It has been a few years I last participated in a 3NCR. Usually the charity ride is slated around the Sept-Oct time frame. Nonetheless, the 2012 edition charity ride date in November was perfect as the nearly end-of-the-year office work-load was traditionally lesser. Anyway, the event was held in the historical city of Melaka which to most super-bikers, an easy one hour ride away.

We meet up for breakfast at McD before proceeding to rendezvous with Rashid at Bangi Toll. Oonta dropped by to say hello to all before following us (or was it us following him as his Aprilia scoot was dang slow on the freeway) to Bangi Toll to say hello to Rashid in return. The mid morning weather was merciless with clear cloudless sky compounded by a full sun blast. 

We had a short discussion about our route to Melaka and I volunteered to take lead. Riding to Melaka is a simple and boring affair if we choose the N-S Expressway. We can reach Melaka in 1.5 hours riding 'slowly.' But, heck where the adventure and fun if we zip to the old city in micro-warp speed and totally by-passing the surroundings. We rode into Sepang airport area as we saw a handful of Mas and Air-Asia 737s flying over us. Rashid was the only rider with on-board GPS. I did not bring mine as I reckon we would not get lost in our own 'backyard.' I took the exit to Banting/Klang. I swore Rashid was frantically waving me to take the turn instead to Sepang town. Turning into Banting to head to Melaka via the coastal road would add easily a hundred km into our ride distance. What is measly 100km anyway ?

It was still too early for lunch when we reached Morib.  Morib was was very popular as a picnic-at-the-beach location in the old days. I remembered when I was a kid, my parents would drive up to Morib over the weekend. We would pitch up our picnic spot by the beach. Along with old fashion bread bought from cycling-mamak selling his bread and biscuits on a bicycle, we had a jolly time munching sardine sandwiches and drinking Greenspot bottled orange drink by the beach shaded by casuarinas trees. It was truly a tranquil atmosphere. Back in the old days, there was no seaside resorts and no seaside stalls selling food. So, it was really a picnic outing. Interestingly, Morib is historically noted for being one of the first landing points on the west coast for the British and Indian Army liberation forces during 2nd World War. Fast forward to today, Morib is surprisingly very well-maintained by the local town council with modern food stalls, play ground for kids and proper toilets and showers facilities for day-trippers.  We had a good relaxing time gulping 100plus drinks while staring into the Strait of Melaka. We even spent some time making some pre-schoolers very happy.

The coastal road was unusually clear of traffic which allowed us to enjoy the ride. It was a lot more fun to ride along the trunk b-grade road though it would take us much longer time to reach destination. I made a little blunder by getting the group lost in Port Dickson. I wanted to ride through the seaside town to proceed to Melaka via Route 5 and M143. I had ridden through PD many times before. Guess, I needed my GPS after all. David volunteered to steer us to Sungai Udang. Then he took the second honour by continued on Route 5 instead of turning off at Kampung Sungai Raya to M143. We all realised our mistake when the roadside mile-stones kept counting the km to Seremban. 

Again to true Bagsters tradition, we were getting a little behind in our ETA to Melaka. Eric from Singapore was supposed to meet up with us for lunch at Makko Nyonya Restaurant at Melaka Raya at 1:00pm. We were still somewhere near Pasir Panjang, PD at 1:30pm. Our stomachs were fast protesting for not getting the attention. We had to make a quick stop at a road-side stall when David Jr was slowly dozing off..

We finally arrived Melaka around 2:30pm and to our dismay, the restaurant we were supposed to have our lunch had closed for mid-day. Meanwhile, Eric decided to head to our hotel to wait for us. Hungry and a little tired, we decided to try out the Nyonya Cottage Spices Restaurant across the main road. The restaurant was still opened for business when I walked in. With no diners waiting for food, I figured out we could have our meal in doubly quick time.  I had a rude shock when the restaurant's proprietor or tauke refused to allow us to use the spare table to put our helmets and jackets. Come-on  ! The restaurant was empty with more than 10 tables to spare. Giving us a small table to host our barang-barang would not hurt a bit. We were not robbing him away off any potential business by depriving his would be diners any empty table. Feeling disgusted at the manner he treated us (bikers), I stormed out of the restaurant.

We decided to postpone our already late lunch to check into our rooms. Thankfully, the check in was fuss free at the budget Queenspark Hotel along the main road to Mahkota Parade. The organiser posted that we could collect our kits (ride t-shirts and stickers) at the main event hotel after lunch. When we stepped into the event's secretariat room, everyone was everywhere. Bottom line, it was kinda of a mess. The main event t-shirts were yet to arrive. As we could do little to improve the situation in the room, we decided to head to Mahkota Parade's food court for our much delayed lunch at 430pm.

