Travelogue Of Dreams

Hello Fuzzy! Goodbye my Sheepy 4!

2010-04-06T21:20:00.000+08:00

I've gone through so much with the bike. So many adventures up North. Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. It was my touring friend and teacher as well. It has taught me so much about handling big bikes. It has gotten me started on big bikes. Thank you, my friend. I'll always remember you, my Sheepy 4.

It's time to move on with a bigger machine. I chose a beautiful FZ6 with the ever sweet twin exhaust. I believe it will be there to teach me and refine me into a better rider as I continue my adventures with Pplater's Fizzy. Hello Fizzy, you've got a new friend called Fuzzy! *wink wink!

A time of reflection for the year 2009

2009-12-31T22:20:00.001+08:00

Oh yes, the year is drawing to close in 2 hours time. I'm reflecting on the whole year's happenings and blessings. It has been a good year for me and it's all because...

1. May - I've gone on my Cambodia and Laos Tour for 18 days with my fiance, Zhehong. It was a psychological barrier for me - I didn't take a Class 2 bike up (over 400cc), instead took a Super 4 up. It was only my 4th tour up North and covering such a massive distance. It was indeed a touring milestone for me.

After this, I really wish that I can travel the world in the future!

2. October - I had a double whammer! Firstly, Zhehong proposing to me and we got engaged. This is another milestone in my life. Secondly, I finally graduated with a degree from Murdoch University after many sleepless nights and juggling with work and studies.

3. December - I've gotten my Class 2 licence finally! And that finally concluded my conquest for the 3 motorcycle licences and my Class 3 car licence. I've thankful for BBDC and I'll always remember all the instructors who have taught me well as well as incurring my wrath.

2009 has been a year of goal-achieving moments, and I look forward to an even better 2010 ahead. I wish everyone a Happy New Year and may all of your wishes, goals and resolutions all come true!

MotoV's Cameron-Gua Musang-Genting Trip (17th to 20th Dec 2009)

2009-12-26T15:20:00.001+08:00

Zhehong aka Pplater and I wanted to go for another MotoV group trip together. Endlessloop aka Lip Sing told Zhehong that he was planning for a MotoV group trip up to Cameron Highlands and Genting Highlands. I was happy upon this piece of news and Zhehong signed up for the trip for both of us. Patrick aka Firefly, Jason aka jason_r6 and Shirli aka Miss Huppy also came along for the trip too!

DAY 1 - 17th Dec 2009
We met up at Gelang Patah's Petronas at 7am on 17th Dec 2009, which was a Saturday morning. The weather was dry and cool. It was a really nice ride for the initial leg to Pagoh for breakfast.

After the breakfast, the weather started to be wet and cold-dry and hot-wet and cold AND the cycle goes on and on throughout the next few days of riding. We used the North-South Highway (NSH) for an easy ride up to Cameron Highlands.

We exited at Exit 137 Simpang Pulai and we stopped at this legendary Kong Fook Ngam Temple which was built in 1884.

We were so lucky to get shots of the temple before the heavy downpour began again...

And not forgetting a shot of ourselves...

Next to the Kong Fook Ngam Temple, there is a famous Indian temple called Sri Siva Subramanium Temple. I thought the temple looks quite magnificent with its gold-tinted stupas.

The weather was quite bad for any more pictures. So, I don't have any pictures from here to Brinchang, Cameron Highlands.

The traffic condition up to Brinchang was quite bad. It's probably due to the school holidays. As Lip Sing wrote in his post in the MotoV forum: "Jam can stretch as long as 10km". Yup, it was certainly nerve-wrecking going through such traffic.

We stayed at the lovely Country Lodge and rested for the day.

DAY 2 - 18th Dec 2009
The next day, we visited the Big Red Strawberry Farm. Wow! I will get to eat my Yogurt with Fresh Strawberries and Honey!

After we had our fill of strawberries, we proceeded on to the BOH tea plantation and tea centre.

I wanted to visit the BOH tea plantation the last time I went up Cameron Highlands. However, it was all because I went up on a Monday. Do remember that BOH tea plantation and tea centre closes on Mondays!

What a beautiful sight and sipping nicely brewed tea! What a pleasure!

The BOH tea centre and cafe atop the hill...

This is a proof that we were here...

Umm... Let me see what tea leaves I can smuggle back... hyak hyak hyak...

We are ready for our free and easy time after the BOH tea plantation trip! Ok, let us admire our own bikes! :p

Zhehong sitting on Fizzy's side box...
Zhehong and I posing in front of my bike...

DAY 3 - 19th Dec 2009
We packed all our bags, left Cameron Highlands and ready for Genting Highlands. We took the scenic Gua Musang! This is the first time I rode on this stretch. It's truly a sight to behold! However at some stretch, we did encountered some really bad fog which made our visibility severely low.

Thankfully, I still managed to capture some shots of the magnificent Gua Musang. It's a must ride!

I'm so happy...

We're so happy...

But... I think Zhehong is the happiest of all... What a relief! What a view to be relieved! Ahh...

We rode through Route 8 to Genting Highlands.

It was really cold and I was wearing my rain gear throughout the day.

Zhehong and I visited the First World casino to try our luck. I was really a casino noob. Believe it or not... I never ever gambled at the casino before. Zhehong was assisting me in knowing the rules of the "Big-Small" game. We each played RM$50 and lost everything in the end. But, it's all the name of good fun!

We stayed at the Chin Swee Temple as all the accomodations at Genting hotels are fully booked. Even the suites are snapped up.

The downside to staying at Chin Swee temple is... in order to get to the casino and theme park, you either have to ride up/catch a cable/catch a taxi. We were lazy to ride in the rain again, so we settled on cable car which costs only RM$3 per person. However, you've got to remember that the cable car only opens till 7.30pm. After that, you will have to take a taxi to get back to the temple.

Just when I thought I could take a nice hot shower after a long day's ride... To my horror, the hot water only last for spurts of about 1 minute. After that, it's icy-cold water... My goodness... I still had my shower nevertheless.

DAY 4 - 20th Dec 2009
Everyone left Genting Highlands for Singapore. I'm very thankful everyone came back safe and sound. No bike breakdowns, no buang, etc... Thank God for that!

I enjoyed this trip tremendously and I'm looking forward to the next one!

Find out more about the incredible bike trips and adventures that MotoV as to offer @ http://www.moto-v.sg/forums!

I've finally gotten my Class 2!

2009-12-15T11:00:00.001+08:00

I've finally gotten my Class 2! I remembered way back in 2006, I sat on my friend's Fazer 1000 and told myself... "I'm not gonna be just a poser on the bike. One day, I'm gonna be able to ride a Class 2 on my own and get the license!"

This is the photo of me in 2006 sitting on my friend's Fazer 1000 dreaming of riding a Class 2 bike someday...

I took my time... completed my license every year dutifully...
2007 - Class 2B
2008 - Class 2A
2009 - Class 2

It wasn't easy for me to get my Class 2 license like the others. I struggled quite a bit with the hydraulic clutch on the CB750. The clutch was harder to depress and it made my left hand very tired. As a result, it affected my timing on the plank as well as the bumpy course.

Nevertheless, after 2 tries at the test, I was so happy that I could finally obtain the Class 2 license! Now, I can dream about owning my next Class 2 bike! I wonder... what bike should I get next? Umm... That's for you to guess!

This whole bike learning experience reminded me that if I set my mind on something, I will achieve it!

My first Moto-V Tour! (Moto-V 5th Anniversary) - 31st Oct to 1st Nov 2009

2009-11-10T21:45:00.002+08:00

Having joined Moto-V for more than a year, I haven't been on a single group tour with them! Dang! Anyway, I made it up North with them this time around and never had a single dull moment.

We were at this wonderful place called Bob Homestay located at Kg. Johor Lama. It was fun-filled weekend!

Here are some pictures that captured some of the magical moments:
1. Wonderful breakfast @ Kulai as captured by Spectrum

2. A breezy stopover at Jason Bay as captured by Dahun

3. A panoramic group shot at Jason Bay captured by Spectrum

4. Bob Homestay as captured by Dahun

5. The farm animals running around the homey stay as captured by Dahun

6. The Kelong as captured by Dahun

7. Enjoying the sea breeze on the hammock as captured by Dahun

8. Fun & Games and sometimes horror too! :p as captured by Spectrum
- THE PINK BALL GAME

- TUG-O-WAR

- TABLE FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT

- THE HANTU CONTEST as captured by Dahun

- THE HANTU CONTEST winner with the biggest "assets"... captured by Dahun

This is the first time Moto-V organised its Anniversary celebration overseas! It's a novel experience and I'm really thrilled to be part of it!

This certainly keeps me wanting for more!

Find out more about the event and Moto-V @ www.moto-v.sg

October's Double Happiness!

2009-11-09T21:00:00.000+08:00

The month of October was really another milestone in my life, other than the Laos & Cambodia Tour done in May 2009! Actually, TWO milestones in the same month!

The First Milestone: The Engagement on 24th October 2009
It was a typical Saturday evening. I didn't suspect that there was anything unusual or special about that evening. We had dinner, watched a movie at the cinema and then proceeded to East Coast Park for tea and a stroll.

When we were at East Coast Park, Zhehong suggested that we went to one of those big rocks to sit and be closer to the sea. After much sand getting into my feet, we sat there.

We were having a good conversation. After some time, he suddenly got up, kneel down, took out the solitaire engagement ring and proposed. I was pretty taken aback not because I didn't know that he would propose, I just didn't know when.

Here's a picture of my ring and the beautiful roses:

The Second Milestone: My University Graduation
Hahaha! Now it's my turn to graduate!

I embarked on this Mass Communication degree when I was still working as a full-time Audio/Video Engineer. After many sleepless nights, hair-pulling and teeth gritting, I finally graduated with my Bachelor of Mass Communication!

