Me & My Young Padawan

My young Padawan, Haziq has started his semester break this week. He asked me to take him for breakfast at the famous Roti Canai Gemas Road, Penang.

8:15am

I fetched Haziq at my ex-wife's home with my Yamaha 135LC. We went to Penang Island via the first Penang Bridge.

There's a Road Transport Dept a.k.a. JPJ roadblock at the motorcycle lane after the toll booth. I don't understand why JPJ need to do such roadblock during rush hour when people were rushing to go to work? Why don't they do it on every Saturday nights where there are lots of illegal racing going on at certain areas?

As for me, I got nothing to worry as my bike is factory standard with no modifications, my road tax & licence are valid. The JPJ personnel just let me pass through without any inspection.

The traffic is quite heavy as everybody on the road is rushing to their office.

8:45am

We reached the famous Gemas Road Roti Canai. There was a crowd and fortunately, there's an empty table for us.

We ordered the roti canai + egg + cheese with 'kuah banjir'. Even though there were lots of customers but the service was quite fast. We received our roti canai & teh tarik in just under a few minutes.

Roti canai + egg + cheese.

While I was eating, a gentleman approached me. It was Zahari Zachariah, an Old Free. What a pleasant surprise. He's the Vice President of Old Frees Muslim Association (OFMA).

With Zahari Zachariah, an Old Free

After having our breakfast at Gemas Road, we went to the flea market at Rope Walk, Lorong Kulit near the City Stadium. I replaced my phone screen protector film (glass type) for RM10.

10:00am

After strolling around, I told Haziq let's go to Kulim, I saw an advertisement in Facebook about a bike spa and cafe over there. I just wanted to try their service. Then off we rode to Kulim.

10:40am

We reached Lunas, Kulim. Unfortunately, the outlet was closed. I guess they're closed on Tuesdays. 

I asked Haziq, "jom pi Baling?" (let's go to Baling?)

He answered, "jom pi Pengkalan Hulu terus lah." (let's go to Pengkalan Hulu, instead)

Okie dokie. Pengkalan Hulu, here we come!

We stopped at BHP station at Karangan to refuel the tank (RM5).

We rode through Baling. Upon reaching MRSM Baling, Haziq's former school, we took some photos at the main gate. Then we proceed to Pengkalan Hulu.

12:00pm

We stopped by at Gunung Inas rest area. It was an abandoned rest area. The road was formerly the main route to the east coast but was later replaced by a shorter route through Gerik highway.

We took some photos there and then proceed to the border.

12:30pm

At the border we had to go through Malaysian Immigration and I told the Immigration staff that we're just going to the shopping areas. No need to use passport.

There were a few small shopping outlets at the border area. Unfortunately, only 40% of the outlets were opened as today is a weekday. All shops are normally fully opened during the weekends.

After visiting some of the outlets, we had our lunch there. It was a small stall selling some Thai foods with reasonable prices.

After we have had our lunch. We proceed to the Thai Immigration building. We just took some photos there and turned back towards Malaysian side.

Royal Malaysian Police personnel manning this checkpoint were fitted with flak vest.

On the Thai side.

I noticed there's a new Memorial erected to commemorate the fallen heroes during the 2nd Malayan Emergency. During the Malayan Communist insurgency, Royal Malaysian Police had placed a battalion of the Polis Hutan (Police Field Force) deep inside Betong, Thailand in the 1970s. However, due to the pressure by the Thai locals that were unpleasant with the presence of Malaysian Police Field Force in their area (perhaps the locals were being influenced by the Communist insurgents), the Thai government had asked the Malaysian Police Field Force to withdraw their men back to Malaysia in 1976.

Below are some photos from the Jabatan Penerangan Malaysia related to the withdrawal of Royal Malaysian Police Field Force from Betong, Thailand back to Kroh (now Pengkalan Hulu) on 06.06.1976.

2:20pm

We stopped at Petronas Baling to refuel (RM4) and rode back to Seberang Perai. The sky was cloudy in Baling and looks like it was going to rain. We were lucky that we remained dry throughout the ride as we did not bring any raincoat as we didn't have any intention to ride this far.

Well, that's our ride from Gemas Road, Penang to Thai border at Pengkalan Hulu. The initial intention was to have a roti canai in Penang but rode 224km (both ways) instead. hahaha!

As usual, when I planned something, it usually didn't work out but when I did it on a last minute decision, well, it happens. I called this 'Father & Son Ride'.

Perhaps one day when my budget permits, I'll try to get another kapcai for Haziq so that we can ride together-gether in future. Pray for our dreams to come true. Insha'Allah.

Allright then, till the next ride.

Note

Fuel cost:

RM6.00 @ Prai to Penang to Karangan

RM5.00 @ Karangan to Pengkalan Hulu

RM4.00 @ Baling to Prai

Total: RM15.00

The Day I Fell

Riding a bike is fun. Sometimes a two wheel machine can also be a dangerous thing if you forget that it is a dangerous machine. Even a seasoned biker sometimes forget about it.

