Cameron Highlands (Final Part)

31st October--Cameron Highlands (Part IV and Final)

Today is Monday morning. Time for us to head back to Singapore.

So I need to start to pack all my barang barang back into my two Hepco & Becker saddle bags. But don't know why, the bags like become smaller and now like harder to squeeze my belongings back into the bags. If I already got problem packing with these two large saddle bags, imagine those that tour with one tank bag--don't know their one underwear must wear how many times! Yeeeeee.



This Taurus is very nice. For our breakfast, she cooked for all the tour mates in the apartment maggie mee with sausages.

She will make a good house mistress (house mistress is not the same as mistress). So DeusExMachina may be a lucky man next time.

I think there is another thing she will be good at The Sg govnmt may be thinking of setting up training centres to train the new maids coming to Singapore. If they were to set up such training centres, I think the Sg govnmt should invite Taurus to be the centre training manager. Like that all the maids will be very well trained.


All the tour mates gather at our bikes at 9.00 am, ready to set off. One thing I like about this tour group is that when Simon says 9.00 am, all will zun zun get ready at 9.00 am. Don't know why, but I think this is rather untypical Singaporean behaviour leh. Maybe because our wedding dinner always start late.

Riding through Brinchang town in a convoy.
Last time, I don't understand why some bikes with so big cc, so many horsepower and so powerful, but their exhaust so quiet. Especially those Japanese touring bikes such as the ST1100, STX1300, FJR1300, Blackbird and even my Fazer. I thought their exhaust should be louder, then more macho man.

From this trip, I realised some of the benefits of having a quiet touring bike. When we bikers go on a tour to a foreign land, some times, it is not good to ride through and make so much noise. Towns such as Cameron's are so peaceful, quiet and tranquil. Then imagine you ride through them in a convey of noisey bikes. Like quite rude. And as strangers with noisey bikes, we maybe mistakenly perceived as ya-ya-papaya. May bring bad image to Singaporeans. Worse, later your bike kena sabotaged how? So now, I like my Frost quiet quiet.


Before we leave Brinchang, there is one more thing to do. Buy back some strawberries.
So we went back to the same strawberry farm a third time.

Our bikes parked in front of the strawberry farm.

This photo looked like some mafia in some operation to pack drugs.

Actually, we are packing strawberries. Half way pack, half way eat.

Those who are not busy with buying and packing strawberries, guess what are they doing?


Eat strawberry ice kleam.



Journey Back

Our route back is the route here. So we back-track the way we came up. As I rode through some of the familiar places I passed by on the way up, I remembered the feeling when I was lost all by myself. Then I quickly close up with the bike in front.




But luckily, on the way down, many of the tour mates stopped every now and then to take some photographs of the beautiful scenary we are going to leave behind.

Will miss the wonderful biking roads in Cameron Highlands.

Mokamoka very nice. He will make keep a lookout for me to make sure that I am not left behind. Maybe he also scared wait this blur sotong get lost again.



On the way down, he really let loose on his Fazer1000. See this Mokamoka curb corner with his Fazer.

Wah, he really fast. I can't keep up with him.

I tell you, if a Fazer want to go fast, it really can.
Engine come from R1. Brake also come from R1. Plus the suspension can be adjusted one, just like a sportsbike. So don't anyhow play play with a Fazer on the road. You have been warned.



As we busy ourselves with either taking photographs or playing the corners, before long, we have reached the bottom of Cameron Highlands.

When you see the brown rocky hill on the left, it means you are at the bottom of Cameron Highlands. In contrast to the green forest-covered Cameron hills, this rocky hill is a quarry.


Heavy Rain along North South Highway

We used the same exit that we came in--Exit 137 Simpang Pulai.

The ride back along NorthSouth highway is nothing eventful, except for, we encountered heavy rain.

The rain is rather heavy. And we rode through it for 2 hours! So it will be a real test of the water-proofing capabilities of our equipment.

Gloves

When we first encountered the rain, we pulled over the road shoulder to put on our rain gear. I was riding near Mokamoka. After we both put on our rain gear, I saw that he still put on his leather gloves.

I thought to myself, What for put on leather gloves? The leather gloves sure get wet one. Then your hand will be very uncomfortable wearing a wet glove. So I didn't put on my glove and we rode off.

As we rode, the rain got heavier. Then my fingers and hands started to get very painful. Why? With the bike moving at 90-110kmh, my hands and fingers felt like many needles pricking them when the rain drops hit them at such high speed. If I were to slow down to 50kmh, it would be less painful. But at this speed, don't know what time then I will get home.

So I tried to endure. I start to hear my sergeant's voice during my national service time: "Endure! Endure! Endure!". I looked at my hand. They have turned reddish from the rain drops hitting them. After riding for about 10 km, I taboleh tah han liao. So I pulled over and put on my gloves. Even though my gloves got wet, now I get continue my ride in the rain without feeling the pain anymore.

So next time, when riding in the rain along NorthSouth, may need to wear gloves.

Wind Screen

We all know that the bike's wind screen helps to deflect wind blast. It is useful in a long ride to minimise riding fatigue. When riding in the rain, an effective wind screen is all the more useful.

During this rain, I can really feel the effectiveness of my Ermax double bubble wind screen in deflecting the oncoming wind blast. I can feel that the rain water is not really hitting me directly on my chest, or even my neck and shoulders!

Rain Gear

My rain gear is from OGK. It's nothing fanciful or expensive. It is sufficient to keep me dry inside. I worn my rain gear over my meshed armoured jacket. So even though I rode at 110-150kmh in the rain, I did not feel painful.

