Onwards to Chiang Rai and Towards the Laos Border

So this is what it feels like to travel a destination that I had been before trice. No planning required, no stress on road conditions and no rush to go sightseeing. 

I got out of Mae Hong Son loop and headed to Chaing Rai slowly but since I had seen almost everything around this region, there was no point to explore the more difficult remote region during the bad burning season.

Burning Season where the forest is so dry an hot that it got lighted up and the Fire Truck had to put out fires all over the region.

Find a good accommodation, hide and binge watch TV series, work on the blog preparing more post since I knew once I hit China there was little time to do anything else. 

I stock up a lot of post during this free time while waiting for the right date to cross into Laos. Thats way I could release a post twice a week consistently for a few months.

In Chaing Rai there was a few places I always somehow return and even pay the ticket fee to go see the attraction. The white temple was one of them and still captivate me even the thirds time. 

Wat Rong Khun - Chaing Rai 

Singha Park - Chiang Rai

I was also hopping a bit more to cafes to find chill places to do more writing and without a doubt the few last bit maintenance on Bragge was done including the expensive but most worth it bike wash.

Life was good, and the big adventure planned so many many months ago is now on a timer counting down. How do I explain the calm and serenity before the storm. I knew it was going to be a great journey but in the meantime this momentary tranquility while waiting is not so bad as well.

Traveled on: April 2024

Redoing the Nostalgic Mae Hong Son Loop

Time flies. This idiom usually said but not really understood was what I was feeling when I decided to re-ride the Mae Hong Son Loop. 

It has been six years since I last did the loop and it still feel like it was only last year since I explored Thailand with Bluey.

This time around it was during the burning and hot season in the North Thailand during April. It was definitely not enjoyable as the smog blanketed everything lowering visibility, cause so much throat and eye irritation that all I wanted to do was find a good air-condition with air-purifier hostel to hide away. Even the nights were unbearable barely cooling off.

Mae Sariang Daily Evening Market 

This time around I did a simple loop avoiding the climb to Doi Inthanon. Riding was also faster now covering more distance in a day than I was used to previously. First day was to Mae Sariang and this time I made a point to do more side detours during the loop.

From Mae Sariang I had a daytrip to the Salawin River. The roads were different and the people as well. Just accross the Salawin River was Myanmar and it felt like this part a little more remote than usual in Thailand. 

Daytrip to Salawin River 

Salawin River the border of Thailand & Myanmar

My attempt to go through the small jungle road along the Salawin river to emerged into Salawin national park was abandon after 10km or so.

The roads was horrible becoming pure earth path and at the first larger river crossing, I decided the risk was too great and turned around to head back to Mae Sariang. 

First River Crossing and I turned around

From Mae Sariang it was then a day to Mae Hong Son where the beautiful winding roads up and down the mountain became a chore with no scenic view and no fresh air break due to fog

It was a nice reminiscence riding a familiar route. In a way I am now very comfortable just chilling in Thailand. Still there was those few detours I did not knew back then so after Mae Hong Son, I made my way to see the Chinese Regiment Settlement of Ban Rak Thai near the Myanmar border. Everything here felt fake.

Mae Hong Son

Ban Rak Thai was layered with brand new buildings built in the Chinese style architecture with more resorts construction on the way for tourist.

 A disappointment but it was in a way expected since the village had nothing much to offer young sprouts to stay and the little novelty it had was just enough to suck in tourist for some extra income.

Ban Rak Thai

Towards Pai was simple enough and after that I rode out of the loop to Chiang Rai. No more awe jaw-droppingly sightings like I had the first time doing the loop but more of a remembrance that the upcoming trip to Central Asia would be amazing like the first time I explored SEA.

Traveled on: Apr 2024

Celebrating Songkran in Chiang Mai

There is a lot of information online when one asked Google about Songkran yet there is nothing like experiencing it first hand. 

