Malaysia to Europe, on the wheels

This Blog Is Put Into Hibernation

2010-08-19T17:21:00.002+08:00

We are sorry to say this blog is put into hibernation as many things happened in the due course.

But, then, we have started some short trip to Thailand overland, with our Myvi 1.0, for 3 weeks in April 2010. That is also mark an important milestone of this project.

One day, we shall activate back this project.

Finally, Mission 1 Satrted

2008-04-19T18:16:00.004+08:00

Finally, we can have our 1st step out of Malaysia. on 29April, 2008. The 1st mission will start, not by car, by plane instead. Our destination is Hanoi, Vietnam. 10 days tour, and back to Malaysia from Vientiane, Laos.

The mission is to survive without staying in any guest house or hotel, unless necessary. We'll be bringing our tent, sleeping bag, toiletry, etc.

Preparation are done 80%, the rest would be depends on the real journey.

The driving part will be start by Oct 2008.

BAD NEWS!!! Trip Postpond...

2008-02-08T17:36:00.000+08:00

Due to Malaysia 10th General Election is just around the corner, we feel sad to postpond our Malaysia to Europe's overland trip....

It's sad for us to postpond this trip, but for better or worse, it might be a greater trip as we could gather more information & resources to travel longer.

This postpond is until further notice. So friends, thanks for your generous support & patient, we will work harder to achieve our goal, soon!!!!

Good Luck & have a BLESSED, Happy, Merry Chinese New Year!!!!

GOD BLESS!!!

Break into 2... Maybe

2007-07-22T19:14:00.000+08:00

After a little discussion, we decide to let the plan break into 2 phases.

We will start the journey as planned, in Mar 2008, from Malacca. In this phase, we will cover Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia. And this will take us 50 days.

Just to AVOID costly China!!!

Where the 2nd phase will be start somewhere in 2009. We'll ship our car from Port Klang, Malaysia to Calcutta Haldia Sea-Port, India. Then the journey will be go on from there. (yet to plan in detail ^_^).

So close, yet so far...China

2007-07-15T11:06:00.001+08:00

Wow! Do you know what I found out? Bringing the Myvi 1.0SR into China, this will cost us 59,420 Yuan!!! Do you believe it?

29,710 (Yuan/person) X 2 persons = 59,420 Yuan !!

Quote of the e-mail reply from agency:
有关自驾车旅行在中国的申请需要以下步骤，首先确认一个行程，在我们向中央有关部门提交申请之后，行程将不能更改。
(Regarding driving own car into China NEED the following steps. Firstly, identify the journey, After we submitted the application, the journey cannot be changed.)

其次，我们公司需要全程派一名导游，没有全程导游的自驾车是无法获得准证的。再有，如果可以申请，我们将提前三个月进行所有申报手续，届时需要你汇款定金到我公司帐户，收到定金后我们便开始一切申报工作。
(Secondly, our company need a full-time tour guide, self driving cannot be done without one. Then, again, application would be submit 3 months before the tour, you should make down payment to our company's account, all the work would proceed only when the deposit received.)

申报工作第一阶段，请提供你们的护照复印件，需要申请中国境内临时驾驶执照的，还需要提供所在地（马来西亚）本地驾照的复印件（请注意不能用国际驾照，因为中国还没有加入国际驾照的组织），需要提供车辆登记文件复印件，注明车辆的型号，发动机号码及车架号码等信息，还需要人的照片2张，车的照片2张，要求车牌清晰。
(First stage of application, please enclosed photocopy of passport, this needed while applying China temporary driving license, together with your native driving licence (Malaysia) (p/s Please don't use international driving license, since China had YET to join International Automobile Association) , Car ownership Certificate is needed, with information about registration number, engine serial number, chassis serial number, etc. 2 pcs Photo of applicants, 2 photo of the car, clear plate number.)

第二阶段，我们需要与公安交涉有关执照中国境内临时驾驶执照和临时机动车行驶证的工作和海关准证。之后就可以到口岸上接你们了。
(Second stage of application, we would need to negotiate with public security department, regarding the temporary driving license and temporary automobile license, and also the custom department. Then we will expecting you at the border. )
根据你们的行程，我们到报价为：29710元/人 X 2人 = 59420元
(According to your proposed journey, we will be charging 29,710 (Yuan/person) X 2 persons = 59,420 Yuan)

此费用包含：一名导游全程陪同，导游上团、下团的交通费，导游前往各地口岸的机票，导游上团补贴，全程意外伤害保险，车辆第三者责任保险，平祥入境，二连浩特出境，樟木第二次入境和磨憨第二次出境的办证费，海关申报费，临时入境车牌，临时驾驶执照，边防检查，卫生检疫等口岸入出境的一切费用。
(The charges include: a full-time tour guide, tour guide's transport, personal accident insurance, 3rd party insurance for vehicle, PinXiang border entry, Erenhot border exit, ZhangMu entry, MoHan exit immigrations fee, custom declaration fee, temporary automobile license, temporary driving license, border crossing check, health check.)

