Midliferide: Malaysia

So one of my three lovely cousins is getting married this weekend. In an apparently lovely location called Janda Baik, which translated means "Good Widow". We're not a family that cares much about portents. Never been there, but I have heard good things and am looking forward to being there. As my family is back home in the U.K for the summer holidays, I'm making the trip on my lonesome. Coincidentally I have work in KL for the week after, so I'll kill two birds with one stone. I decided to ride, despite indications of bad weather, massive holiday traffic and having to lug extra stuff (i.e. clothes) for work; didn't have to bring my laptop - which I might regret later - since I'd asked a colleague to bring my presentation on his. Also, there are the added concerns of having to ride to a location at the heart of KL for the meetings, then make the trip from KL back home all in one day, which means highway riding. I'm a bit better equipped this time. Didn...

Lessons learnt: 1) I realize why people with kids don't spend much of their quiet time indulging in contemplative writing. 2) it took me longer than necessary to come up with this title, I need to spend more time indulging in contemplative writing So aside from the various lessons learnt about my riding capabilities and the truly magnificent machine that is my ride, there were three key takeaways from my maiden adventure. Firstly, I need to take more photos. Secondly, if I plan to do more long-ish rides on my sportster, I will need a saddle that will be kinder to my tailbone. Lastly, a backpack is not a good idea; I need some form of carriers for my stuff. Hence, this will be a three-part review of stuff; truly needed and value-adding (I am a minimalist) items that I have/am going to purchase based on informed or misinformed decisions or a "let's try this out and see if it works" approach. I have to say this first one worked out quite well. It is a GoPro also-ran, bra...