Conclusion

Number of days traveled: 23days
Total distance traveled by my bike, Honda NSR150 SP: 3784km
Number of photos taken by my camera, Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX3 6.0Megapixel: 3029
Places traveled: Malaysia(Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Melaka), Thailand(Krabi, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Phang Nga)

This was an experimental and learning trip for me. To see how I can traveled, the stuff I like to see or do. It was also to get me out of my comfort zone, to meet and talk to strangers and make friends, to do things I wouldn't normally do, to experience things I won't normally dare. I met quite a number of interesting people, made a few friends, had a few close encounters and learnt alot more about myself. I won't say it was overall a fun trip as there were tough times as well as enjoyable moments. But I would definitely do this again, to other places. Where shall I explore next? Calling for traveling partner.

Home sweet home

Day 23 (06/12/2010):

This was the last day of my road trip. 5 more hours of riding back to Singapore. I stopped by Melaka for food and sight-seeing. I had durian chendol at 88 Jonker and chicken rice balls at Famosa Chicken Rice Ball at Jonker Street. What is special about the desserts at 88 Jonker is their special brown sweet sauce, nicely sweet. As for the chicken rice ball, it is pretty amazing how they can make normal rice stick together in a ball, they were definitely not glutinous rice. After the food and some sight-seeing, I headed back to Singapore. Yet again cold and wet.

[caption id="attachment_248" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Christ Church"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_249" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Fort Famosa"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_247" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="St Paul's Church"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_250" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Back in SG"][/caption]

Madworld

Day 22 (05/12/2010):

When I woke up in the morning, Elma and one of her son just came back her hometown. She brought back many of different types of fruits. Elma fried one of them, known as the Breadfruit. It was probably my 1st time eating it. It has a bit of the jackfruit taste and the texture of the sweet potato.

[caption id="attachment_234" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Fried Breadfruit with tea"][/caption]

After that, I went for another dosage of Krispy Kreme before heading to the Petronas Twin Towers. At the exhibition centre, there are 4 interesting brain teasers. I had to leave the exhibition centre with 1 unsolved.

[caption id="attachment_235" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Petronas Twin Towers"][/caption]

After walking around KLCC for awhile longer, I headed for Taman Bahagia in Petaling Jaya for the pork noodles Shuling recommended. Due to the roadblock at Jalan Parlimen, the road I always take towards Petaling Jaya, my direction got thrown off and had to went with the road signs instead. I somehow managed to reach Taman Bahagia after getting a better map at a petrol station, just to find the pork noodle stall was closed at 3pm. The time was 4pm then. However, I was informed by one of the shop assistant that there is related pork noodle stall owned the sister of the owner of the shop here in Taman Bahagia. The shop assistant couldn't tell me which road or which area the shop is neither could he tell me where it is on the map. All he told me was turn left after 2 traffic light, u-turn after another 2 overhead exit which I don't exit and turn left after the u-turn. I decided to go with the directions. Those directions were pretty exactly and I could reach the area with many shops. All I need to do now is to find the pork noodle shop. After wandering around the area a little bit, I managed to find the pork noodle shop, Ah Or Chu Yuk Fun. I learnt that Ah Or is the older brother of the 2 sisters.

[caption id="attachment_238" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Ah Or Chu Yuk Fun"][/caption]

The pork noodles looks pretty simple but I totally enjoyed it. It wasn't that it tasted extraordinary but just the overall consuming experience was just simply nice.

[caption id="attachment_239" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Ah Or pork noodle"][/caption]

Heading back to KL was much simpler. I quickly headed back to Elma's place for a change of clothes before going to the "Madworld" at DUMC, yet again in Petaling Jaya. Madworld is a joint evangelistic production between SIB KL and DUMC. A combination of dances and musical put together pretty nicely. It is about 2 man, one who have everything yet a broken marriage and a broken self, the other who lost everything and wander the streets bitter and aimlessly. IMO, the production was rather short and inconclusive but I still enjoyed the dance and music very much.

[caption id="attachment_240" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Madworld"][/caption]

After "Madworld", we headed for supper at Taman Megah. I had the most delicious Sarawak handmade noodle, one of the best handmade noodle I have eaten, and a very big honeydew juice, just simply satisfying. Also tried other food like the fried oyster and banana pancake, not as nice. My day ended with a smooth Kilkenny beer at a cafe with a live performance in KL.

Day out with Miranda

Day 21 (04/12/2010):

Miranda invited me to go cycling with her cell group in some park area in Shah Alam. It was a pretty good workout, been a long time since I cycled so many slopes.

[caption id="attachment_225" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Cycling in Shah Alam"][/caption]

After cycling, we headed for Klang to have Bah Kut Teh lunch. The Klang Bah Kut Teh, which the Malaysians are so proud of, is indeed delicious, definitely better than what we have in Singapore. It is very different from Bah Kut Teh in Singapore. It has less of the pepper taste and added mushrooms, pig intestines and vegetables with brown base soup instead. Pretty nice stuff.

[caption id="attachment_226" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Klang Bah Kut Teh"][/caption]

In the evening, I attended Marinda's church, SIB KL. I also witness the installation of Miranda as a member of SIB KL. Congratz Marinda.