Oh well, now the next step is to find a job! I hope I can find one soon! :)

Here are some of the photos taken at the Graduation:

Wow! What a blast for the month of October!

Zhehong has finally graduated today!

2009-07-06T18:15:00.000+08:00

I was invited for Zhehong's graduation ceremony aka commencement. To be honest, I feel very honoured to be able to witness his graduation.

It was just this morning that I attended his graduation. I started the morning travelling towards NUS and it was drizzling a little. Thank God that it wasn't pouring!

Oh gosh! When I reached the University Cultural Centre, the queue was really really long! I had to queue up a good 20 minutes before I could enter into the hall due to some H1N1 temperature checking. I cleared it and good to go!

This is Zhehong on the stage receiving his degree cert from President S.R. Nathan...

And after he received his cert, we texted each other and swiftly left the hall before the crowd started to build up. We went out to take some pics as a rememberance of his graduation.

These are the pics...

Meanwhile, I will be waiting for my graduation ceremony in October! I'm just glad that he's done with his education and moving on towards starting his career!

What an unforgettable 1st Anniversary 2009!

2009-07-03T12:00:00.004+08:00

"Unforgettable"... This best describes the anniversary! You will know in due course...

Time flies! Zhehong and I have been together for a year now!

We went to Mount Faber on Valentine's Day, but all the more swanky restaurants were fully booked! We told ourselves... "never mind, we'll try the restaurant over there on our 1st year anniversary".

We went to the Empress Jade restaurant for some Chinese food on Saturday (27th May 2009), which was our 1st year anniversary. The setting was quite nice and cosy! And yes, it's quite high-class.

The food... I think it was not worth its pricing. It's almost like Crystal Jade-standard. So, we won't go there for the second time.

Nevertheless, we enjoyed ourselves!

It's all that stupid **** fault!
I'm sure this caught your attention, right? **** stands for BIKE! What are you thinking???

Anyway, what happened was that Zhehong rode to my place to pick me up so that we can ride together to Mount Faber.

When we left my place's carpark, I made a left turn and Zhehong made a right. I saw that the left was clear, that's why I turn left instead. But I can't blame Zhehong... normally we make a right turn from my place. Actually, both turns can lead us out to City!

I proceeded towards AYE (City) and I realized that Zhehong wasn't behind. So, I pulled over and called him. He stopped somewhere and told me that his bike just wouldn't start! I asked him where he was and rode to find him.

When I reached there, his bike just refuses to start! What an anniversary to remember! Fizzy threw a spat yet again! In Gua Musang, in Bangkok, and now! 3rd time!

I decided there and then! We shall take my Super 4 out for the outing! So, Zhehong left Fizzy at the carpark and he pillioned me on my bike!

After we came back to the carpark, I had to help him to push-start his bike! And it could start!! Ah... And off he went home!

Next day, on a Sunday, Zhehong went to HKL and let the mechs see what was wrong with his bike. It turned out that his battery died on him...

What an anniversary! It's a truly unique experience!

Nevertheless, this bike has brought him places!

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

My Crazy Laotian n Cambodian Tour on Super 4 (11th to 28th May 2009) - Complete Report!

2009-06-30T11:50:00.004+08:00

Note: This report is different in perspective from the one found on Singapore Bikes Forum. But, do participate on this thread for active comments. And share with us your views.

This is just my 3rd tour and prior to this, the furthest I've ever travelled was to Betong, South Thailand. Read this report to find out more.

I'm finally done with my undergraduate studies and finished all my papers. Zhehong and I thought that we should plan for a graduation trip up north after our final semester ends. We thought... Why not go up Laos and Cambodia? Since we don't have the full-time job commitments as yet...

Actually, I thought it's really quite crazy for me to travel so far up north to Laos and Cambodia. I'm only a Class 2A license holder and still waiting to take my Class 2 in July. Therefore, I couldn't take up a more powerful Class 2 bike up north like all my other predecessors did. Or I should say... MOST predecessors with their VStroms, Hornets, BMWs, etc...

I took my humble Super 4 up north for the Laotian and Cambodian Tour and it certainly proved to be a very trustworthy bike that didn't give me any trouble throughout my entire journey.

DAY 1
11th May 2009 (Monday) - Singapore to Hatyai
Zhehong and I meet at 2nd Link at 6am and set off. The weather was quite hot, so we took quite a lot of breaks during the journey to Hatyai. The hot weather made me a little tired. It was like travelling for only about 100+ km and then taking a break. We were cruising at a relaxing 130-140km/h on the NSH.

Finally, after 11 hours of riding... we reached the Sadao border! This is the 1st time I'm covering such a long distance within a day. It was not easy for me at all. I'm just glad I did it!

After clearing customs at Sadao, we continue to make our way to Hatyai!

DAY 2
12th May 2009 (Tuesday) - Hatyai to Hua Hin
Most riders would go to Hua Hin after leaving for Hatyai as there are nothing interesting to see in between these major towns.

Hua Hin was the place that Zhehong did his solo trip and it's also the furthest that he travelled prior to this trip. Read here to find out more.

I was not used to the long hours of riding and didn't wake up as early as I should. Therefore, starting late meant that we had to do night riding. Night riding in Thailand??? Oh gosh!

By the way, we did about 3 hours plus of night riding. It was a total nightmare for me.

First of all, it's pitch-dark.

Secondly, imagine having vehicles U-turning in the middle of the highway, it's something I never really thought of but just heard of. I should say that it's something you've got to experience it for yourself.

Thirdly, I was plagued with a major migraine and I had to cover this whole leg with that pain!

Next, imagine having cones popping in front of you in the middle of the highway...
Gasp! I had to jam-break and then swerve to avoid them.
The way they place the cone doesn't allow us to react early because they are placed horizontally... Plus it's dark...

Lastly, there are also some uneven roads that causes major bumps to my bike... that made my migraine even worse... I almost wanted to puke while riding...

Nevertheless, I managed to reach Hua Hin.

DAY 3
13th May 2009 (Wednesday) - Hua Hin to Bangkok
We were supposed to travel about 500+ km up to Poipet, Cambodia on Day 3 but this leg of the tour went wrong for us 200km from the start. Route 35 was not labeled numerically. In retrospect, we highly suspect the right turn off Route 4 towards ‘Bang Phae’ was actually Route 35. We overshot into Bangkok and got stuck in a heavy jam.

Fret not! Zhehong decided to use Bangkok’s local ‘GPS auto-routing’ instead and requested a taxi driver to lead us onto Route 305 for 40 bucks that would lead us towards Cambodia.

While following the taxi driver, I was concentrating on tailing the driver and squeezing the crazy Bangkok traffic. Then I had the chance to take a quick glance at my mirrors. I realized that Zhehong is not in sight. I engaged neutral gear and switched on my hazard lights and stood up. There he is! But he seems to be pushing his bike to the side. I pointed to the taxi driver to stop.

I parked my bike near to a kerb and ran up to him. Oooh... Zhehong's Fizzy (FZ6) threw a spat and the temperature sensor went bongers and prevented the bike's fan from turning on, and this resulted in overheating.

Luckily, I remembered that before we made a left turn into the lane, I saw a motorcycle shop selling big bikes - Terra Motorcycles aka TP motorcycles. I told Zhehong about it and try asking them and see if they could help! And yes, he was really lucky. They do fix big bikes although that's not their main form of business.

Fizzy was left at the shop to be fixed and my warrior Sky was parked alongside waiting for Fizzy to be fixed up by the next day.

Well well, the taxi driver was really nice waiting for us. So we decided, why not make full use of the 40 bucks we paid for his service? We ask him to recommend us a good and cheaper to stay in Bangkok, knowing that Bangkok is a expensive city to stay in the first place. In addition, we transported our side boxes and other baggages on his taxi as well. Ha! That's really money well spent!

Since we are in Bangkok, we might as well spend the night roaming around the streets of Bangkok instead of mulling over Fizzy.

We visited the Democracy Monument. It's quite majestic looking actually.

Also, we visited the famous Wat Ratchanatda Worawihan and we each posed in front of the temple!

Me...

And Zhehong...

After that, we ventured towards the Night Market and it was the usual Caucasian crowd.

After that, we headed back to the hotel to rest for the day as there was nothing much to see.

DAY 4
14th May 2009 (Thursday) - Bangkok to Sa Kaeo
Fizzy was supposed to be ready by 10am (Thai time - 1 hour behind Singapore), but there was a delay and we only managed to leave Bangkok only at about 1+pm (Thai time). What a delay! We knew that somehow we might not be able to reach Poipet, Cambodia as planned.

Nevertheless, I'm still thankful that the Fazer broke down at the right place where there are competent enough mechs to handle the problem.

Thankfully, we had the much-needed assistance from the boss of Terra Motorcycles (extreme left) and was able to navigate out of Bangkok and onto the major highway that leads us towards Cambodia!

Off we went, but alas, the weather wasn't kind. It was raining heavily!

We just went ahead... it was again an almost 10+ hours ride on the road.

Riding on Thai roads on a rainy day can be quite a scary experience. I realized that the roads can be very slippery. Therefore, we had to travel slower at about 80-100km/h.

Because of the slow average speed, we were unable to cross the Cambodian border at Poipet as planned.

Therefore, we stopped at Sa Kaeo and stayed at Tippura Hotel for the night.

DAY 5
15th May 2009 (Friday) - Sa Kaeo to Poipet to Siem Reap
Off we went towards Poipet! We went to the Thai Immigration Checkpoint in Aranyaprathat before we entered Poipet.

After that, we went on to get our passports stamped at the Cambodian Immigration Checkpoint. Gosh! It looks like a hut... Honestly, if Zhehong didn't point out to me that THIS is the checkpoint, I would have missed it right away.

Oh yes! We entered into the "Kingdom of Cambodia", or should I say... can we?

We pumped petrol into our bikes, ready for the journey towards Siem Reap.

