Midliferide: Malaysia

So every morning, before I load up and tie down all my stuff, I’ve been checking my bike for snakes, spiders, fire ants and other assorted creepy-crawlies. When you go to places labeled “tropical paradise”, “rainforest preserve” or “seafront resort at one with nature”, it is a good precaution to take.  If I was a venomous cobra, I’d love to coil up round the engine block, just in that space between the V and the fuel tank. And if I am rudely awakened the next morning by my bed getting gradually hotter, unpleasant vibrations, wind in my scales and an annoying rumble (which as a cobra, I’d feel, not hear. Cobras can’t hear), my first frightened instinct would be to rear back and bite. And I’d have a choice of left calf or right calf as when the booted feet are placed on the foot pegs, the soft part of said calves above where the boot ends would be conveniently located on either side of my face. I also tend to place my helmet on the handlebar while loading up. If an unnoticed fire ant...

Distance: <100km Time: 1.5 hours riding time Lessons learnt: 1) the march of progress destroys sweet memories and most of the environment 2) I do like my luxuries in life, so backpacker accommodation is definitely out This is where I sit writing today. What more could one ask for? view of the South China Sea from the Legend resort Had a reasonably good breakfast at the hotel, full of the most essential nutrients. Carbohydrates, fat, sugar and caffeine. Headed out at 9am after saying goodbye to the river view with Willie Nelson's "On the Road Again" playing in my head. Thinking of old Willie, I recalled a recent cover he'd done with his daughter Paula. She has a great voice, but Willie's was pure marijuana-laced honey. It's a pity the lyrics he'll always be remembered for is, "to all the girls who shared my life, who now are someone else's wives". Needless to say I spent the next 30 minutes alternately singing in Willie's and Julio'...