dream part 1.

He signed up for Langkawi Bike Week 2012 on 7th June 2012 since February. He could not make it.

The organizers are kind enough to return RM$800+ of participant fee to the family.

This was the last wish he wanted to fulfill but no chance.

He intended to go with Siong.

It was somehow depressing for Siong to go alone now. Siong is willing to give up his ticket.

Langkawi is a duty free zone of Malaysia. Any goods including vehicle has to be declared. Thus, all the bikes has been registered for the event.

I promised Sam Leong's sister that our friend will bring his helmet, a representative of Sam's soul, to Langkawi Bike Week, and also to donate back the RM$800+ to the charity organization.

Hope Too is definitely NOT able to make it that far.

Siong is willing to pay for me. Siong is willing to let me use his Tenere 660XT.

I have no confident riding this bike.
Any accident on the bike, I have to be responsible, even scratches.
Samantha wants to go with me on this small bike, it would double the risk.
My job has piled up.
I need to get a riding pants and helmet sponge.
Samantha needs to get a riding boots and helmet sponge.
We have to orientate with the XT660.

But we want to fulfill a friend's last living dream.

will we/I go for the trip?

This will be our challenge for 2012:

A departed man's living dream part 1.

Thank You Sam Leong Chee Wah

Tribute to our true biker,

he is a good son, a good brother, a responsible cabbie and a good friend.

thou we will not meet again for now, hope that we will be brothers in the next life.

Thank you for what you have done for us. We will miss you.

30 June 1971 - 16 April 2012

Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you dislike friendly, helpful and sincere host.

26 March 2012

Did a short ride to Kuantan and some other roads with Uncle Woo on a DR650 and Sam Leong’s 660 with Hock being pillion on Sam and sometimes, Uncle Woo. This was a very rare occasion where Samantha didn’t join us. So, I could ride Hope Too to feel the actual weight.

It was an early Sunday Ride at 7am. While we rode through Kota Tinggi, we could feel the cool cloud among us, creating a little dew.

Michael Soh went 1 day ahead of us with his girlfriend.

Gambang Resort City is a nice place to bring your kids to enjoy. A few good man like us enjoyed the companionship and laughter of the ride.

http://www.bgrc.com.my/home.php

4 of us, sharing 1 unit of 2 rooms, a living room and a small kitchen is RM$428.00. Bike parking below the apartment and it is out of our sight.

N 03°42.260’

E103° 02.926’

Buffet breakfast included. Free WIFI at lounge.

27 March 2012

Country road ride: instead of going south back home, we rode some country road and went north, to a famous Indian temple at Maran.

The Sri Marathandavar Thevalaya Temple is 120 years old ad is one of the holiest pilgrimage sites for Malaysian Hindus.

N03° 42.087’

E102° 39.254’

Road leading to the temple is curve but cool as it is shade with trees. This is the region where it is next to the world oldest tropical rain forest that aged 130 million years.

If you are late, Jerantut will be a good town to stop for lunch and topping up.

Good pork rice lunch at:

N 03° 56.398’

E102° 21.904’

Since we had late breakfast, we rode to the ferry point at Kuala Tembeling, where you would witness tourist with trolley luggage come in buses to be boat over to the resort in Taman Negera. This stop, is one of the very rare places in Malaysia where toilet would cost RM0.50.

N04° 04.304’

E102° 18.531’

The road leading to Kuala Tembeling is a roller coaster ride. Believe it or not, I would rate this road as the most fun road in Malaysia.

Our late lunch at Bentong was simple. Bentong is so much of a typical Chinese dominated town with lots of activities and good food, if you know how to find.

Lunch point:

N03° 31.346’

E101°54.462’

The Karak highway to the east is fun towards Temeloh. We exited Temeloh, got our last fuel served and rode south into a deserted and sharp road. To Teriang, to Bahau, Gemas, Segamat, then Yong Peng. Looking at the map, Temeloh to Bahau looks short but the windy road had given us extra time to play.

2 weeks later, 3^rd March, we went for the Gunang Ledang ride with the Storm Riders.

http://singaporedream-rtw.blogspot.com/2012/03/storm-riders-singapore.html

Then, Jannick (pronounced as Ya-Nick), came to Singapore and stayed for us for some days. After he was done, we made a short ride together with Cherie, Richard, Juvena, Samantha and me to Malacca. That was 2 weeks after the Storm Rider’s ride. We took the trunk road from Kulai to Yong Peng, to Labis, Then to Tangkak. The route from Labis to Tangkak was nice. When we reached Tangkak, it was already dark and was raining. We decided to abandon the trunk road plan and rode fast to Malacca where we stayed in the cosy place: Apa Kaba.