The happiness was short-lived. After we took our photo at the wall of the "Kingdom of Cambodia", we proceed to the "Customs and Excise of Poipet" to import our bikes into Cambodia.

We reached the Poipet customs only at about 12pm (Thai time). While I was looking after our bikes and our belongings, Zhehong went into the customs and tried to settle the importation paper with the guys. It was to no avail. Apparently, this guy that Zhehong approached said that we needed something called "Carnet de Passage" to enter into Cambodia. This is rubbish! So many Singaporeans have entered into Cambodia without it. Just a stamped passport and log card should suffice. The guys told Zhehong that we have to wait for his chief to be back at 2pm (Thai time). He advised Zhehong not to wait and that he will just be wasting his time.

We, being very determined people, waited for the chief. While waiting, we also had our doubts about not being able to cross into Cambodia. I believed that we are able to. We just needed to find a strong case to state that leaves them with nothing to say.

I decided to give a shot. I saw one officer walking around the building and I said...
"We... (show 2 fingers signifying 2 people) from Singapore want to travel Cambodia to get to Laos... how much?"

He replied... (rubbing his index finger and thumb together) and that means... money...

I went back to Zhehong and told him about it. Zhehong said that this is a good sign, that means... got money can talk and that as long as we give them money, they will allow us in... really?

To cut the long story short, the chief was bathing halfway and this guy who spoke to Zhehong earlier brought us to the chief. The chief was still half-naked!!!

I explained to him... "We had 3 other friends in Singapore entered into Cambodia in January and also I checked with the embassy that there is no need for a Carnet de Passage to enter into Cambodia. Just our log card will do."

After the guy heard that, he spoke to his chief and yes, we got the approval to enter into Cambodia! Woo hoo! After 2.5 hours of waiting! And when Zhehong asked them whether we needed to pay anything, they said that we don't need to! However, we had to pay them when exiting the country. Therefore, it's a sooner or later thing.

After we cleared the bike importation into Cambodia, we headed straight for Siem Reap!

We reached the town of Siem Reap and went around the town searching for a suitable and reasonable accomodation. So, we decided on Angkor Thom Hotel for the night.

However, while walking around the town in the evening, we discovered a hotel called the "Claremont Angkor Hotel". There was a marketing manager sitting at the reception and asked us if we are Singaporeans. Well, guess what? He is a Singaporean. We decided to take a peek at the room. It was so much more posh and value-for-money than the Angkor Thom Hotel. You will see why later. It was just for USD$25 a day. Since we paid for the room at Angkor Thom Hotel, we might as well make do and just stay for the night.

DAY 6
16th May 2009 (Saturday) - Siem Reap
We decided to stay in Siem Reap for a day to explore the famous Angkor Wat! At the same time, it was a chance for us to rest after 5 days of intensive riding.

After breakfast, we immediately checked into "Claremont Angkor Hotel". The room is so spacious and the decor is just so nicely done-up. All for just USD$25 a day. Amazing! They even have their own website, you can check them out at http://www.claremontangkor.com/. I would recommend this hotel to travellers who are planning to go to Siem Reap!

These are some interior shots of the room in Claremont Angkor Hotel...

After checking into the Claremont Angkor Hotel and placing our luggage in the room, we went out to explore Angkor Wat and the other temples such as Angkor Thom.

Oh yes, I must say that the day pass for entry into the Angkor Wat and the other temples is quite pricey. We paid USD$20 for each person for one day. But I must say that it's money that I wouldn't save because Angkor Wat is THE main thing in Siem Reap.

After sitting in a tuk-tuk around the Angkor Wat, I found that they all look the same to me...

But I should say that they do look majestic... here are some of the shots...

Woo! The steps looks really steep!!! Should I go or not?

Yes, I did! We did!

I always thought that I would one day get to Cambodia and visit the Angkor Wat. It's just that I didn't imagine myself riding to Cambodia and beyond. Just to think that I didn't even know how to ride a bicycle about 3 years back.

After we went to Angkor Wat, we rode our bikes around to look for bike wash! And, we found them! It's not very obvious actually. They do not have signboards saying "Bike Wash" or "Car Wash". We saw them washing a car and we used body language to ask if they wash bike or not. And yes, they do!

The boys are in-charge of washing the bikes...
And the girls are in-charge of wiping the bikes dry...

They sure look happy and my bike is happy to get all the attention too!

As well as Zhehong's Fizzy...

Woo! What a sight! It's certainly something I have never seen before. These kids are just so diligent!

And yes, certainly... our bikes do look squeaky clean now!

But just a side note... Looking at these kids, I find them quite pitiful. Having to start work at such a tender age when they are supposed to study.

DAY 7
17th May 2009 (Sunday) - Siem Reap to Kampong Cham
All we knew was that we were heading along Route 6 to get to the other side of Cambodia. There wasn't much plan at all.

A good (keyword: complimentary) breakfast at the hotel before we hit the road...

After Kampong Thum, we were at a split road. We could either continue along Route 6 for 150km, or choose a 50km off road stretch. We elected the shorter route. And that meant that... we needed to do some off-road riding. But of course, it's really a much shorter route!

We just went ahead and didn't think much of the condition of the road. Just go there and see first. It's no use worrying too much, right?

Er... then as I hit the stretch of rocky gravel road, I recalled some advice from Charley to Ewan in "Long Way Down". When Ewan kept on dropping his bike on off-road terrain and Charley told Ewan the exact same thing. Let me tell ya... it really works! You will realize that you will have more control over such terrain by doing this.

Zhehong looking cool on off-road terrain...
Along the way, we passed by villages and I saw some kids running around and playing. So, we decided to stop and give them some toys to play and enjoy! Glad to put smiles on their faces.

Like I said before, I only went to Thailand once prior to this trip. So, I saw NO cows or any sort of animals before.

Now they are at the side of the road chewing grass and suddenly they make the decision of crossing the road!

And they are bigger than our bikes... So, that's why I didn't dare to go too fast. Then again, at this stretch... i was going like 100-110km/h... as I wasn't threatened to do hard-braking to avoid hitting them YET...

We finally encountered bad weather near Kampong Cham. Heavy rains flooded the roads in a crimson tide of mud and rocks. Even the locals ceased riding. The next major town was about 200km away, and we only had 2 hours of daylight left. Therefore, we made the decision of calling it a day early in Kampong Cham, while we still spotted a decent looking hotel and a few places to eat. Dinner was fairly palatable.

DAY 8
18th May 2009 (Monday) - Kampong Cham to Pakse
We started the day early and woke up at 6am Thai time and had breakfast in our room in order to save time.

We bought bread along the streets of Kampong Cham when we were strolling around the town on the night before. And also a can of tuna from the petrol kiosk along the way.

This is their local bread...
After that, we set off from Kampong Cham towards Pakse, the border town of Laos.

We didn't really stop for a break until we saw a eatery cum petrol kiosk. We took the opportunity to stop for petrol as well as to eat. In these sort of places, food is not as accessible as you think it is.

It was nothing fancy, but just a simple bowl of noodles...

After we had the bikes and our stomachs had a fill, we moved on towards crossing border into Laos.

We passed by the "Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge"! It was sure a nice sight with the Mekong River as a scenery. It was sight to behold! :smile:

Me crossing the bridge...

Zhehong crossing the bridge...

Some snapshots of the Mekong River...
As we drew closer and closer to the Checkpoint of Cambodia to exit Cambodia, I was having trouble looking for the checkpoint.

When I saw a group of Caucasian backpackers walking towards the checkpoint, I knew that this is the one! And it's just a barrier... that's all...

At the Cambodian checkpoint... you guessed it right! We had to pay as we exited Cambodia, since we didn't pay when we entered the country. It sounds like a conspiracy to me though...

Anyway, we paid USD$1 per person to get our passports stamped.
And USD$5 per person to get our bikes out of the country legally.

And the Laos Checkpoint looks like a local residences and it certainly don't look official at all... Gosh! I didn't even think that it is a checkpoint...

It looks so "kampong"!

We paid USD$10 for both of our bikes to enter into Laos. We paid USD$1 per person to get our passports stamped as well.

Ah! The moment we enter into Laos, we started looking for gasoline. Lucky for us, it was very near the checkpoint. Just a couple of km after the checkpoint.

After that, we found a place to stay and retired from riding for the day!

DAY 9
19th May 2009 (Tuesday) - Pakse to Vientiane, Laos
(Written by Zhehong)
We woke early and left Pakse since it was a rather lifeless town. Its funny how many people, ourselves included, grumble when we go to touristy places; but when we end up in a "not so touristy place", we can't wait to get out of it. In the 24 hours run-up to Pakse, we had been eating poorly. In Pakse, we had an energy bar each for breakfast since we couldn't find any bread or eateries early in the morning. The meals on the road would be equally rough for the rest of the day.

Unfortunately, starting the day early did not pay off. Instead of heading North-West towards Vientiane, I made a topo error and led us East towards Vietnam. Well, you know, at least they both start with 'Vie', so it wasn't so bad, right? It wasn't until 80km in the wrong direction, near the Vietnamese border did we turn back. We wasted 3 hours. Bummer.

So off we went from Pakse again at 10am, eager to recover lost time. We reached one of Lao's RnR and started looking for the 7-11.

When we couldn't find an RnR later, we pulled over to rest.

Because of my topo mistake in the morning, we were 150km short of Vientiane at dusk. The last traces of daylight shimmered over the horizon when I pulled us over for some energy bars.

At least we came across some family selling Vitamilk to go along with it. I also realized energy bars are good backups for rides into Laos and Cambodia. Its harder to come across an eatery in the more desolate stretches. At times it was just Debbie, me and the roads. We didn't see vehicles for long stretches.

