Tioman Island

The Island 29.03.09
So off to the Island, the boat ride out was not really much to talk about, the sea was calm the weather was warm and the company was pleasant. The island was two hours boat ride from Mersing to Tioman. Now Tioman has a interesting local story to tell. The dragon Queen headed out from china to travel towards Indonesia, on her way she got hungry so she stopped off the coast of Malaysia to feed and refresh, she enjoyed the waters so much she decided to stay and became Tioman Island. So I was staying on a dragon, how cool is that. Anyway we arrive at our destination on the island a village called Salang. It seemed a sleepy village on arrival and that first impression lasted, I found out later that it can get very busy later in the year, so perfect timing on my part.
My rest stop for the next few nights was right down the end of the bay, Salang Resort, I have to say not the best place I have stayed but good none the less. After exploring the bay which took all of 30 minutes, and then having a swim. Thank the gods the water was warm, finally I could swim without a wet suit on. That night the heavens opened up once more lucky for me I was not on my bike this time.
Later I had dinner with a German couple Paul and Maria, and a Finnish man Markku, interesting considering I could not speak German. But I kinda could make out some of what they were saying. The next day I planned to walk over the hill to Monkey bay so invited the couple and the fin along.
Monkey Bay 29.03.09.
The trek started from the end of the village and headed up for about 45 minutes then 15 minutes down and your at monkey bay.. The four of us headed out, I had my trusty leatherman to slash back any under growth that got in our way.
I knew it was going to be man verses nature and nature always has a way of kicking mans arse. These came in the form of mossies, as big as your hand they swooped in. Luckily it was nothing a bit of bush mans mossie repellent could not stop. About 15 minutes after starting the uphill climb, we lost one of our group, the German fella Paul struggled with the steep terrain and headed back. He was going to catch a boat and meet us at the bay. That’s right you could get to the bay by boat for $10 NZ.
So the three of us carried on, the tracks were slippery and dangerous in places, the mosquitoes still hounded our progress and the forest was closing in more and more. As we moved deeper in the woods away from the village the temperature climbed. As we reached the top of the hill we were all covered in sweet, the track down was no different from the track up, steep and unforgiving.
About ½ an hour into the descent we thought that maybe we had missed the track to the beach, I scouted out in front to check the terrain out and see where the track lead, I was maybe fifty paces away when I heard a noise coming from above, looking up I spotted something that looked like a over grown squirrel, it was wondering through the tops of the trees oblivious to the battles going on below.
After deciding we were still on the right trail we carried on. We could hear the sound of gently breaking waves and knew we were close to our goal. After finally breaking through that last little bit of under growth we emerged out onto golden sands, clear blue sea and sun. The bags were dropped and the swimming started, the water was very clear and warm.
After about half an hour the sound of a boat could be heard off in the distance. The Paul had arrived. It was decided that Maria and Paul would head back in the boat and Myself and Markku would walk back, braving the Moquitoes and the other creatures of the forest. After about another hour we decide to head back stopping at a bay just around the corner.
On the Decent into the next bay after walking about half way back up the hill we realized we were being watched from above by a group of monkey’s. A troop of maybe 10 to 15 makak monkeys hung from the trees enjoying a mid day snack as we trooped passed. As we got closer to the shore we also came across an iguana of a medium size. After it had gladly posed for some shots, it wondered off in to the under growth.