That's what happened to me on one fine afternoon. With a set of Zeneos tyres which I used on the Yamaha 135LC, 80/80-17 at the front and 90/80-17 at the rear, which were slightly broader than the stock tyres that came as standard. The broader tyres made leaning on the corners are more fun and gives me more confidence.

Unfortunately, I did not foresee the sand that accumulated on one particular corner that was brought by the rain a few days earlier at my housing area. Yes, the incident happened a few hundred meters from my home. While negotiating the corner and leaning on the right hand side, I lost the front-end. Luckily, I was riding quite slow and did not sustained serious injuries.

During the fall, I let go of the bike, rolled over and landed face down. It's like a natural reflex when I fell off the bike.  My helmet visor prevented any injury on my face.

There's a few Indian men by the roadside that came to my aid. They helped to lift the bike and moved it to the roadside. They asked me if I'm ok. I checked and tried to move and feel my arms, legs and the rest of my body. It seems that everything was ok, only a few bruises. At that time I did not feel any pain yet, due to the adrenaline rush, I guess.

I looked at my bike, no major damage. I started the engine, it runs smoothly as normal. I thanked the men who helped me just now and rode back home.

Upon reaching home then I started to feel the pain. The cuts and bruises I had were on my left shoulder, left hand, both elbows and knees. I was lucky that I was riding at a slow pace during the fall.

I took off my shirt and pants. The shirt was torn at the shoulder and the pants was torn at the buttocks and knees. I was lucky my wallet and my cellphone had saved my buttocks from any injuries. Otherwise I have to strip and reveal my 'gebu' butt to the female doctor like what happened during my crash 12 years ago.

To my surprise my cellphone did not suffer any damage, only cracks on the glass type screen protection film. Phew! Otherwise it might cost me a lot to repair the phone. Maybe the rubber type phone cover had saved the phone.

I changed my clothes and drove my car to the nearby clinic. The doctor cleaned my wound with normal saline and applied the yellow solution (iodine). I was given an injection to prevent any infection. The doctor is cute and I had to control my 'macho' enduring the pain while she was cleaning my wounds. I guess you all would have a good laugh if you saw my face trying to hide the pain. LOL

In the car going to the clinic.

My butt was saved by my wallet and cellphone. LOL

The visor had protected my face and the helmet protected my head.

If you're buying a visor for helmet, make sure the visor is made from polycarbonate. It's tougher than plastic visor.

Shoulder injury.

Shoulder

These injuries could've been prevented with a proper riding gloves.

As for my bike, it suffered only minor scratches at the exhaust pipe and at the side mirror. Phew!

Many riders took lightly the importance of wearing safety gears while riding, including me. Lesson learnt.

The last time I had a minor accident on a bike was in 2005. Sometimes, we were given a 'sign' by God to remind us not to be too complacent and forgetful in life. I take it as a blessing and shall be more careful and grateful in life.

Till then, I shall ride again soon :)

Mr Sober Hj Salleh Memorial Trophy 2017

During my years in the Penang Free School, I joined the school rugby team. Our rugby coach back then was Allahyarham Sober Hj Salleh but everyone addressed him as Cikgu Saber. To me, he was not just a teacher who taught us in Seni Perusahaan classes and a rugby coach. He was a mentor to me. He taught me about life. He is truly a master indeed.

In PFS, all male teachers were being addressed as "Sir". The Teacher's Room sign was "Masters' Common Room". Hence, the word "Headmaster" is the Head of the Masters. But now many refer the position as the School Principal. Influenced by the Americans, perhaps?

A few months back, our Old Frees ruggers had discussions to organize a friendly tournament between the Old Frees Assoc. (OFA) and the PFS school team memorial game to commemorate Allahyarham Cikgu Saber's contributions to PFS Rugby team.

On that Sunday evening, after the Asr prayer at the PFS Surau, we started off the event with a Tahlil prayers for Allahyarham Cikgu Saber and for our friends who had left this world too soon.

5:00pm

We gathered at the school field. Theere were football and hockey tournaments too on the same day between OFA and PFS.

Most of the known faces were there including my uncle from batch '79.

5:30pm
The weather was cloudy as it was raining in the morning. The morning rain had dampened the field and the soil was soft. The temperature was also not too hot. A perfect condition to play rugby as the soft soil beneath the grass could prevent injuries.

I was not prepared for this game as I feel that it just for fun. It has been more than 25 years since I last played rugby. Furthermore, I just came back from the ride to Songkhla last night. Hope I have enough energy to play.

We started the game. After a few minutes, it all came back to me. As they say, it's like riding a bicycle. hehehe

As the game ended, the OFA won. It was fun. I'm really exhausted but enjoyed.

Till we meet again next year.

Fortis Atque Fidelis!