As unfortunately predicted, no ferry ran this week, therefore we're off across the border to Thailand tomorrow to renew our visas and chillout on a beach in anticipation of a ferry running next Friday (5th May). The agent informs us, as he has done on previous occassions, "100% definitely maybe", therefore there is hope!

Despite attempting to be reasonably organised, we didn't envisage a stalled departure from Malaysia preventing us from kick-starting our journey. Therefore, the delay to our only realistic route to Indonesia and beyond, the RoRo ferry from Penang, was at first extremely disappointing.

However disappointment and frustration have waned as we begin to unwind and relax in our tent at our friend Steven Lee's holiday hideaway, located next to a tranquil waterfall in North Malaysia. A valuable lesson in what will be will be.

I sorted the speedo in Ipoh, so Em's back to restricting our progress with a thump on the back from time to time! Other than that, the bike seems to be running well, other than the non-engaging ABS, which appears to be a bit of an achilles heel on the BM 1100 GS. Despite a brand new battery I still have to contend with flashing red lights, therefore I have to assume a faulty connection or sensor. Not the end of the world at the moment to be honest.

(Hamish)