Boots

I wore the SAF standard-issue Gore-tex boots. After riding for 2 hours in the rain, my socks were still dry. As long as you pull your rain pants properly over the top of your boot to prevent water from sipping down in from the top opening, this SAF boots can be used ridden in the rain.

Saddble Bags

The Hepco & Becker saddle bags are definitely rain proof.


This is at one of the fuel stops during our ride in the rain. You can see that we were all decked out in rain gear.

This Mokamoka is quite a bike expert. While others top up their fuel tanks duirng fuel stops, he checks his bike here, there and adjust here, there. I think he is a one-man Formula One mechanic team and if he wants to, he can disassemble the Fazer engine on the spot.

The rest standing around him are just kaypoh kaypohs.





I rather enjoyed riding in the rain along NorthSouth Highway. It is quite cooling and being sealed inside my rain gear, I felt cozy and draft free. Maybe there are heavier rains to be encountered along NorthSouth. But as long as you are sufficiently equipped, it's not so bad.

After the rain stopped (or we rode out of the rain clouds), we resumed back our normal dry riding.




Malaysia Traffic Police along NorthSouth Highway

Before I left for Cameron Highlands, I read that the Malaysia Traffic Police, concerned about the historic increased in accidents during these Hari Raya and Deevapali holidays, are going to post over 1,000 traffic police personnel to summon speedsters along the NorthSouth highway.

So did I see these Malaysia TP on NS?

Yes. But they are mostly on the side from the direction from Singapore towards Ipoh.
On my side, there is hardly I saw. But still, I rode conservatively at certain spots.
I saw some of the Malaysia TP inside or sitting outside of the small make-shift rectangular tent with blue and white stripes, along the side of the highway.
In the past, the Malaysian drivers are very nice to Singaporeans. If they saw a TP ambush further up, those Malaysian drivers driving in the oncoming direction will flash their headlights at me to warn me.
So today, I got to return the favour. I flashed my headlight at the faster oncoming Malaysian cars on the other side of the highway. I contributed my little part to international diplomacy.

Were there a lot of accidents?

I did see one. It's a car-to-car collision along the North South, in the direction from Singapore towards Ipoh. Not very serious as the passengers and drivers were standing around the crash site. But it cost a very long traffic jam that stretches like 10s of km. North South only 2 lanes mah.



When we reach Johor state, the rest of the tour mates went to Kulai for dinneri. I indented dinner at home before I left, so I headed for home. So this ends my adventure to Cameron Highlands.


Stefanie Sun Yan Zi, RunnerTypeR and Simon Soh


What does RunnerTypeR and Simon Soh, the organisers of this tour, have in common with the Singapore mandarin pop sensation Stefanie Sun?

Stefanie Sun is one of my favourite singers. My favourite song of hers happens to be "Ben" (Run). Of course, not everyone likes her songs. Like my father. He always say she sings song like chanting. When I first heard her "Ben", I thought Wah Piang. How can anyone cut an album with this type of song? Sounds like she is anyhow singing in a bathroom. But the more I hear that song, the better I liked it.

I like her unique voice quality and that she dares to experiment with funny funny type of song and music. So her new albums stay refreshing.

It is a rarity that a Singaporean singer can be so popular in other bigger markets which already have their own numerous successful singers, such as Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. No wonder some media called Stefanie Sun as Singapore's Guo Bao, or national treasure.

Why RunnerTypeR and Simon Soh are same like Stefanie Sun?

Well, it is not that I think RunnerTypeR and Simon look remotely like Stefanie. And it is also highly unlikely that that they can sing like this songbird. But I imagined that it would be quite interesting to hear Runner and Simon sing. On the other hand, I doubt Stefanie would be able to take me on a motorcyle tour to Cameron Highlands.

The reason is that people like RunnerTypeR and Simon Soh are also Guo Baos, in their own ways. They are treasures to our motorcycling kingdom. Without people like them who are willing to be generous with their time, knowledge and are fun to be with, many many people like me would not be able to enjoy going to places such as this Cameron Highlands. And our motorcycling will definitely be much less fun.

So I say to the RunnerTypeRs and Simon Sohs, thank you and please keep up your good work!



Hmm. Maybe during one of the national days, RunnerTypeR and Simon should be invited to join the other Guo Baos such as Stefanie and Kit Chan who preceded Stefanie, and Phua Chu Kang, to sing "Count on me Singapore". Maybe should include Annabelle Chong as well.

And my good old Fazer, Frost, did not fail me in our very first long-distanced trip together. So like the master in the movie "Babe", when Babe won the sheep-herding contest at the end of the show, I say to Frost, "That will be all. That will be all."

Cameron Highlands (Part III)

30th October--Cameron Highlands (Part III)


Climate and Weather on Cameron Highlands

If you plan to go to Cameron Highlands, you may be interested to know what the weather is like up there.

In the day time, you can walk around in a T-shirt and jeans. It feels like in a nice air-con environment.

But at night, you would probably need a jacket. If you plan to go those peaks within Cameron eg: The tallest Peak 6666 (more of that later), you definitely need a jacket.

The jacket don't need to be those like stuff with cotton wool type lah. A sweater, jumper or even a Gore-Tex riding jacket will do.

All this is based on the climate we experienced at this time of the year.

On Cameron, it likes to suddenly rain. The rain are not heavy type. More like drizzle. The drizzle does not last long. And it does not drizzle all the time. Just that suddenly, it can drizzle. Maybe because we are living amongst the clouds.

But the rain is cold one and if you ride through it, you may catch a cold. So you need to have your rain gear on your bike all the time.

