::: A mini Long Way Down (Vietnam - Cambodia - Thailand - Malaysia)

Jan 9, 2011
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Thanks so much you guys.
I had just completed my LWD and LWUp trip last night. The feeling is still.
There are tons of pix to edit and put up here. Stay tuned. :)
 
Jan 9, 2011
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Alright, while I was walking around, the monkeys came and intended to steal my stuff. Lucky me that I was back to the tent on time
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. They were too fast, no picture.

Selfie time - the small dam make the noise all the night an day:

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Pack-up my stuff - hell, see what I got:

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This is the reason - I don't know what is the name of this thing in English, but it is sort of Annelida:

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I they were in my tent last night, then I won't be able to wake up that early.

Brought them out for drying some wet stuff:

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There was a funny thing that when I was picking my helmet, I saw bunch of bees flew out from the helmet, and one of my finger was bitten, pain like hell...
My helmet is truly hi-viz, so the bees thought it's a big flower, then they come inside.I was wondering why they did not die because of the helmet smell
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I will miss this place very much:

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Think of flying cam with my bike one day:

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All the thing packed when the sun was raised:

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Jan 9, 2011
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Campground entrance:

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Another camping area deep inside the jungle. Don't know which one is better:

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Enjoyed some twisties in the park while all of them are dry:

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Jan 9, 2011
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Some more:

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Almost lunch time, I decided to left Khao Yai park.

Off the park for a while, I saw a nice shop with Harley logo, yeah - it's place for me then:

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Parked my bike. came inside and expected a good brunch.
Hell, it's totally different from what I thought, the people there looked at me like and alien, and replied "no food".
I was stopped for some seconds to think what the hekk is this place, with 3-4 service people and no food!

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Okay. I will skip the places with HD logos
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Kidding me? This place no food, again???

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Done my good brunch, on the way to Bonanza race track:

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Jan 9, 2011
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I was riding into Bonanza race track in 2012 with TonyBKK.

The road near the track looks like the same, still the feeling when you are entering a normal crop field.
I just blindly followed my GPS. It led me into a semi-offroad trail:

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Ok, from here, no more asphalt, all dirt. Honestly, I did not want to spoil my day with a drop off on this trail, so I so concentrated on the road, so no more pix there:

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I had no idea if I could enter the track or not, turning the bike back would be a big problem as there was only a single narrow trail, with soft soil at two sides, no way I can make a u-turn
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Lucky me, after 20mins I reached this point:

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I just pushed the gate, no lock
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Surprise!! I can enter the track by its back road! LOL....

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Alright, I am in...

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Jan 9, 2011
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Entered the track office, met some staff working there. They also very surprised that I can enter the track thru that way
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.

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After a chit-chat, I told them that I 'd like to make a round on the track/
A senior staff there told me the price for me for one round is 1,000Baht (~ 30 USD). He told me to meet the office admin there, it was a girl. She can speak English well.

After knowing that I am riding all the way from Vietnam there, they agreed for me a free round.
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.

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After hearing the office admin allowed me to ride, the guy was happy to ask me give him my camera so he can take pix of me while on track.

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Full loaded ADV bike is about to race. Hehe...

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On the track:

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No one can beats me that race!

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Jan 9, 2011
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Okay, I did not try to be a naughty guy, as I stopped right after done just one round.
Actually I have started at the middle of the straight line, and I also stopped at the same point - it means that I did not do the whole straight light with full speed which I can.

The man then waved me to the office building to show me something. He asked me to wait over there:

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Okay!

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Oh....

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He "borrowed" a key from office then show me a garage here:

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Anyone may see your previous plate there?!:

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He told me that the red HD is with sort of sensor, meant I can't touch it as it would alarm to the owner
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.

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Thankful for his great show with friendly people:

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And they even invited me for the lunch:

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As I already had a good breakfast, then I thank to the guys and just enjoy some cold drinks:

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And walked to see around:

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Time to say good bye to the nice people and the race track:

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Bangkok, here I come:

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Raining and sunny repeated each after the other - I dislike such kind of weather.
I also noticed that I need to change my rear brake pads. I had no idea why I did not realize that while checking the bike for the trip. Alright, do it in BKK.