This was my second time celebrating Songkran in Thailand but the first time in Chiang Mai. The last time it was in Bangkok which felt more like a big street water fight festival.

Chiang Mai had more traditional sense to the Songkran Festival mixed with the new water fight trend. Old city was surrounded with a moat of water making the parade or a drive/ride around the old city a full scale splashing event where getting wet was not a choice but a mandatory rite of passage.

Old City Chiang Mai surrounded by Moat 

Songkran in Chaing Mai

It was hot as hell as well in Apr 2024 and the north was filled with burning season from Myanmar, Laos and Thailand making the air filled with smog that went beyond unbearable. 

So a water festival felt nice and here the city was compact enough that the water fight could be walk from one end to another alternating between dry shopping trinket streets to party bars dunking every tourist that walk by.

Temporary Cease Fire for Dinner during Songkran in Chaing Mai

Chaing Mai Tourist Night Bazaar 

I checked into the hostel and stayed anchored just outside the hostel with the crew and their water point. Set inside the old town and not really at the main party street, we still gave no quarter to anyone that dared walked pass the junction. 

I joined the locals splashing everyone with buckets of water and tourist would pause watching us and taking photograph like I was a local.

Joining the Hostel Locals at their water point station

There was a sort of unspoken order as well in Chaing Mai during Songkran. During the day in the morning it was all about the traditional Songkran where possession of Buddha taken out from the temple would parade around the old town. 

One could splash water onto the Buddha statue symbolizing bathing the Buddha and all was civilized. In the evening or rather after lunch, everyone slowly sets up their water stations and by 4pm, the water fights would get so intense that the whole city was drenched. 

Traditional Songkran Festival Parade in Chaing Mai 

Traditional Songkran Parade in Chiang Mai

Songkran Parade in Chiang Mai

Then there was the slow period for dinner and the party continued at night all the way to midnight.

On the third Day of Songkran which supposedly the water festival would die down, I took a risk and make for a day-ride to do Doi Suthep loop. 

Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - Chiang Mai

I was obviously wrong and while riding the countryside roads, the festival was alive as the local indigenous tribes set up watering points along the road to stop cars and bikes before pouring buckets upon buckets of water like a toll fee to pass the road.

It was one of the most authentic part of Songkran that I experience doing the loop as there was no tourist in play and everything was part of the local community. 

Long Neck Tribe girls would be lining up to splash passerby followed by the Hmong and many other tribes. Usually motorbikes are exempt from the splashes base on unwritten and curtesy rule due to the danger of bike skidding out.

The locals however knew how to perfectly splash a bike without hurting them which I experience first hand. A road block. I was forced to slow down all the way to a stop where I was greeted by the unofficial traffic guide and then ten buckets of water would unload on me and Bragge while we were stationary. 

Blessing and cleansing completed, the traffic guide then open the road block wishing me a Happy Songkran for me to go on my merry way.

Few hundred meters later another I would encounter another road block and repeat the cycle.

Traveled on: Apr 2024

A Quick Run to Chiang Mai from Siam Reap in Four Days

I think I was possessed. I left Siam Reap heading straight for the border of O’Smach. There was not much to be said about this border crossing since it was just another repeat. 

Exit Cambodia. Customs TIP Surrender on Right Building then Immigration Exit on Left Building

Only new thing was that the new Cambodian Temporary Import Permit for the bike was surrendered to customs and after stamping out Immigration it was then onwards to Thailand side to repeat the same procedure to stamp in and get a new TIP.

The plan was to stay a night near the border in Surin Province. Riding though the city of Surin at early afternoon since the border crossing was way faster than expected, I decided to push on since I still had four hours of sunlight. 

I actually aimed for a small little village near the Mun river under the municipal of Thatum but upon arrival, all the guesthouse was full.

Roi Et Tower Landmark 

Annoyed that there was no place to stay, I continued on and by the time I settle back into a familiar hotel in Roi Et, it was already sunset and I had done a good 500km from Siam Reap + a border crossing on the same day. 

