3 weeks tour of Peninsular Malaysia
I recently did a motorcycle tour of Peninsular Malaysia in October 2023.
This was my 6th bike tour after I decided to retire right after the pandemic and when the countries started to open up from the lockdown.
I've done Northern Thailand 3 weeks, North East and Extreme North of Vietnam 4 weeks, Northern Philippines 3 weeks, North West Vietnam 4 weeks and Northern Laos 3 weeks.
Started from Georgetown, Penang. I worked in this city for 4 years and have very good memories of this city.
Georgetown- Taiping
Taiping-Ipoh
Ipoh-Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands-Port Dickson
Port Dickson-Malacca
Malacca-Muar-Batu Pahat-Mersing
Mersing-Kuantan
Kuantan-Kuala Terengganu
Kuala Terengganu-Kota Bahru
Kota Bahru-Ayer Lanas-Jeli-Gerik
Gerik-Jitra
Jitra-Changlun-Padang Besar-Kuala Perlis
Kuala Perlis-Sg Petani
Sg-Petani-Butterworth
Butterworth-Georgetown
Total distance 3,000kms over 16 days.
This tour brings back many memories of my childhood as some places I went there when i was around 10 -12 years of age and I am now 56. That's 40 odd years ago!
Then again some of the places I have never been before.
So it was kind of a deja vu experience for me at certain towns.
I avoided highways as much as I could.
I am more in favour of mountainous views than sticking to coastal roads.
Rented a Honda Vario 160cc scooter and it was a good bike.
The only part I really enjoyed the roads was at the Cameron Highlands section and the road on the Titiwangsa Mountain from Kota Bahru to Gerik.
The range of the Honda Vario was about 180kms with 1 bar left on the fuel gauge. I was caught out on this Titiwanga section and as I was doing the twistie sections I realized that I did not have enough fuel to make it to the next town unless there was a fuel station along the twisty section.
I stopped to make some calculation and decided not to risk it and turn back about 30 minutes to refuel. It was the right decision though as if I had not turned back to refuel I would have been running on fumes! LOL
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