Morning Activities

Today is the first full day I will have on Cameron. It's a Sunday. So do what? We already visited some farms. Still more farms?

The Peak

This Mokamoka, from last night, keep saying that he want to go to "The Peak". I heard Simon advice better not go. Very steep. A lot of loose rock and pebble. Then if rain, can go up then cannot come down. I also heard another say another biker last time burnt out his clutch from climbing his bike up.

Wah say. Sounds like a dangerous place to go siah. So not my cup of tea.

But see this Mokamoka keep thinking of "The Peak" as if it is like F4 Girl Group's Peaks. Like that, I encouraged him and said let's go lah. You ride up "The Peak". I no skill, I ride until I cannot go then I wait for you.

So early in the moring, off we go to our secret excursion. This Mokamoka not only is going up, he somemore pillion DeuxMachina. I cannot imagine two of them going up the steep slope. Joining us is also Diversion900, JJusti and BB.

If you looked back to my map of Cameron, Mokamoka's "The Peak" is actually Gunung Brinchang---It is the Highest point on Cameron Highlands!







To go up the Peak, first we enter a tea plantation. There is this ominous sign that greets me.













The first part of the ride is actually very scenic.
I never know that tea plantation can look so beautiful.













So next time I drink teh tarik back in Singapore, I will try to remember the beautiful tea plantations. Then maybe my teh will taste extra siok.








So we ride up and up. Then the slopes start to get steeper and steeper. The road surface become very poor quality. From normal tarmac roads, deteriorate to worn out tarmac roads showing the pebbles underneath. Then deteriorate somemore, become no tarmac can be seen at all. Just pebbles stuck to the ground and a lot of pot holes here and there. Somemore the pebbles are wet from moisture and there are loose pebbles everywhere.

The slope not only steep. Some more windy. Some part the bend is so sharp that there are signs to ask you to sound your horn. Because the road, or rather path, is so narrow that if you don't sound horn, you have no place to siamp if got vehicle come down. Yes, some cars can make it to the top. Landrover loh. Before I know it, I am already on the steep part up the Peak.

The ride up is actually not that dangerous. On my Fazer1000, I don't need to use even first gear. Use second gear can liao. Also don't need to throttle too much. My rpm reads only like 2000 rpm. Also don't need to half-clutch, so wouldn't burn out clutch one. The trick is to maintain a balance on your throttle. Not enough power, your bike cannot go up. Apply too much power and you will go too fast around the steep and windy road. And your rear wheel will spin from all the loose pebble under it.

The slope is not so steep until only scrambler can go up that type. It is as steep as the Class2A and Class2 artificial slope in the riding test centres. So actually not that difficult. I am confident that if give me a Super4, I can ride up as well. But the heavier bikes like ST and BMW this type, I not confident because I never ride them before.

So we reached the peak. On the peak got nothing much. There is just some tall antennae and one building. Cannot even see far because everywhere is all clouds.









In front of the building, which probabbly houses the equipment of the antannae, got this wall.
I think 6666 means the height of the peak in feet. This makes it right that we call the Singapore's Bukit Timah Hill a hill and not a mountain.


If you see the picture probably, you will notice a very big moth or butterfly on the sign.
The moth not I catch and put there one.
Maybe it's a sign.
So I tell myself. Go back Singapore must buy one big one small. Maybe got chance to kui tao pio.




On the peak got this small little tower to let people climb up.
DeusExMachina and Mokamoka very fit. Already climb up there liao.











On the tower, wah, the wind is si beh cold.
Wear jacket still cold.
When the wind blow, your bone inside also cold.
I doubt any of the tour mates will consider eating their strawberry ice kleam up here.












JJusti got this watch every function also have type. Even got attitude meter.
See, never bluff you. It says 2,005 meters!

I thought modern cameras supposed to be autofocus and idiot-proof.





So we thought we very garang. Ride our bike to 2,000 meters above sea level. Then as we climb down the tower, we met this solo ang moh. Then we found out he walked his way up here. Xiao ang moh!

The way down is the way up. So we ride our way down the slopes. As long as careful, all of us experienced no problem riding down.





Once we descend to normal tarmac, we start to take pictures of the beautiful scenary there. The scenary is those type that no matter how kayu your photography skill is, you anyhow take, picture also come out nice one.











If you want to go Gunung Brinchang, you must see this sign.
Thumbs up because really never regret coming up the Peak.
Also thumbs up because happy I survived.


But the guy beside maybe suffer from attitude sickness or something.


Breakfast

So we returned back to our apartment to go with the rest of the tour mates to go for breakfast.
We go eat Bah Kut Teh. Rather delicious. Maybe weather cold. So make me hungry all the time. Eat and eat and eat. Eat until guilty but still hungry.

Today, some of the tour mates will be checking out and returning back to Singapore. These unfortunate souls got to work on Monday.

So after breakfast, do what? Quite a few of the tour mates developed a craving for the strawberry satu ringgit ice kleam ice kleam that we ate on the first day. So we rode to another strawberry farm to buy. But we discovered not all strawberry ice cream are the same. This one gets the thumbs down. So when come to eating, Singaporeans very xiao on. The whole convoy kaplakan poseng and rode out to the original strawberry farm we went yesterday.

There we ate our strawberry ice kleam to our hearts' delight. Eat already still not enough. A few of them some more ta bao 10 over sticks back to apartment to eat. Don't know why they addicted to it or what? Eat until hand very cold from squeezing the ice cream out of the plastic and still want to eat some more.

