elyob
Sixty-one days across Southeast Asia, February to April 2016. The route ran through Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, Indonesia, and Singapore — mostly by motorcycle, with a few unavoidable flights to bridge the gaps between islands.
Indonesia was the heart of it. A flight into Palembang in Sumatra landed on the day of a total solar eclipse — the city went quiet for a few minutes while it happened, then roared back to life. From there to Jakarta, where I met the Bigzoner MC: a local motorcycle club who sorted a mechanical on the bike and rode out with me early one afternoon, one day’s ride through the West Java hills.
That night turned out to be their annual anniversary — the whole club gathered, and somehow a passing Englishman ended up at the table. Dinner started around six and the party ran well past midnight. England v Wales kicked off at exactly midnight in Indonesia; I sneaked off to bed to watch it while they carried on outside, still going with the Bose speaker.
The next morning was kit spread out in the sunshine, drying everything from the wet day before. They gave me the patches that evening — Bigzoner Life Member — and then headed off. I rode into Bandung alone, and found a back-street bar with a live band still going at 2am.
East across Java through Yogyakarta — where a stop at Borobudur turned into an impromptu photoshoot before I’d reached the first stupa — then on to Cemoro Lawang, the village on the rim of the Bromo caldera.
Up before four the next morning for the Penanjakan viewpoint. The sunrise over the caldera is one of those things you’ve seen in photos a hundred times; it’s still better in person. Back on the road by afternoon, east to the Gilimanuk ferry and into Bali.
After Bali it was Singapore, a night train north into Malaysia, and back into the overland route. Hong Kong arrived mid-trip between Vietnam and the flight south — one of those unplanned stops that ends up being one of the best parts.
Places Visited
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — 6 nights
- Langkawi, Malaysia — 3 nights
- Penang (George Town), Malaysia — 2 nights
- Phuket, Thailand — 2 nights
- Krabi, Thailand — 2 nights
- Bangkok, Thailand — 1 night
- Siem Reap, Cambodia — 2 nights
- Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — 2 nights
- Hội An, Vietnam — 2 nights
- Hong Kong — 3 nights
- Palembang, Sumatra — 2 nights
- Jakarta, Java — 2 nights
- Bandung, Java — 2 nights
- Batukaras, West Java — 1 night
- Yogyakarta, Java — 2 nights
- Mount Bromo, East Java — 1 night
- Seminyak, Bali — 3 nights
- Ubud, Bali — 2 nights
- Karangasem, Bali — 2 nights
- Singapore — 2 nights
- Malacca, Malaysia — 1 night
Stats
| Dates | Thursday 4 February – Thursday 7 April 2016 |
|---|---|
| Countries | Malaysia, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore |
| Duration | 61 days |
| With | Solo |
| Distance | ~14,000 km |
| Route | KL → Langkawi → Penang → Phuket → Krabi → Bangkok → Siem Reap → Ho Chi Minh City → Hội An → Hong Kong → Palembang → Jakarta → Bandung → Batukaras → Yogyakarta → Bromo → Bali → Singapore → Malacca → KL → home |
| Transport | Motorcycle, bus, plane |
| Temperature | 15–35°C |
Photos