It would probabaly be the fastest distance covering journey I had ever done with a motorbike in SEA. The momentum and pace continued for the next few days since I was in the zone.

Skip hop to Petchabun to camp a night in Phu Thap Buek mountains before riding through Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park and staying in yet another small little village called Pa Daeng Sub District in Phitsanulok.

Camping in Phu Thap Buek 

Staying at Pa Daeng Sub-District 

Riding Through Uttaradit Rice Fields 

One more day and I was in Lampang within a stone throw of Chiang Mai already. It took me only four days to get here to Lampang covering more than 1000km and I did not even feel exhausted. 

It was the 11 April 2024, and Thai New Year which is also known as the Water Festival would start on 13 April 2024 but what I did not realized that the pre new year festival had already started.

Pre-Battle Songkran in Lampang 

Lampang was already in pre-battle mode and I was skirting very close to be bombarded with water shots before I could even reach Chiang Mai. I took a long detour through smaller road to Chaing Mai going north first near Chae Son National Park and managed to stay dry all the way to the hostel in Chiang Mai.

Just in time to see the biggest festival in Thailand in one of the most cultural city in the North.

Are you Ready for Songkran ? 

Traveled on : Apr 2024

Passing Time in Cambodia

I went though Cambodia this time round as a primary Visa run. I had to stay in Cambodia long enaugh so that once I re-entered Thailand, the one month entry would last me all the way to the begining of May.

So once I got to Pailin and stayed the night, it was a day of gambling in the Casino and then a dash to Siam Reap where I booked a room for a few nights and stayed in to escape the heat. 

If I had never mention this before, Pailin is my fav Gambling Border Town in South East Asia. Easy going, chill, currency accepted in Cambodian Riel or Thai Baht, low limit tables, best hospitality and never too crowded. 

Pailin Flamingo Casino 

Pailin Palace Casino

Yep it was blazing hot during the day in Apr and I just stayed inside the air-condition room every day for three nights only surfacing outside for food and water.

New 361 Cafe just outskirts of Siam Reap

Night time was usually spend just drinking and watching the Pub Street crowd and while I would always come back to Cambodia for the easy access to comfort and ammenities, there was not much left for me to explore in this country.

Pub Street at Siam Reap 

Cambodia became a mandatory stop to get some chores done mainly :

1. Withdraw USD currency for emergencies

2. Extend Visa for Thailand

3. Replenish or Deminish my Bank Acc depending on Casino Luck

After time was up in Siam Reap, I rode in a single day to O’smach border and crossed over to Thailand.

Traveled on: Apr 2024

Breezing Through South Thailand to Pailin – Cambodia.

I have ridden the south route five times now I think and there was not much new path for me to explore. East coast or west coast, almost all the route has been done twice now so there was not much point of lingering too long.

From Hatyai I was doing long distance riding nearly everyday making the route fairly fast for my pace but I know to other bikers opinion, the whole thing could be shortened to two days.

Ao Tho Li View Point of Phang Nga Bay 

The route north I took was :

Hat Yai – Krabi – Phuket (Always visiting Cuz to say Hello) – Laem Son National Park – Hua Hin – Bangkok

Swordfish Sculpture at Krabi 

The famous Patong Beach Nightlife in Phuket 

I could have skipped Krabi – Phuket & Laem Son going stright from Hat Yai to Hua Hin then Bangkok but I guess I was still a little nostalgic to go a slight detour once a while. Bangkok was also unintentional.

Laem Son National Park was a new detour and a simple one. A great place to see the sunset over a the local pier watching some locals sport fishing. This place might become my favarite stop in future going up or down from Malaysia for it was nowhere near the expensive tourist beach and I could use the stop to propel me further without needing to enter Ranong

Laem Son National Park

Laem Son National Park 

I also wanted to skip Bangkok entirely but somehow Bangkok sucked me into the city as my navigation goes haywire with one wrong turn and the redirected route forced me to go through Bangkok traffic. I gave up trying to cross over to Chon Buri within the same day and just stayed in Bangkok for the night.