Heavy rain approx 100km from BKK made me stopped:

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Met a couple on a Versys 650:

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Well, lucky me to meet them. I then simply followed them to get into BKK without any issue, while the traffic started to be jammed.

I let the GPS guided me to BMW Barcelona in BKK, but then I reached to another place. And saw a serious road rage:

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Finally I had to ask a motorcycle-taxi to ride in front of me, then I follow to BMW.
Alright, this is the placed I wanted to come:

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Jan 9, 2011
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Well, I was so happy that I can reach the BMW quite early, and having no issue with the traffic jam in BKK. But my happiness was not for long. I was informed that the brake pad was out of stock. Hell, the big and nice dealer with full equipped repair and maint shop at the back which having no brake pad, which is normal and regular consumption part.
Okay, I asked the BMW guy there if he knows any shop in BKK with available pads for my GS.

During that time, I tried to wander around, looking the fancy stuff and enjoy air-con atmosphere:

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He talking over the phone for a while, then he told me that there is a shop he knows, which has available brake pads. Good!
He told me the address, we tried to put on my GPS but could not.
Alrighty, here's the deal, please call the shop, and ask them to send the pads here to me via a motorcycle-taxi, I will pay both for the pads and the transporter, I will change the pads myself.
He again on the phone with the shop, then turned back to me with a negative reply. The shop did not want to do so. I asked why, but no solid answer was given.
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. WTF with those guys? They afraid that I won't pay? Or they want to change the pads themselves to add some more profit? The BMW guy did not want me to make his place dirty? I could not figure out why.
Ok, what else I could do? Please get me a motorcycle-taxi and ask him to ride with me to the shop. That's final deal I could offer.

Now, look at my Orange GPS at front:

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My Orange GPS was moving so slow because of waiting for me. I could not move fast as a small scooter there as I have side cases and they block the gap btw two lanes:

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Got to the shop after almost 30mins circling around. I paid my Orange GPS 120Baht (~ 4USD):

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WTH happened with my rear brake pads? Why in the world I missed it when checking the bike before the trip!?

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Too hungry, so I grabbed a dish at the next door shop:

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Me with the shop owner. He is ex-BMW Barcelona technical staff - no wonder they have sort of connection:

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I reached to my friend's house before dark. Dined with friend's family:

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Took an early sleep that night, be prepared for the long day ride tomorrow.
 
Jan 9, 2011
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Got an agreement with a GS friend names Goran that we would meet up and ride together from BKK to the South.
As you can see the above tracklog, my Day 4 is a very long ride, and all of them are straight slab.
I departed quite early, about 5AM I started rolling already. Everything sounded very perfect, until a massive rain come.

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Well, BKK traffic is already nightmare, so with heavy rain, even in early morning, it totally worn me out. I totally lost my way even with the GPS.

Sometimes, the GPS led me to a market, where the road open daytime, and it become carpark during nightime; sometimes I was finding myself at the middle of a flooding road, lucky that I did not have to put my foot down, otherwise my shoes will be totally submersed... Oh my, really a hard start of the day.

See what I drawn on BKK land:

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Finally, met Goran at his hotel, when the rain was out, gotta took my tool tube out to fix his LED light mount.

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That's how I started the day.