The next bay was not as good as the first so it was a quick stop and then back to the track the mosquitoes and slippery path. Just on the last 100 or so metres the heavens opened up and the track became a bit treacherous. We made it through safe and sound. That night we sat round eating stingray and laughing about the days adventures, Ok so the track was not that bad but it did fill in a few hours and was a bit of a adventure. The Next day was a around the island trip, stopping at a bay, water fall and snorkeling. Now snorkeling was the reason to come to the island.
The day Trip 29.03.09
The day of the trip started with clearing skies and a bit of wind. We went down to the wharf to catch our boat, leaving time 10:30 there were just four of us book through our agent but then it became clear there were more to arrive. After ½ hour delay to our departure waiting for a couple from Singapore we were off. So there was 9 on the trip Two German girls and a German guy, an English couple, a couple from Singapore, Markku the Fin, and me and our two guides. The wind had picked up and the sea was a bit rough, but I knew as soon as we were around the corner it would calm down as we would be behind the island.
The first stop on the trip was a bay called Juara. A very tranquil beach with clear water and a few guest houses. The stop here was long enough for a swim and a drink then it was back in the boat to the water fall. All long the coast we spotted these little villages clinging to small bays with nothing else around, a hermit would be happy in these parts. The island was pretty amazing on this side, cliffs everywhere shooting up out of the ground reaching for the stars, a thick tangle of jungle and golden sand beaches.
As we pulled into the jetty at the water fall we all disembarked for the walk to the waterfall, now what I thought would be a dirt covered track ended being a concrete covered stair case up to a not so impressive water fall, the good thing was it was cool and clear and refreshing. As we made our way back to the boat our guides had got some fish off a local trawler and had cooked this over an open fire. I tried some of the fish which was nice.
After stopping for lunch it was finally time for some snorkeling. Having eaten a bit too much at lunch curtsy of the Singaporean couple we put on our gear and headed over board into the deep blue sea. The snorkeling area was a small island just off the coast, we were not the only tour group here but there was plenty of room.
The fish were incredible, all the colors of the rainbow were present, all different sizes, shapes it was wonderful to see. As I swam about I came across a see snake, now I was told to swim the other way if you see one of these as they can get unpleasant if disturbed, I keep my distance and let it get about it’s business. I then looked up to fined I had swam away from the others so headed back in their direction, that when I saw it, moving out of the shadows, gliding through the water, a shark, my first time seeing a shark that was not in captivity. The shark brought on no fair within me just fascination, I should put here that it was only about 3-4 foot long.
I let the others know what I had seen and carried on my search for more underwater life. I managed to see a stingray as well which was great. After getting out of the water and swapping stories of the deep it seems there were two other bigger sharks out there with the one I had seen, these had probably swam passed me as I was fascinated by the smaller shark which is good because I may have crapped myself if I had seen the bigger ones.
After the snorkeling we stopped at a couple more places of little significance. Our guide then dropped us off for a final snorkel by an island just off Salang bay. It was a shame to see the destruction of the coral reef caused by the big boats that come in between the island and the mainland. It was not until you move around to the sides of the island that the coral comes to life again. The fish seemed more abundant it these areas. I only hope that they do not ruin this great natural resource and can manage it for the future.
Once back on the Island we headed off for showers and then we meet later to have dinner and talk about our day. It was a great day and very enjoyable company. I am now back on the mainland waiting for the day to pass so I can sleep and then head out on the bike again tomorrow, all going to plan it should be a few days of 70 to 80 km before my next break time. About 4 day to be precise, then maybe some surfing if there is a storm off the coast.

Singapore

Kota Tinngi to Mersing

Well what a day 92km, 6.5 hours. It started of all sweet and dandy, flat run out of the city just after 6am; sun was an hour or so away from rising. The birds were chirping and so was everything else.

Before for I start the road trip, the Nasha hotel in Kota tinngi is also used as a brothel, the love hotel, as Peter reeves puts it. From about 10 till about 2 in the morning lots of comings and goings, luckily I slept through most of it, I did say most but not all.

Anyway back to the ride, the first hour went well, averaged about 20km an hour and then it all slowed down to about 15km got to see some wild life on the way, I came across a large lizard at one point. It was DOMA (Dead on my arrival) After a 15 minute autopsy I deduced that it had been struck by something large and moving at high speed. Well I said to myself what moves at high speed around here, after a few minutes I gave up and got back on the bike and headed away.

Thinking about the lizard kept my mind away from the pain that was my arse, after a few km back on the bike that went away after it had gone num, I found another animal on the road which was also DOMA, a spotted cat of some sort. Another mystery never to be solved. The km were soon passing by, I knew this by all the signs on the side of the road, after you think you have been riding for ages and then you see the next sign and you have only gone 5 km it can get a bit annoying to say the least.

After eating bread and eggs which I had got the night before for breakfast, I stopped around 9 for second breakfast; this meant I would have about 40km left to go, not so bad. O did I mention there are lots of hills between Kota Tanngi and Mersing, No flat road at all. Legs were not too bad at this stage, the thing was the hill got a little bigger or that could have been that I was just slowing down. We know that would never happen.

Around the 30km mark my right Knee (the bad one) started to get sore, Could not really stop so just battled on, braving the pain, the heat of the sun and the crazy traffic. In Malaysia it is fine to pass into corners and also fine to just make it in before the other car coming the other way has to drive off the road. Gets exciting at times.