From Bangkok it was a simple dash to Pailin with only one detour at Chao Lao Beach. In total it took me 8 days to get from Hat Yai to the Cambodian border. It used to take me at least three weeks to reach Cambodia but now I guess I was getting more seasoned to ride longer distance or more stop sleep go cycle.

Chao Lao Beach 

Traveled on: Mar 2024

Riding Through The South Of Thailand Betong & Yala

This was a new route that I had not taken before in Thailand. Very rare but usually the border crossing into Thailand was always through Bukit Kayu Hitam since there was always a rush of time to head north to allow more time spend in central part of Thailand.

This time round I had no rush to go north so instead I choose to do Betong, the southern most town and point in Thailand which also makes it the southern most border of Thailand. Betong had many trophy checkpoint for a traveler just because it was the southern most everything in Thailand.

Crossing into Thailand-Betong 

Betong Old Town

Betong Clock Tower 

The route however was beautiful. Raw nature immediately after leaving the border town, I could see that in the future, Betong could be a long weekend ride for my sanity when I need a break from work but cant go too far away. 

I spend the night in Betong and visited the famous marker of 0 km starting point but found out that it was actually built by a entrepreneur biker and not the Gov of Thailand.

Betong Route 410 - 0 km marker 

The marker became a novelty over time and now it was more like a pilgrimage for bikers and a cheeky checkpoint tourist destination in Betong. 

I had a good chat with the owner which was from Malaysia but had settle down in Betong for long time. When he found out that I was on my way to Central Asia, all the stickers that I was about to buy suddenly became a gift from him.

I spend the second night at a paid campsite in the outskirts of Betong so I could see the famous morning scenery of above the clouds in Betong and then it was slow ride through winding and curvy roads through the dense tropical jungle all the way to Yala.

The Tropical Landscape of Betong - Yala Province

Morning Cloud Mist of Betong 

Simple town Yala with barely any foreign tourist. It was one of those unknown places in Thailand that no tourist would go and only crazy travelers like me trying to find some niche hidden gems. 

Nothing really spectacular but with plenty of time in hand, sometimes these are the little simple gems of watching the normal lives of people flow by.

Yala

After Yala it was an easy ride to Hatyai where my mandatory stop to visit relative for a few days is always a welcome break.

Traveled on: Apr 2024

Border Crossing from Ban Padkad (Thailand) to Phsar Prum (Cambodia) with a Malaysian Registered Motorcycle.

Alright it was time to do a border crossing and as always I was nervous. Cambodia now had a new system compared to when I last tried back in 2018 with Bluey. 

Those days Cambodia did not really have a system in place for a temporary import vehicle so I had to do it the hard way getting a full importation permit.

This border Phsar Prum was one of the border that I had used back in 2018 to exit Cambodia and enter Thailand so this would be actually the first time doing it on the opposite direction. 

I first exit Thailand at Ban Padkad border. Standard process of immigration stamp out and then returning the Temporary Import Permit before moving on to the Cambodian side.

Ban Padkad Border Thailand 

Parked the bike and queue up for an Entry stamp at immigration which was stright forawrd since Malaysian passport did not require a Visa. 

Next I ride around 100m and was stop at a guardpost which just asked for passport to ensure I had the entry stamp before allowing me to proceed.

Left the guard post and I was technically in Cambodia proper already. There was no stops for the bike and I had actually ride nearly 1km onwards trying to find the customs office before decided to turn back to ask the guard post where the customs was.

Immigration 

Customs Building at Cambodia side to get Temporary Import Permit for Bike

Customs Building Entrance at Opposite of Road after entering Cambodia

It almost seams like one could just ride throught without doing the proper paperwork but then maybe the border guard thought I was just a border hopper like all the other Thai registered Vehicle that never leave the border area as they just go in to visit the border Casinos for a short getaway.