After this, something like free-and-easy time. Some tour mates want to go to tea plantation relax relax. I decided to join JJusti and BB to go riding. He says he take me to this road very nice one, called Gua Musang.

Gua Musang

To go Gua Musang, you can refer back to my Map of Cameron. It is at the top of the map. You can also see my previous picture with the sign board that says turn right to go Brinchang. Turn left to go Gua Musang.

At first, I don't know what is this Gua Musang Guava thing. The main attraction for me is that JJusti suggested that we swap bikes. He ride my Fazer1000 and I ride his Diversion900. I very excited to try his bike. So I can know how it feels to be like Traffic Police for a while. Kekeke. I tell you later about my review of the ride.


This Gua Musang, I tell you, has got the best road quality for riding I have experienced so far in Malaysia. I haven't been to Gerik yet. But it sure beats Route 3 to Mersing flat. Why?


As you can see, the road quality is superb. Smoother and cleaner than my face.

Somemore, many parts got 2 lanes wide. Then don't know why the Malaysia jaen hu got so much money. Build so good quality roads but very few people use the road one. So very very few cars use the road one. You can have the road all to yourself. But excellent for bike riding.
The road got long sweeping turns so you can swoop down quite fast. These curves are different from those coming up Cameron. Those of the slower type. Then left and right of Gua Musang road also got good scenary.


The Gua Musang road is very long. We ride for like one hour still never reach the end, then we U-turn back.

Diversion 900 Review


First, I must qualify. My comparison is against my Fazer1000. Then also it is based on riding for one hour on Gua Musang type of road.

This JJusti keep telling me the bike very slow very slow. So my expectation is low.

The first thing when I hopped onto the bike and noticed is that the handling of the bike is superb!
It feels as agile, if not even more agile than my Fazer. No doubt that the Diversion is a heavier bike when you moved the bike without power. But you can really play the corners with this bike. No wonder I see our TP can curb corner like nothing. Ceh, actually it's their bike good.

The Diversion's engine and gearbox are very good for city riding and long distance touring.
The gearbox is light and easy to shift, more so than my Fazer.
The Diversion's engine is more like a car engine. It revs comfortably and stays between very low rpm of 2000 to 3000. It is not an engine that is lively and eager to climb up and down the rev range like the Fazer's. But around its 2000 to 3000 rpmcomfort zone, the engine is torquey and very smooth, calm and quiet. It purrs away quietly like a gas turbine. So if you ride it daily or for long distance, it is very good and doesn't add fatigue to the rider.

The Diversion's 5th gear (it's tallest gear) is very good. Very flexible. You can accelerate with it from 60 kmh to 140kmh (the fastest I have gone on Gua Musang). The funny thing is that on 5th gear, the engine is more willing to pull above 3000 rpm than on other gears. So it makes a good long distance touring bike.

I need to get a bit of using to the brakes of the Diversion. It is not bad, because when JJusti was riding his Diversion, he could stay with me on my Fazer. Maybe it is because I am still new to the Diversion. And maybe because my Fazer's front brakes come straight off a R1.

The seat of the Diversion is very comfortable. No wonder TP can sit on their bike whole day long. The pillion seat is even wider than the rider's seat. So if your cai got sensitive buttock, this bike make her love you more.

JJusti's bike got a aftermarket screen. It is quite tall and deflects wind to the upper part of the helmet. So you can ride at high speed and still not feel wind blast to your helmet. The problem for me is that I am not used to the tall screen. I was a bit uncomfortable looking through it. And because it is so calm behind the screen, after riding for 1 hour on Gua Musang, I start to want to fall asleep even though we were sweeping the curves at over 100.

This is when I tried to tell JJusti that I want to stop and rest. But basket, this JJusti hor, I think he so happy playing with my Fazer that he forget to return my bike. Worse, he ride so fast and cannot even hear my horn. So I tried to race up to next to him to signal to him to take 5. But maybe because I am new to his Diversion and scared to langa it. It takes me a lot of effort just to catch up and ride side by side to him.

Finally, we take 5 and decided it's time to U-turn back. Because it's also about time we meet up with the rest of the tour mates.

After we changed bike, BB said that on the Fazer, her neck like want to break liao from kena the wind blast. Of course lah, at the speed JJusti playing with my bike. On the Diversion with the taller aftermarket windscreen, she wouldn't have this problem.

Air Panas

If you are Bahasa-challenged, just like me, it is pronounced "Ai-ye Par-nahs". It means Water Hot.

Yes, on the way back from Gua Musang, we passed by a Hot Spring. I think it is about 20-30 min from Brinchang/Gua Musag fork road. There is a big sign on the Gua Musang road that says Air Panas.


This is what the hot spring look like from afar.
The big pool at the foreground is not the hot spring. When I walk towards it, I was thinking where got hot spring?

Zun boh? Cameron Highlands so high up, so cold. How can hot water from the bottom of the earth come up so high?
How come I don't feel anything hot?

The hot water is slightly further up the slope towards the background on the left side of the picture.



As you walk amongst the rocks over the stream of water running down the rocks, you suddenly feel a blast of hot air.
Wah, the water is really hot!
The water is as hot as those type of water you use to soft boil your egg.
So if you walk on the rock and you slipped and fall into the water....

From this picture you can see, we are not the only ones that whole day think of eating. You can see empty egg shells left behind. So got people actually bring egg come here and cook!




You still don't believe the water is hot is it?
Nah, I show you this photo.
You can see the ripple on the water surface?
The water is so hot got bubble boil onto the surface.










This friendly man lives in Cameron Highlands. He eagerly explained to JJusti that long time ago, wild elephants like to come to this hot spring to drink water!