3 person in 1 room: rm$54.00 with breakfast included!

Kenny, the owner of Apa Kaba had this idea of homestay and converted part of his property into a guest house cum hostel. He made a little space in the garden where guest could sit at the sofa and read.

In the morning, we will be greeted many times by 3 ducks as these ducks are doing their daily chores.

1) Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you do not want the host to take care of your motorbike.

When we parked our bike and took our shower, while waiting for the taxi to come, he came out with 5 pieces of cardboard and tiles and place them on the seat of the bike, ensuring that his cat will not mistaken that your motorbike seat as a new bed.

2) Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you dislike friendly, helpful and sincere host.

3) Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you love party and drunk people in the guest house during sleeping hour.

4) Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you don’t like nature and the real traditional Malacca house.

5) Do not stay at Apa Kaba if you don’t want special discount if you bring your own tent to camp at the beautiful garden.

Apa Kaba

N02°11.518’

E102°15.234’

We didn’t went to Jonker’s for dinner. Instead, we went to Papa Joe’s. His restaurant was close but he allow us to order from his neighbour and dine at his place. The Portuguese Malaccan seafood dinner was not expensive and fresh!

As usual, chilling around the bar with Joe ended up with so much malt juice. Ask our friends, it is the best beer around the region.

A week later, we left our bike in Singapore and took a ferry to Batam in Indonesia with Gael and Cheryl for a touristy 2 days 1 night trip.

So much things to do!

All photos of Apa Kaba homestay are from Juvena Huang Huilin.

Apa Kaba Guest house

No.28 Kampung Banda Kaba, 75000 Melaka.

+6062838196

+60127981232 mobile

apakaba28@gmail.com

Are you riding or driving into Singapore?

'But I was surprised a modern country did not have all the facilities for filling out forms at the border,' he said.

Swiss adventurer, 39, messed up his paperwork and was stuck at Woodlands Checkpoint for several hours. Mr Baumann did not have two documents needed to bring his Swiss-registered car in.

One was an International Circulation Permit (ICP) from the Automobile Association Of Singapore (AAS).

The other problem was his car insurance. He was told that he had to get insurance from a local company.

http://www.asiaone.com/Motoring/Drivers/Story/A1Story20090831-164759.html

How to drive into Singapore? what are the rules and red tape and documents?

http://www.aas.com.sg/?show=content&showview=8&val=138

But why Automobile Association of Singapore (AAS) is the issuing authority? It should be LTA or the Customs. because AAS is an official association in Singapore in the AIT/FIA Customs Documents Network.

Armoured vehicles, camper vans, caravan trailers and mini buses with cooking and sleeping facilities are NOT allowed into Singapore.

1) get your documents ready.

2) park you vehicle in malaysia and walk or take other local transport to:

Automobile Association of Singapore at River Valley road, to purchase an

INTERNATIONAL CIRCULATION PERMIT

don't forget to purchase

Autopass and insurance coverage.

3) go back to malaysia and drive your vehicle in and with the carnet, vehicle registration card/book, valid insurance for singapore, autopass, International circulation permit and all papers.... drive in, pay, pay, pay, pay and stamp, stamp, stamp and wait, wait, wait and repeat this cycle for a few times and...

welcome to Singapore!

so, you see, we do not meet much travellers around the world in Singapore.

But there is a motorcyclist name Yarat, he came in and went to a busy street in Singapore, park his bike there and show everyone his bike and his trip. well, he got some money from Singaporeans for goodwill and well wish. where all these money goes? i guess Yarat need to invest in paying the customs, Automobile association of Singapore, Insurance company, cash card, just to ride into Singapore for us to see and for him to experience. So, the maths equation is, we pay the authority to let him in.

http://www.lta.gov.sg/content/lta/en/motoring/driving_into_outofsingapore/other_foreign_registeredvehiclesoutsidewest-malaysianregisteredv.html?parent=other_foreign_registeredvehiclesoutsidewest-malaysianregisteredv&child=&root=driving_into_outofsingapore&rootFlag=block&parentFlag=none#Document_Chk_list