Cameron Trip

[TEEWM]

Leave on Thu 6Dec07 morning and back on the same day or maybe the next. A long and tiring ride, but should be fun. Welcome to tag along.

[Meat Eater]

Leave on Thu 6Dec07 morning and back on the same day or maybe the next. A long and tiring ride, but should be fun. Welcome to tag along.

where u going sia???

[299]

What he means he is going and coming back on the same day for Cameron.

[TEEWM]

Yes, to & fro Cameron on the same day.

 

Why????

 

My buddy is returning to England late Dec07 for good. He wanted to see Cameron Highlands. So, that's why.

 

We are both on BMW. Anyone bored or senseless and are complete idiots like us can join us.

[TEEWM]

FYI

 

Change of plans. Have to be back in Singapore tomorrow evening.

 

We are leaving now (2pm) towards 2nd Link from Bt Panjang.

 

Jeremy (my friend) wants to ride in the rain. Crazy ang mo.

 

Thanks to the 2 fellows who even brother to send a reply to my message.

 

If there are any future short trips, and an old man like me can tag along, please let me come.

[lao uncle]

I think you will reach CH at around 10pm+ if you ride fast enough. Normally it will take around 8 hours to reach CH with only short fuel breaks. That is in the daytime riding.

 

Night riding up is dangerous especially along the old road with sharp bends and maybe sands or stones at bends.

 

Ride safe.

[slowpoke]

ups for u hardcore bmw riders.. take the simpang pulai route at nite safer... its longer but safer la.. hehe me also a ah pek bmw rider.. hope to join u guys

[TEEWM]

Some advises for anyone riding to Cameron:

 

1) December is very wet (from experience, visited last year and just came back yesterday). Not a good time to ride up. Couple of locals we spoke to said mid year is a better period to visit. Do not know if that is true.

 

2) Do not ride up at night. The sharp bends and misty weather can be very dangerous. If you do, don't speed and be alert. Wear warmly so that you do not shiver.

 

3) Do not ride up alone...especially at night. Takes about an hour from foot of hill (or is it mountain?).

 

4) Have a brighter head lamp if travelling at night.

 

5) If visit during peak period, make sure book room in advance.

 

6) Get a map or updated GPS of Cameron.

 

7) Be aware of animals on the road, eg buffalo.

 

8) If asking for directions, ask the personel in the petrol station or police. Some (not all) locals maybe nasty and deliberatly give wrong directions.

 

9) Do not be surprised or angry if vehicles tail gate you. Just move to the side safely. Many Malaysian vehicles tail gated me. There was one van who tail gate me and follow me for about ten minutes. When it overtook me, I realised it was the local police.

 

10) Many road works from KL to Cameron. Be careful as the three or two lane roads may merge into one.

 

 

Summary of my trip:

 

My buddy Jeremy rode very fast (sometime up to 160 in the rain (very heavy) on Wed and I could not catch up (I was doing 140). Lost him before Malacca.

 

Near KL, I met a guy named Michael Tan (very friendly and helpful Singaporean aged 50+) on Harley. We rode together and reached foot of Cameron at 10pm. He was going to Ipoh...solo from Singapore.

 

I rode up Cameron alone, in the dark, while raining and cold with occasional mist.

 

Scary...like a horror movie. I was more worried about the unknown. I do not want to do that alone again.

 

When I reached the top (around 11pm), took me almost an hour to locate the resort we booked. I got lost (Jeremy had my GPS) and received wrong directions from 4 different people.

 

We were so tired and the weather was so bad, we stayed one night (Strawberry ... Resort) and moved down the hill to another resort (Clearwater ... Resort, better facility but the food is just ok) for another night.

 

Jeremy stayed longer as other friends drove up. I rode home alone slowly. Took me about five hours to reached Tuas Checkpoint.

 

After a ride, always glad to be home.

[TEEWM]

Lao Uncle, thanks for the warning. I am riding a 1150R. How about you?

 

Slowpole, yes, I did used Simpang Pulai, thanks to my guardian angel, Michael Tan on his impressive Harley. Thanks for the information.

[slowpoke]

im on a ah pek r1100r.. your junior i guess.. hehe... hope u had a gd experience

[lao uncle]

I too is an old uncle riding a scooter 400cc, alway riding alone because I work in service industry that is working during weekend.