At the background, there is something that looked like a hut. It is actually a shelter that lets you sit over the hot water below the hut. So it is actually a natural spa!


If you want to go to this Air Panas, you may want to bring some eggs along.

Night Activities

By the time we ride back to join the group, it is time for dinner.

Tonight, can't go back to pasar malam anymore. Because I was told it opens only on Saturday night. Alamak, missed all the good food.

We ate at Brinchang town again. It is quite crowded. Actually, most of the tourists that go to Cameron Highlands are Malaysians. I think as high as 95% are Malaysians.

If only Singapore's Sentosa can be so successful and don't need to rely on only foreign tourists. Than the various attractions on Sentosa don't need to keep close down and open new ones again.

The roads in Brinchang are quite well lit at night. So you can ride around safely. Except that when we went there, a small stretch of road was under construction. That part got no street lighting. The road is so pitch black that you ride off the road also don't know. So the lead bike better have a strong beam.

After we returned back to our apartment, it is strawberry ice kleam time, again.
Together with real strawberry coated in sugar. Don't know like that will kena diabetes or not.
We eat and eat until peng shan.

Although some members have already returned home and there are available space in the room, because I slept so well in the hall last night, I decided I am quite happy to be ting zang again.

But tonight, don't know why, the night was quite warm. Half my body outside the sleeping bag. So last night slept better.

Cameron Highlands (Part II)

29th October--Cameron Highlands (Part II)

Ascend Up to Cameron Highlands (Continue)


After travelling some time up the scenic windy roads, you will reach this sign board before a fork road.

To go to Cameron Highlands, take the right road.
The town that we are going to is Brinchang.

Take the left and you will end up on the Gua Musang road, away from Cameron Highlands.






Lost

After we took the right turn and travelled in a convoy, it started to drizzle.
I don't know what to expect of the Cameron weather, so I stopped to put on my rain coat.

By the time I have finished, the convoy had already passed by me. I figured I could catch up as the convoy wasn't pressing at a fast pace.

After I rode alone for some time, the convoy was still not in sight. Then I reached another fork road. It says Left to Brinchang and Right to Raja. At that time, I didn't know that the convoy was heading towards Brinchang. So I stood at the fork and faced a tough decision.

Do I take a gamble and take one of the turn? But what if I guess wrongly?
Or do I wait at the fork and hopefully the convoy would discover that I was lost?

Even though I had never won a single 4D or a single lucky draw for all the numerous diner and dance that I had to go, I decided to take a gamble. I took the left turn, which turned out to be the correct guess.

I rode and rode for at least 15min. I passed by more towns. But the convoy was still nowhere in sight. I started to panick. So I stopped to ask the local people along the road, "Have you seen a group of motorcycles pass by?" I was sure people who not fail to notice a convoy of 10 over big bikes right? If the answer is Yes, then I'm on the right track. If the answer is no, then I must have taken the wrong turn at the earlier fork.

I asked someone at a posh hotel called Hotel Equatorial, thinking that Simon must have booked us into this nice looking hotel. The person I asked replied he didn't notice. Like that how?

I decided this guy is blur. Exited the hotel and rode further down. Stopped by the bus stop and ask this girl there. Even though she looked blur, she replied "Yes". I was ecstatic, so I proceed along the same direction.

As I rode and rode for another 15min, I still see no convoy in sight. Could the convoy have turned off the main road and into one of the buildings or hotels? Or the girl was too shocked seeing a man in a full face helmet and armoured jacket riding a big motorcycle and anyhow reply. Doubt start to creep in.

I then asked the next local. Answer is "Didn't see". Har? Contradicting answer with what the girl say. So the score is now 1-1. So I asked the next local. "Don't know". Is this 2-1? Or no count. Die lah like that.

Then I asked the next local, where does Singaporeans like to stay in at Cameron? The answer is Rosa.

So I turned into this Rosa Hotel. It's quite tall and nice looking. But there is no sight of the convoy. Worse, I cancelled my handphone's autoroam some time ago.

I jumped off my bike and asked the hotel manager at the conceige for help. I asked to borrow the phone to make an international call. The hotel manager is very helpful but he said must pay and the phone rate is expensive. I said never mind.

I called this Simon and thank goodness he picked up my phone. He doesn't sound surprise to hear me. He told me to proceed along the same direction as before and I will see a Super4 by BBernar.

I asked for the hotel's name that they were in. Simon said he doesn't know the hotel name. How can this be?

The phone bill for this short call came to 7 ringgit. I paid the hotel manager and said don't need receipt and moved off.

As I rode out for another 5 min, I still see no Super4 in sight. Could Simon misunderstood where I was and given me the wrong direction?

Before I start to panic and have to make another call, I saw BBernar's Super4 and he waved me in. I suddenly feel like I'm in a movie that I am shipwrecked on an island and suddenly see a plane passed by. I am saved at last!

Accomodations

Having been to Hotel Equatorial and Rasa Hotel, I would not really describe the place that we are going to stay in as posh. This is what it looks like.

They are apartments, like mini-condos in Singapore. Each unit has 3 bedrooms. You can sleep 2 person per bedroom. There is a hall with TV, with channels like our SCV. There is a dinning table and a kitchen. There are 2 toilets.
Most importantly, there is hot water shower that really work, in both toilets. Without this, I think it's quite hard to shower in Cameron Highlands unless you are those type that will do diving in winters and under the ice cap.




This is a view of the living room in our apartment. There is a balcony.
The sofa is to be my bed as well at night.
But I have no problems falling asleep on it.
Maybe it's because I am those type that the airplane haven't takeoff I already fall asleep. zzzzzz.









