Kuala Lumpur Bike Rally 2009 - Promo Journey in Pattaya and Bangkok

I was on a trip. More or less 4000km journey from Kuala Lumpur to Pattaya and fro. The journey took me across biking world in Thailand, meeting people and their rides. It is a journey to promote the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Bike Rally 2009 at Bukit Kiara Equestrian Club.

It all started on one fine morning, on 21st September 2009. Myself, with another three guys, Am of Red Garage, Atan Locklaq and Naz, driving up north heading to the border, on the second day of Eid. The journey started at about 8am from Lotus Jalan TAR, and we reached the border at about noon. Armed with lotsa poster, banners and magazines, we head to our first stop at Southern Big Bikes shop in Haadyai (well, actually second stop, as the place we stop was at Shell, Juru, Penang) to handout the poster and magazine (My Chopperz, issued by the KLBR09 organizer, Red Garage Malaysia). With sun is fast setting on the West horizon, we head out to next stop in Pattalung, reaching there at about 8pm. Numerous phone call were made, but to no avail. We were to meet one of the top local bike builder, but none of us know his number! Stopping by at local night market, Atan, approached one of the trader, who dressed up like a cowboy/biker and spot on, he know the guy we are looking for. After few phone call and with the help of two local chaps, we head out to Tew house of Tew Custom Bikes, in the middle of nowhere and in the dead of the night, only to wake him up in the middle of his sleep but still we were greeted with smile and joy. Tew is the guy who took back a meddle during 2008 Phuket Bike Week. Simple guy who offered us a place to sleep as it was midnight, but we settled for shower at his and continued our journey north. The thought that we were all though guys doesn't last that long, as everybody were tired and we stopped by at PTT (local petrol station) and rest for a couple oh hour.

The second day of the trip, started with a good chicken soup at a petrol station in Chumphon. Departed from Chumpon at about 9am, we reached Bangkok outskirt at about 3pm. Chumphon is basically a mid way stop-about if one where to travel from Bangkok to Haadyai, a journey of 1000km. We decided to head right away to Pattaya and find something to eat there, a decision which in my personal view, a very bad decision, as we reached Pattaya at about 5pm-ish. Everyone were hungry and it was lucky enough to find a good spot for a short meal, and it was a good meal. We reached Bung Jumeen house at about 6pm-ish and at last. Bung Jumeen is the President of Burapa MC and the hospitality given was second to none. The first night in Pattaya was a relax night. After having a chilled dinner with Bung Jumeen family at nearby grilled fish shop (chilled as it was raining, heavily, we relaxed at a table with a naked girl dancing on top of it!

On the three day, the promo team started works with visiting few bikes shop around town, namely Iron Horse, Hot Rod Custom, Brotherhood Cafe (thanx bro Nara), Shark Rider MC club house (thanx bro Vinnai) and somewhere at the A-go-go shop, owned by one of the biker. Everyone were dead tired and nothing happened that night.

The next day, the promo journey continued to visit East Coast Chopper, bro Tip workshop (local builder), Power Station Pattaya (Harley Davidson official dealer), another local workshop (i forgot the name but i think it's VS Motor) and end the promo work at bro Lek Carabao cafe. We then took some time off to fullfil bro Nara invitation to go shooting. Literally okay. Armed with one shotgun, a sniper rifle and two glock-lookalike, we head to Sattahip to his land and 'do some shooting'. Yup, we shot bottles. It was one in a lifetime experience. And trust me, after knowing the power the gun produced, I think I'm not suitable to be a robber or such a kind.

Friday was a chilled down day as we planned to head to Bangkok. We spent the whole day hanging out with Bung Jumeen at his place.

First half of the journey really amazed me, as the local bike builders I met, really do the bikes up from scratch, from a straight pipe which is later bend and whatnot to make a rolling chassis of a bike. Even though the garage is just a porch or backyard of a house, they all have the necessary machines and tools to build a bike. Regardsless of the shape of the bike produces, it is all a work of art.

Pattaya... a small town full of naked girls.

..end of part one...

Eid Mubarak

Long weekend ahead. Malaysia will be celebrating the Eid somewhere on 20th/21st October 2009. Kuala Lumpur will, again, be a ghost town or Foreigner two starting from this weekend til the next. Most of the city folks will head back to the hometowns. Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim friends and Happy Holiday to Malaysian! But of course, to any of the readers out there on this planet called Earth, the wish is valid to you guys too.

As for me, initially, I planned to ride back to Kelantan, my hometown, stopping by at Kuala Terengganu along the way to celebrate Loy Krathong, which is a Thai celebration. But, current unavoidable situation has hampered the idea. So what I gonna do in this town?... This long holiday has no meaning to me as everyday is a holiday, now that I'm not working and doing nothing, literally.

Over a session of iftar at Studio Cafe the other day, I was unofficially invited to join the bandwagon heading to Haadyai and Pattaya to promote the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Bike Rally, which I replied 'yes' there and then. So, I'll be heading up North on the second day of Eid with a couple of friends, armed myself with my trustworthy Nikon. it'll be fun, I reckoned.

And to all my dearest friends and readers, do take extra care while you're on the road. Millions of cars and bikes gonna join the exodus out of town.

May God bless your journey, where ever you are heading.

Mini Me

What will you feel, when you wake up, each morning and you are blurred... blur from knowing what's there in the future or blur from knowing what's there for you to achieve.

Pathetic right?

Anyhow, that's the best part of living a life, going through the up and down, stuck in the moment where you can't get out of it.

I've attended the Mini Gathering at Dataran Shah Alam last couple of week, as you can see, me and my Mini... (hahahahaha, how i wish it is MINE!). The car was first introduced in 1959 and are now celebrating it's 50th year in existence. Yup, 50 years and going strong. It doesn't simply die or fade away, if the owner really add 'spice' to it. The TLC it's supposed to receive.

I need to add spice to my life, that I know for sure.

What kind of spice, darn I'm not sure, just yet.

Rainy July

I feel like it has been so damn long I've been idling. Idling... without any work and any proper stuffs to do. That's the fact of my life, not so miserable but the real one. It has been daunting task, you see, looking for job. And to make matter worst, I'm with my midlife crisis now (I think?!), I'm quite confuse if i should proceed be an Engineer. Or totally divert my career path to something really new.

aaaa Heck... misery love company, the more I think bout it... less fun life is.

Anyway, nowadays, I've hangout a lots with my close friends.. and sometimes, fake-close friend. Most of them are bikers, the Harley group of people. And thats what i do most, ride, eat, chill, ride and caught in the rain under the bridge!

The other day, last two weekend, myself and another 6 pals rode to Port Dickson, bout 120km from Kuala Lumpur. It was a chill ride, easy riding and good food by the beach. But on the way back, rain poured down heavily and we were all stucked under a bridge somewhere in Seremban, on the NSE Highway. That was the first time ever I stopped under a bridge due to rain. Hardly do that as it is kinda dangerous with fast cars zooming just few meters beside you. But the rain was heavy and it's instead dangerous to ride.

The time i rode to Kuantan, some 300km from Kuala Lumpur for Violent Storm Anniversary event, its rain 3 times at 3 different spots! Heavy rain, mind you. But I (we actually.. with another 2 bikers) didn't stop as there were less traffic on the road. What a ride..... lost my Arlen Ness tailight cover and damaged my Ipod Touch due to rain. Yeah, my bike vibrate too much causing the tail light cover to detached from its housing, somewhere on the East Coast Highway. I was chasing a 124 cubic inches harley at that time... that's 2000cc!

July was fun. Money is running dry but I still survived! Whoever having extra cash and doesn't seem to have any idea to do with it, please bank into my account... hahahha

I guess, for the moment, and since I've been gone from malaysia most part of 2007 to 2009, I just gonna enjoy riding hard and hangout with friends.

Ramly At War

A short movie by a friend of mine... Julianne Block.. www.j-blockbuster.com

I'm officially a film-star! (self proclaimed of course).

With nuthing much to do with my career life, helping friends in this movie really a fun stuff! Hang out.... cheer.. beers... cheer... lost voice... muscle ache... and cool chinese-kungfu style-fighting scene.

Once the movie is 'premiered', I'll published it in my blog.

For now, google Ramly At War in youtube.com... for a short teaser.

Life can't never be bored when you're where you belong.

Heading South...

I'm now at a junction where the light is switched off. Yes, it has been a bleak months in Malaysia. Was working without paid for couple of months and now, I've been terminated from the very same Company I've pledged my support to, upon completion of the project in Dubai. Stupid me to have stayed on and trusted such a human being being the Company.

Anyway, it is now time for me to continue my journey. I have been quite in silent mode for the past couple of months, since I came back from Dubai to again, reside in Kuala Lumpur. No part particular reason I shall state here, just simply LAZY. Actually, I've been busy, riding, meeting friends, visiting places and now... looking for job!

It may sound as simple as it may! 10years of experience under my belt, so should be darn easy for me to land a job. But, somehow, it is not as simple as it should sound! Time is bad, so all the people said. Economy is bad, as they keep on saying. Opportunities are there but it's limited. And the thought of attending interview... it's pretty daunting.

But heck, it is something I gotta face.

Any journey will have its bump. I had mind... as a matter of a fact, I'm facing the bump at the moment. And it seem to be quite a huge one.

This journey gonna be very interesting.. I said to myself. It has always been, am I right? This time, it really pushed me to the brink of... I was a bout to type in EXTINCTION but somehow I know, it sound too darn dramatic, eh?.. anyway... the situation I am in now, really testing me, be cool, the pressure, stress and whatnot! But again, without such a pressure, what's there in live? right? So i thought!.

Friends has been the most important part of my life these days. They are there for me, come hell or high water, well, not literally though. But, there are there.

So, it is time for me, to choose which route I should head to. I have a couple of months to survive on the funds or whatever I have left in me now. I have no time to waste anymore, which I clearly understand the pressure that I am facing now.

I know what I should do, now... but I don't know how.

I wish I met the Blind man. Teach me how to see!

Twisted Mind Twisted Number

One fine Friday afternoon, I am at a bike gathering... Dubai Bike Week.

What is the different between 295 and 305? Try to answer it as if those number carry monetary value, in whatever currency you all see fit.

In my case, I was at one junction, do I purchased the one with Dh295 price tag? Or should I buy the one with Dh305 tag? Mathematically, those two number doesn't bring any significant different. But, psychologically number 2 is lower than number 3, hence YOUR mind will registered it as cheaper! I came a crossed this kind of situation a couple of time, at that front number really somehow determine should you or should you not buy the items. But, in reality, it doesn't really make much of a different. But the point is, marketeer must've known human weaknesses when it come to dealing with numbers. Most often than not, we've seen products priced at $2.99, $199... Why can't it be $3 or $200?

I think, most will agree if I say, $199 is still ONE HUNDRED plus plus... whereas $200 is a clear TWO HUNDRED!

Anyway, in my case, since that my mind was twisted at that moment in time, I end up leaving the shop empty handed. Sigh! No Ed Hardy tee...

But, on the other hand, I save $295 or so. Did i?