Who knows if I might get in trouble without the papers further in Cambodia but I’ll never really know I guess.

Customs Office was apparently on the left side of the main road 20m after the guard post. I rode into the compound and park my bike and went knocking on doors to find the right desk to process Bragge in officially.

The temporary import of Vehicle into Cambodia now goes though electronically via https://tvs.customs.gov.kh/ but it was tricky trying to figure out the registration system. 

The customs officer however offered to do all the online registration on my behalf for a small fee of USD 5. I accepted and he proceeded to create a new account for me, uploading multiple pictures of my motorcycle documents, passport and finally registered the bike for entry.

I was then given a single piece of paper which stated Temporary Import of Vehicle into Cambodia valid for one month. 

With that done, I was good to go roaming around Cambodia. The process was so much more simple now and very similar to Thailand Import system.

Traveled on: Mar 2024

Route Info – From Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) to Laos (Boten)

This time round there was not much motivation for me to explore in Malaysia even though I had started the journey. I went straight for Cameron Highlands looking for cool weather retreat a few days and checked into a cosy hostel to run some routes and planning check again.

For some reason, I make plans and decision best on the road in unfamiliar hostel. I had always love Cameron Highlands for some reason. The mountains has a special call to me that just being there makes the soul smile. Beach are nice but mountains are nicer.

After a few days just lazing around going from one tea place to another it was time to move on. I packed up and went straight to the Thailand border. 

This time around I would cross into Betong a new part of Thailand which I had yet to explore which makes it a great starting and warm up breaking the monotonous ride up north through mostly places that I had visited before.

The route I took this time round was almost 70% a repeat of the previous journey in 2018 with Bluey but there were some new spots along the way.

Route Info - Malaysia to Thailand to Cambodia to Thailand to Laos to China 

Betong to Yala to Hatyai
- A New Route on the most southern part of Thailand

Hatyai to Krabi to Phuket
- A repeated route always to visit cuz in Phuket

Phuket to Laem Son National Park to Hua Hin
- A new National Park to explore but mostly a mad dash covering crazy distance all the way to Hua Hin

Hua Hin
- Usual pit stop to service bike on the way up

Hua Hin to Bangkok
- A repeated route along the coast and salt farms

Bangkok to Chantaburi (Chao Lao Beach)
- Going Through more simple uninteresting roads to skip Chon Buri & Rayong

Chao Lao Beach to Pailin (Cambodia)
- Another mindless dash to the Border so I can Gamble at the Border Casino for a few days

Pailin to Siam Reap to O’Smach
- A repeated route chilling and passing time in Cambodia

O’Smach to Roi Et to Phetchabun
- New Road but Repeated Destination

Phetchabun to Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park to Pa Daeng Sub District
- New Route through remote nature.

Pa Daeng Sub District to Lamphang to Chaing Mai
- New Route & New Destination and for the purpose of celebrating Thailand New Year (Songkran) in Chaing Mai

Chiang Mai to Mae Hong Son Loop (Salawin River Detour + Ban Rak Thai Detour )
- Another run at Mae Hong Son Loop but this time through the north burning season which was horrible

Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong
- A repeated route with familiar destination revisiting same tourist sights.

Chiang Khong to Huay Xai to Luang Namtha to Boten
- A regular route to China

Staying Still

Do you ever feel that moment sometimes when you sit down and do nothing, a glass of water on the table, mind empty and relax thinking of how to reorganize thoughts for things to be done next. 

That blank state for a brief moment where you dont know where to start and yet there is nothing in the thought process pipeline.

My mind was drifting everywhere after that brief moment, plans and route to budget and gadgets to banking apps to managing bills and any other infrastructure while on the road. 

I realized after awhile that all the required items that needed me to be physically here at home (Malaysia) was done and now it was just a matter of waiting for the right time to set off.

