Sorry for the lack of updates I have been very busy. That’s a lie I have been the extreme opposite of busy. So lets blame I don’t know lack of WiFi?


No WiFi here to update my ride report for some strange reason didn’t bother me.

Spent some time in restaurants and bars planning my route for the next couple of days. My planning pretty much involves circling interesting places on the map in my Lonely Planet and joining the dots. I kinda decided the way I wanted to go in KL, a 1000km or so loop back to KL for my first bike service. My rough plan was to head down to Melaka then over to Mersing/Tioman island then up to Cherating then back to KL stopping by Tamen Negara.

Blue lines where I have been circled places are interesting places I could visit.

Melaka to Mersing and Tioman island.

Took me a while to get everything secured to the bike the FZ 150 definitely needs more tie down points. I wonder sometimes if this bike is even designed for touring. Had to stop along the way to resecure the bags but eventually found an arrangement that worked. Need more adjustable occy straps.

The ride was quite uneventful the rode was mostly main road so quite straight and boring. There were a few long sweeping corners but not many or anything too ‘twisty’. The route was pretty simple down then across. I didn’t get too lost although I wasn’t always on the roads I intended to take but it worked out in the end. The best way to navigate Malaysia is by the road numbers. E.g I followed route 5 down then across on route 50. You do have to watch for road signs to make sure you stay on them.

Scenery wise there wasn’t much to see mostly just palm oil plantations. Which Malaysia is almost entirely covered in. there was some nicer bits but not many closer to Mersing.


Palm oil plantation on road out of Melaka.

In mersing I stayed at the embassy hotel for 55rm the most expensive place I stayed in malay yet. It was ok but far from good value. They let me store my bike gear and bike there while I was visiting Tioman island. The bike just sat out under there veranda on a main road. Its got an alarm and lots of locks so it should have been safe but I was still worried. Im pretty sure there is a long term parking area near the ferry.


Mersing picnic area not sure what the beach is like. Probably rubbish coved.

Woke up the next day to the town shrouded in smog this smoke continued through my Tioman visit as well. The smog is from Indonesia because once a year they set their country on fire and the smoke blows over.

Took the ferry to Tioman island I think it took 2 hours. Tioman is a pretty cool place different from where I had been previously infinitely more relaxed and that’s what I did. Spent most days on the beach did lots of swimming and relaxing at beach bars.



Tioman island also has duty free shops where grog can be as much as 50% cheaper than the main land. Got a bottle of Jameson for 60rm and a bottle of grants whisky for 50rm.

I stayed in a small bungalow at ‘moktars place’ (not si-fi themed and no relation to mentok(the mind taker)). Nice shady spot under some trees so the bungalow wasn’t too hot. Had a fan and attached bathroom all the luxuries.


A german back packer staying opposites me had some food stolen out his room by monkeys.

Met some other nice backpackers and celebrated the Swedish midsummer together. Im Australian so I had no idea what was going on. We played drinking games(circle of death), kids games (musical chairs, duck duck goose) and sung weird Swedish songs and danced. One of the songs ‘Sma grodorna’ or ‘little frog’ is still stuck in my head. Kinda glad my camera battery charger stopped working so there is no proof of this. We did the dances on the beach and in a crowded beach bar. Lots of confused locals and other tourists. Google Sma grodorna to see the dance. Oh, and you had to wear leaves around your heads at the same time. Very fun random drunken night.

I didn’t do any tours or diving while there but it looks like they had some nice ones available.

Getting back to mersing and seeing my bike was ok was a huge relief.

Ill add Mersing to Cherating in the next few days which will have more riding.

Undercoat,