Singapore - Another Frontier

March 4 - 7, 2011

With Thailand/Cambodia/Vietnam and Laos under the belt, the other border on the South beckons. If you need me to spell it out, yes I am talking about Singapore. It's another country crossing for me and I get to chill out with my friend over there.

I left about 10am from KL, as there was no rush and the idea was to cross before 5pm, when the rush hour starts. Used the boring but dependable PLUS highway and other than some showers here and there the trip was uneventful. I was in JB by 3pm and after a quick change of currency I'm crossing Woodlands.

Little did I know, of all the border crossings I've done, this was going to be the toughest. I know that I need Autopass as I've driven to Singapore countless times, but unlike cars, bikes traveling in Singapore needs to have I.U. unit installed to go through ERP. Now this is tricky coz if you go through the ERP without the I.U. and cashcard the fine is SGD70 PER OCCURRENCE! I tell you, hearing that was enough to make my blood go upstairs la. The unit cost SGD155 but I've been told that I could rent it at the crossing. 

With the above in mind, I went through Malaysian immigration followed by the Singapore side. I kid you not, the bike lane and immigration booth is so small I wonder how a GSA with panniers go through. Even with my unexpanded varios I'm squeezing my way through. As I don't have an Autopass yet, I asked the immigration officer where to get it, she tells me, at block B in front. So onwards I go looking for block B and the next thing I know I'm already at Customs. I asked the lady where is block B, and she tells me I've missed it and it's just behind me. I asked, can I turn back? she tells me No!, I asked can I park my bike and walk there? She tells me No!!....Aiyaa....my stress levels going up already and I'm not even in the damn country yet.

She tells me to get my Autopass at Greenhill, or Greenpoint or Green Centre, she's so freaking vague plus I'm so highstrung that images of me spending a couple nites in a Singapore jail is flashing before my eyes. Oh ya, just to add to my already bursting blood vessels, failure to have an Autopass will result in a minimum SGD200 fine upon exit. Yes...it's a damn Fine country alrite.

So there I was, with no Autopass and I.U. unit trying to look for this place that I can get it. When I did find it, I knew that I was screwed. It was actually a small booth for topping up Autopass la. The lady there was far more helpful though. She tells me that I need to go to Land Transport Authority(LTA) to get my Autopass and I.U. unit. They close at 4.30pm and it was already 4pm at that time. She gives me this booklet on ERP with maps that shows you where the ERPs are and warns me to avoid them like the plague if I don't want to get fined. Well lady, I know under certain conditions (very poor lighting or pitch black even) I may look like Matt Damon, but Jason Bourne I'm not. I can't scan the bloody booklet for 2 seconds and memorise where the hell the ERPs are...

Jason Bourne would fail this 

Where the ERPs are

I reached LTA at 4.25 and I'm amazed that they still let me in. No way would a Government agency in Malaysia allow you to take a number 5 minutes before closing time. On a Friday somemore. A quick check of the passport and the bike and I have my Autopass. This is when I discovered that you can't rent an I.U. unit anymore. You have to buy and have it fixed on the bike, and considering that I may only go to Singapore this one time it is definitely not worth it to spend the money. 

LTA 

The dreaded ERP. BTW there is NO way of going to Orchard RD without passing one.

Then I remembered that the Garmin can be set to avoid tolls, and I'm really putting my faith in it that it'll work to get me to my friend's place which is pretty much right smack in the middle of town. That last 15km was just so nerve wrecking that I do not relish doing this again. Amazingly I made it to his place without passing a single ERP and that's where the bike stayed until I left on Monday. Not that I mind anyways as it's pretty easy to just use the MRT.

Here's some of the scene in Singapore.

Vandals!! 

Skate park behind Somerset MRT

They think of everything

Bikers would know of this place

I like the look of the Fazer with HB panniers

Looks good

I can't help it if chicks gets excited and touch themselves when they see me.

New casino = new problem

If you happen to be there do pop by 1 Altitude in Raffles Place. There's a bar/club/restaurant on the 62nd floor of the tallest building in Singapore. Pretty similar concept to Luna Bar or Sky Bar in KL. Brilliant 360degree view of Singapore though I wished the music was a bit more chilled out type.

I wanted to get some riding gear as well in preparation for my next trip but was pretty disappointed with the lack of choice this time around. Off course the Liv vs ManU match wrapped up the weekend well for me.