Push off too early and I would have to deal with timing the Visa carefully hopping through Thailand and Cambodia before entering Laos. Push off too late and it would be a rush to the border. 

Ideally I had to stay still for at least two more week before push off but staying still doing nothing is harder than one could imagine.

Most times people assume that during my travels, I am in a relax state doing nothing just enjoying the world. Reality is that while I am enjoying the world, doing nothing is rarely the case. 

Constant planning and revising the plan base on new information obtained from hostels, or locals or even passing travelers will constantly disturb and force me to re-evaluate the plans.

So staying still at home alone thinking of when would be the ideal time to set off took me a good long day. A whole day in fact while I go around cooking, packing and just plain scrolling Instagram. 

It hit me somewhere at 2am in the morning while I was watching some TV series. If there was nothing else to do, staying still at home and staying still on the road makes no difference.

Next morning I packed my bags at a leisurely pace, see the blue skies and decided it was a good day to start this journey.

Pushing off - Starting the Journey. 

Traveled on: Mar 2024

My General Info on Motorcycle Travel in Central Asia

If one read all my post on this blog, you will find most of the information but I guess most people would not read everything on this blog anyway. 

It is in a way a personal blog and not tailored for information mongering like other travel blog. Still sometimes I would be oblige to write some specific post such as this one for I feel the information should be shared just because .... just because

Malaysia Customs Country Code = 458

I as a traveler would have love to read something like this before going to Central Asia hence I feel obliged to write one.

OK so some general info. I traveled the following countries in Central Asia and this information is base on my own first hand experience

Country Traveled - Summer 2024
1. Kyrgyzstan
2. Tajikistan
3. Uzbekistan
4. Kazakhstan

Money Matters

1. Kyrgyzstan

- Most Banks ATM only accepts 4 digit pin
- Some Optima Bank ATM accepts 6 Digit pin (the newer ones) however they have a limit of 2000som per withdrawal. I tried and that small withdrawal of SGD 33 cost me a bank transaction fee of SGD 5 per withdrawal. A whooping 15% fee on top of bad exchange rate.
- Demir Bank ATM dispense USD currency but only at ATM that are attached to the bank itself and possibly only during office hours of the bank. Successful USD withdrawal at the following ATM location below
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/nG4dqnD6dKQEziLH7 – Naryn
- https://maps.app.goo.gl/ASSBbSap5uEmoUfT8 – Osh
- Credit Card works at larger establishment but its a 50% hit and miss

2. Tajikistan

- Most Bank ATM only accepts 4 digit pin
- For those going from East to West, entering from Kyzyl-Art Pass, there is no ATM from Murghab to Eskashem. We had to change USD to Tajik Som for the duration of the journey.
- Credit Card is almost useless unless in Dushanbe.

3. Uzbekistan

- Credit Card usage is widely accepted but they will add a surcharge to the bill.
- ATM withdrawal will incur ATM fee of 15,000 som for 1,000,000som. If withdrawing 2,000,000 will incur 20,000som etc.

4. Kazakhstan

- Credit Card is accepted everywhere almost to a point where cash is not required. There is also no surchage for using credit card so you pay what is shown on the bill.
- ATM accepts 4 digit & 6 digit pin

Tourist Visa
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)

2. Tajikistan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)
- However if staying beyond 10 days in Tajikistan, one will need to further register at OVIR for a fee of USD 25

3. Uzbekistan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)

4. Kazakhstan
- Malaysian Visa Free :)

Miscellaneous Permits
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Kyzyl-Art Border Exit / Entry Permit is required in advance for crossing this particular border. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh. Cost of Permit USD 20
- Border Zone Permit. Only required if one is visiting special area near border zone. I did not use.

2. Tajikistan
- GBAO Permit. Required for travelling the Pamir Region. I obtained it through a travel agency called Destination Pamir which is based in Osh.