The next 150km would take us 3 hours, going at about 50-60km/h. After recovering from the occasional blinding high beams from oncoming morons, I wondered if the patch of darkness on my right stretching into the forward abyss was water. Yet vertical poles seem to protrude into the ground from the patches. No, it was a gaping hole. A long gap several hundred metres long just beside me, with metal poles stretching down. Between more blinding lights and finding the centre line, I tried not to get my front wheel into the gap. I would flip for sure. Was it the fatigue? Or was it my imagination? What were we doing riding in complete darkness beside a long gaping hole?

No time to think. The tarmac ended. I avoided the largest two pot holes on both sides of me and landed on sand. And later gravel. The single headlight behind me shone forward. We kept going, and that was the last of it. We had made it into Vientiane after 16 hours on the road.

At last, we finally had room service. While tucking in, I had that feeling like I was tucking in after an army outfield exercise. We were tired and hungry. We had not ate well nor slept well. But we were finally eating good stuff on nice white sheets. No more energy bars! I'm not sure I'll complain when I next get to a touristy town. I'll take the "touristy" stuff anytime!

DAY 10
20th May 2009 (Wednesday) - Vientiane
Finally there is another rest day in the schedule!

We decided to stay in Vientiane to explore the city! As we walked around the city, we discovered a lot of bike rental shops that rent out bikes!

However, it's quite pricey. It's for about USD$30 for 1 day.

We also walked around the Vientiane Morning Market.

After that, we had a hearty lunch at a hotel that we chanced upon along the way as we were having our leisurely walk. It's only about USD$10 per pax! Can you believe it??

Wow! What a spread!

What's different is the presence of the Patuxai, The Victory Gate! It looks so magnificent!

DAY 11
21st May 2009 (Thursday) - Vientiane to Vang Vieng to Vientiane (Turnaround day)
(Written by Zhehong)
It was day 11; we intended to turnaround in Vang Vieng after spending a night there. By this day, we had been riding 8 out of the past 10 days. We've only had rest days to explore Siem Reap and Vientiane. We decided we would ride home with more rest days in between to have fun, stopping at either Cameron or Genting. But on this day, it was just to reach Vang Vieng and rest for a night.

Spectrum had told us that Vang Vieng was a beautiful town by the lake. You could rent air-inflated tubes and slide down the lake from the top. However, I think we forgot to note that the town is easy to miss. His group had missed it on their way to Luang Prabang and had to turn back. Vang Vieng town is actually accessible by a minor road at a T-junction that isn't too well marked. We managed to find a good restaurant just outside the main touristy area for a 10 odd US dollars meal, something hard to come by on the road, so we were very very thankful for that. Thinking that there was nothing worth seeing in Vang Vieng, Deb's and I decided impromptu to return to Vientiane so that we could begin our return leg home over the next 7 days.

This was our furthest point in Laos. We had come 4000km through Cambodia to get here and had no desire to go further. At this turnaround point, I knew that someday we would look back and wonder if it would be worth going all the way to Luang Prabang and Plain of Jars. But I also knew that we would have found the trip a memorable adventure within our means, and would likely not return. The world is too big; there are many more places to go, and many things to see.

Checking into a different hotel in Vientiane before dusk. Cool pic eh?

When we visited Vientiane's ITECC (International Trade Exhibition and Convention Centre), we had a sense of the country's level of development. This was their capital city, where foreign embassies and the nation's money for development went into. ITECC to Laos should be what Suntec is to Singapore.

Yet when we went into this building, the capital city's best was full of make-shift stalls in a 2 storey building. There was one cinema, the only one we saw in the country, and they showed outdated films. There was one departmental store. The whole building and its make shift stores gives a visitor a "pasar malam" feel to it, only with air con. Vientiane's best shopping mall pales in comparison to your neighbourhood Junction 8 or Jurong Point by very much.

I knew then, how fortunate I was to be born in Singapore. Day 9's topo error which took us towards Vietnam showed me how desolate parts of Laos could be. There were children we saw who probably did not receive the education we took for granted. Once born into the family, a life of tea planting, farming and rearing cows or pigs is the means of sustenance. If any were to receive some form of education, would their best prospects be working in the capital city, or in tourist attractions in Luang Prabang and the Plain of Jars? If I were born there, what would I be missing out on? Yet on a philosophical level, are we necessarily better off than the native Lao people who lead simple rural lives?

DAY 12
22nd May 2009 (Friday) - Vientiane to Muak Lek, Central Thailand
We started riding from Vientiane at about 9am and managed to clear the Laos customs and Thai customs at Nong Khai at about 10+am.

Boy! It was raining and there were so many railway tracks and both of our bikes' tyres slipped quite a bit when we went over it.

We aimed to reach Hua Hin, but ended up aiming for Saraburi as it was unrealistic. If we pushed on, we might only reach Hua Hin at about 11+pm.

Due to the bad weather, we went slower than usual. Therefore, we had to ride a little in the night yet again.

We were making quite frequent stops to look at the map to make sure that we avoid Bangkok at ALL cost! And we did it!

When we were passing by Muak Lek, we saw a very bright red signboard that says "Holiday Inn". We thought the standard of the hotel shouldn't be that bad, right? By the way, Muak Lek is only about 30+km away from Saraburi.

When we turned into the street and saw the hotel, we were impressed by the whole exterior of the hotel. It looked so glamorous. Wait a minute... Does it mean that it's going to be expensive?

The exterior of the hotel in the day...

We were proven wrong! It's only 900 baht per night for the deluxe room. The interior of the room just looks so cozy. Ah... it's such a nice room to stay in and rest!

The interior of the deluxe room...

As we rode on the next day, we were just so thankful that we made the right decision in stopping over at Muak Lek. When we passed by Saraburi, there was no decent hotel in the area at all.

DAY 13
23rd May 2009 (Saturday) - Muak Lek to Hua Hin
(Written by Zhehong)
Having rode 2 consecutive days, we elected to ride to Hua Hin and rest a day there. We spent day 13 skirting West of Bangkok. There were several stopovers on the highway to consult our maps and thankfully we managed to avoid Bangkok. By 5pm on day 13, we reached Hua Hin. We had long walks around the town the next day for sightseeing.

The Hua Hin Beach
It was rather odd how we were feeling close to home when we were still a good stretch away. I guess Hua Hin felt a lot more familiar to us by now. It was the outer limits of what we considered "home ground".

DAY 14
24th May 2009 (Sunday) - Hua Hin
Yes yes... it's our rest day yet again after 2 consecutive days of riding. Although this is only the 2nd time I've been to Hua Hin, I have already kind of considered it as my "home ground" too. It just makes me feel that I'm getting closer to home.

This time around, we stayed at the Minitel Hotel. The exterior of the hotel is not too bad, but there are a lot of mosquitoes! So many that my whole leg was covered with mosquito bites! I had to make sure I don't scratch my leg. I didn't wanna end up with mosquito bites all over my legs when I return to Singapore.

Reflecting back... it wasn't a very good choice to choose that hotel. We had to walk quite a distance before we could reach the Hua Hin Market Village, let alone the Hua Hin Beach! So next time, my advice is... Make sure you choose a hotel that is located near the city centre.

After exploring Hua Hin Beach, we walked into Hilton Hotel. We sat down, enjoyed the air-con, the nice & big sofa... Ahhh, It's so comfortable that even Zhehong dozed off...

The best part was that... when we stepped out of the hotel, the bellboy thought that we were guests of the hotel, opened the door for us and greeted us with much politeness... hehehe...

It was just a lazy day for us to rest, since we have already explored much of Hua Hin on our way up.

DAY 15
25th May 2009 (Monday) - Hua Hin to Hatyai
Back to riding again! We're all recharged for the ride ahead back to Hatyai! And I'm ready!

It was just another long day of riding that lasted about 10 hours. We rested for the day for next day's leg to Genting Highlands!

DAY 16
26th May 2009 (Tuesday) - Hatyai to Genting Highlands
It was quite a short ride from Hatyai to Genting Highlands. We managed to reach Genting Highlands in the afternoon. It was my 1st time going up there with my bike. It was a little scary for me and I was going a little slow.

It's really quite scenic on the way up. And i could feel colder and colder as I scale up the mountain!

We stayed at the First World Hotel (the multi-coloured building).

And it was my 1st time staying at that hotel. I never went to Genting Highlands for 5 years already!

The weather was really welcoming! I needed to cool down from the hot and scotching weather that we experienced in Laos & Cambodia.

Ah... Time to retire for the day! Zzz...

DAY 17 27th May 2009 (Wednesday) - Genting Highlands
It's our rest day and we went around the Genting Outdoor Theme Park and took the rides. I had my fun at the Flying Coaster while Zhehong was snapping pictures of me on the ride.

After that, we walked indoors and were shooting arrows!

We didn't do much after playing at the Theme Park and rested for the day!

DAY 18
28th May 2009 (Thursday) - Genting Highlands to Singapore
On day 18, we packed up and headed home. This concluded our 18 days Laos-Cambodian tour, spanning 7100km across 5 countries.

Retrospection of the Tour
I was really nervous before the tour. I didn't know whether I could actually pull it off. I have limited experience in riding. In fact, I have only been riding for less than 2 years. I didn't know how to cycle until 2+ years ago.

One week before the tour to the start of the tour, I was in total paranoia. The night before the tour, I couldn't sleep properly. I was in cold sweat. Just so worried. But guess what? Since it's something that I promised myself that I must do it, then I can't go back on my words right?

The learning curve was really steep for me. I never really ridden on Thai roads before this tour. Betong is not counted as Thai road because the condition of the road is better compared to the rest of Thailand. Not only I had to learn the conditions of Thai roads, I also had to experience Cambodian & Laotian roads which was worse than Thai roads. Imagine experiencing new roads of 3 countries in 1 tour!!

I did freak out in the middle of the tour sometimes.

I was just so scared! But somehow in my mind... my brain tells me "You have already travelled so far, come on... it's just a little bit more... little bit more.." That was how I pressed on throughout the tour.