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Rain stopped not for long, it came back just after 20mins of riding:

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Goran with his brand new GSA LC, one of very few in first batch of GSA LC in Thailand, not yet has the number plate:

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Grrr.... why not out of BKK yet:

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Look at the small flag stickers on his side cases, those are countries he has ridden in:

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Rod Page

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Jan 7, 2010
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VH,
Following your report from Bora Bora & what a ripper of a report it is. Best read with which to start each day in tropical sunshine! its a brilliant journal of a brilliant ride written in amusing English - you have the touch mate - & how good to see how quickly you make friends, get involved in everything happening around you. A wonderful trip report & a reflection on how one should conduct one's life - hats off on both counts!
All the best, R
 
Jan 9, 2011
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Rod Page;302455 wrote: VH,
Following your report from Bora Bora & what a ripper of a report it is. Best read with which to start each day in tropical sunshine! its a brilliant journal of a brilliant ride written in amusing English - you have the touch mate - & how good to see how quickly you make friends, get involved in everything happening around you. A wonderful trip report & a reflection on how one should conduct one's life - hats off on both counts!
All the best, R
Thank you very much, Rod.
I am sure I could have warm welcome by youself if I happen to be in France ;)
 
Jan 9, 2011
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We tried to ride outside of BKK then having breakfast. But the rain was heavier and heavier, we had to stop at a small gas station. This place even did not have seats for us:

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Our breakfast, just like that:

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The rain seemed doesn't want to stop. I started worrying about the route which I have set for today.

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Sometimes, Goran update with me that his wife in Phuket reported about heavy rain there. Made me more worrying.
I called my friend in Songkhla, he said that it's very long way there, and warned me about the traffic with the wet road :(((((

Believe or not, we just sit there to chit chat, then resumed rolling around 10AM.
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I don't know if you have the same feeling as me - I have no issue if it rains along the way, I just need to stop for some minutes donning my rain suit, then rolling again. But if it is raining, I don't want to start my ride, or like this time, we sit there for too long, then did not want to start riding like this.

However, let's back to the road, there is a thousand km ahead.
We reached the road #41 (AH2) not long after that. Rain was still. I fell more and more confident as the road was quite good, not much traffic. Goran is a really fast rider. Sometimes I thought I already pushed myself to the limit, but with Goran at front, so I can feel myself not much worry.

Down to the South, better road, lesser traffic, and sometimes the rain stopped. We speeded up every time we found the dry road. The ventz, which my friend sent me as a gift was really good. Any time rain stopped, It helped me to dry the jacket very well.

It was challenge day, for anyone. Long distance, 1000km plus, in which more than 50km in the messy city traffic, late departure, rain almost every 20mins,

Look at the tracklog, the leg-3 of day 4 is 974km and moving time was 9h10'. That's too much fast for me.

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This is max speed I could capture by my camera - one hand riding:

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For the leg-3, we just stopped for rest and gas top up total two times only.
This is a long one, having lunch at Khaopho Res stop - Prachuap - approx 400km from BKK - and it's still raining :evil: :

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It's my poor lunch:

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Got this water bottle as discount from the gas station:

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Okay, time to hit the road:

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Near Surathani, we broke up, I kept riding South to Hat Yai, and Goran turned right to Phuket.

And the rain never left me...

4PM, somewhere on the road, in the rain:

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Southern Thailand welcomed me by nothing but rain.

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It was darker and darker, and the rain seemed not want to stop. Mor South, less traffic.

Until the time I left the main highway and turned to Songkhla then it dry.

Stopped to make a call to my friend and inform him that I am about 10km away from him. It's around 07:00PM:

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He has booked the room for me, at the same place as his apartment.
Then we went to a dinner. Two nights no beer.
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Really great food, awesome dinner with and old friend is really a reward for a long and wet riding day:

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Back into the room after dinner, I messed the things up with all of wet stuff. It's good that the room with the balcony then I can hang all the clothes and shoes there, just beside the air-con heater
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.
Really good night I had there. Not too much aggressive for an early departure as that day I plan to ride to Kuala Lumpur and it just around 6xx km and mostly good speed highway.

What a good start for the day - I really hungry for the sunny morning like that:

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Messy room I had that day :)

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Sorry for this nasty pix - but this truly describe how I get the thing dried
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That's it for the trip up to end of day 4:

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LWD - Day 5: Songkhla Thailand - Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.

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I still had time to make a small circle around Songkhla to see the place.