3. Uzbekistan
- Hotel Registration Slip. Every day a registration slip is printed and given from the hotels in Uzbekistan. This may or may not be checked upon exit. Possibility of fine if not comply. I had everything in order and immigration never even asked for it.

4. Kazakhstan
-NIL

Temporary Vehicle Import Permit for Motorcycle
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is one year. Free
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Torugart Border (Entry)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrived at Bishkek Border . Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit was retrieved at Kyzyl-Art Border (Exit)

2. Tajikistan
- Validity of Temporary Vehicle Import Permit is 30 days (Need to request else they will issue a 15 days permit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Kyzyl-Art Border (Entry) – Cost USD 10
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not retrieved at Panjakant Border (Exit). Only key into system for exit.

3. Uzbekistan
- No papers for Temporary Vehicle Import Permit. Only keyed into system for entry and exit.

4. Kazakhstan
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit not issued nor retrieved at Korday Border. Only keyed into system (Entry & Exit)
- Temporary Vehicle Import Permit issued at Shymkent Border (Entry)

Vehicle Insurance
1. Kyrgyzstan
- Mandatory but not enforced.
- Purchase at Bishkek under Jubilee Insurance

2. Tajikistan
- Did not purchase.

3. Uzbekistan
- Did not purchase.

4. Kazakhstan
- Mandatory, partially enforced.
- Purchased at Almaty from Nomad Insurance

Petrol

1. Kyrgyzstan
- 95 Octane at bigger cities otherwise 92 Octane in small towns

2. Tajikistan
- Forget about 95 Octane petrol. 92 Octane is unavoidable.

3. Uzbekistan
- 95 Octane in main cities only and bigger stations. 92 Octane in small towns. Be wary of 91 Octane and 80 Octane.

4. Kazakhstan
- 95 Octane, 98 Octane ... No Fear in Kazakhstan for petrol other than long distance between points with desolated landscape.

Well that's the short summary. Check out the border crossing post if you want to know how it went. Or message me if you need some specific questions and I’ll try my best to answer them.

Traveled on: Summer 2024

My Motorcycle Packing List for A Long Journey

Packing list. There is never a right way to do it but its always interesting to see what people bring along for their overlanding journey. Even now on the road, when I see another overlander and we hang out we are always curious what the other vehicle is carrying and what kinda funky gadgets is in play.

This is my list in the beginning of the journey. The things I thought I would need and use the most but later during the travels, perspective would change and things would break so some added foot-notes to the list will be done for things that I would have changed if I would do it all over again with wisdom of being through the journey once.

Camping in Issyk-Kul - Kyrgyzstan 

Kick Off Packing List

Motorcycle Gear
1. Bike – GPX Legend Tiwn II 250
2. Helmet – LS2 Advant FF906
3. Maxto – Bluetooth Com’s + Camera
4. USB Charger
5. Universal Motorcycle Windshield
6. Taichi Air Parka RSJ328 – Riding Jacket
7. Sulaite Thermal + Waterproof Riding Pants
8. Komine PK718 Riding Jeans
9. Aluminium Top Box 65 Liters
10. Mad Fox Cavalry 35 Liters Soft Pannier Side Bags X 2
11. Magnetic Tank Pouch
12. Bungee Cable x 2
13. Mini Rear Tyre Side Jack
14. Tyre Air Compressor Pump
15. Tool Kit (Spannar, Screwdrivers, Allen-keys, Tyre Repair Kit, Clutch Cable + Stopper)
16. Handle Cover Set
17. Handle Warmer Set
18. Gloves x 3
19. Leg Gaiters
20. Arm Sleeves
21. Latex Rain Shoe Condoms
22. Pole Rain Coat Set
23. Bycycle Number Lock X 2

