Merdeka expedition riders arrive in Thailand
BANGKOK - The six Quantum Metal participants in the London-Kuala Lumpur Unity Expedition 2023 (QMEPWK66) have been riding through breathtaking landscapes and challenging terrains since the expedition started two months ago.
The team of six Malaysian bikers pushed their physical and mental limits to the edge on their high-powered motorcycles.
They have braved the scorching heat, endured the cold and heavy rain. But they never gave up. They have faced the sweltering heat, the bitter cold, and the torrential rain. Their determination has made the expedition an unforgettable experience for each of them.
The QMEPWK66 participants began their journey from London on June 20 in a 66-day journey, crossing 16 countries and covering a distance of over 22,000kms before arriving in Putrajaya on Aug 31 for the 66th Merdeka Celebration this year.
The expedition is to commemorate the historic journey of Malaysia's first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, who brought the Malayan Declaration of Independence from London to Kuala Lumpur in 1957.
They rode an average of 400 to 600 kilometres or eight to 10 hours each day to their next destination, depending on their route, landscape, and weather conditions.
To date, the six Malaysian bikers have travelled more than 20,000 kilometres from London to Bangkok.
"Alhamdulillah, I definitely felt very thankful when all six participants arrived safely in Bangkok, Thailand," expedition head Arep Kulal told Bernama.
He changed the route at the last minute due to the poor condition of the road to Vientiane, but the decision turned out to be beneficial for the participants because they were able to rest and inspect their motorcycles in Bangkok.
"We are on schedule to arrive in Putrajaya for the national day celebrations,” he said.
Meeting locals in the cities they visited was one of Arep's favourite memories from the two-month journey.
"The local residents were excited about our presence and gave us support and offered prayers for us to continue the expedition," he said.
Arep described his unforgettable experience riding with the other six bikers on a difficult off-road route in Kyrgyzstan.
"The route really tested us mentally and physically as well as the motorcycles we used," he said.
Speaking of the off-road journey in Kyrgyzstan, QMEPWK66 participant Ahmad Fadali Baharudin stated that the 180-kilometre route was the most difficult journey of the expedition due to the difficult terrain.
"We started on the off-road route at 9 am and finished at 12 midnight. Some of us had flat tires multiple times, but we were all determined to finish the journey that day.
"I cried tears of joy when we finally emerged from the off-road route. The off-road route was the toughest one yet, but the view from the top was breathtaking. I felt a sense of accomplishment knowing that we had overcome the challenges of the journey,” he said.
Ahmad Fadali who is also the expedition's official photographer said the epic motorcycle journey has taught him to be thankful.
On Saturday, the bikers continued their journey home from Bangkok to Chumphon in southern Thailand after a flag-off ceremony by the Charge d’affaires ad interim of the Embassy of Malaysia in Bangkok, Bong Yik Jui.
"We started tracking the bikers' activities since the flag off ceremony in London in June. Our home-based and local staff were excited to welcome them back to Malaysia. We served them nasi lemak and traditional kuih muih, which were prepared by our staff.
"We wished them a safe journey home and a joyous National Day celebration with fellow Malaysians in Putrajaya,” he said.
The QMEPWK66 riders are expected to arrive in Penang on Aug 29 before heading to Putrajaya.
The QMEPWK66 expedition is organised by Global Bike Explorer Sdn Bhd, with Quantum Metal Sdn Bhd as the main sponsor, and supported by GB13, KMF Network, and Bullion Success Group as co-sponsors. - BERNAMA
