Day 27 & 28 #B.E. Singapore : Back Home Safely, Back To My Baby

It sure feels good to be back home safely.

Words alone can't describe how thankful I am to have received so much support from every single one of you, through every country I have traveled through for #BeyondEverest.

Singapore - Where Home is, you've been amazing.

With the guys from Liqui Moly, Brendan and Elton

Thank you for all the messages of encouragement and kind words you have sent me that has helped kept me going all the way. Through social media comments, private messages, e-mails and personal texts, I've read them all and you don't know how much they mean to me.

Not forgetting my sponsors who have been so supportive from the beginning till the end:

Liqui Moly Asia Pacific - Official Oil/Lubricant Automotives
Pirelli - Official Tyres
Hodaka Motoworld - Official Touring Gear
GIVI - Tourer Bags
Unique Motorsports - Official Motorcycle Service Support
Juzz Wheelzz Graphix - Official Decal Specialist
Aurisonics - Rockets, The Most Hardy Earphones Ever
Route 82 - Print Specialist
Tourism Authority of Thailand

Malaysia - Its just wonderful meeting bikers from my neighboring country too, and receiving moral support from them.

Thank you to Ministry Of Superbike for organizing the press conference in KL, it was great meeting everyone who came. You guys rock!

Thailand - Your genuine hospitality shown has gone beyond my expectations.

I'm so grateful to be able to meet every single person I've met here, from Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to

Biker Chicks Thailand, locals and definitely not forgetting the kind bike mechanic and his family who brought my bike back to life and told me to never give up.

Laos - You've taught me that amidst the simplicity of life, there can be pure joy and laughter.

That Life can still be thoroughly enjoyed and it has taught me never to take even the simplest thing for granted.

 
China - You've shown me a side of you I've never seen.

 
Not only did I witness the beautiful side of your country's natural landscapes, but so were the people whom I've encountered.

I met kind and helpful ones almost every step of the way here, from cities to villages, many who filled me with so much information and we exchanged WeChat contacts where they urged me to call them should I need any help along the way.

Tibet - You're an eyeopener, a place that has definitely left an impression in my heart with such deep culture and with all the different ethnic groups living together as one is what makes you so unique.

This is a ride of a lifetime I will never forget, and it is filled with so much emotions from precious moments.. it's ‪#‎BeyondEverest‬.

Last but not least, let's not forget to continuously give our support to the athletes of Singapore Disability Sports Council!

Day 26 #B.E. Shigatse - Lhasa Airport : Singapore, I'm Coming Home.

Just barely a month ago, I was sitting comfortably in my balcony back home in Singapore, as I recall being nervous and quietly fearful on the inside about the ride of my life I was about to embark on.

How time flies.

Today, it is almost coming to an end.

After more than 260 hours of riding daily straight for close to a month, crossing through 5 different countries, witnessing many different people and cultures, covering 7,500KM in total now, braving through intense heat to torrential rain, to sub zero dry cold weather fluctuations, and a mix of terrains from road to off road with more than a thousand mountain corners/bends.. I've experienced way more than I expected.

It's life changing.

Look at all the sand in the air

Left Shigatse town and headed for Lhasa Gonggar Airport. The crosswinds were pretty strong today, blowing up all the sand from the ground, with some getting into my eyes.

Usually in the day when its hotter, I'd get a little sleepy. But this time, I was wide awake throughout, as my mind was filled with all the things I thought about, all the emotions I felt, and the unforgettable memories this journey have left me.

I was happy that I was going home and finally getting to see my family and friends, but another part of me held back a little, as the reality of the adventure’s ending is sinking into me.

After all, when you're traveling alone, everything you feel is a lot more intense, a lot more memorable and a lot closer to your heart because you feel everything; from surprise, to confusion, to excitement, to exhaustion, to fear.

As I rode through the mountains ranges slowly, I noticed these little students by the side. Back home in Singapore, we take the public buses, trains and some have the luxury of schoolbuses or our parents sending us to school. Here, these kids walk by the side of mountain roads to learn something new everyday!

Still within the mountains as I approached Lhasa Gonggar Airport, one of the highest (elevation) airport in the world, standing at close to 3,600 metres in altitude.

It wasn't easy building an airport at such high altitude with many hazardous air zones but after many years of trial with a few fatalities, it was finally up successfully in 1965.

Lhasa Gonggar Airport now operates flights within China itself and to nearby Kathmandu, Nepal.

Flying sure makes the world feel small..
But RIDING makes it feel like, the adventure just never ends.