Camping Gear
25. Naturehike – Cloud Up 1 Person Tent
26. Karrimor Travelight 2 – Sleeping Bag
27. Pacoone – Sleeping Air Mat
28. Flextail X Pump
29. Camping Chair
30. Lixada Multifuel Stove + Fuel Bottle
31. Mini Fuel Pump
32. Pot-Kettle Set
33. Mini Fan
34. Nex Multi-tool (Knife, Scissors, Pliers, Can Opener, etc)

Clothings + Personal Items
35. Laptop
36. Universal Adapter
37. Bluetooth Earphones
38. Bluetooth Portable Speaker
39. Wireless Mouse
40. Crumpler Spring Peeper S – 40 Liter Duffle Bag
41. Sling Bag – 1 Liter
42. Northface Medium Fleace Jacket (A Fake but works like real ....^^)
43. Spare Spectacles
44. Heat Tag Shirt X 2
45. Heat Tag Leggings X 2
46. Toiletry Bag
47. Long Sleeve Jumper X 1
48. T-Shirt X 7
49. Long Pants X 1
50. Short Pants X 2
51. Underwear X 10
52. Socks X 3 pair
53. Travel Towel X 1
54. Bandana X 1

MISC + Consumables
55. Bag Rain Cover X 2
56. Food Container 8.4 Liters X 1
57. Food Container 2.9 Liters X 2
58. Liquid Dishwashing Soap in Hand Sanitizer Bottle X 1
59. Hydroflask Water Bottle
60. Luggage Strap for Duffle Bag X 2
61. Mini Number Travel Lock X 1
62. Belt Strap X 2
63. Mini Funnel
64. Chain Lube X 1
65. Engin Oil X 3
66. Alchohol Base 70% Wet Wipes X 2 pkt
67. Chicken Rendang X 4 Cans
68. Rolling Tobacco X 10 Pkt
69. Tobacco Slim Filter X 7 Pkt
70. Tobacco Rolling Paper X 21 pcs
71. Tiger Balm X 1
72. General Body Powder X 1
73. Cable Tie X 1 Bundle
74. Sunblock X 1

Well the above is the comprehensive list of things I started off with. Now for the wisdom of what I would do differently if I knew what I knew now then.

Item 64 to 74 may seams weird for packing so much consumables that could be easily bought along the road such as tobacco or food or engine oil is actually one of my correct choices. 

It was meant to take up space during the initial stage so that if I needed to free up space, I just need to consume the items. In a way it is a space reserve tactic which also allows me to understand how much extra space I had left.

Item 7 Sulaite Thermal + Waterproof Riding Pants is one of those item that could be improved. I totally love it in Tibet and all the cold and wet region but after nearly three months now, it is no longer waterproof and there is a leak somewhere. 

Waterproof riding thermal pants are great but I would invest on a more better durability next time instead of the cheapest one I could find.

Item 9 Aluminum Top Box 65 Liters could be reduced to 45 liters. While I love the 65 liters, I have come to realized that the big box really is a burden to the racking frame of the bike. 

A smaller box would lessen that burden so much more preventing all the stress when the frame breaks and the box tumble off.

Item 21,38,39, is totally unused 99% of the time. I would leave it behind the next time

Item 56, 57, Food Container can use a smaller size. The large food box I have come to realized is not required and food can be bought for just one to two days capacity instead of storing 5 days capacity. Camping habit's also found me not doing continuous camping due to finding a shower every alternate day.

Things not on the initial list that I would carry from the start next time round.

1. Water Straw Filter
2. Two Part Metal Epoxy repair kit
3. A proper mini ratchet tool kit. Currently The one I have is a cheap and bulky set
4. Fix up spot lights ( Currently mine was added on midway through the journey )
5. Custom make some engine guard / crash bar
6. Don’t be stingy on camping gear. I opted alot for cheap gears in camping going to online shops buying mostly knockoff copycat version from China. There are cheap and dirt cheap variation and luckily the cheap was still fairly good but things weardown after awhile and camping gear replacement is hard to find on the road espescially specific types like multi-fuel burners

Traveled on: Summer 2024