Anyway at about the 80km make the clouds seemed to darken somewhat and yes you guessed it the heavens opened up and the rain came down in buckets. It was very very nice, cooled me down a treat and wet everything in two out of the three bags I have. So have spent the afternoon drying things out. yippy...

After arriving in Mersing, using just my left leg to peddle as my right had had enough, no problem with my arse any more and then finding the hotel I was going to stay in had closed down
I managed to find somewhere and have booked tickets for ferry and hotel on Island, now I know I could get to island and find a place but the prices were about what was in the lonely bible I mean planet.

So am off to the Island of Pulau Tioman, lots of snorkeling and relaxing. I think I deserve a bit of a break.

Johor Bahru to Kota Tinggi

Well not much to say on this leg. Had a pretty amazing thunder storm last night and that's been about the highlight. It was all high way riding today, the good thing about it is your riding through forest most of the time. The truck smoke is pretty bad, so have be using my Bandana as a face mask which helps. Have a big day tomorrow to mersing and then hopefully I can relax on a beach for a few days. Bring on the beach. I have not seen another westerner since I left Singapore but should catch up with a few in mersing not that thats a big thing as the locals are very friendly and are always asking questions.

So I'm just exploring Kota Tinggi, and there an't much here. The bum is becoming a bit sore but hopefully it will harden up a bit soon, just have to keep on going.

Flights

Well I made it; Auckland to Brisbane was a good flight with some sleep on the way and a couple of hours sleep at Brisbane airport.. Then the fun began. 7 1/2 hours of crying babies, there was not just one baby, but 3, when one stopped the next one started, lucky for me there were some good movies so that occupied most of my time. There was some poor Irish guys sitting next to me who still had to fly on to Dublin.. Poor buggers..

The hotel in Singapore was really nice and they upgraded me for free, which was sweet. So I manage to get about 7 hours sleep there before my alarm woke me a 6. Took 1/2 hour to put my bike back together and there was nothing left in the box. So after doing the obligatory photos and getting some very dodge direction I set off in search of Malaysia, Big country should not be to hard. Well after finding 3 roads with the same name and finding out that you can’t ride on a freeway I brought a map, no GPS, bugger. Because of the freeway problem I had to negotiate the Streets of Singapore.

So off I set again with the sun rising in the west, yep wrong way again.. Sun rising in east back up the road I had just ridden down, I was back on track. The Map was not the best to say the least, it was the latest but for some reason some roads were a lot longer then the map showed.

So as the sun started rising higher in the sky I moved slowly toward the boarder, which because I could not use the freeway took about 4 hours that was with plenty of stops looking at the map to check I HAD NOT GONE WRONG AGAIN and food stops, must feed the beast I made it to the border crossing, now this was fun to, Singapore was stamp and away I went, and it kept going and then I thought I was in the right place but no still had more to go.

Finally got to the right place with the Malaysian border guard laughing at me, just because I looked like I had just been dragged up a river backwards. Made it across the border and am now in Johor Bahru, Great place, real nice. NOT. The door to my hotel says not to open door to anyone unless front desk rings first. But I am clean and ready for dinner soon and an early night. The roads are much better first thing.

I am also going to run the freeway, as this will be much quicker to get out of here..
Well must go have Glasses to buy and my room to lock myself in for the night. The recommended restaurant does not look to good either, may have to find some thing a bit nicer..

Notes from the farm

Hi all the packing is almost done. The bike is just about ready and it should be all go for next week. The travel route is some what planned with room to move. The bike weight has climbed a bit so might be some trimming of some fat, who needs two pairs of underwear anyway. I sure their will be something I forget but that can be sorted when I get there.

The farm has been pretty good the chickens have run a muck the cows are their usual moaning selves, always complaining about not being feed enough, and the Lab(dog) is still eating as much cow crap as she can, which is a bit discusting, but thats Labradors for you.

My parents have had me working while down here, it has not been all plain sailing, so far have chopped up 4 trees, water blasted 1/4 of the house and have only been subjected to one day of fishing which has been a bit disappointing. It was a bit ruff out at sea. Waves breaking over the bow and a limited amount of edible fish, but it was good to be out on the ocean, sea spray in the face and the smell of fish on my clothes.

Anyway the next blog I will be somewhere in Asia, Feel free to make comments and let me know what is happening here in NZ by email.

Take care all

Steve