此费用不含：全程住宿费，全程餐费，全程过路过桥费，全程加油费，全程停车费，全程游览门票等费用。（请注意你们需要承担我社一名导游的住宿和餐费）。
(This charges not include: accommodation, F&B, Bridge & Highway toll, Fuel, Parking, site entrance fee. (Please take note, you would have to bear the cost for accommodation and food of our tour guide.) )

Well, this is the fact, I wonder what's your next step, if you were us?

Research says, 30,000km is only a one-way-ticket

2007-06-10T17:21:00.000+08:00

After doing some research and we found out, 30,000km can only bring us to Europe, one-way-ticket...to finish the whole journey, we need at least 50,000km, instead.

Here come a good news, Cambodia used to be a roadless country, nowadays, I could easily, but slowly, drive from Phnom Phen to Stung Teng, which you never will think about doing that in 5 years ago. With this, I could enter Laos directly from Cambodia.

More research is ongoing and will be publish soon.

Mt. Kinabalu, I came, I saw, I conquered!!!

2007-04-29T20:44:00.000+08:00

Let's see what we have here...

Nice country side, huh. That's Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, the highest mountain in south-east Asia, 4,095m.

If you been to Mt. Kinabalu before, can you tell where is the place shown in these pictures?

.....

Well you can't, I guess.....

We took these Photos at the War Memorial, Kundasang. 8km from Kinabalu National Park entrance towards Ranau.

This Memorial has been refurbish recently, it suddenly become a perfect place for wedding photo shooting spot.

The only thing that make us feel regretted, the cloud in the sky is so thick that we can't take a closer look on the curve of Mt. Kinabalu. It was hiding behind the cloud and mist the whole day we visit, so shy...

Monica was enjoy her first breathe, inhaling the fresh air, exhale every drop of exhaust in the body..... relax.

If any passer-by ask, 'Are you relaxing?' Even if I were 'kentan Signh', I still answer, 'Yes, I am!' despite replying, 'NO, I AM 'KENTAN SIGNH', 'RELAX SIGNH' SOULD BE SOMEWHERE ELSE...'

Just a joke...

We have been spending too much time on something NOT related to our dream, huh? Yes.

We are going to visit the embassy(s) in May. This time, no more excuse to escape!

It's been a while...

2007-02-13T19:52:00.000+08:00

Lately, we are concentrat on data crawling.

We'd Purchased a few books about travel, include Lonely Planet and Insight Guide, which help us a lot in plan the detail: fuel price, avg price of accomodation, F&B, people to meet and, of course, place *must* go.

Chinese New Year is around the corner, every planning progress will be continue after the celebration.

On 5th March, 2007, a big thing should be done. The apartment located at Merlinsung Beach, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, East-Malaysia, had to be rent out before we set off.

The location of the apartment:
East Coast of Sabah
South of Kota Kinabalu

There you are...AAM

2007-01-22T19:32:00.000+08:00

I've been wondering, where can I get the 'carnet de passage' in Malaysia?

After a few days of searching, I found it! http://www.aam.org.my/ is the homepage of Automobile Association Malaysia (AAM).

I recognise AAM, but never think it is the organisation that authorise to issue this document.

We are now successfully make ourselves another step closer to our dream.

Another JEWEL found!

2007-01-18T19:03:00.000+08:00

What a nice Jewel. The Horizons Unlimited website was introduced to me by a German bikers, Tobias Mauz and Renata Mesaros (as picture on the left).

He and his lovely wife, ride bikes together, all the way from Germany to Malacca, Malaysia. What a brave couple.

Their success give me and my wife great confidence:

"They can ride all the way here, We can drive there, too!!"

Wow, what an amazing site.

2007-01-16T20:35:00.000+08:00

A few click could make a fortune! Isn't it?

By spending a little free time clicking on the mouse, I found http://www.go-overland.com, which contain information and detail on overland travel.

I can conclude, 'Internet is the source of power!'

Passport aquired...

2007-01-14T20:52:00.000+08:00

Malaysia International Passport, the passkey to the world, is now in our hands!

