Motorrad Malaysia East Triangle Ride 2012

[nikhuzlan]

Day ONEToo much Thailand. Need to be reminded why riding in Malaysia is equally good. The ride was organised following our successful Peninsula Ride just over a month ago. It reinforced my suspicion that Malaysia is equally good as compared to Thailand should anyone want to use a bike to explore the country. Certainly the quality of roads and traffic is far superior, but the variety of scenery is still lacking as compared to Thailand, especially when the North is included. This time our target was to hang out at the Aryani Resort, a beautiful boutique hotel. The fairly exclusive resort is on a private beach facing the South China Sea. With only 20+ rooms, it was just nice for our small group. We booked the whole place.

The First Day Route

We planned to meet at the Dengkil Southbound RnR at 0700. This time many brought their wives. BMW Malaysia was also kind enough to lend us their new X1 SUV and Janna will be driving it as our support vehicle.By the time I got to the RV point many were already there.

Lamb was dumb enough to plonk his Ducati into a handicappped reserved parking lot....hehehe

We got going after 45 minutes.

The two Sidhu brothers came along. One on RT, the other GSA

Sunny and Wen

Shah, a friend of Hatta, joined us for the first time.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_023.jpgPravinhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_024.jpgWe regrouped at the Pagoh Exit after riding for 1 hour.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_028.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_031.jpgAfter 25km of crowded roads that crosses through numerous little villages, the road opened up.Gunung Ledang can be seen. Its the highest point in the South, and is actually the 'ending' of the Mighty Himalayashttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_036.jpgThe roads were again had very light traffic. We all made good time.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_038.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_039.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_041.jpgWe stopped her to regroup. Unknown to us Shuhaimi who was on his F800GS had crashed, damaging his bike. He was also injured,and luckily Hatta's wife is a doctor. Janna who was ahead in the X1 since he took the highway direct turned back to assist.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_043.jpgWe rode on to Labis.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_046.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_050.jpg10 bikes were with Shuhaimi when he crashed, so after arranging another RV point at Kluang, we left Labis.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_054.jpgWe entered Kg Bekok, one of the entry points for Endau Rompin. It is also a short cut to Kluang as I 'discovered' on the map.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_056.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_058.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_060.jpgThe offroad section follows the railway for 5 km before crossing underneath. http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_076.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_081.jpgThen it was about 38km gravel through the plantation.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_083.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_084.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_088.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_096.jpgThe guards were friendly and they let us through this private land.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_103.jpgRoads got more interesting thenhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_107.jpgShamsul http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_108.jpgShahhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_109.jpgEddyhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_110.jpgSunny & Wenhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_111.jpgMel & Rohhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_113.jpgGoh & Ivyhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_115.jpgSome of the roads are shaded by the overhanging branches, shielding us from the sun.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_117.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_118.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_119.jpgThere were many junctions and crossroads in the plantation. The GPS shows nothing. But setting the GPS to compass mode helped me in determining with fair accuracy which direction to gohttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_111.jpgRain would have made this road a slippery mess, and we won't be having a fun ride.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_131.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_142.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_146.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_154.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_158.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_164.jpgVideo of the Bekok ShortCut.[video=youtube;GUUM30BOwVQ]http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUUM30BOwVQ[/video]15km tarmac to lunch stop at Kluang.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_162.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_176.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_169.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_170.jpgBekok Plantation Shortcut http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUUM30BOwVQLunch over it was a tarmac ride all the way to Pantai Air Papan.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_181.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_182.jpgWe got to the beach road after 90 minutes riding.http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_195.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_197.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_202.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_229.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_240.jpgGroup Picturehttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_259.jpgHeading east, the sun low on the horizon casting long shadows ahead of us. Nicehttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_270.jpgHotel Compoundhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_275.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_277.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_286.jpgDinnerhttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_288.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_291.jpghttp://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/20120428EATRide_292.jpgJust under 500kms covered from KL to Rompin. http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k229/nikhuzlan/20120428%20EATRide%20Day1/Day1map-1.jpgEnd Day ONE

 

[roesman]

Another generous images posted, sir. Thank you!

 

[nikhuzlan]

East Triangle Ride Day 2

The Hotel we stayed in had seen better times. Although its setting is great, as are the facilities which include a Golf Course,
its apparent that its lacking the human touch. The maintenance is poor, and the service below par. They need to buck-up.

This morning we will ride along the East Coast of Peninsula Malaysia. For about 400 of the 500km we will be next to the
South China Sea until we reach Penarik. Although some of us rode on this road just last month on the Peninsula Ride,
we still were looking forward for this segment.

The Hotel

Breakfast

Soon its time to go

Group Photo

Wheels roll at 0830

Our first stop was this roadside cafe just outside Pekan. We have covered over 100km in just about an hour. Time for drinks.

Alex and Barry joined us at Lanjut last night. They will ride with us all the way to Terengganu where they will split to do their own thing.

From Pekan it was just a short ride to Kg Cerok Paloh, Pantai Sepat. A beautiful stretch of sandy beach, this place is always bypassed
especially after the completion of the highway that links Pekan to Kuantan.