The accomodation may not be posh but sufficient. In exchange, the price is cheaper. I pay for S$30 per night. It doesn't seem that cheap when converted to ringgit. But wait till you hear the rates for Rosa and Equatorial. They are like 200 ringgit per night and they can be quite full.

Now I understand why Simon cannot tell me the name of this apartment. Because until now, I also don't know. There is no sign anywhere that says the name of this place. The owner has a rather unique marketing style.

















Map of Cameron Highlands

Out of the misfortune of getting lost, I got to better learn the structure of Cameron Highlands the hard way. I also gotten a mini-map from the Rosa Hotel brochure.
Cameron Highlands consist of a few towns strung together by by only one main road.
After the first fork road (Gua Musang, Brinchang), is the Kg Raja town. Followed by the Brinchang town, which is where most of the tourist activities and the only petrol kiosks there are. After that is the town called Tanah Rata.

I think our apartment is located somewhere near the place marked as Smoke House.

First Day Activities




Simon brought us to this Strawberry farm.

















I learnt for the first time that strawberry does not grow on trees. It is a crawler. So the fruit just lies on the floor.














This is what the strawberry farm looked like.













The thing that interest everyone the most there is not the strawberries. It's the ice cream or more accurately, icycle pops. Pin pang. Sng Bao.








It caught our attention because there is this Indian man standing in a shop selling souvenirs rambling something like "Ice Kleam Ice Kleam, Satu Satu Ringgit, blah blah, Ice Kleam Ice Kleam, Satu Satu Ringgit".

It's quite cheap. Only 1 ringgit per stick. It sounds crazy. Why would we eat a cold ice cream in an already cold place?

As illogical the idea is, one by one we bought. It has strawberry and sour plum flavour. And it is rather delicious. In no time, everyone was having a stick in their mouth.

I bought 2 bottles of strawberry jam. There are samples for tasting. I find the taste quite nice. I also bought one bottle of dried strawberry. Altogether it cost 20 ringgit.



After the strawberry farm, we went to a Bee farm. In cameron, there are plenty of farms.

I imagined that I will see plenty of bees flying around and perhaps clustering all over the body of one of the bee farmers. But I was disappointed. The bee farm has many boxes, the size of a shoe box, resting on top of a stick. I think the bees stay inside these boxes. I saw a few bees flying around. But if you don't tell me this is a bee farm, I wouldn't have guess it.

Strangely, the bee boxes are not further enclosed in some net or green house. They are simply left in the open. Wouldn't the bee farm owners be afraid the bees will sting the tourists? Wouldn't the tourists be afraid they will get sting and they still go?

If this is Singapore, surely the bees will be kept enclosed. If not wait someone write letter to ST forum to complain.

At the bee farm, they sell honey to tourists. I was advised to buy honey and honey comb at the pasar malam where we will be going later.

First Night Activities

We went to Brinchang town at night to makan. Simon brought us to this place to eat steamboat.
It is quite apt as it was rather cold at night at Cameron. The pork cooked in beer is especially nice!

After dinner, we went to the parsa malam nearby. It looked a bit like those in Singapore. But they have interesting food stalls there.

Indeed, there was a stall selling honey combs. Honey comb is the hexagon structure that contains the honey. I bought one of those and bought another bottle of honey. I know Singapore NTUC can buy honey. If everything also buy from NTUC, then I got nothing left to buy at Cameron liao. Then it doesn't make one feel quite like a tourist leh.

After that, I buy some snacks. The fried sweet potatoe ball is very sweet and nice. Yum yum. 1 ringgit for small pack and 2 ringgit for big pack. I bought a small pack, tasted it is nice and bought a bigger pack. I shared it around with the tour mates and recommended it.

I didn't know it then, so I missed the fried quail. The fried mushroom is also supposed to be nice.

After we are almost done with shopping at the pasar malam, it started to rain. Almost all of us were not wearing rain gear or waterproof jackets. The rain at Cameron different from Singapore. It may not be heavy but you wouldn't feel like running/riding through the rain. Maybe because Cameron is already cold and the rain is also cold one.

By the time we walked back to where our bike was parked, the rain got even heavier. Our bike also did not contain our rain gear because we had dismounted our luggage boxes into the apartment. So we stayed under shelter of one of the shops.

We were partially dam from being caught in the rain and we don't know how long the rain would last. In the mean time, we went to buy bottled mineral water. 5.50 ringgit for a 5 litre bottle.

Just as we waited enough and decided to ride under the rain back to our apartment, the rain slackened. So we were able to ride back to our apartment without becoming wet chickens.

Sleeping First Night

The group was split into two apartments some distance apart. I stayed with the one that has DeusExMachina, Tarus, TTo, Mokamoka, JJusti and BB. They all stayed in the room. So the hall is empty and I can have the whole hall to myself.

After being caught in the rain, I was so relieved that the hot shower works just fine. At night, the weather can get really cold. So bathing reminded me of my NS training at Taiwan.

I think most of us were tired from the ride since 4.00 am. So by about 10 pm. everyone retired to their rooms.

The apartment got no air-con one. It doesn't need one because the air at Cameron is cold. But the apartment also got no heater. So I worry at night would I freeze in the hall.

I opened my 12.50 dollar sleeping bag. I wonder if it will keep me warm. Amazingly, it is rather comfortable and I feel just nice inside it. I had a very good sleep on my first night.

Cameron Highlands Trip (Part I)

29 October 2005, Saturday--Cameron Highlands Trip (Part I)

This trip is special because this is my first overnight trip on a bike--so in a way, my virgin long trip.