[caption id="attachment_227" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="SIB KL"][/caption]

For dinner, we went to a restaurant named Asian Food House. They have Taiwanese, Japanese and Korean food. I had the Taiwanese pork ribs noodle and bubble tea recommended by Shuling. Pretty good.

On the way back to Elma's place, I picked up half a dozen of Krispy Kreme donuts. Yes lah. Finally, I had my awesomely delicious Krispy Kreme donuts. IMO, they beat all other donuts I have tried.

[caption id="attachment_228" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Krispy Kreme"][/caption]

Familiar Faces

Day 20 (03/12/2010):

Another day of traveling. I rode out of Pulau Pinang at noon. I managed to find my way to my couchsurfing host, Elma's place in Kuala Lumpur. Elma stays in a nice cosy terrace with her sons, daughter and 5 cats at the border of KL. The cats are really playful and cute. At times during the night, one would cuddle and lie next to me.

After settling into Elma's place, I went to Miranda's cell group meeting at another side of KL. After 20 days of traveling, they were the 1st familiar faces I saw, Miranda and Shuling. They were my care group mates back in Hope Brisbane when I was studying in Australia. It was really nice to see them again. It reminded me of the days in Brisbane which I still misses.

[caption id="attachment_216" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Miranda and I"][/caption]

Regular Day in Penang

Day 19 (02/12/2010):

A lot of things I wanted to do in Penang. I wanted to trek the route to the lighthouse in the Penang National Park. I wanted to sunbath in the Batu Ferringhi beach. I wanted to checkout the Kek Lok Si temple. I wanted to see the view on Penang Hill. I wanted to checkout the historical buildings in Georgetown. I wanted to go on the Penang Food Trail. A little too many things to do with 1 day in Penang.

I decided to take it easy today so I ended up only going to the Kek Lok Si temple and the Fort Cornwallis and its surroundings in Georgetown.

[caption id="attachment_187" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Kek Lok Si temple"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_204" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Entrance to Fort Cornwallis"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_205" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Sri Rambai Cannon in Fort Cornwallis"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_206" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Penang Town Hall"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_207" align="alignleft" width="614" caption="Penang City Hall"][/caption]

Missing

I realised that when I miss a place, it isn't about how great the place really is; not about the beautiful sceneries; not about the delicious food; not about the fun activities. It is really about the connections that were developed with the people in the place; about the interactions that were made with these people; about the friendships they share. That is really what making me miss Thailand already.

Riding in the Rain

Day 18 (01/12/2010):

I hate the rain, even more when I'm riding. It's wet, cold and painful. It blurs my vision, makes the roads slippery and makes my stuff wet. Just hateful eh. It started raining just half an hour after I left Krabi and didn't stop even after I left Thailand. I waited 2 hours for the rain to stop but decided I couldn't waste anymore time if I want to get pass the Wang Prachan checkpoint 6pm Thailand time as it will be closed by then. Wang Prachan checkpoint is between Satun, Thailand and Perlis, Malaysia and it only opens from 8am to 6pm. Why o why didn't I bring my raincoat. I got into my wet attire instead and hit the cold and wet road. Just before I reach the checkpoint, I broke my front brake handle. ZzZzZz. The day just keep getting worse. Riding with my front brake really forced me to fully utilize my engine brake and keep my distance from the vehicles in front if I do not want to skit-crash into them. Nevertheless, after riding for 10 hours and 8 of them in the rain, I finally reached my Penang couchsurfing host, Michel's place, tired and cold no longer wet 'cause dried by the riding wind but still in one piece. Thank God.


Wang Pra Chan checkpoint.

Last Night in Krabi

Day 17 (30/11/2010):

Today, my travelling target was only to reach Krabi from Phuket. I decided to visit Thai Mueng, Ton Prai Waterfall and Lampi Waterfall because they were recommended by many people.

The Thai Mueng Beach, just north of Phuket, was rated 5 stars by the Tourist Beach Index Assessment, highest it can go. The Beach Index Assessment is done by the Pollution Control Department in Thailand. Criteria includes environmental management, tourism management, beach nourishment (level of erosion or deposition), aquatic environmental quality. It is a nice and quiet beach. Just one other couple were there when I arrived. If you like a quiet time on the beach with your love ones, this might be a good choice.

Both the Ton Prai and Lampi waterfalls are pretty nice. For the Ton Prai waterfall, you will need to take a short hike from the entrance while the Lampi waterfall is just at the entrance. As both the waterfalls belong to the Khao Lampi Hat Thai Mueng National Park, I have to buy the 100bath ticket to enter. The ticket allows you to enter any areas that belong to the national park within the day.


Ton Prai Waterfall


Lampi Waterfall

That evening, I had dinner with Ire and Annkht at the Steak Ta-Tor.


Ire, Annkht and I

Bike Hunt

Day 16 (29/11/2010):

This is a motorcycle parking area for one of the shopping malls in Phuket, Central Festival. This is only one part of the motorcycle parking. There are probably 3 - 4 more similar parking areas. Try spotting my bike.