The T-Shirts were still not ready when we came back. However, one of the main sponsor gave us a 3rd T-shirt to wear for the night. The program started with a cool street food party just a block away from main event hotel. There were plenty of food to go around like char-koay-teow, char-kak-koay, burgers, nyonya cakes, popiah, kebab sandwiches  and even a roast lamb which was reduced to bones when we arrived at 8pm. The only thing we had to pay were beer. There were live entertainment and music to keep the crowd entertained.  The dance act from a local fitness club was a crowd puller. Who would miss cool ladies showing off their toned bodies. The ladies in turn went gaga over the guy gym instructor

There was nothing much to do after the street party. Anyway, most of us were kinda pooped for the day. Phang and Ivan arrived at the hotel shortly after 1030pm. We adjourned to a nearby eatery for supper before calling it a night. Incidentally, Melaka Raya was the central of night life in Melaka with pubs, clubs and discos opened till wee hours.

After a simple breakfast at the hotel (RM98 a night inclusive buffet breakfast for 2), we got ready to join the main charity ride. The ride marshals were already at the flag off place when we arrived. Soon, hundreds of bikers came before the ride was flagged off by a stand-in VIP. Originally, the Melaka chief minister was supposed to flag off the charity ride.  The ride was well controlled by marshals assisted by local traffic police. Our rather large convoy of bikes caught many local off guards. Some were in awe and some motorists were visibly upset for having to stop for us to use the road. I was not a fan of riding in some huge motorcycle convoy but doing it once a blue moon was quite pleasant.  We arrived at Melaka Beach Club at 11am for lunch and contribution presentation to charity organisations. Lunch prepared by the club was simple but delicious. I simply loved the nyonya-flavoured stewed chicken. After lunch, we resumed our ride back to the main event hotel. In previous 3NCR, the event organiser lined up some visits to orphanages and charity homes as part of the main charity ride. This posed much problems in turn of parking for hundreds of bikes and a proper resting place for the bikers. I loved the idea of inviting them instead to a neutral place with proper support facilities (ie parking, shelter, toilets).

We did not expect much to do after the ride. As in the past, we would park ourselves somewhere till the charity dinner in the evening. Most were not keen to do any further riding in the afternoon. However, the organiser had lined up a lepak session at Arena disco just a stone throw from the event hotel with GAB coming in as (part) drinks sponsor. We were enjoying the cool air-con and drinks when the place suddenly came alive with a cool chick walking up to the stage. Hooray to Arena disco for the very entertaining live acts. We were actually waiting for the 1st 3NCR beauty queen contest at 4pm. Everyone were literally caught off-guard when the contest was actually a comedy act by some bikers dressed as drag queens. It was good fun albeit at bit vulgar at times. Everyone had a jolly good times. Time flew fast when we were having fun. We reluctantly returned to our hotel to get ready for the main dinner scheduled at 7pm

The guest of honour for the main charity dinner was (again) the Melaka Chief Minister. He did a no-show at the flag off and frankly, we did not expect him to turn up for dinner. We were just a bunch of noisy bikers and I personally thought we were not worth a hoot for a head of state to come and 'feast' with us. As in the past, we need to wear the official dinner t-shirt to get into the ballroom. Again as in the past, I could see a fair few 'gate-crashers' at the dinner. Most were ladies. I figured the guys were bringing in their unregistered other-half to dinner. The grand charity dinner was actually a simple affair with not so great food readied in a main container. All of us especially Ivan were getting very restless at 8:00pm. I, myself was so hungry. We were simply too polite to start the dinner as the VIP has yet to arrive. However, some tables away, some were already helping themselves to the food.  Dinner was formally served at 815pm. The organiser took the opportunity to do a few charity auctions. About three quarter of the guests had left the ballroom when the organiser announced the Melaka Chief Minister was making a surprise stopover.  I supposed it was very awkward for the organiser when the chief minister came in with no cheers from the crowd. Well, the ballroom was practically empty anyway.

We quietly excused ourselves as the speech part by SBM President was getting boring. It was closed to 1030pm when we walked back to our hotel. David and Jr decided to call it a day. Raymond and Chee Leong meanwhile disappeared to another drinking session. The rest of us adjourned to a nearby mamak joint for teh tarik.  Eric decided to ride back to Singapore as he missed his wife terribly. Or maybe he just could not stand my snoring. Eric smsed later saying it rained heavily throughout the journey back to Singapore. 

Sunday came early. We had a brief stop at Mahkota Plaza for Rashid to buy some gifts for his family before shooting off to PD and back to KL. In reality, the gifts were some kind of advance payment for future ride visa extension.

We had a short lunch break at Lukut before breaking off respectively. Richard and Chee Leong were the first to disappear in a huff. Guess they had been somewhat constrained by the group sub 120km/h riding. Bet they were doing 200km/h plus along the PD-Seremban highway.

(better than kFc ori recipe?)

(you bet, according to Mr kFc)

Thanks guys

In the ride:

JK Phang (BMW R1100GS), Ivan Yam (BMW R1150GS), Rashid (BMW R1200GS), David Lee (BMW R1200GS), Eric Tan (BMW R1150RT), Kenny (BMW R1200GS), Tan Chee Leong (BMW S1000RR), Raymond Ho (Triumph Tiger 800), Richard Boudeville (Yamaha R1)