But I'm really glad that I could make it! And definitely when you set your heart & mind to achieving something, you will press on and make it!

I'm very thankful for someone like Zhehong who was a more experienced rider than me and for being very patient with me!

Yes, I hope to encourage all lady riders to do the same too!

Singapore Motorcycling Safety Video - Ah! It's about time!

2009-03-26T11:00:00.000+08:00

I've never quite seen any motorcycling videos done locally. This is just a chance for me to put my multimedia and audio engineering skills to good use... And to continue to spread the word to Singaporeans to wear safety gears and of course, advocate safety riding as well!

Of course, this video wouldn't have been possible without Zhehong, Lip Sing, The Beast and Miss Huppy!

Enjoy the video! Cheers! And don't forget to visit rider.sg!!

1st HOV session of the year 2009!

2009-03-22T15:30:00.001+08:00

Endlessloop aka Ah Seng is the instructor yet again for the Hazard Oriented Vision (HOV) session.

The session was conducted at the Cera Building, 3 Tuas Avenue 8 at 9am today. The venue courtesy of Antartica. It is very near 2nd Link! (Aiyah... next time, I know where to pump petrol... hyak hyak hyak)

It started with Ah Seng giving a talk about several aspect of riding safety such as the art of lane changing, safety following distance, the art of cornering, etc. Even riders with years of experience found the talk very useful as well!

Ah Seng explaining his points us as rider being like a pilot who flies a plane.... we have to have our own radar when we are riding on the road...

Ah Seng further illustrating his points...

Everyone listening to his points earnestly...

The instructors (Ah Seng, Zhehong aka Pplater, The Beast) and helpers (Jamerson, James, Contrarian) discussing about their strategies...

After the talk, everyone geared up and proceeded to West Coast McDonalds' for a short briefing and the HOV practical ride.

Everyone gearing up at the Tuas Venue towards West Coast McDonalds'...

Thereafter, the participants went for their practical sessions.

Participants at West Coast McDonalds' listening to Ah Seng for instructions before the practical sessions...

And... proceeded with the practical sessions!

I hope everyone who attended the HOV session found it useful and beneficial! Hopefully it can be applicable to your daily riding!

Do recommend this HOV session to your riding friends, family members, etc. as well!

We are really so thankful for a terrific weather today! Awesome!

What a good pair of boots! It's FOC!

2009-03-11T22:00:00.001+08:00

I've been using the HiTec hiking boots for about 2 years now. On the shoe, it has a label that says "Waterproof". Oh boy, it is not what it seems. It's just water resistant, not waterproof.

I have another pair of Komine Moto Fango riding shoes that doesn't hold up in Singapore's torrential rains. And, it certainly can't hold up those weather conditions when riding on the NSH.

Therefore, I was determined to start searching for a pair of riding boots that fulfill these criterias of being waterproof and at the same time, sleek when I'm wearing them. And most importantly, it must be cheap!

Does this pair of boots look familiar to you? I'm sure I can hear the guys moaning and groaning... (Argh... it reminds me of my horrible NS days, blah... blah... blah)...

And yes, it's a pair of SAF Full Leather boots.

Zhehong was saying... "Are you sure you want to wear SAF boots? Your feet will look very bulky and I don't know of other ladies wearing them."

I answered and said, "Umm... I'll give a shot at the E-mart and see how it goes. If it looks really ugly on me, I won't take it. Okies? (in my mind... I might just break the norm in ladies by being of the first ladies who wears SAF boots while riding...)"

In the end, I purchased the boots with Zhehong's great help in using his points!

I've tried out the pair of boots in very heavy rain and that was on 9 March 2009 (Monday). I was riding around Singapore conducting my news interviews and running several other places.

And my feet was kept happy and dry throughout the day! I never had that dry feeling before on rainy days until the conversion to SAF boots.

And best of all, I had a few of my female colleagues asking me what boots are those. They look good on me!

Stay tuned... to view pics of me wearing the boots on my future tours!

Disclaimer: SAF didn't pay me any advertisement fees...

Valentine's Day 2009

2009-02-15T11:00:00.002+08:00

Valentine's Day has never held any significance in my heart. To me, it was just another day.

This is another milestone I've marked for this year and that is celebrating Valentine's Day for the first time! As I've mentioned, I've never had a boyfriend until June '08.

Zhehong and I had a lovely and romantic evening at Mount Faber and Dempsey Hill! These are some of the shots taken at the two venues...

Thank you dear for making this Valentine's Day a memorable one!

In case you must be wondering how did I get from place to place? MRT? Nope. Bus? Nope. Taxi? Er... nope.

I was still riding on my bike wearing a dress! To all the ladies, this is what you can do if you still want to ride when wearing a dress! Just take off the pants and the shoe... And you are good to go demure with your high-heeled shoes and dress!

Riding forward into 2009!

2009-01-01T14:25:00.004+08:00

It's the first day of the new year, 2009. It's a really good time to reflect and count my blessings. I thank God for blessing me throughout 2008 and the many years before.

Many events happened in my life in 2008, some pleasant and definitely not-so-pleasant. I've achieved things that I've set out to do! And also, things that came along that were unexpected too! 2008 was also a year of many "1st times" in my life - attempting things that I've never done or never thought that I would!

The 1st half of 2008 was totally busy juggling my previous "crazy-everyday don't get enough sleep" full-time job and undergraduate studies.

The 2nd half of 2008 was the portion that was really metamorphic!

In June, I tendered my resignation and quit my job as an audio engineer to concentrate on my studies fully. Instead, I took on a part-time job as a web graphic editor.

Due to the new-found time I've gotten from the resignation, I finally had the time to meet Zhehong. I was putting off the meet for a couple of months due to my very busy work schedule! It's in June that I've marked 2 milestones in my life - reverting back to a student status + having the first boyfriend in my life. Life has been great with Zhehong around.

I obtained my class 2A license in July and got my Super 4 in the same month! It was a dream come true for me. I was thinking about riding a Super 4 even before I registered for 2B course!!

I did my 1st tour to Malaysia and that is to Melaka in August. That was my 1st trip and that was the 1st time I got into an accident! Imagine... 1st accident on the North-South Highway... my left knee was very seriously injured. I really am blessed that I didn't break any bones and ligaments.

I was out of action for nearly 2 months. I was limping very badly. I even had problems wearing my socks properly. I couldn't ride my bike. I had to make daily trips to the polyclinic. That period was the lowest point in my life.

However, I managed to get back to riding and I did my 2nd tour to Malaysia - Cameron Highlands in November. On top of that, I did the Melaka run again. I was able to overcome my fear and psychological barrier. (I cried when I pass by that stretch of road along Pagoh...)

Moving on, I did my 1st Thai tour to Betong and Penang about 2 weeks back! It was a golden opportunity for me to learn a lot more about the different road conditions in Thailand!

Although I had my fair share of setbacks, I was blessed with family support as well as the support of Zhehong.

2008 was a fulfilling year and I'm hopeful and pray to God that 2009 will be an abundant year of blessings! Let's ride forward into 2009 with zeal!

2009... I hope to be able to go beyond South Thailand!

What a novel 1st trip to Thailand and Penang! (13 to 17 Dec 2008)

2008-12-20T09:00:00.001+08:00

I've got the whole month of December to rest and relax! So, I was thinking of going for a tour with my warrior! Umm... So, I first thought... which part of M'sia should I explore?

But... Zhehong suggested... "Why not go Thailand instead? Anyway, we've got the time!"

Then, I thought to myself...I haven't gotten much touring experience. I only went for 2 tours up North so far - Melaka and Cameron Highlands. And that's about it!!

But guess what? I agreed! I decided to take up this golden opportunity for myself to grow as a tourer since I've got the time!

This being my 3rd tour... And going to Thailand for the 1st time!!! I was excited but fearful at the same time.

Nevertheless... Zhehong and I decided on Betong, Yala province - South Thailand!

DAY 1
13th Dec 2008 (Saturday) - Singapore to Pengkalan Hulu
Both of us met at GP Petronas at about 6.30am after clearing customs at 2nd Link. With the intermittent rain and heavy traffic on the NSH, it was already about 6+pm we reached the last town of Malaysia before Thailand - Pengkalan Hulu. And to our horror, the locals around Pengkalan Hulu told us that the Betong Immigration Checkpoint is closed!!! And that it will only be opened at 7am.
At least there's a beautiful rainbow in the midst of the rain... :)

Oh well... due to our "boo-hoo" with regards to the operating hours of the Betong Immigration Checkpoint, we had to spend the night at a miserable chalet at Pengkalan Hulu.

If there was one thing good about this chalet, the staff over there is honest at the very least. I left my pair of spectacles and when we returned to the chalet on Monday (16th Dec 2008). The staff was standing at the front and returned my pair of spectacles immediately.

DAY 2
14th Dec 2008 (Sunday) - Pengkalan Hulu to Betong Day 1
It's morning! And off we went to the Betong Immigration Checkpoint!

Oh sweet! This is the 1st time my warrior Sky touched Thai soil! The feeling is exhilarating! I'm just so excited!

Zhehong and I with our bikes near the Betong Immigration Checkpoint

After we cleared the Thai customs, time to start exploring the town of Betong!

We went pass the one and only tunnel in Thailand - the Betong Mongkollit Tunnel.

Me and my warrior, Sky!

Zhehong with Fizzy!

After that we proceed to see the world's largest mailbox, which is a whopping 9 metres tall!!! Just see how it towers over me!

and him!

After viewing the mailbox, we proceed to the Betong Hot Spring. You can practically see the mist lingering at the top of the spring!! Gosh, I could feel the heat as this photo was taken...

Though it was sweltering, but we still had our fun shots near the hot spring!

After that, we visited the Betong Museum. But it was not open...

Shortly after that, we proceed to visit a temple. When we reached the temple, it started to pour heavily. So, we sat at the temple waiting for the rain to stop.

And the bikes as well...

