Kijal,Terengganu-Oktoberfest '07

The Start at Genting-Karak Highway The Middle-At the end of the Karak-Kuantan highway The Arrival. At Kijal Golf with The Buffaloes Me. Pre-departure GP Photo-Pre Departure Rest Stop-Temerloh Cruising home Bends are best

Last year I rode my Ducati, got the attention it warranted, initiated a relationship with the then MD of Auto Bavaria on an esoteric level. Partied for one night and rode the delicious curves of Cameron Highlands for 2 days. See post here

This year, I rode a BMW K1200R courtesy of Auto Bavaria. Developed a working relationship with the recently promoted MD of the Sime Darby Motor Division, working on the Auto Bavaria BMW business div. Partied for 3days/2nights drank German beer, played golf, drank more German beer. All of the fun activities for the annual Oktoberfest this year was held at Awana Kijal in Terengganu. A decent place for sun sea and surf for a couple of nights stay with biker friends. This year's Oktoberfest came quite late in fact on 16 to 18 November. Right smack in the monsoon months of the East Coast. As luck would have it, there wasn't any rain, the weather was perfect and we even managed fourteen holes of golf and we couldn't finish only because of failing light. So we were mostly dry throughout the ride.

My initial feelings for the ride this year was filled with apprehension as I hadn't been riding as much and I'd rather spend holidays with my family. Just as I had checked into my room, after the long ride from KL, I had begun missing the family. A melancholic, forlorn feeling indeed.

But as human survival instincts would have it, the trip turned out to be fun and memorable. Especially the male bonding stuff and the side trips to the backroads of Kijal that reveal spectacular views and curves for negotiating with the bikes. The ride back was as much a test of endurance as it was a test of BMW bikes for me. I rode the R1200S back to KL and I'm pretty much smitten with BMW bikes by now, on the never-ending highway that ran mostly straight. And the friendship and camaraderie formed will last a long long time. Thanks Mathias, Chippy and AB!