I made a move back to Malaysia at 6.30am on Monday coz the ERP's starts at 7am or 7.30am in some places and I can't be bothered to try and avoid em. 

So there you have it, the 5th country under my F650GS, though I have a feeling the next time I go there I think I'd drive.....

Golok to Betong - Don't tell my mother

11 - 13 Feb 2011

Yes....less than a week after coming back from Phi Phi, I am up again, this time towards the restive South of Thailand. There's still ongoing conflict between the predominantly Kelantan speaking Thai Muslim and the Government. Heavy military presence has limited the skirmishes into small pockets though it is definitely still there. Does add to the already heightened  sense of adventure.

It's a pretty big group of 14 bikes and 1 4x4, so there's some sense of safety in numbers, plus I'm on the cheapest bike, so if we do get kidnapped I'm hoping they'll hold the rest for ransom and send me back(small value fry) to inform the family and Government...haha.

Assembled in BHP at 7.30am

Going up Golok

Last fuel stop before crossing into Thailand. I'm pretty chuffed to do a total 370km before refilling in Pkln Hulu.

Rantau Panjang-Golok holds the distinction of being the 4th border that I've crossed into Thailand on my bike, and I just realised that I've not entered into Thailand and cross back to Malaysia via the same border. This trip, go in Golok and come out Betong, last trip enter Wang Kelian and cross back Padang Besar. Though this time abit notti la, didn't declare the bike with customs before entering...haha.

Rantau Panjang

It's been more than 10 years since I was last in Golok and was pleasantly surprised to see the city has not turned into some abandoned cowboy town. I guess it did for a while as there were numerous bombings in 2003/04.

We're in Golok

Golok at night

No tuk tuks here, but plenty of kapchai taxi

The good thing about being in this part of Thailand is that 1. They speak Kelantan, so can (probably) understand em 2. Never worrying where to find halal food.

Rolling out after b'fast

I'm attaching the map though it may not be exact but it'll give you an idea of the route. 

View Larger Map

As this is an exploratory route there we're occasions that we had to double back, but that's all part of the fun. The army checkpoints adds to the thrill. You can see that they have no idea what the hell is going on here when a bunch of big bikes came rolling through. We pretty much went through each and every one without a hitch and amazingly my limited Thai came in handy at these checkpoints. None of the soldiers are local, so you can throw speaking Kelantan out of the window. I just told them where we were from and where we're headed to and that pretty much seals the deal for us. 

Not sure whether the army actually allows it due to sensitivity but being the cam whores that we are, we took the opportunity to snap photos with them and the soldiers happily oblige as well. 

Soldier may be smiling but Capt was actually employing his Jedi death grip handshake to get us through.

Go Betong....stutter stutter...big motorsai....stutter stutter....pls don't hurt us

Me: That's a pretty necklace
Soldier: I think you need a tight slap

Group photo

Some sections of the road are unpaved though it's hardpacked earth so that pretty much is a non issue for our bikes. What I found surprising going through these roads and passing by villages is how life goes on as normal over here. Shops and schools are open as usual, kids are playing by the roadside. It didn't give that uneasy feeling that may accompany in knowing that you're riding through troubled areas. The locals that we met were friendly and helpful and the food was aroi (that's delicious in Thai).

Regardless where you are, kids will always be curious

Kids from a religious school

We tried to go off the beaten track as well by using trail roads, after all that's what a DP bike is for, though as I was to painfully find out, there are limitations to what the bike can do. One of the proposed trail was definitely not suitable for big bikes, it's a steep climb with rocks and deep ruts that just makes it all very tough.

Husref put on knobbies for the occasion 

Didn't look that tough at first

Bike: Allo boss.....kenot la...

Though in order to satisfy our "off roadin" desires, Capt took us through a loop 20km out of Bannang Sata enroute to the 410 to Betong. Though not much of a trail left, I think it was only about 7km compared to when Capt came 3 months ago. Most of the trail is now paved.

This gravel road will disappear soon

Group photo of those crazy people.

We made it to Betong just as night falls, so it's a brilliant 300km ride. Some sections of the road reminded me of the curves in North Thailand, and I definitely missed that. This ride is a good learning experience as not many has done it. I would definitely want to do it again.

Note: 90% of the pics courtesy of Capt. Nik