It took me a month to ride all the way from Singapore to the highest region on Earth, Tibet, where Mount Everest stands. Experienced everything wonderful in between, and now I'm boarding a flight back to Singapore where it would take just a couple of hours, with a transit at Cheng Du.

Up it goes!

I unwillingly separated with my trusty bike here as it will be transported back by Land to Thailand and when it arrives in about 2 weeks, I will fly over and bring it back to Singapore.

Time for my Suzuki DR200 to lie down to take a rest, as it travels back from Tibet to Thailand. Really hope my soldier arrives in Thailand safely in one piece!

One last selfie in my full gear here in Tibet!!

A girl's common problem

After changing out of my gears and unloading all the stuff which I brought for my trip, I don't know why I've got more than what my single GIVI 40L duffel bag can hold now.

How to pack everything in?

No choice, gotta buy a box and store all the extra stuffs that overflowed out of my bags. Hahaha

After taking almost an hour trying to fit all my things in my bags and getting them checked in, I went onboard Tibet Airlines and took off!

Heading back home to Singapore :)





[Singapore.Malaysia.Thailand.Laos.China.Tibet.]

[Mileage Clocked: 7,777KM]

[Weather/Temperature: Sunny/Strong Winds/19°C]

[Altitude: 4,300m]

[Terrain: Mountain Roads/Tarmac]

Next: HOME SWEET HOME, SINGAPORE!!

Day 25 #B.E. Old Tingri - Shigatse : Leaving My Heart In The Himalayas

Woke up this morning and it was time for me to head back to Shigatse. Mannn! I was so reluctant to leave the Himalayas! How I wish I could stay here for a few days more!!

Sigh, but my permit to stay longer doesn't allow.. :....( The next time I come here again, I'm gonna make sure to apply at least a one week stay here.

My very initial plan was to cross over to Nepal via Zhangmu/Kodari Border after Everest Base Camp but the borders has been closed since the Earthquake in May and has not reopened since.

So I've to ride back to Shigatse first, stay a night there before leaving Tibet by flying out from Lhasa Airport.

There were some points during my journey that I felt was really long, but here in the Himalayas I wished time would stand still.

My heart has just been captivated by the raw beauty of this place.

Out of nowhere a beautiful white horse appears

Give me a piece of land here to grow some crops, provide me with unlimited 4G WIFI and I think I can live here for the next few months or a year maybe. Oh it'll be nice to charter private flights for my family and friends to come visit me occasionally :)

Instead of the usual pace where I'd go faster than my guide, this time I told him to go ahead first and meet at the check point as I took a slow ride back.

I didn't care if I was gonna have to ride through the night to reach Shigatse. All I wanted was just to stay here for as long more as I can because my time in the Himalayas was too short-lived :(

I was treasuring every minute, absorbing every moment and element I have left here; from the dry air that I was breathing, the sand in my eyes, the strong sun shining on my skin, the Tibetan tents I rode pass, the villagers waving at me, the soft soil my bike's rear was sinking in, the mountains, the landscapes and everything else.

And for one last time, I stopped at this signboard, not forgetting how it made my heart skip a few beats when I first saw it.

Reluctantly exited the Himalayas Region and was greeted by endless fields of greenery and cole flowers. I decided to just take a break and have some biscuits, in my usual hobo unglamorous way. Haha ;) Who cares anyway.

It's so fragrant hereee!

YEAHHH!

A RAINBOW amidst the clouds

Already reminiscing the days I spent in the Himalayas over the past 250KM that I covered today as I returned back into the little bustling city of Shigatse town.

"The only time you should look back is to see how far you've come" 

So glad it all happened and Thank God for my safety being preserved throughout this entire journey traveling solo. Recalling back, there were many opportunities for accidents to occur or for things to go terribly wrong over the different countries and routes that I rode through, but it didn't.

One for #BeyondEverest!

Left my heart in the Himalayas as I prepare for my departure out of Tibet tomorrow..








[Singapore.Malaysia.Thailand.Laos.China.Tibet]

[Mileage Clocked: 7,456KM]

[Weather/Temperature: Sunny/Strong Winds/14°C/3°C]

[Altitude: 4,300m]

[Terrain: Mountain Roads/Tarmac/Gravel]

Next: Lhasa Airport, Tibet

Day 24 #B.E. Old Tingri : So This Is How It Feels Like, Seeing Mount Everest LIVE

I never knew I could be this exhilarated upon seeing a road sign, but this is not any ordinary road sign.

