Day one of yet another road trip. . .
My trusty steed, the Triumph Street Triple RS, recharging at a rest stop.
Route: Singapore to Ipoh
Distance: 585km
Time: 7.5hrs
Thoughts: Easy going ride with comfortable highways and regular petrol stops
If I were to write a book for all the adventure or road trips I’ve taken, this one would be aptly titled, “Yet another road trip…” ellipses included. Any extra words are superfluous and can be contextually understood especially for one who knows me. I don’t know, I guess I’m just in that space of wondering why the hell I’m doing another road trip and yet… please indulge my ellipses, for even I have no idea why I’m going on another one. Yet, the seasoned adventurer knows that the discovery is in the journey so perhaps such an open ended title is suitable for now.
I have been writing religiously all my life and yet have never published a single book. There is something about writing that calms and centers me. And as an extra bonus, whenever I need to refer back to something in my life, I have a thick dossier. I do it for myself not for others. And recently I had a quick look back at a few of my adventures and realised that they all seem to take on a similar pattern arc; the beginning is always dull and dreary, filled with hesitant feelings of what I wrote in the above paragraph. All stories have an arc from exposition, rise, climax and resolution and I suppose mine is the same. Right now, I’m in the exposition stage, except while this stage is supposed to set forth the meaning and purpose of the story, I have yet to discover mine, LOL.
As I grow older though, I have become more experienced at preparing for such trips. It isn’t so much the physical preparation like getting my motorbike ready or visa and other administration stuff, but more like the emotional stuff. Sure, there are always some pre-trip jitters and mine is often filled with a constant worry if I have prepared and covered myself for all possible situations of sensory overload. Of course what stresses each person out is completely different and for me, it’s as straightforwards as making sure I have all my sensory needs covered; ear plugs and what not. The rest of the time, I surf the waves as they come, happy to meet them as they are. I can’t control the waves, but I can manage my responses to them. And that is enough for me.
Today’s ride was from Singapore to Ipoh, a good 7.5hr ride at around 550km. I am not exactly inspired to write about this having driven and ridden from Singapore to Penang so many times I’ve lost count. The trip is manageable with regular pit stops for food, toilet and petrol. Malaysian highway etiquette is easy to understand; if they drive right at your bum, you get the hell out of their way. At least there’s not as much rude honking and flashing like we have in Singapore.
I’m finally beginning to fall in love with my bike. This noble steed is a powerfully built but slim Triumph Street Triple RS that fits my small stature. At 765cc, this sports engine is so agile and yet hyper responsive to my touch that I’m imagining a well trained Arabian racehorse responding to my every single cue on the reins. It sprints well when I need it to and is also good at slow canters. It even handles slow and tight traffic well.
And so I officially begin “Yet another road trip…” with my trusty steed.