We played on the beach during our break.

Hatta did it his way........

The Ladies having fun.....

Elmie's first long trip.

The Ice Cream man passes by. He became a very popular guy.

We rode away after an hour there.

We enered the unopened stretch of highway, about 120km from Penarik.

Eventually we reached Aryani.

After collecting our keys, they allowed us to ride our bikes to the doorstep.

This 100+ year old traditional wooden house was reassembled as a premier suite.

The pool became ours......

End Day 2

 

[roesman]

Best ya...derakh nge moto nie!

 

[nikhuzlan]

East Triangle Ride 2012 Day 3

"Red Sky in the Night, Sailors' Delight, Red Sky in the Morning, Sailors Warning "
The skies were not red this morning so we are expecting great weather today.

Many were up early this morning. Breakfast was at 730AM.

Hatta and Sharliza went for morning walk

"Good Morning" the Swiss way....

Penarek is a sprawling beachside fishing village in the Setiu Area in the North Eastern State of Terengganu.
Towards the north ther is a sandy Peninsula fromed by the Setiu River as it meets the sea,
then parallels the coast for some distance.

Our hotel is just 10km away from the Peninsula so after breakfast,
many came down to ride there. All looking forward to their first riding experience in deep sand.

After a 10 minute ride on smooth tarmac we took a turn onto a sandy track that leads to the Peninsula.

Theories were shared on how to handle deep sand.

Mannu putting the theory to the test, while SP Lee tries another strategy

Looks funnier on video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAExYJD7mUA&feature=relmfu

We rode into what we later called "Forest of Despair"

Goh who also rides a Kawasaki MX bike as well as a Harley Rocker C came on his GSA. He fell down a few times but no sweat. COOL.

Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=to6E5Vz2Yk8&feature=channel&list=UL

Haris survived unscathed

Mannu

It took about 45 minutes to an hour to cover the 3km distance, and at least 25 tipovers. We took a break,
and again discuss riding styles to get out of the " Forest of Despair ".

The first part of the return leg was much better than coming in. The guys were getting better with the " if in doubt, just gassit "
sand riding technique. As a result, very few fell down.

The sandpit was pretty unforgiving. Too much power wheelspin, too little, bog down, too much clutch play, burnt clutch,
and even when everything is done right, bad luck can tip you over.

Its always better to get help than have a burnt clutch or overheating motor.

After coming out of the "Forest of Despair" we had a nice ride through the " Palm Groves of Heaven "

Video : Riding through the "Palm Groves of Heaven " on my GSA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32ykKmFDkS4&feature=relmfu

When we rode off to play in the sand, my wife and the other ladies jumped onto the BMW X1 that was provided by BMW Malaysia /
Auto Bavaria and went to town to do some local shopping.
Best of all they bought plenty of local food for lunch. We had a picnic by the pool.

Hotel was kind enough to provide us with cutlery.

Great food. Not fine dining, but still spectacularly good.

Then we just monkeyed around at the poolside as the guys had their wine and beer.......

From the poolside the South China sea is just 200 metres away.

The ladies however prefers the salt water rather than the pool.

In the meantime, some sights around Aryani Resort.

Jovey and Kevin could not join the full trip so they left KL together for the 550km ride and arrive in the late afternoon.

Washing up before another round of pool swimming

Tonight the Hotel will be arranging BBQ

Dinner starts just after the sun goes down......

Today has got to be the most complete biking holiday Day for me and perhaps the rest as well. We rode our heavy GS into deep sand, had fun and learnt plenty in just a few hours. Then lunch was by the poolside, menu being the best local food available, chilling out with friends as the wind whistles through the many coconut palms around us, the pleasent smell of rhu vegetation everpresent, then a nice BBQ dinner before turning in.

Tomorrow we will be riding across Central Peninsula Malaysia, skirting the Perimeter of the largest lake in South East Asia as we make our way home.

 

[nikhuzlan]

Day 4, Last Day.

On this last day of our trip we will make our way for home. The straight line distance is just over 370km,
but we will be riding on the road that cuts across the Peninsula almost diagonally.
We will be following the coastline of South East Asia's biggest lake,
then we will cut across the World's oldest jungle before joining the main trunk road that links KL to Kota Bharu.

Our route.

We started with a good breakfast

The bikes with the X1 that BMW Malaysia gave us to use as our support vehicle.

We eventually left at 0900.

Aryani Resort is located about 2km from the main road. This is the access road.

Our first stop was the gas station for a fill-up.

Road pics of this interior rural road, deserted for most part of the way.

Lake Kenyir

Group Picture

The plan was to visit the Elephant Sanctuary, so we continued on.

The Elephant sanctuary came to being many years ago. Its primary activity was the relocation of these pachyderms
displaced as the waters of Kenyir Lake began to rise when the dam building started.
Many wild animals were stranded on the numerous man-made islands hence relocation is necessary.
The sanctuary became a halfway house for the elephants before a new site for their relocation is identified.

The Sanctuary

Cute Baby Elephant

We are still awaiting for the Watercooled GS. The elephant has already got this in its system.