JUST // RIDING // AROUND
A solo scooter tour around Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore on a 125cc PCX scooter. A collection of random photos taken on my iPhone from my time spent Just Riding Around.
Chiang Mai to Mae Sai visa run by scooter
Not being a fan of buses or minivans, especially Thai visa run minivans, I decided to ride my scooter from Chinag Mai to Mae Sai for my latest visa run to Myanmar. The direct route takes you on the 118 and the 1 highway which is fast, but not particularly...
Ayuthaya, Thailand
Ayuthaya, 100kms north of Bangkok, was founded in 1350 by King U Thong, who went there to escape a smallpox outbreak in Lop Buri and proclaimed it the capital of his kingdom. Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. In 1767, the city was destroyed...
Bangkok, Thailand
I have spent a few days over 3 or 4 trips exploring BKK on the scooter and I still get lost almost every time. Way quicker, easier, cleaner and safer to take the BTS but so much more fun on the scooter.
Koh Chang, Thailand
Koh Chang, Thailand. Worth a look...
Snake Temple Penang
I had already been to Penang at the start of my trip into Malaysia, so decided to blast on past from Pangkor Island straight to Alor Setar before heading back to Thailand the next day. However, a change of plans meant i now needed to get a new tourist visa for...
Pangkor
Between KL and Penang, lies the compact (8 sq km) island of Pangkor. More of a relaxed, local tourist spot, it has some pretty nice beaches for the west coast and well worth the short ferry ride over. A $10 tip and the guys at the (passenger) ferry terminal will...
Kuala Lumpur
KL had always just been an unwanted stopover between flights on previous visits, but this time i saw the sights and hit the bars. Not the shitty city i had previously thought, KL was an interesting and fun host for my 9 day visit. Having the bike was handy for getting...
Port Dickson
Raptor watch is the much publicized, annual raptor watching festival organised by the Malaysian Nature Society and is based around Malaysia's oldest lighthouse @ Tanjung Tuan, Port Dickson. The area has the only remaining patch of coastal forest on the west coast of...
Melaka/Malacca
Melaka/Malacca, along with Penang, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, which basically means that it has a lot of old stuff that's been restored, renovated and nicely presented for the steady flow of tourists. It's a really nice city with...
Singapore
From my hotel in Johor Bharu, Malaysia, i crossed into Singapore for a day of sightseeing and to complete this part of my plan. Riding across the border and over the bridge was quick and easy and apart from the arrival card for Singapore immigration there is no other...
Johor Bharu
Johor Bharu is the transport hub from Malaysia, into Singapore and if you are on a budget it's also less than half the price to stay here. It's the sort of place that i wonder if the scooter will still be there in the morning, and why it has so many people just...
Palau Tioman
Monsoon season should have been clearing up by mid Feb, but a late start has meant a late finish and it was pretty wet when i was there. The water was still pretty clear and when the sun did come out it's easy to see how this place can be a tropical paradise. I Stayed...
Mersing
From Kuantan, I ended up riding much further than planned again after deciding on-route to bypass Lake Cini and do a quick drive by at Pekan, Rompin and Endau. If it wasn't a rainy, low season day, they all would be worth a visit, but it's not, so i decided to push on...
Kuantan
Riding in the rain on a deserted road, it was still around 5kms to the Sungai Pandan Waterfall and at least 20kms back to Kuantan. I didn't really expect to see anyone, especially not a lone tourist walking along, camera and map in hand. As I pulled up, i noticed he...
Cherating Beach
Cherating Beach from Kuala Terengganu via Lake Kenyir and Cukai - 350kms+ If it's a public holiday, like the 5 day public holiday for Chinese New Year, book a room ahead, as Cherating Beach gets ramma-jamma and you may find yourself on the streets with nowhere to stay...
Kuala Terengganu
Kuala Terengganu riding from Khota Bharu = 230kms The ride from Khota Bharu down to Kuala Terengganu was about 230kms and with the exception of the potholed roads, animals and the Chinese New Year holiday traffic it's a nice ride. Not a massive amount to see but a...
Kota Bharu
Kota Bharu riding (by mistake) from the Cameron Highlands = 338kms I had originally planned to head to Gua Masang from Cameron highlands but upon arrival it wasn't a place to hang around in unless you are waiting for the Jungle railway train. A quick check of Google...
Cameron Highlands
Cameron Highlands, riding from Ipoh = 120kms After so long in the heat, the cool fresh air in the Cameron Highlands came as a welcome change and with some great views it's a place well worth visiting. If you can't be arsed with the 3 hr trek up through the jungle,...
Ipoh
Ipoh, riding from Penang = 185kms After a night in Ipoh, I was ready to roll onto the Cameron Highlands, but a few minutes into the trip I came across the aftermath of a fatal scooter accident. I almost crashed into him on the road after cutting thru the traffic the...
Penang
Penang, riding from Alor Setar = 200kms Penang is a great place, with loads to see and do, including getting a photo of your baby and a snake. "...the island of Penang looks somewhat like a mink's pelt. Georgetown, its capital, sits roughly on the right arm of the...
Alor Sator
Alor Sator, riding over the border from Satun, Thailand = 170kms To take your Thai registered scooter over the border into Malaysia you will need to have your original green book and an English translation. You will need to get the translation before you leave, from...
Satun
Satun, riding from Trang = 180kms Not really much of interest in Satun...Tesco's, the bar at Angyees guesthouse and a sticker shop to pass the time before heding over the border into Malaysia. View Larger Map
Trang
Trang Town riding from Krabi Town = 180kms I first saw the "bear trap" bike guarded by a schoolkid on the side of the road as I rode into Trang from Krabi Town. I thought if you are going to get after market ad-ons for your bike you may as well make it something cool...
Krabi Town
Krabi Town riding from Phuket = 228kms Heading north across the Sarasin Bridge from Phuket onto mainland Thailand you soon forget about the high season mayhem and death on the roads. Traffic, road-rage, minivans, drunk expats and a-hole T-max riders are replaced by...
Phuket
Phuket has been my 'base' for the past year in thailand and I have probably spent 6 months or more there staying in different towns around the island. I was in Phuket this time for around 3 months (including xmas with family) before heading off again at the end of...
Kanchanaburi
With the exception of a couple of wrong turns, riding out of Bangkok was hassle free and i was soon on my way to my first stop at Kanchanaburi. Know mostly for the Bridge over the river Kwai and the start of the WW2 death railway, Kanchanaburi is a laid back, but...
Bangkok-Phuket
I only made this site after riding from Bangkok to Phuket, so will try and add photos for this part of the trip soon. The rough route was: Bangkok -> Kanchanaburi - > west coast down -> Surat Thatni ferry over to Koh Samui then ->Ko Pha Ngang back onto the...
Bangkok
For 2000 Baht I had my scooter posted from Phuket to a little post office just west of Siam square in the center of Bangkok. It arrives as scheduled a week later, as i arrived from Laos, coated in bubble wrap, but minus any petrol. I was staying down on Sukumnvit 64...