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

On my 3 weeks tour I met a few locals touring but no foreigners.

In Peninsular Malaysia due to the good roads most bikers tour on big bikes above 500cc like the CB500X, 1250GS etc.
I have no problems riding a small 160cc as I rode a Honda XR150 in Vietnam and the Philippines.

Honda Vario 160cc scooter

Taiping

Taiping....

Kuala Kangsar

Kuala Kangsar ..

Cameron Highlands

Cameron Highglands ...

I was last here about 44 years ago! LOL

Cameron Highlands

The weather was pleasant .........

Malacca

Malacca....

A city with lots of tourists.

Malacca..

Went to the submarine museum.

A4 Skyhawk

Malacca foodie

Muar & Mersing, Johor

Kuantan, Pahang

yummy food!

Kuala Terengganu

I visited a turtle conservation NGO and the staff gave me a detailed explanation on the types of turtles, their breeding habits and had a look at the hatchlings nursery.
It was very educational.

Kota Bahru, Kelantan

Gerik, Perak

close to the Thai border at Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah
Padang Besar, Perlis
Kuala Perlis, Perlis

Alor Setar & Sg. Petani, Kedah

Butterworth & Georgetown, Penang

It was raining heavily on the last 2 days of my tour.

From Butterworth, there are 2 bridges from mainland to the island. I decided to take the ferry as i've never taken the ferry from mainland to island before.

The ferry was delayed for at least 30 minutes due to the heavy rain and I am glad I did not use the bridge to cross over to the island.

Bucket list done and I am going to Medan, Sumatera in January 2024 and then either to Thailand again or do Kalimantan if I can find a bike rental in Pontianak.

Another thing is Malaysia has the cheapest fuel cost compared to Thailand, Vietnam, Laos.
A litre of RON95 petrol is only RM2.05 or USD$0.44
In the other countries I mentioned the price ranges from USD$1.03 to USD1.18 per litre.
Fuel in Malaysia is heavily subsidized by the government but that will soon change as there are talk that the subsidies will be removed soon.

I could have sent my bike from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia via RORO ship but it would not be worthwhile as the cost 1-way is around USD$200. To send my Tiger 800 would have cost me USD$400 altogether and my bike rental was slightly less than USD$200.

If I decide to go to Thailand in 2024 I will most likely send my bike over and ride it in to Thailand and spend at least 8 weeks to cover the whole of Thailand starting from the South to the North again and then make my way back to the South via a different route. I will have to leave Thailand midway for a border run or go back to Malaysia for a break. The only thing is I have to find a place to store the bike for a few weeks.


keepcalm:mchappy: