Brisbane - Singapore
Well, the day had finally arrived, and we were off. An early start tuesday morning, (4.00am), and off to the airport to fly to Darwin, the first leg of the trip. Goodbyes at the airport to Ash and Crystal, then on the plane. An uneventful trip on Qantas, even though we were in economy, there was plenty of legroom, food, and i pads to play with. A shuttle bus ride to our hotel, and some time to try to sort out glitches with the phones and credit cards. (It is now day 5 and still sorting........) Note 1, Citibank tells lies.......... ,
Another 4.00am start, ( No, I could not get used to it!), and off to Darwin airport, where we found out the plane had been delayed about 3 hours, so time to catch up on some computer work. Time was called, we were greased up and prised into our seats, not to breath out hard again until we were released from our cells at the other end. Don't you just love Jetstar...
Lyn had arranged accommodation with a couch surfer host in Singapore, and he met us at the airport. His name was Syed, and he drove us to his apartment in Woodlands, a suburb of Singapore. Lyn saw the address, and said she started getting flashbacks of work. We met Syed's wife and daughter, and also her wife's family, who happened to be staying with them at the time from Malaysia. They were really lovely people, and could not do enough for us. We contacted the shipping agents, and were told the boat had been delayed a day or two, which suited us fine, as I was worried we would have to start paying storage, you have 72 hours after the container arrives before storage starts. We had to work out out how to get the bikes from the port to the Malaysian border, Riding them became a nightmare, as a lot of the roads in Singapore are toll roads, and you need a transponder on the bike to use them. As well as the tolls, insurance is expensive, and they could not be cleared through customs without an insurance certificate, so in the end we decided to truck the bikes to the border. We contacted AA in Singapore, and went in to see them, where a truck was organised to pick them up from the terminal. Then off to see the shipping agent, who said he would transport the bikes to a different warehouse near the city, so we would not need to go to the port. The container would be unloaded from the ship Thursday, the bikes would be out of the container friday, and they would give me room at the corner of the yard to put the bikes back together, (front wheels, mudguards, handlebars, windscreens, mirrors, untape the batteries and terminals, and re-fit Lyn's top box.) . We now had some spare time in the afternoon, so Syed dropped us off at the Singapore Zoo, and picked us up about 6.30 after it closed. I'm not big on Zoos, but this was really good, well laid out and plenty of room for everything.
Friday went well, it was interesting catching a mix of buses and trains to get to the warehouse, we only got lost at each interchange, so the trip probably could have been done a bit quicker... The weather had been kind, well it wasn't raining, but it was about 700deg C in that container yard, with no breeze, when we were putting the bikes together. We were able to use a forklift to get the bikes from the crate and hold them while I fitted the front wheels, a real bonus, as I wasn't sure how I was going to do that bit. After 4 hours, it was all done, and they both started at the touch of the button, another relief. We parked them in the corner under covers until loading them on the truck in the morning.
Well, the day had finally arrived, and we were off. An early start tuesday morning, (4.00am), and off to the airport to fly to Darwin, the first leg of the trip. Goodbyes at the airport to Ash and Crystal, then on the plane. An uneventful trip on Qantas, even though we were in economy, there was plenty of legroom, food, and i pads to play with. A shuttle bus ride to our hotel, and some time to try to sort out glitches with the phones and credit cards. (It is now day 5 and still sorting........) Note 1, Citibank tells lies.......... ,
Another 4.00am start, ( No, I could not get used to it!), and off to Darwin airport, where we found out the plane had been delayed about 3 hours, so time to catch up on some computer work. Time was called, we were greased up and prised into our seats, not to breath out hard again until we were released from our cells at the other end. Don't you just love Jetstar...
Lyn had arranged accommodation with a couch surfer host in Singapore, and he met us at the airport. His name was Syed, and he drove us to his apartment in Woodlands, a suburb of Singapore. Lyn saw the address, and said she started getting flashbacks of work. We met Syed's wife and daughter, and also her wife's family, who happened to be staying with them at the time from Malaysia. They were really lovely people, and could not do enough for us. We contacted the shipping agents, and were told the boat had been delayed a day or two, which suited us fine, as I was worried we would have to start paying storage, you have 72 hours after the container arrives before storage starts. We had to work out out how to get the bikes from the port to the Malaysian border, Riding them became a nightmare, as a lot of the roads in Singapore are toll roads, and you need a transponder on the bike to use them. As well as the tolls, insurance is expensive, and they could not be cleared through customs without an insurance certificate, so in the end we decided to truck the bikes to the border. We contacted AA in Singapore, and went in to see them, where a truck was organised to pick them up from the terminal. Then off to see the shipping agent, who said he would transport the bikes to a different warehouse near the city, so we would not need to go to the port. The container would be unloaded from the ship Thursday, the bikes would be out of the container friday, and they would give me room at the corner of the yard to put the bikes back together, (front wheels, mudguards, handlebars, windscreens, mirrors, untape the batteries and terminals, and re-fit Lyn's top box.) . We now had some spare time in the afternoon, so Syed dropped us off at the Singapore Zoo, and picked us up about 6.30 after it closed. I'm not big on Zoos, but this was really good, well laid out and plenty of room for everything.