A nice corner at the seaside, should be a very familiar to anyone visiting this place:

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I don't know how long this guys has been reading that book:

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A small quiet town:

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I think it's only motorcycle I saw since the day 4:

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Stopped for breakfast when I was about 15km away from the border:

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Sadao Custom - It is for big truck and lorry, but all vehicles must make a turn into that then back to the main road.

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Looked like it was not a good timing to cross the border!?

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I think all the container trucks lined up for couple kilometers:

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Surprised me that I could ride all the way thru all the checkpoints of Thailand without anyone asking.
Suddenly I saw the Malaysia signboard with securities then I realized that I had not do anything with my passport or bike at the Thailand side. WTH happened with the border checkpoint in Thai?

Okay, gotta make myself to be nice and clean in any terms, I turned my bike back and find the place to get me and my bike officially OUT of Thailand:

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Remind to all the bikers who wanna ride thru Thailand - you must return your Importation form at the Exit custom, otherwise you will be fined up to 1,000Bht or not allowed to get the bike back in - as your bike is still recorded that INSIDE Thailand.

Now it's good to cross to Malaysia:

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Malaysia looked like not so friendly with Motorcycle, as they had a dedicated lane for Motorcycle. And that lane is super narrow. I had to very carefully ride my bike in - I think I had around 10cm gap at both side from my side case. Have no idea what will happen with bigger bikes like GoldWing. I also be informed that the same thing at any toll station.

Had no time to take pix that time.

There was no signboard saying where to park my bike, just simply put there. However, I need to put an eye on that as people said many thing about bike thief around the place.

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Alright, I have entered Malaysia. The border gate is now behind my bike.
What I need to do now is register for my bike at so called JPJ Office.

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MALAYSIA, yes, I am in:

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Done with my passport at the border checkpoint, I gotta go outside and made an U-turn to do the stuff for my bike:

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Here's insurance counter - it's the MUST for the bike:

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JPJ Office - Transport department, who approved your bike to be legally run in Malaysia. The duration of stay is exactly the same as duration of Insurance:

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Nice and cold office. Did not want to get out of here :))

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I am not sure if they can know where is chassis and engine number. However they checked my bike very carefully :)

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Okay, all the paperwork done - time to hit the road:

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Smooth entry to Malaysia, time for a selfie
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:

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Where to? KL? Go straight on!

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I can't recall how many times I traveled to Kuala Lumpur, but this time is super special.

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Go get some gas soon after the border (much cheaper than the gas in Vietnam or Thailand
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):

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Too happy that the gas station accepted Credit card:

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Malaysia highway limited at 110kph, but actually I saw none followed that. All of them speeding like hell.
Kept cruising at max 110kph for around 10km, then I saw a R1 with a non-AGATT (casual wear and a 3/4 helmet) joined the highway from a rest stop, he saw my number plate then turned his head to me with a thumb up, and within a second, he 's gone with the wind in front of my eyes.
Damn! Why in the world I have to cruise that slow? How much fine could be? Who cares! Then I decided to speed up. Man, the speeding feeling is always great
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Thought I have done 2xxkph for some parts
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. But then I found the hi-speed on Malaysia highway is not comfortable as the AH2 in Thailand. Reasons being the highway there are clear from houses, trees, mountains, so the wind very strong. While in Thailand, the AH2 full of trees at both side of the road. And more, cars in Malay are damn fast! And I saw them very rarely on the turn signal when switching lanes.
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I have a spot to visit, it's Penang Bridge. It's 13.5km bridge. So called 1st Penang Bridge. There is a longer one, called 2nd Penang Bridge, 24km, just opened early 2014 which I did not know.

Toll station before getting on the bridge:

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It's good that no toll fee for motorcycle in Malaysia, but all motorcycle must follow a dedicated lane which is very narrow and looks like a back road to behind the office. You may see this one and this is very large one already. Many others just a bit larger than my bike and really scares me:

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It's typical toll station:

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On the bridge:

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On the bridge:

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I gotta turn out right after end of the bridge as I saw terrible traffic there on the island. I did not want to be stuck there that night:

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Part of George Town on Penang island:

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