After the rain stopped, we moved on to our final destination for the day... the Piyamit Tunnel!

Wow! We had to walk quite a long stretch to get to the top to view the tunnel! It seems like it's neverending...

And, it's really hot!

Anyway, we reached the top and was greeted by Mr Lin (the in-charge of the Piyamit Tunnel). Mr Lin gave a briefing on the whole construction of the tunnel. I'm pretty amazed at how they construct this tunnel to protect themselves from the bombings!

The Piyamit Tunnel Map gave us an idea of the structure of the tunnel.

The tunnel was dug by communist soldiers when they were fighting the Malayan army.

The thing that I was impressed with was that they even thought of how to contain the smoke that emits from cooking! Very clever indeed!

After the briefing by Mr Lin, we headed into the tunnel!

Off I went...

There are basically several things in the tunnel like...

1. Container for keeping food

2. Sleeping area

3. Underground store room

4. The work room where all the action was... interception of radio signals... (Zhehong, are you thinking of being a spy??)

As we were walking out of the tunnel, then there was a frog staring at us! Umm... I wonder whether it's dead or alive...

Apparently, when we started to take our 1st step onto the staircase... the frog's eyes started to move! (Just when I thought it was dead...) Oh gosh! I'm so thankful it didn't jump on me...

DAY 3
15th Dec 2008 (Monday) - Betong Day 2 to Penang Day 1
Betong Day 2
We have been blessed with great weather! So... what better way to start the bright and cheery morning than going through Route 4017!

I was really fearful of this route before the trip because there is no barrier and there is no room for errors at all!

But, Route 4017 is a must-ride route for all bikers who are at Betong! So, I decided... just go for it!

Well, it was alright at the start... the road looks nice...

But gasp... in front of me was a stretch of mud! I was overwhelmed with fear. I don't know whether to go on or not. Zhehong crossed the mud. I was still staring at the mud. I looked at him and I looked down at the mud.

To go or not to go.... I was hesitating. Zhehong was waiting for me...

In the end, I still went ahead! And phew... I managed to control my bike and crossed the stretch of muddy patch successfully... [that's why I had the mood to pose for the camera! :)

The worse is not over... certain portions of the road has mudslide, the road was broken and had a lot of debris on it... my heart really skipped a beat upon crossing the route!

However, I felt that it is through this experience that made me grow as a rider because I will never encounter such roads in Singapore and if I were to ride further up North, I've got to get used to such road condition!

Sky on the Route 4017... rest a while to recover from the shockingly bad road....

And... posing for the camera... in front of a big rock... gasp!

We managed to complete the entire Route 4017 this time round (it was still under construction last year) and managed to get to the Betong Garden.

The downhill ride was pretty scary. This is one of the 1st time whereby I felt that my 1st gear engine braking was insufficient. But, I just proceeded the route gingerly.

What a splendid morning we had at Route 4017! It's an experience I will never forget!

After an eventful morning at Betong's famous Route 4017, we hastily packed our belongings and zoom off to Penang!

Penang Day 1
We reached Penang in quick time and had a nice view from our hotel room!

The first thing I noticed about Penang was that it was quite touristy. There were a lot of caucasians around the Penang town.

One grouse about Penang is the traffic. It was terrible. It was really dense and there was a lot of squeezing. Gosh! I never dared to squeeze so intensely with the side boxes before! But, I did it anyway.

It was a tiring day so we decided to adjorn for the day and take a walk around Penang the next day instead.

DAY 4
16th Dec 2008 (Tuesday) - Penang, Georgetown Day 2
We had the whole day to explore Penang. We started the day exploring the Pinang Peranakan Mansion. It's a great chance for me to get acquainted with my Peranakan roots. For those who don't know me, I'm a Nonya.

The entrance of the Pinang Peranakan Mansion...

This mansion incorporates Chinese carved-wood panels with English floor tiles and Scottish iron-works. It was built at the end of the 19th century.

Me playing at the kitchen...

Here are some shots of the interior of the mansion...

1. The Feng-shui wall

2. Wood-carving walls with beautifully painted stain glass

3. Traditional Peranakan furnishing

How can we leave the place without having a shot of us?

After the visit at the Peranakan Mansion, we walked around the town to explore. Here are some of the icon structures in Penang...

1. The Georgetown Dispensary

2. India House

3. Church Street Pier

4. Penang Clock Tower

After we roamed around the streets of Penang town, we decided to check out Penang Hill! It was a pity that the monorail leading up the hill was in repair. And it didn't help that the locals provided us with the wrong information that the hill can be accessed only through the monorail.

The big drizzle helped in our decision to head back for the evening.

DAY 5
17th Dec 2008 (Wednesday) - Penang Day 2 to Singapore
We have been blessed with great weather throughout this trip. With a relaxing start to Day 5, we headed back to the Republic safety!

And yes, in my previous post... I said, "Like I said, I hope to be able to touch the Thai border with this warrior of mine someday!"

And I really did it!

I'm so happy that I've marked yet another milestone in my riding career and I've touched Thai soil finally!

Yes yes yes!! I'm still looking forward to motoV group tours! (have yet to join any yet...)

Melaka and beyond! Cameron too! (8 to 10 Nov 2008)

2008-11-11T22:30:00.003+08:00

This is not just a usual touring trip for me. It's a trip for me to complete my unfinished 1st tour and beyond. If you have followed my blog, you would have known that I fell on my way back from Melaka to Singapore along the Pagoh stretch on the NSH. Click here to find out what happened.

8th Nov 2008 (Saturday)
This trip to Melaka was unplanned. It was a last-minute decision. The original plan was only going up to Cameron Highlands and that I would only set off on the 9th of Nov 2008 (Sunday) morning.

But... during the HOV session, Zhehong asked me whether I'm interested to leave Singapore early and travel up to Melaka right after HOV.

That was really spontaneous! I agreed to it and quickly rushed home to pack up my stuff!

Zhehong and I reached GP Petronas at about 7+pm after clearing customs at 2nd Link.

We did night riding up to Melaka and reached there only at about 9+pm. It was quite challenging for me as I never did night riding for such a long stretch before. So, I was quite stressed out. But, it was a good learning experience for me.

9th Nov 2008 (Sunday)
We visited the famous Christ Church Melaka at about 9+am. The church is an icon in Melaka. The church is open on most days but closed to tourists on Sundays. So... those of you who want to visit the church, do take note and don't go there on Sunday!

Melaka can be quite a lazy town if you visit the place early in the morning as you can see...

Off we go to Cameron Highlands after Melaka!

Me on the NSH!
We took the Simpang Pulai route up to Cameron...

It was raining quite heavily on our way up to Cameron Highlands... nevertheless, I still managed to pose! :)

The view of Cameron Highlands up the Simpang Pulai route can be quite breathtaking despite the rain...

With the cooling weather in Cameron Highlands, what better way to enjoy a piping hot steamboat than this? It's so good with the tom yam soup and the chicken soup base and the multitude of ingredients! It was a satisfying dinner!

10th Nov 2008 (Monday)
The wanton mee breakfast was really nice! Yum yum!

After the breakfast, we went to the Big Red Strawberry Farm. And of course, we ate strawberries!
Strawberry sundae!

After the strawberry farm, it's time to head back to S'pore! Since I travelled up Cameron using the Simpang Pulai route, might as well I try the Tapah route down... Gosh, I found it challenging! It's the first time I'm travelling on a mountainous route.

And of course, not forgetting the beautiful waterfall along the Tapah route!

Me and my warrior! :)

Since we are heading back to S'pore... of course, I will pass by that stretch of road along Pagoh on the NSH. And yes, I did slow down and went pass that route safely! It was a defining moment for me because it meant that I have overcome that obstacle in my heart. I managed to travel beyond Melaka!

Best of all, this time... I'm able to complete my tour in one piece! Me and my bike!

I thank God for keeping Zhehong and I safe throughout this trip!

Like I said, I hope to be able to touch the Thai border with this warrior of mine someday!

But nevertheless, this trip marks a milestone in my riding career - completing my unfinished Melaka trip (1st tour) and travelling to a new place in M'sia! And of course, covering a good 1260 km during these 3 days! Yes, I'm looking forward to joining MotoV group trips!!!

Hazard Oriented Vision (HOV) Safety Ride - 8 Nov 2008

2008-11-10T11:30:00.003+08:00

Ah! At last, I attended the HOV session. I missed the 2 previous sessions due to work commitments.

The session started at 9am at Ulu Pandan Community Club. Wah, this was actually the first time that HOV is being conducted at a CC. Nice environment though...

It started with Endlessloop answering our queries we have on safety checks and things like proper lane changing, tyres, etc.

All of us listening to the master earnestly...

What was really helpful for me was the part when Endlessloop shared about the art of lane changing on expressways - looking for pockets of space and leaving a safety cocoon for myself. In the past, I felt that I was constantly tailgated on the expressways. But after I adopted Endlessloop's method, I find myself relaxing and enjoying my ride even more!

This is what he drew on the board... Kudos for that!

We can't be just listening to the theory only, right? And you are right! We proceeded to the public roads to put into practice what we have listened during the theoretical session.

The start of the practical session... This is me at the front! :)

And Endlessloop leading the way on the public roads...

Overall, I found the session very helpful and it has certainly made me more aware about my surroundings as I ride on the roads. I hope that the HOV will be organized on a larger scale so that more people can benefit from the session! I hope that I can contribute to this as I gain more riding experience.

All photos courtesy of our Goldwing rider, Victor Tan!

Sometimes... time to wonder...

2008-10-27T06:45:00.004+08:00

Sometimes things can just take a turn overnight. It baffles me.

Sometimes things are not what it seems to appear. It troubles me.

Sometimes things that happen are not within my control. It disappoints me.

Sometimes things happen for a reason. It makes me wonder why.

Sometimes moving on to something else can mean that I can discover greener pastures.