This is the sign to Mount Everest Base Camp, and I've traveled through 5 different countries on my little Suzuki dirt bike, covering more than 7,000KM so far, into the Himalayas, to see Mount Everest.

So thankfully, with my RS Taichi Heat Tech thermal inner wear and Termotax vest that heats up after being charged (like how you charge a mobile phone), I didn't turn into a snowman despite the cold weather last night.

Woke up this morning and all ready to get to Everest Base Camp.
I am now JUST 50KM away.

Having stood through the night in the harsh cold winds and sub zero temperature, I was worried my bike wouldn't be able to start. But to my surprise, all I did was pull the choke and it started just fine!

In Tibet, Mount Everest is known as Mount Qomolangma. This is the entrance to the road to Base Camp.

I depart Old Tingri town and embark on the final leg of #BeyondEverest. The journey isn't gonna be smooth; First, there are no more smooth tarmacs from here, but 50KM worth of off road terrain to Base Camp.

There are also 3 military check points to clear over this 50KM that leads to Base Camp.
Boy they're really strict here.

It's sunny but the weather isn't playing nice with dense clouds hovering over the Himalayan mountains, hindering my view.

Credits to tibet-tours

The plan was to get to Everest Base Camp and spend a night at Rongbuk Monastery.

But all plans were dashed when I got to the first check point and was told by the army officers that road up to Base Camp is closed due to a landslide that happened just two days ago.

I was like, "No..way..."

They explained due to my personal safety, they're unable to let me pass until the mess is cleared. When asked how long it'll take to clear up, no definite answer could be given hence my guide wasn't sure what was the next best option due to the restriction of my permit as we are not allowed to stay in this region for long.

Throughout my journey in Tibet so far, I've been constantly reminded by my guide to manage my expectations especially when it comes to refusing entry into sites due to the safety of people. So I took a deep breath, and took a chill pill.

At the north gate entrance to base camp

We discussed and laid out the options:

1st Option: Wait it out. But my permit is in the way and the office to apply for a longer stay is not anywhere close by. It could take days, or even more than a week for the road to be re-opened.

2nd Option: Try to access Base Camp via the North Gate, which means I've to travel backwards. Back towards just after the check point I cleared yesterday to enter the Himalayas Region.

So we decided to go with Option 2 because Option 1 is restricted by my permit.

If you're wondering why I didn't enter Base Camp via the North Gate in the first place is because my itinerary registered with the Tibet government, police, military, tourism bureau and tour agency is to access via Old Tingri town. Itineraries/permits cannot be changed as and when unless it's a case of emergency. Even so, it's always a case by case basis and the change may not be granted.

Like it or hate it, this is Tibet.

As I made my way to the North Gate Entrance, my guide was busy making calls to the respective departments to explain the situation and ask for permission to enter via that route instead.

Credits to pinterest

Due to the speed limitation, it took us hours to get to the North Entrance and to my dismay, it is ALSO CLOSED due to road works. 

The Himalayas

 Otherwise, this is what I would've been seeing. Ahhh!

Look at my sian face

The journey has been more than amazing so far, but I can't deny the fact that it's really a case of "so near yet so far" feeling right now. And the truth is, I was disappointed not being able to get to Mount Everest Base Camp.

I watched the clouds gradually gather in as it started to rain right between me and the Himalayas mountain as I made my way back over a another few hours ride.

Just when I thought all is doom and gloom, after a few hours, the clouds cleared up and what was looking right at me was THE PEAK OF MOUNT EVEREST!! 

Even though I'm looking at it from a distance, the feeling was overwhelming, and tears welled up in my eyes. I can't describe this feeling right now.. I.. was.. just, so so happy.

Credits to wiki

I didn't get to Everest Base Camp due to the circumstances of Mother Nature but I was extremely thankful to have traveled all the way from Singapore to the Himalayas safely and still catch a glimpse of the tallest mountain in the world.

Within minutes, the clouds drew in again.
Sigh, the clouds here in the Himalayas are really unpredictable and they move really quickly.

Credits to tibetexpert: Mount Everest during sunset

Though I got to savour the magnificent breathtaking mind-blowing view of Mount Everest just for a short short while, the image has been captured in my mind and the moment will forever be in my heart.

[Singapore.Malaysia.Thailand.Laos.China.Tibet]

[Mileage Clocked: 7,206KM]

[Weather/Temperature: Sunny/Strong Winds/14°C/3°C]

[Altitude: 4,300m]

[Terrain: Mountain Roads/Tarmac/Gravel]

Next: Shigatse, Tibet