 

Travelling up mountain I alway plan to do during daylight time as mention about fog and wet and unlited road. Travelling along the NSHW can be done during the night as it is straight forward.

[TEEWM]

After riding alone, I now have new-found respect for all solo riders.

 

I usually travel with at least a buddy.

 

Do email me if you need a buddy for short trips. However, wife's consent must be obtained first.

[TEEWM]

Slowpoke

 

It was a most exciting trip for me. Can't wait for my next challenge. However, need to rest & recuperate now. Muscle aching all over from the trip.

 

If you have any plan for short trip, do email me.

[slowpoke]

I too is an old uncle riding a scooter 400cc, alway riding alone because I work in service industry that is working during weekend.

 

Travelling up mountain I alway plan to do during daylight time as mention about fog and wet and unlited road. Travelling along the NSHW can be done during the night as it is straight forward.

 

 

im in the service industry too.. i fully comprehend ur situations.. haiz.. wat do do

[slowpoke]

Slowpoke

 

It was a most exciting trip for me. Can't wait for my next challenge. However, need to rest & recuperate now. Muscle aching all over from the trip.

 

If you have any plan for short trip, do email me.

 

yes sir... hope we can have a short warm up trip soon.. cos i've been away from touring for a quite a while...

 

if u happen to have any ideas, feel free to voice n discuss

[wait4me]

U guys went for touch and go kind of trip wan ah ??

[TEEWM]

Due to work commitment, cannot go for long trip.

 

So far ... max 3 day 2 night. Usually 2 day 1 night or day trip.

 

Do not mind the distance or destination, just have to be back for work.

 

For me, the main thing is the ride.

[TEEWM]

Slowpoke

 

BMW Motorcycle Club is having a Breakfast ride on 29Dec07.

 

Are you going?

[slowpoke]

is it? where to? im also ok for short trip...

 

but must be weekday cos svc line weekends burnt.. hehe.. best if falls on mon..

[TEEWM]

Just came back from Genting on Monday night. I drove up with my wife over the week-ends.

 

The Breakfast ride is on 29Dec07, on Saturday. Meeting at 7am at Esso, Gelang Patah. Team leader is Peter Ho.

 

Preferably BMW only. BMW non-members are welcome.

 

Later this afternoon, my 3 friends (2 BMW & Honda) and myself are riding up to KL. Spending the night there and back tomorrow. Going there to buy rugby ball. Heard that Giberts are cheap there.

[TEEWM]

Summary of my latest trip:

 

Only 3 BMW made the trip (others cancelled at last minute).

 

On Wednesday, had dinner at JB, then travel to Nilai (approx 280 from JB...forgot exact distance) for roti-prata. Tasted my first Bomb prata. Basically prata with sugar.

 

Made friends with a very charming chinese man (60++ Malaysian Mr Tan) who seems very impressed with stories of our previous trip. He is a retired school principal.

 

We stayed overnight at his home (surprisingly generous and trustworthy), an usually large semi-detached house. In the living room, on the wall, he had photographs of himself receiving an award from the Agong of Malaysia. Very impressive. He also had a vast collection of antique chinese tea sets.

 

In the morning, he, his wife (a current vice-principal) and daughter (21 year old who just came back from studies in NZ-Wellington) brought us for dim-sum. Food is only so-so, but we are very appreciative.

 

We then head out to KL (approx 44 km). Road was not really congested, maybe due to Hari Raya. Had lunch, visit memorial site "Plaza Tugu Negara" where there is a very huge statue commemorating the brave soldiers of previous wars. Very impressive. People should visit this place. Our Malaysian friends too suffer and fought bravely during the World Wars.

 

Then we visited Batu Cave. Climbed the steps (approx 200 steps, very steep, so should climb slowly at own's pace). There is a stench in the cave, but bearable. In the cave, there is a temple. Through the cave, there is another flight of steps (not too much, but very steep and narrow) that leads to a higher ground. Many monkeys and some pigeons. Did not see any bat.

 

Then we went to Malacca. Stayed ten minutes and head out to Yong Peng to have dinner and buy tib-bits.

 

Travel home. Reached Tuas at approx 10pm.

 

Always glad to be home.