Sometimes I should see how fate plays out and let it amaze me.

Life is about choices and I've realized that. I will never forget the moments shared together. But, I just wonder why some just let go of things that have limitless potential to be nurtured.

Just wondering why...

Anyway, now I really need to open another box of chocolate...

Like what Forrest Gump said in the movie, "Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get."

Time to open that box of chocolate! :)

No “天来", can always “明天再来”!

2008-10-20T21:10:00.001+08:00

After two months of recovery, I just got back to riding again! I wanted to have a hearty meal and give my bike a well-deserved wash at Gelang Petah!

Zhehong, my boyfriend, suggested that we have our lunch at “天来" (tian lai) restaurant at Gelang Petah. But, they are not opened for business today.

So, we decided to “明天再来” (ming tian zai lai)... and I don't mean by going to “天来" (tian lai) restaurant tomorrow again.

I'm referring to the restaurant just next to “天来" (tian lai) restaurant. It's called “明天再来海鲜楼” ("Restoran Come Again").

We decided to try the food and judge whether the restaurant is worth another visit or not. And that is... can "come again" or not???

Your food critics...

We settled on 3 dishes.

1. Spicy Steamed Garoupa. We were a little apprehensive about ordering the fish as it normally comes in big helpings. It's just the two of us. However, the waitress said... "Don't need to worry... two person can finish..."

It's a total fallacy!!! The fish is huge!! Anyway, two hungry people still managed to finish most of the fish!

Umm... the fish was not overdone but I wished that the fish was a little fresher. But, I feel that the saving grace for this dish is the spicy sauce! The spicy sauce has just the right amount of spiciness and it gives the fish the much needed punch!

Rating: ***1/2 out of 5

2. Hotplate Tofu

Wow! Just the look of this dish speaks volume of what I would expect when I put this piping hot savoury in my mouth. The looks of it wasn't deceiving. Having tried the same dish at “天来" (tian lai), “明天再来” certainly gives “天来" some serious competition!

It's a must try!

Rating: **** out of 5

3. Kailan with roasted pork

The mix of roasted pork and kailan could have been better if the roasted pork is a little more crispy. Also... the amount of kailan was too little. Other than that, the kailan was not too overcooked. It had the right amount of crunch!

I give it a ***1/2 out of 5!

So... the question is... is the restaurant worth a “明天再来” (tomorrow come again) status?

“明天再来海鲜楼” is definitely worth a second visit! You should go and check their other dishes! I believe it should give “天来海鲜楼” a run for its money!

So, “明天再来" eat!!!

My Sky is back, but...

2008-10-01T12:30:00.002+08:00

My gallant Sky is finally back from servicing! I didn't straddle my iron horse back home. Alas, it was towed back to my place instead.

Yippie! My Sky is still looking as handsome as ever after its "cosmetic surgery" and hopefully it will become tougher after the "battle"!

However, the rider (me!) has not fully recovered from injuries yet. The wound on my left knee has not closed up completely. My right wrist is also hurting too... can't twist throttle... So, I'm still undergoing TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) treatment: acupuncture. Therefore, I've got to put riding on hold for at least 1-2 weeks more.

The accident has caused quite a deep impact on me, both physically and psychologically. This being my 1st accident and it occurred on my very 1st trip to Malaysia... It has certainly dampen my spirit quite a bit.

I really do have the burning desire to do touring on my bike. I hope to travel to more places in Malaysia. And one day, I really hope I can hit the borders of Thailand with this bike. I really hope that I'll still be able to accomplish what I set out to achieve.

For now, all I can do is to concentrate on my recovery and take care of this warrior!

My warrior... time to move on!

Room 9... I never want to remember it!

2008-08-24T10:49:00.004+08:00

Heart pounding. Teeth gritting. Queue number flashing. It's my turn now. I'm standing in front of Room 9.

Room 9??? What is it??? It's actually the room at Bukit Batok Polyclinic that I have to go daily to do my dressing.

I've been going there for my dressing daily for a week now. At least for now, the bandage on the right leg has been removed. However, the left leg might take some time before the bandage can be removed.

Every morning, the nurse will remove my bandages and gauze. After that, she will put sodium chloride on the wounds to clean (it's so painful, but not as painful as putting "kaltostat"... you will see why...).

For my very deep wound on my left knee area, she puts "Kaltostat" on it. It's very painful because Kaltostat consists of an absorbent fibrous fleece composed of the sodium and calcium salts of alginic acid in the ratio of 80:20. In short, it's like rubbing salt into your wound! Now I know why the nurse asked me to think before I agree to this. Most people will not opt for this. It's expensive and more painful. Oh well, in my eagerness to recover, I agreed reluctantly! So... my daily visits to the polyclinic has been a soap opera affair...

I guess the suffering has paid off... just in a week, the recovery has been quite promising although I'm still unable to run or walk quite normally. This is something that I haven't got used to. I've been the active sort of lady who exercises regularly. To ask me to just walk around, sit around... this is something I still find it hard to get used to.

And the most important thing i miss... I really miss riding! I miss riding my handsome Sky! I miss the carefree feeling when I'm riding my bike. For now... I'm stuck with taking the MRT and bus. Having to try my utmost best daily to protect my knees in a jam-packed MRT or bus!!

I really hope it'll soon end and that I'll be able to get back to riding again and finish the trip that was uncompleted!

SBF Melaka - A Famosa Trip (16 August 2008)

2008-08-17T19:42:00.018+08:00

THE BRIEFING
The game plan for the trip was to go to A Fomosa's Microlight & Sports Centre to play a paintball war, visit the Animal World or Water World and also to eat the can't-get-in-Singapore A&W!

We kick started the tour with a morning briefing by Zamani & Racingter (Richard). We used GP Petronas as the briefing point.

PAINTBALL
After about 2 1/2 hours of riding, we arrived at A Famosa's Microlight & Sports Centre. Ah... let the paintball games begin! Eh... wait a minute... Most of us haven't tried paintball before, so we were briefed by a paintball instructor and of course our coordinators, Zamani and Racingter!

At last, the battle is on! And I'm geared for the kill!!! (looking like a terrorist... Aiyoh...)

I'm aiming at my target! Shoot!

It was a really fun experience! But, quite a painful one... I've gotten 2 blue-black bruises from it!

Everyone was feeling very delightful playing the game!

After that, everyone was given a choice of going to either the Animal World or the Water World. Oh well, for me... the choice was easy. I chose the Animal World because I didn't bring any clothes that will prepare for water splashes!

ANIMAL WORLD
There was nothing much. Just the regular animals you can see at the Singapore Zoo... So I had nothing to take with... A camel is better than nothing...

A&W
We ended the trip with a hearty meal at Ayer Keroh A&W and everyone parted from there.

THE LAST LEG OF THE JOURNEY - THE FALL
This was a trip to be remembered - be it good or bad. The good part was all the fun and jamboree with the rest of the convoy.

The bad part was the unexpected fall on North-South Highway along Pagoh. I was travelling at a normal speed of 130km/h. The road that I was travelling was flat, straight and clean, yet my bike tank slap suddenly. It was beyond control. I tried to balance the bike for about 5 seconds before I decided to jump off the bike and let the bike row to a halt.

During that moment, all I focused was to roll my body as tightly as possible to minimize the chance of a fracture. It was only after i was around the road shoulder, a lot of things flooded through my mind. I was afraid that I'll not see my family and my special one again. I prayed to God and gave thanks that He protected my life.

I was very impressed and thankful that I was travelling with a wonderful convoy. They were so ready to help me out, be it the bike or me.

I am very thankful to David for helping to escort Zhehong and I to NUH & opening up roads for Zhehong to change lane safely.

I am very thankful for all the riders who had endured the arduous distances in riding my bike from Pagoh to S'pore. If not for you guys, my bike would have been stranded in Pagoh.

I am very thankful for Wai Kiong for having a part in riding my bike back to S'pore & visiting me at the NUH A&E department. Also, for coming all the way to HKL this afternoon to pass me my keys!

I am very thankful for Simon Soh & Richard for coordinating the 'damage control'.

Last but not lest, thanks to Zamani and Richard for organizing this wonderful trip!

I went to NUH A&E department to seek medical help. I am very thankful that I was wearing a full face helmet, armoured jacket and gloves. The full face helmet protected my chin, the armoured jacket protected my elbows and the gloves protected my hands.

It's just that I didn't have an armoured pants. Otherwise, I would have walked out of the incident unscathed. Alas, it wasn't so...

Now, I ended up with a very deep cut in my left knee which will require some time before it's completely healed. Fortunately, there wasn't any broken bones or torn ligaments... although my ligaments were showing... It freaked out some of them in the convoy. It was a sight to behold (not in a good way, you know...).

From this experience, I learnt the true value in investing in good riding gears especially armoured touring pants! And also... I've learnt how to anticipate wind directions when travelling on M'sia roads. Most importantly, I finally understood the true biker spirit - always there to help other biker! I've matured as a rider and have gained another feather to my hat!

Now, my wounds are kind of settled. It's time to settle my Sky... I think he needs plastic surgery!

I've got a dream...

2008-08-13T22:00:00.003+08:00

Finally my exams are over and I've got a month's break in my hands. Therefore, I had the time to let my mind wander for a while.

I dreamt of something. I dreamt of travelling around the world like Benka Pulko! I checked out her website, http://www.benkapulko.com and found her travel very fascinating!

The Journey

1 woman
1 BMW motorcycle
1 world
5.5 years
7 continents
75 countries
111,856 miles
2 Guinness Records
35,000 photographs
19 tire changes
10 chain sets
7$ a day
5 stitches
1 ten-day hospital stay
1 endless number of amazing memories

June 19th 1997 - December 10th 2002

She is someone with determination. Her background is pretty similar to mine. When I dream about something, I will act upon it 90% of the time.

Reading her worldwide bike travel was a truly awe inspiring experience for me. This is something I would want to do when I retire!