So naturally, I am a little kum chiong or nervous.

Plus, this is also the first trip on my new (old bike) Fazer 1000 '04 model. I only got him only a few days ago, on 25th October, Monday. So I don't know how things will work out with this fellow. What if he breaks down half way?
I think I will nickname him Frost.

How I decided on this trip

I am on leave for 2 weeks. And I would like to go on a long distance bike trip.
I know of a few trips happening this couple of weeks. One is to Thailand. The other to the famed Gerik Highway, Malaysia. The third is to Cameron Highlands.

As I am a bit concerned that Frost might breakdown halfway, I decided to choose the nearest destination--Cameron Highlands.

Actually, it's not that a short trip. The round trip is 1,200km. Go a little further, it will be Gerik Highway. Go a little further, it will be Thailand.

Anyhow, Cameron Highlands it should be. One of the organisers is this guy called SimonSoh from SingaporeBikes.com forum. I heard much about him and know he rides a ST1100. Tours Malaysia and Thailand like no body's business. Probably knows these countries better than he knows Orchard Road, Singapore. So at least this gives me a little extra confidence over Frost.

The other organised is the guy with the forum nick RunnerTypeR whom I don't know who he is at first. Later, I will be in for a surprise.

I also learnt that I have an old friend, Mokamoka who is going for this same trip. He also rides a Fazer 1000. So I think if he can it with his Fazer, it should not be mission impossible for me on Frost.

Missed the Trip Briefing

This SimonSoh and RunnerTypeR are really organised and real pro man. They even have this pre-trip briefing on 26th October, Wednesday night. It will really be useful to a virgin sotong like me.

But wah lau eh. By the time I opened my email and learnt that there is such a briefing, the briefing was already over liao.

So like that chum liao. Got to depend on myself to prepare for the trip liao.


Preparing for the Trip

What to prepare for the trip? 3 Days 2 Nights. I also don't know man.

All I know is that as I was the last to sign up, there is not enough room. So I got to sleep in the hallway. How to prepare for sleeping in the hall?

Below is a picture of the things I packed for the trip. Picture of such barang barang also take. This shows you how kum chiong I am about the trip.


If you want to know what I packed, if you are also virgin like me, there here is the list:

• Rain Gear (top, pants)--Must have. If not, when it rains on North South Highway, you will surely mati as a wet chicken.
  
• SAF Gore Tex boots--I swear by this boots. Makes a great riding boot. Comfortable to wear riding all day, can walk around all day. Supposed to be rain resistance (to be tested later).
  
• Sleeping Bag--You don't need this unless you need to sleep in the hall like me. I bought the cheapest I can get from a Army Gift Shop. Only $12.50. Don't know works or not, or I will freeze to death.
• Cloths--Jeans, 2 sets. 1 set for riding. The other set for a fresh change and also in case I get wet from heavy rain, at least got backup. 1 bermudas, to sleep in and can also walk around outside if weather permits. Shirt, 5 sets. 3 sets for 3 days. 1 set for in case soaked by heavy rain. 1 set to sleep in. Socks, 4 sets. 1 set per day and 1 spare set in case heavy rain soaked into boots.
  
• Water Bottle--Riding causes a lot of dehydration. We tend not to notice because our sweat gets dried up by the wind blast. If don't drink enough water, will get headache and all sorts of problem.
• Toiletterie. Towel. Not sure if the hotel supply towel or not. But just bring just in case lah.
• Tissue paper.
  
• Jacket. I brought a warm jacket because Simon says the weather there can get quite cold. I scared my meshed riding jacket does not provide enough warmth. I very scared cold. So better bring. If not freeze to death.
• Eye plugs. It will be noisy inside your helmet when you ride at 110kmh and up. After a few hours of such noise, I think I will have difficulty hearing people. Also the noise will add fatigue to your riding.
  
• Riding Jacket. My one is RJays air mesh jacket. Got shoulder, elbow and spine armour. When riding that time, will not perspire like a pig. If rain, just wear rain coat over it, no need to take off.
• Riding gloves. Must have. Later tell you why.
• Ringgit. Cannot tell you. If not you rob me the next time.

As for the bike itself, this is what is suggested by RunnerTypeR:

"1) Check your bike for engine oil, chain, cable and tire pressure. Please service the bike if it is overdue or due soon.
2) Bring your insurance with you.
3) Bring spare key incase of misplacing.
4) Bring chain lube if your bike is chain driven. Best lube your chain heavyly a night before the trip for better penetration of chain protection.
5) Raincoat and proper attire for better road safety."

I brought insurance paper with me. I also changed engine oil and oil filter. Frost got Scott Oiler. I brought spare key. Think very important. Don't want to loose key then got bike but can't go home. The rest, I don't quite understand what was being said.

Meet Up

We are asked to meet at an unearthly hour--4.00 am at Gelang Pateh Esso Petrol Kiosk, Malaysia, 29th October, Saturday.

At this time, your mind really want to go back to sleep because normally at this time, your mind is in deep sleep. But the timing is good lah. At least don't have to ride into the night to reach Cameron.

So at this GP Esso, I met the other tour mates.
I will use the people's SBF nick. If I don't know their nick, I will use their actual names. But I will encrypt their actual name. Their actual name has an extra first character added and their last character deleted. So if my name is AhSeng. It will appear as AAhSen.
You may ask, why I so free? Why I can't just use their actual name.
Because I read that some employers very free, nothing to do and might Google a future employee's name. I don't want to spoil my tour mates job opportunity mah. Scarly, next time one of them apply for a job with one employer who has this policy of "Shall not hire anyone who rides to Cameron"and this employer go and Google. Then how?