Kent and Monica successfully acquired their passports from Head Quarter, Immigration Department of Malaysia, Putrajaya. We are shifting the 1st gear. Cheers!!!

Paying visit to the embassy(s) of destined countries, will be our next move, in preparation.

(to be continued...)

Testing of e-mail Post

2006-12-27T21:05:00.001+08:00

If e-mail can make a post in this blog, it would be wonderful.

This is a post made by e-mail, it just a test.

New Discovery on Visas

2006-12-27T20:57:00.000+08:00

We discovered Malaysia Ministry of Foreign Affair (http://www.kln.gov.my/?m_id=55), which will display countries that need Visa application if enter with Malaysian Passport.

Who are these crazzz?

2006-12-25T13:41:00.000+08:00

Many of our friends says, 'How on earth you can get support, if people don't even know your crazy face?'

True! This should have been done earlier...

'And now, Kent Lo and Monica Tay will now proudly present themselves.'

The one on the right is - Kent Lo, born in Sarawak, Malaysia, a journalist in local Chinese newspaper who had deep enthusiasm in travel.

When he first met his wife, Monica Tay, a girl born in Malacca, also a Journalist, they had the same dream and eager to travel around the world through different way.

Travel - the catalyst that united them and tied them together.

They cleared the first stage, now they plan their tour and tour their plan, step by step in realizing the dream they share.

The 5W & 1H

2006-12-22T21:08:00.000+08:00

What?
We are bringing our lovely Myvi 1.0 SR for a joyride.

Where?
Our trip will begin in Jonker Street, Malacca, Malaysia, and the final destination should be in Rome, Italy.

When?
1st March, 2008 is a day in history, where our journey begins.

Why?
Call attention to every soul on earth that ‘explore the world is the gate to success’.

Who?
Lovely couple, Kent Lo and Monica Tay, will be in the journey. Youth society would be the target group we shall meet along the trip.

How?
The whole journey would be overland, with Myvi 1.0 SR, supported by the information we gathered, include road map, border crossing, visas, country profile, etc.
It would be Malaysia – Thailand – Laos – China – India – Nepal – India – Pakistan – Afghanistan – Iran – Turkey – Greece – Bulgaria – Turkey – Iran – Pakistan – India – Myanmar – Thailand – Malaysia

Total Expenses - 15,000 USD

2006-12-22T20:38:00.000+08:00

We've figured out the total expenses we need for the trip is 15,000 USD (about RM 57,000), not include the liability.

Break down of the budget:

Fuel = 3,600 USD (Consumption= 15km/L; 30,000km need 2,000L; 1.8USD/L)
F&B = 4,050 USD (5 USD/meal; 9 months x 30 days x 3 meals = 810 meals)
Car Maintainance = 900 USD (100 USD/service; 30,000km / 5,000km = 6 services; misc = 300USD)
Accommodation = 2,700 USD (10 USD / night; 9 months x 30 days = 270 nights)
Visas = 1,400 USD (100 USD / country; journey thru 14 countries)
Toll & Miscellaneous = 2,000 USD (communication & emergency use)

Finance & budget is biggest challenge

2006-12-18T19:38:00.000+08:00

When talk about travel, finance and budget is one of the biggest challenge.

The monthly installment we need to serve during the trip (9 months): RM 13,050.00

Perodua Myvi 1.0 SR: RM 700.00 monthly x 9 months = RM 6,300.00
Apartment Mortgage: RM 350.00 monthly x 9 months = RM 3,150.00
Personal Insurance: RM 400.00 monthly x 9 months = RM 3,600.00

30,000 km with Perodua Myvi 1.0 SR : Malaysia-Europe (2008)

2006-12-17T13:52:00.000+08:00

Traveling around the world is always a big dream for mankind, selecting the comfortable way become a great challenge.

As we all know, travel by aero plane, vassal, train or shoestring is quite common in this century. Thereby, set up a journey from Malaysia to Europe by driving lovely owned car, Perodua Myvi 1.0 SR (as picture shown), become something fascinating and charming for us.

We made up our mind on the following route:

Malaysia – Thailand – Laos – China – India – Nepal – India – Pakistan – Afghanistan – Iran – Turkey – Greece – Bulgaria – Turkey – Iran – Pakistan – India – Myanmar – Thailand – Malaysia. (map by google earth.)

In case we having trouble with border crossing, alternative route would be in replace: If we can’t get through Myanmar overland, then India – China – Laos – Thailand will be the alternative.

* Call attention to everyone that ‘exploring the world is the gate to success’.

With the support of family members, friends, yours and every single soul in the nation, we gain confidence in accomplishing this mission.