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**saralou** · #**2926** 4 Mar 2018

We were leaving the restaurant and there was a huge non-moving line of vehicles that was not there half an hour ago. This turned out to be a 10 km long grid lock resulting from a semi trailer/van head on with the semi turned over in the middle of the town of Bentong spilling it’s load of cooking oil (slippery). We split the lanes and rode in the oncoming lane until we got about 2 km and into the town proper, where 5 lanes of vehicles were stopped and not even the mopeds could get thru. Here we did not move for 15 min in the oppressive heat and humidity. Luckily before we immolated we began to move. This meant more weaving, splitting, riding on the shoulder, riding on the sidewalk, and then oncoming lane until we finally made it past the accident. It was then back to the main road and then the highway and a 20 km ride to the exit to the village of Janda Baik where we were staying at a biker camp housed in a traditional Malay home.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 19.53.17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We did have a few wrong turns on the way there and when the GPS said “driving on the hiking trail” it should have been a hint. A phone call later and we made it onto the correct road to the house where we arrived pretty hot and tired after 338 km. It is situated by a bubbling creek and the only other noises are the geckos and frogs. The best part is there is no WIFI!

FILE5798 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE5805 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE5822 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE5858 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-16 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-17 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-18 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-14 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-15 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-12 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2927** 4 Mar 2018

We set out from the home stay and road back to the main road with the plan to get 256 km to Melaka (Malacca).

FILE5867 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE5878 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.35.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

First item on the agenda was to head up to the Genting highlands for breakfast at Coffee bean and Tea Leaf.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 19.53.52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We were shocked to see the amazing 6 lane divided highway up to the mountain top, which is covered with hotels and casinos all owned by the same company.

The ride up and down is pretty nice with huge sweeping turns and some switch backs.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 19.54.51 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1285 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE6002 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2928** 4 Mar 2018

We did not have to go into Kl, but the weather is so nice today and the forecast for the weekend when we plan to be back in not great. This was actually quite fast to get in and then out in the middle of the day. We made directly for the Twin Petronas towers for the iconic photo op.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 19.54.38 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-21 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-23 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-25 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-27 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-29 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-30 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-32 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2929** 5 Mar 2018

We rode south past Port Dickson and stopped for a rest at the beach near Si Rusa.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.35.22 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE6078 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE6112 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1304 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2930** 5 Mar 2018

Stopping for cold drinks and bags of fruits we did not recognize and had not tasted before!

IMG_1300 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1301 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2931** 5 Mar 2018

From here we then headed south to the old city of Melaka (Malacca) after 256 km. This town is full of tourists that have come to see the old English, Dutch, and Portuguese settlement. We enjoyed a traditional fish hot pot for dinner and then the very touristic 3 wheel bike tour of the city.

Malaysia-45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-35 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://youtu.be/xXoDwIALmcA

**saralou** · #**2932** 6 Mar 2018

Today we are riding to the southern most point of Continental Europe at Tanjung Piai and will be joined by Apis and his wife Azizah who are friends of Faizals.

We went the faster way on the highway as it is 260 km just to the point. More fun moto toll detours.

FILE0032 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0048 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2933** 6 Mar 2018

You exit the highway with 56 km to go on the secondary roads. When we got to the parking they would not let us ride the bikes up the ramp to the monument. Actually Faizal did ride his, but the security guard ran over right away to kick him out. So we all walked over for the “end of the road” picture. Not exactly the epic Inuvik/Ushuaia/Cabo San Vicente/Nord Kapp photo we planned.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.37.45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0046 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1509 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1519 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-46 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-47 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-50 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2934** 6 Mar 2018

We have been invited to the home of Apis and Azizah for the night in their town near Ayar Tawar. This route is mostly secondary highway, but there is a lot of traffic. This meant some Asian motorcycle driving skills were needed especially for 5 big bikes, 3 of which have luggage. This is riding at speed in heavy traffic with passing on the left and right, and splitting. So it was a bit stressful at times, but exciting as well. After 6 months in Asia we are pretty agile.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.42.11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The family lives in a small enclave in the south east of Malaysia and they kindly offered to host the 4 of us for the night.

IMG_1518 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-52 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.40.04 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0059 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1584 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2935** 6 Mar 2018

Their house is near their fish farm where we went to catch our dinner. We had a fun evening trading war stories from around the world and Faizal and Andy scared Apis with their GS Trophy experiences into starting his training for the Mongolia GST next summer.

IMG_1361 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1362 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1365 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1363 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1366 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-54 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-56 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-58 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-59 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-61 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-62 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2936** 7 Mar 2018

There was a massive rain storm during the night, but it was just misting when we left at 8. Apis and the kids were going to have breakfast with us, but the local place was packed when we arrived and the one at the main road was closed and so we headed off alone towards the highway. We found an open spot for some spicy sticky rice and egg pancakes.

Malaysia-66 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-67 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE0065 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The other 2 guys took off from here for KL (390 km on the freeway) as Andy has to be at the airport at 6 pm for his flight to Bangkok.

Screen Shot 2018-03-07 at 12.46.43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2937** 7 Mar 2018

We went about half way back on the secondary roads until it started absolutely pouring and we then headed west the 25 km over to the freeway at Yong Peng. It had stopped raining by then and within 15 km we were air dried.

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.41.59 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Screen Shot 2017-12-09 at 20.42.11 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The traffic got a bit heavier 30 km from the city, but not too bad until the last 10 km. Here we had to ride in the ER lane on the shoulder and sometimes squeeze by on the left when there was no lane. Otherwise we would have been cooked in the very humid 34 degrees after 432 km. We checked into the hotel, which is located on the 4 th floor of a parking garage! Well the access is and the hotel is built onto this so the parking is stellar. Our lucky day again as there is a coin operated laundry right across the road and ALL of our cloths reek and can almost walk on their own. The suits are horrific, but we will send them to Faizal’s laundry “guy” next week. We stopped next door to the laundry for some dosas and yummy chicken biryani.

IMG_1557 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1536 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1662 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2938** 7 Mar 2018

Here is a little overview of the year so far! (Well at least to where I am in the RR of course! We just finished 12,000 km in New Zealand and arrived to Melbourne last night)

May 1- Dec 29, 2017

Screen Shot 2017-12-13 at 16.36.04 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2939** 7 Mar 2018

Today the weather looks pretty good and we walked down to “Chinatown” KL and then up to the main Merdeka Square. On the way to the square we came across a Hindu and a Buddhist temple and a church before we came to the Merdeka Mosque. Malaysia is such an interesting melting pot of cultures and religions.

Malaysia-68 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-69 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-75 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-76 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-78 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-79 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #**2940** 7 Mar 2018

It was getting sunny and very hot and so we decided to hop on the metro to the KLCC or city centre for our 1 pm ticket time for the Petronas towers visit. We took advantage of the viewing platform for the towers in the KLCC park.

Malaysia-73 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

IMG_1562 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-82 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Malaysia-83 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr