My Last Ride of 2014! A Cool & Calm Motorcycle Trip to Betong, Thailand

The official 'Canon Rider Was Here!' photo spot! Gotta snap one!

Hello my lovely adventure friends! Do you remember the year 2014? 

Wow! For me, Kak Mawar, that year was like a super twisty-turny rollercoaster ride! Wheee! Lots of happy ups, some scary downs, lots of learning, lots of trying, maybe some oopsie-daisies, but lots of Alhamdulillah-we-did-it moments too! 

It was a year that really tested how strong I was inside. A big, big challenge! Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I made it through!

And guess what? Right at the end of that super rollercoaster year, in December 2014, after a HUGE trip traveling through three countries with my little kids just one month before, I got a surprise invitation! An old friend asked, "Hey Mawar, want to ride motorcycle to Betong, Thailand?".

My heart went thump-thump-YES! Thailand? On my bike? You know me! I love Thailand! Just ask me, and I will pack my bag! Hehehe. 

My secret mission is always to fill up my little red passport book with lots and lots of stamps from faraway places! Plus, I love learning about new cultures and tasting yummy new foods! Nom nom!

Getting Ready for the Ride!

So, for two whole weeks before the trip, I became a little detective! I went "walking" around Betong using Google Earth on my computer. Click click! Peeking at the streets and hills. I also read stories from other bikers who had visited Betong. 

My favourite place to read biker stories is a website called TayarGolek.com. It is like my secret map book before any big ride! You know, being a biker girl means my heart beats a little differently. It is not just about shopping; it is about the journey, the wind, the freedom! Vroom vroom!

I tried to make my mind super ready too. The trip was quite long, maybe around 416 kilometers! That is far! I kept thinking, "Be strong, Mawar! Stay focused!". 

I packed my special energy drink (Pearl Kacip Fatimah – my little secret weapon!), my phone for music, my earphones, and a power bank to keep everything charged. My biggest worry? Falling asleep on my bike! Oh no! That would be super scary!

Let the Adventure Begin!

Saturday morning! Super early! The sky was still dark and sleepy at 5:30 AM. But me and my biker friends, there were 6 bikes – cool ones like Versys, XJ6, TNT600, and Z800, were wide awake and ready! We put on our cool biker suits. RUMBLE! 

We started our engines in Rawang and began our journey north, towards Kuala Kangsar, then Gerik, and finally... Betong! Alhamdullillah!

Quick Pit Stop at Simpang Pulai

Lots of LCs, all going together to Batu Kawan, Penang!

We rode and rode. The sun started to wake up. Around 7:30 AM, we stopped at a Shell petrol station. (Oops, I forgot the name of the place!). Time for breakfast!

Quick stop at Shell before crossed into Betong! 

Right next to the station was a little roadside stall ('warung'). We ate yummy nasi lemak! It only cost 50 cent! So cheap! But honestly, I was too excited about reaching Betong, my tummy didn't feel very hungry! Hehehe.

Food first! Let's fill our tummies!

After eating, we rode some more. The roads started getting twisty and beautiful, especially near Gerik. We made sure to stop at a famous pretty place called Tasik Raban (Lake Raban). Wow! It was so beautiful! Perfect for taking pictures! Click click!

Lake Raban

Hello, Betong!

Finally! We crossed the border! Hello, Thailand! Sawadee ka! We found our hotel for the night. Just a simple place, but nice and cozy. And cheap! Perfect for tired bikers.

The cozy biker hotel didn't cost much and it was just perfect!

Then, it was time to explore Betong! Wow! The first thing I noticed was the air! It smelled... nice! Like a sweet, flowery welcome hug! And the town felt so... calm. Peaceful. Quiet. And cool! Really cool air, maybe even colder than Cameron Highlands here in Malaysia! Brrr! 

Everything looked so clean too! Even cleaner than my hometown Putrajaya! And the air felt super fresh. Like my lungs were saying "Allah, thank you!" Why is it so cool and fresh? 

Cik Gem told me Betong is special! It is the southernmost town in all of Thailand, like Thailand's little toe dipping close to Malaysia. It is nestled in Yala province, surrounded by beautiful green hills and forests. That is why the air is so cool and lovely! It is like a little mountain hideaway.

Exploring the Town

Even though our time was short, we saw some cool things!

• There is a big Chicken statue! Bok bok bok! Betong is famous for its yummy chicken!

The Chicken statue

• We rode through the Betong Tunnel. It is the first and longest mountain tunnel in Thailand! Wow! Going through it felt like a mini adventure!

The Betong Tunnel entrance

• We saw the pretty Betong Mosque.

 

Masjid Betong

• The Clock Tower is right in the middle of town! It is like the town's belly button! Hehehe. No matter where we rode, we always seemed to end up back at the Clock Tower! Round and round!

 

The Clock Tower

• And guess what? They have the BIGGEST Post Box I have ever seen! It is HUGE! Like a giant red robot! So cool! I wonder if the letters inside are giant too?

The Giant Post Box

While we were exploring, it started to rain! Pitter-patter. Oh, the cool air and the sound of rain made me feel so sleepy! Perfect napping weather! Zzzz.

Rainy in Betong

Yummy Food & Cute Things!

We saw some interesting things too!

• Instant noodles (like Maggi Mee) with a girl's face on the packet! Funny!

The noodles 

• Cute little traditional kettles ('kendi'). Aww, so lovely!

 The kendi

• And we ate yummy Thai food, like Nasi Pappid (maybe Paprik?). Delicious! 

The Nasi Pappid

How Betong Felt in My Heart

So, that was my short trip to Betong. We didn't get to see everything, but it was still amazing. What did I love most? The peacefulness. The town felt so calm and slow. No rushing! The cool, fresh air. 

A lovely break from the Malaysian heat! And the people! Everyone seemed so friendly! Lots of smiles! Sawadee ka!

Shopping was quite cheap too, cheaper than Hatyai maybe! But not as many choices. And guess what? I couldn't find my favourite drink in the 7-Eleven there! Oh no! Hehehe. A tiny sad moment.

But mostly, my heart felt happy and calm in Betong. It was wonderful to be in a new place, exploring with good friends, feeling the gentle VROOM of our bikes on quiet roads. Betong was really nice. Betong memang besh! (Betong is the best!) A perfect little adventure to end a very big year.

That trip to Betong was such a lovely way to end all my riding adventures for 2014! And you know what happens when a biker heart is happy? It starts dreaming of the next big adventure! Hehehe. 

Right now, I keep thinking about the huge Pattaya Bike Week party in Thailand. But oh dear, figuring out the best way to get there. Should I fly, drive, or be super brave and ride? is a whole new puzzle to solve!