Mokamoka-Fazer1000.
I thought I kia su got 2 big side boxes. He even worse. Got 3 boxes.
RunnerTypeR--BMW 1200LT.
His motorcycle mah jiam like elephant. Very big. You can put a HDB 5-room behind the bike's big wind screen.
Turns out RunnerTypeR is an old friend of mine. Some people don't know his name is IIva.
He last time very havock one. Play sports car one.
SimonSoh--ST1100.
He brought a partner.
TTo--ST1100.
He just bought his bike recently. Like me, also first trip on his new bike.
PPatric--ST1100.
How come everyone also ride ST?
DeusExMachina and Tarus--Super4
I met DeusExMachina (why your nick so long?) when he was (still is) riding a R1.
He got iron backside one. Can ride R1 to Cameron and Gerik Highway.
His chai is Tarus. Don't see her small small and play play. She slap your face with her Class2 license ok.
JJusti and BB--Diversion900
Later, we were to swap bikes on Gua Mesang.
BBernar and CChoonSen--each Super4
But I kow tow to this CChooSen. Unlike the rest's Super4 which got wind screen, his super4 totally got no wind screen. He must either got a very strong chest or his chest hair very thick there.
None-VFR
I got another friend who got a VFR. I think it is a very good bike that can go touring, ride around in Singapore and still play on trunk roads and track. The bike quality is superb.
MMarti and partner--Fazer6 05
His bike is the new model got underseat exhaust one.
EmptyVessel--Fazer6 04
Got so many Fazer also.
CheeTeck--Bandit 400
Actually, didn't meet him at EssoGP. We rendevous with him midway to Cameron.

Let me know if I missed out anyone.

Itinerary

Our fuel stops point:
1 - Ayer Keroh Petronas(NSHW marked at 205km) - 210km travelled.
2 - Rawang Petronas(NSHW marked at 440km) - 158km travelled.
3 - 'Exit 137(marked at NSHW 287km)' to Simpang Pulai, turn left at first T-junction to Petronas to top up before proceeding to coffee shop. - 153km travelled.


Organisers:
Runner Type R - Lead
Simon Soh - Sweeper
Emptyvessel - Junction marker
none - Marker

Riding Along NorthSouth Highway

What can I say about the ride there?
It's dam long to me loh.
Ride hour after hour. Of course, there are fuel stops along the way. But the fuel stop can be 200km away which means 2 hour of riding (our average speed is 110-120kmh).
My buttock got very little flesh. So along the way I will stop by the roadside to ease my buttock ach.

I like this group's style. It accomodates flexibility. You can ride at the speed you like. You can happy happy speed up. Or you can ride with the group at a constant pace. Or if you feel sleepy, you can just pull up along the road side, take a stretch and resume your ride.

If you don't know the way, as long as you are between the Lead and Sweeper, you will be alright.

Fazer1000 on NorthSouth

The Fazer1000 engine has a strong mid range. Once you get onto the NorthSouth, you can stay on it's highest 6th gear all the way. Baring fuel stops, the 6th gear can see you through from Singapore all the way to Thailand.

The Fazer1000 can cruise comfortably at 110kmh. If you need to overtake, with a slight twist of the throttle and without the need to drop down from 6th gear, you can accelerate to 150-160kmh.

The Fazer1000 is powerful enough for you to cruise at 150-160. But the Fazer1000 is not a dedicated tourer like a ST. So it is not as comfortable for the rider to ride at this speed for 1-2 hours.

The seat is soft and comfortable. But sitting on the softest seat for 1-2 hours can also bring backside pain.

The sitting position feels upright although it looks a bit slanted forward. But it is quite a nice balance as you will feel very comfortable cruising at 110-120kmh.

Fazer 1000 with Ermax Double Bubble Screen

I fitted a aftermarket screen. It is a double bubble screen from Ermax. It looks quite small but it works. When sitting upright, the main wind blast is directed towards the helmet. But it is directed in a way that will not cause your head to bobble around and it is not noisy. There is some slight wind feathering around the neck and shoulders. But this is not the main wind blast so it is not uncomfortable. They have the effect of providing some cooling effect. The effect of this screen is not very pronounced when it is not raining. When it is raining, its effect is very obvious.

The disadvantage of this screen is that your head is still in the main wind stream. Even though it is not noisy, if you cruise at 150-160km for one hour, it might get tiring on your neck, unless you got a very thick neck lah. So I prefer to cruise at 110-120kmh with ocasional sprints of 150-160kmh.

If you cruise as the way I do, the Fazer1000 can average around the 20km/litre range (Octane98).

Reaching Cameron Highlands

Frost near Cameron Highlands.
We did not use this exit to reach Cameron. We used Exit 137 Simpang Pulai.
Don't Leave Home Without Them:
The two saddle bags are from Hepco & Becker.
They are very strong and sturdy. Completely water proof.
Easy to dismount to bring up to your hotel and functions as your Samsonite luggage.

The Ascend Up to Cameron Highlands

It's a biking paradise.
The road is of good quality. Winds its way up to the top.
Plenty of curves. Curvy enough to provide plenty of fun for curvy carving.
But not so curvy that they are dangerous.

The Road to the Heavens.
See the smooth nice S-curves.

















I'm in Heaven...
Feels like Heaven...















If your eyes are not feasting on the smooth curves, then perhaps the lovely surrounding scenary may interest you.

I just love the sight when the sunlight breaks the shadow and cast its light onto the mountain green.