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.....

Singapore - Shopping Part 2

ok lets move on to part 2, where more farling happens. I managed to get hold of a used set of BMW Motorrad Vario panniers for the 650/800 GS while i was down there. These things don't come cheap (then again, nothing related to the bike is), so it was good to be able to score a bargain on this set.

The beauty of these panniers is that as it is made specifically for the bike, the rack looks sleek when the boxes are off, as some aftermarket systems has racks that look like it's been welded together by a 3 yr old, looking all clumsy and obtrusive.

The boxes are extendable and the locking mechanism matches your ignition key. Khairi at David's place took less than 5 minutes to change the tumbler pins in the lock to match my ignition key. A big plus in my books coz there's less keys to lose...haha.

How it looks like

Changing the tumbler mechanism in the lock to match the ignition key

How the rack looks minus the box

In its element 

New touring jacket - Rev'it Cayenne Pro

I worried at first how the panniers would affect fuel and handling of the bike, but after some days living with it and making trips to Seremban and Kalumpang I'm happy to report no adverse effects detected. It could still cruise comfortably at 150 so all good there.

Singapore - Shopping Part 1

As mentioned, I was in Singapore to pick up some stuff, ok ok let's not sugar coat it, I shopped like the world is going to end by the 27th of October, why 27th you ask, well because 28th is my credit card statement date...haha. If i were a girl i'd be all giggly, then again I might have but no way I'm copping to that here. 

Anyways, the stuff i picked up are all for the bike and upcoming trip. I'd like to think they're necessary or dare i even say vital to facilitate a smooth journey. Of course some may say it's lame, but what the hell...who cares. I may or may not do a review about some of these stuff, so we'll see how it goes. 

I managed to get the panniers, jackets and the Garmin Zumo 660. Now the Zumo is a cool piece of hardware as it's actually made for the motorcycle. Here in Malaysia, it would set you back about RM3.5k. It's cheaper in Singapore but that's not to say that it's dirt cheap either. The lady at R-One in Sim Lim was telling me they don't sell many of these as they're quite expensive and the demand is low, in fact ever since this came out in late 2008, she has only sold 7 units, with mine being no 7 of course. So there i was sitting in this little shop on the 4th floor of Sim Lim with a warm and fuzzy feeling for making it to the top 10 while my wallet was being senselessly raped. Oh well....

The bad boy

Of course I have friends who has leveled accusations of moi being a wuss, a big girl's blouse for having such contraptions. It goes against the spirit of adventure they say, and how people used to cross continents being guided only by the stars and the sun. Well let me tell you this, when you're alone in the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night and the fuel warning light comes on and you hear a loud cackle coming from the trees next to you, you better hope that by the furious tapping of the Garmin screen it would take you to the nearest fuel station or a bomoh at least. 

So today I had a chance to install it at David's place in Sri Damansara. He's also kind enough to load it up with the Indochina map, but i'd need to get myself a micro SD card for this.

Bike in the shop

Putting the mount in the middle of the bar. 

It's called a ram mount...haha obscene i know.

Tapping the power straight from the battery

Screwing the panels back in

My view of it

Picked up a Komine mesh jacket and gloves as well.

The beauty of this package is that they also give all the necessary mounting for the car as well, which means that my Garmin 760 is now redundant, so if anyone is interested in it please give me a buzz.

I'll be heading back to David's place soon for more farkling so stay tuned.

Desaru Tri

As promised earlier, the report on Desaru Tri. We went down on Saturday as Jereme is participating in the sprint event on Sun. Courageous i must say, as the fella only bought his bike 2 weeks before the event, having not cycled before. I thought he was going to collapse during the event, but he proved me wrong with a time below 1hr 30. Good showing from a first timer. 

The event consisted of the following:

Race Information

LONG DISTANCE TRIATHLON

Date : 2 Oct 2010, Saturday
Time : 9.00 am
Distance : 2km Swim, 90km Bike, 21km Run
Venue : Lotus Desaru Resort

SPRINT TRIATHLON

Date : 3 Oct 2010, Sunday
Time : 9.00 am    8.30 amDistance : 500m Swim, 18km Bike, 3km Run
Venue : Lotus Desaru Resort

We reached Desaru around lunch time thinking that the long distance would be over only to be surprised by a gaggle of cyclists on the road. Mind you, it was freaking hot at that time with the temp pushing 37deg. Let me put it this way, my nuts were literally roasting, and i was in an air-conditioned vehicle. I can't imagine what's it like out there for those guys. 

The boot was full, hence the bike in the car. Full with what huh? hehe

The run to finish line

I took my time absorbing the atmosphere, checking out the scene taking in the sight and sounds. Dayemn there's some fit chicks out there. While I drooled, mostly from the heat la, Jereme took a nap, totally missing out his briefing. Haha, that's a sign of a well prepared athlete....no briefings required.

Still strong in the grueling heat

No one, young nor old can resist the lure of the Milo from the truck

Pua Chu Kang?

I loved how the MC would in a very Bruce Buffer style, announces the name of the participants as they cross the line. It'll be like "no 112, Cindy from Hong Kong...Yooouu Areeee a finiSHERRRR!!!!". You can see how, 50 meters from the finish line tired, bruised and battered they would roll up their socks, hitch their skirts and with a pained expression on their faces make a mad dash to the finish, just to hear their names being called out.

Serious piece of luggage

Calm sea

What time is it?
It's yawn o'clock....

The morning of the race, Jereme wisely asked other participants on the location of thebike rack, swim route and so forth. It was fine weather that morning, slight drizzle even. So unlike the long, sprint guys had it easier with cooler temps. You can also see some of the nutjobs from yesterday's event in the sprint. Mental!

Plus size athletes represent!

Jereme

The event went well for Jereme with a decent time clocked. I'm afraid there's no pic of him at the finish line coz i got distracted by this girl sprinting to the finish line. She had, ahem ahem pretty decent sized knockers i tell you it was like 2 cats in a sack fighting. What can i say, i'm such a perv!! haha.

Now when am i gonna learn to swim?

Singapore - Oct 2010

It was a trip to kill 2 birds with 1 stone, or if you're Chuck Norris, kill 2 stones with 1 bird. I drove down on Fri to pick up my friend Jereme in Singapore for the Desaru Triathlon as he's (foolishly, i might add haha) entered himself in the Sprint event. I also needed to pick up some gear for my upcoming trip on the motorbike. Yup, as much as i'd like to throw caution to the wind and just go with whatever gear i already have, I'd prefer to make my enjoyment(or suffering perhaps?) a bit better by being slightly more preapared.

I'll blog about these separately, in the mean time i leave you with some pics taken on everyday scene in Singapore. I'm trying to polish on my photog, so these are part of "whack only" series.

Food court in Sim Lim

They were nice enough to ham it up for the shot.

There's always time for latte

Part of series of sculptures on Orchard Road

Evident generation gap

She cuts a forlorn figure watching the world pass by? maybe...

Like i said, there's always time for latte....

It was pushing 37deg on Tues that i just had to stop for a cuppa, and i think it was a blessing in disguise because, sitting there watching people going by with my latte while Bossa Nova plays in the background is just bliss......