Until then... I must work hard and save up more $$$ first to materialize this dream of mine!

1st Petrol Run to JB - My 1st overseas milestone

2008-08-01T07:00:00.001+08:00

I know this isn't anything great. It's only a petrol run. But, it's my personal milestone in my riding journey.

During my P-plate and 'Auntie' Phantom days, I didn't go up to Malaysia at all. Or should I say... I didn't dare to...It's only after owning Sky that I started to have the desire to clock up the mileage and go up to Malaysia... even if it's only a petrol run.

I chose 2nd Link to pump petrol as I wanted to have a chance to 'whack' Sky for a longer distance. I wanted to experience what is it like to pump petrol over there... Next time, I'll try 1st Link...

Wow! I managed to open VTEC most of the time and hit a speed of 120-130 km/h! It's an exhilarating experience!! Woo hoo!

Of course, the petrol run wasn't just a petrol run. I stopped at JB City Square for a while just to explore what's around... Well, it was nothing much... It's just like any other regular shopping centres that you see in Singapore. Nevertheless, the experience that I get from riding over at Malaysia is something I can never get in Singapore.

Gosh! I think this is just the start of the 'itching' season for touring...

See my happy face.... and you know... :)

Hello Sky - my gallant Super 4!

2008-07-30T21:30:00.000+08:00

In case you are wondering who is Sky... It's not the name of my boyfriend... It's not the name of my pet... It's the name of my new Super 4 Spec 3!

Why name it 'Sky'? It's blue and it will be there to give me limitless freedom to go where I want just like the Sky!

As I straddled my gallant prince to his parking lot, I can't help but feel very proud of him. I think I'm in love with him... I mean... the bike...

I've been wanting and desiring to own this bike way before my 2B days. However, I knew that good things are worth waiting for.

I am looking forward to many adventures beyond the shores of Singapore and continue my growth as a biker through the ownership of this bike!

Picture of my beloved Sky... :)

Goodbye my beloved Auntie!

2008-07-30T21:00:00.000+08:00

Before I made the last journey with "Auntie" Phantom to the buyer's place, I polished the bike and was stroking its shiny body for one last time.

I never knew that I had such emotional attachment to a bike. "Auntie" was my mentor during my P-plate days. She was with me everywhere I go and was always there with me to learn from my many silly mistakes made. I've grown in maturity as a rider, although there are still many more things to learn.

I started the engine and as "she" purrs for the last time... I can't help but shed a tear.

However, I knew that with the newly acquired 2A license... change is inevitable. Something greater was waiting for me.

I was very glad that I was able to find "Auntie" a owner who is passionate about bikes and would take good care of "her"!

Adieu, my Phantom "Auntie"...

2A... here I come...

2008-07-15T01:02:00.003+08:00

I was anxiously waiting for this day to come... counting down the days... finally, 14th May 2008 has arrived!

I went to BBDC on that day to sign up for the 2A course.

As usual, I was slower than the rest of my peers. But fret not, I was not going to let that stumble me!

This time around, the course was less tedious with only 3 stages to complete.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My learning progress was as follows:
Stage 1.01 (Orientation, Plank, Pylon Slalom) - 1 time
Stage 2.01 (Figure 8, Bumpy Course, E-brake, Test Route) - 4 times!! (oh my gosh!)
Stage 3.01 (Evaluation) - 3 times!!

TP - 3 times!!

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I didn't hurt myself as much as during my 2B course. But there was one occasion where I hurt myself quite badly. It was during my TP warm-up (2nd attempt). It was kind of scary actually. The front brake was kind of failing and my speed was a tad too fast, therefore I bwanged during E-brake!

My knees were bruised and my left hip had a bad abrasion.

Despite that injury, I went ahead with the test thinking that I might have a chance in passing it. Ah... fat chance... I didn't. I was so disappointed. Physically hurt and emotionally hurt.

Nevertheless, I didn't budge in to my sorrows. I pressed on and eventually passed my 2A TP test on 8 July 2008 at my 3rd attempt!

Finally, my dream is getting closer! The bike that I have been dreaming about even way before I registered for 2B is now within reach! It is the Super 4 Spec III!

s4^dreamer's dream has finally come true!

My 1st bike-Phantom TA200

2008-06-28T11:06:00.007+08:00

After passing 2B for about a week, I went to look for a bike that I can start riding with and develop my riding skills from there. I thought of owning a Phantom TA200 the moment I passed my stage 8.01. I thought that it might be a good bike to prepare for the Super 4 that I want to own a year later. The Phantom TA200 is one of the heaviest 2B bikes around...

I scouted around several shops for the Phantom TA200, until I finally found one that had a good engine condition with a nice colour to it.

This is my Phantom...

It has journeyed with me through so many silly mistakes I made during my P-plate year. Forgetting to put cashcard before exiting carpark, doing wide turnings during my 1st week of owning the bike, etc.

Through this bike, I learnt a lot of stuff about bike maintenance. Maintenance such as knowing how to check your own tyres, pump your own tyres, change your own engine oil (though lazy me would let the mechanic do it), etc...

I didn't travel beyond the borders of Singapore with this bike though... This bike is very stable, however its power is better off travelling just around the island...

Time really flies... I have been owning this bike since May 2007...

I do have the desire to do some touring... and maybe even travelling up to Thailand if possible...

I guess my time will come when I get my 2A...

The 2B Experience...

2008-06-23T13:59:00.010+08:00

I signed up for the 2B course at BBDC (Bukit Batok Driving Centre) in November 2006. It was only until December 2006 that I started on the practical lessons.

Aww... that book looks oh so familiar... reminiscence of the old times... even the book has become tattered and torn... it was a struggle to scan this!

I was a new cyclist, so naturally I wasn't a fast learner at 2B. In fact, I was really quite slow as compared to other people who were learning with me. In certain lessons, I even had to take 4 times to pass it!

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My learning progress was as follows:
Stage 1.01 (Orientation): 2 times
Stage 1.02 (Moving off, stopping & gear shifting): 2 times
Stage 1.03 (Riding posture, speed control & cornering): 2 times

Stage 2.01 (Blind spot, target stopping, slope & left turn): 2 times
Stage 2.02 (Turning, lane change & traffic rules): 3 times

Stage 3.01 (Narrow plank & pylon slalom): 4 times
Stage 3.02 (Emergency brake on wet surface): 2 times

Stage 4.01 (S course & crank course): 2 times
Stage 4.02 (U turns in circuit & review circuit courses): 1 time

Stage 5.01 (Risk forecast training & pillion riding): 1 time
Stage 5.02 (Evaluation - Circuit): 4 times

Stage 6.01 (ROAD-Independent riding in light & medium density traffic): 4 times

Stage 7.01 (ROAD-Independent riding in medium & heavy density traffic): 2 times

Stage 8.01 (FINAL evaluation): 1 time

SP (self-practice) + RC (Circuit Revision - why is not called CR???): countless...

TP test: 2 times

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In the midst of the learning process, my knees were bruised many times by many situations such as: releasing the bike from the main stand and then the main stand hit my knee, falling off the bike while doing pylon slalom, e-brake, etc... And sometimes to the extent of flying off the bike!!

In one occasion, while doing pylon slalom in stage 3.01, I fell down in such a way that the bike landed on legs and my left ankle was burnt by the exhaust.

Luckily, BBDC was quick in its first aid and the instructor drove me to the nearest clinic for a tetanus jab and bone checkup. Thank God that my bones were not broken!

After about 4 days of recovery, I proceeded to complete stage 3.01 and moved through the other stages!

After 4+ months of painful training and perseverance, I finally got my license in May 2007!

About a week after obtaining the 2B license, I bought myself a Honda Phantom 200!

It is through this bike that I learn a lot about the nitty-gritty stuff of biking (parking places, basic bike maintenance, etc.) and also enjoying the freedom and convenience that a bike can give!

First Step towards my motorcycle dream

2008-06-13T20:14:00.016+08:00

Why does a lady want to even bother to learn how to ride a motorcycle in the first place? Well, here's the answer to the question.. I've always wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle ever since I saw the movie, The Matrix Reloaded. I was intrigued with the great chase scene in the movie with Trinity riding a stylish Ducati 996! She was so cool and stylish on the bike! Gosh, how I wish I could be like her!

However, I just didn't have the guts to. Why was that so? I didn't know how to cycle at all!!

I was determined to start with the first step of getting closer to my motorcycle dream. That is... to learn how to cycle. Believe it or not, I started learning how to cycle only at the age of 21. Never mind, there is this saying... It's never too late to start learning.

I desperately wanted to learn how to cycle. Some of my friends tried all kinds of methods to teach me how to cycle, but to no avail. In the midst of it all, I fell down countless times and my knees were bruised so badly that I couldn't walk properly.

I decided to seek professional help in learning how to cycle painlessly. At first, I didn't know how to start. Thanks to the Internet, I was able to locate this cycling instructor who gives cycling lessons for beginners. I was all the more spurred on to sign up for the beginners' cycling course after reading these terms.

I signed up for the cycling course in mid-September 2006.

True enough, my instructor Edmund Lee delivered on his promises. After the first lesson, I was able to balance the bicycle! By the end of the course (4 lessons), I was able to execute U-turns and maneuver through obstacles!

After I completed my course, I purchased my 1st mountain bike and practiced for about 2 months. I cycled around Singapore as a practice.

This is the epitome of success with a photo of myself and my cycling instructor, Edmund Lee.

After I was able to do that, I started a new chapter in my life. I signed up for Class 2B course in November 2006.

As in the wise words of Benjamin Franklin, "Well done, is better than well said".

From that moment on, my 2-wheel adventure began.

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Hon Kah Trading
Address: Blk 4, Queens Road, #02-109 (Off Farrer Road), Singapore 260004
Edmund Lee (Cycling Instructor) HP: 9005 5062
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