Friday went well, it was interesting catching a mix of buses and trains to get to the warehouse, we only got lost at each interchange, so the trip probably could have been done a bit quicker... The weather had been kind, well it wasn't raining, but it was about 700deg C in that container yard, with no breeze, when we were putting the bikes together. We were able to use a forklift to get the bikes from the crate and hold them while I fitted the front wheels, a real bonus, as I wasn't sure how I was going to do that bit. After 4 hours, it was all done, and they both started at the touch of the button, another relief. We parked them in the corner under covers until loading them on the truck in the morning.
Lyn's baby, all there waiting to be assembled, no damage to it or any of the bits packed around it.
My bike in the crate in Singapore, all complete.
Using the forklift to fit the front wheel. The guy with me is Mr Lee, who we were dealing with to get the bikes through customs and out of the port area. We put the bikes together in one of his yards in Singapore, away from the port area.
Saturday dawned as our first day on the bikes, and it was pissing down. We arrived at the yard at around 8.30 saturday morning, with all our luggage, to try to make everything fit on the bikes, and it was still pissing down. The truck was due at 9.00am, but was delayed till nearly 11.00am. When it turned up, it wasn't a truck, but a van, and I didn't think he would get both bikes in at the same time, but after removing one pannier from Lyn's bike, they fitted. A stop at a servo on the way to put a couple of litres of fuel in, ( I had to empty the tanks prior to shipping), and off to the border, Fortunately, the rain had eased. Then it got interesting. The van could go through the Singapore exit, but not through the Malaysian entry, so we were unloaded in the middle of the bridge, (lamp post 20), so the van could do a U turn and head back into Singapore. We refitted the pannier and tank bags, got ready and left, all from the left hand lane of the freeway going over the bridge.
Saturday dawned as our first day on the bikes, and it was pissing down. We arrived at the yard at around 8.30 saturday morning, with all our luggage, to try to make everything fit on the bikes, and it was still pissing down. The truck was due at 9.00am, but was delayed till nearly 11.00am. When it turned up, it wasn't a truck, but a van, and I didn't think he would get both bikes in at the same time, but after removing one pannier from Lyn's bike, they fitted. A stop at a servo on the way to put a couple of litres of fuel in, ( I had to empty the tanks prior to shipping), and off to the border, Fortunately, the rain had eased. Then it got interesting. The van could go through the Singapore exit, but not through the Malaysian entry, so we were unloaded in the middle of the bridge, (lamp post 20), so the van could do a U turn and head back into Singapore. We refitted the pannier and tank bags, got ready and left, all from the left hand lane of the freeway going over the bridge.
Syed, Myself, and Lyn waiting for the truck to turn up to pick us up for the border, all packed and ready to go. Luckily, the rain had eased...
The "truck" that turned up to pick up the bikes, I had my doubts they would both fit in when it arrived.
Both bikes in the van, I was surprised they fitted, but old mate who drives the van does it for a living, and said " No problem, only problem if both Gold Wings or Harleys".
Unloading on the bridge at Lamp post 20, it is the only place the van could do a U turn and head back into Singapore before crossing into Malaysia. There is a gap in the rails dividing the north and south bound lanes the van can squeeze through.
About 1 or 2 kms up the freeway, entry into Malaysia. Passports stamped, didn't want to know about the carnet, so off we go. A few more kms up the road, and into a servo to fill up, petrol is about AUD 70 cents a litre in Malaysia, and over AUD 2.10 per litre in Singapore, hence just a litre in each bike on the way to the border. Back onto the road, and then there is the worlds biggest toll station, but it is all automatic, just swipe your card, and away you go. Easy if you have a card... Fortunately another biker saw us in strife, and used his card to get us both through, then wouldn't take any money for it. Thanks mate, who ever you are. The road is busy there, with at least a gazillion vehicles going through every hour, so it was not the place to hang around talking. Back on the road, and then it starting pissing down again. We travelled about 150 kms to Mersing, on the east coast, and found a hotel to regroup and repack after an interesting first day on the road.
About 1 or 2 kms up the freeway, entry into Malaysia. Passports stamped, didn't want to know about the carnet, so off we go. A few more kms up the road, and into a servo to fill up, petrol is about AUD 70 cents a litre in Malaysia, and over AUD 2.10 per litre in Singapore, hence just a litre in each bike on the way to the border. Back onto the road, and then there is the worlds biggest toll station, but it is all automatic, just swipe your card, and away you go. Easy if you have a card... Fortunately another biker saw us in strife, and used his card to get us both through, then wouldn't take any money for it. Thanks mate, who ever you are. The road is busy there, with at least a gazillion vehicles going through every hour, so it was not the place to hang around talking. Back on the road, and then it starting pissing down again. We travelled about 150 kms to Mersing, on the east coast, and found a hotel to regroup and repack after an interesting first day on the road.
