Trans Asia Highway 13 Klms Left

[ray23]

Boy what a ride this would make if you could permission to cross these borders. But it would appear getting that last 13 Klm finished will be no easy task. But something tells me smoothing out the process of crossing all those borders is going to be even a lot harder.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/investigat...-s-missing-link

[nikster]

I'd like to see a map of this road... the article is very light on actual information....

[LivinLOS]

I thought the Thaksin era plan was Thailand Laos China.. I dont remember cambo being on it ??

If the road is built and completed it will surely have to open up more border transit options.. They will have to firm up the framework to allow vehicular crossing. Which is great news for those of us who would like to get over there.

[LivinLOS]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/comm...an_Highways.png

I suspect given the sound of the distances its that bit up near the golden triangle.. The politics of the road and its crossings, meaning there has to be a top down desire to open borders, is as important as the actual road going in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Highway_Network

[LivinLOS]

Just digging some news info to see if theres anything new and spotted this about vietnam.

Vietnam's Lao Bao Border Economic Zone continues to attract investors, and the Cross Border Transport Agreement has been implemented at the Dansavanh (Laos) - Lao Bao (Vietnam) border point.

Worth a GT-Rider attempt next time someones passing.

[ray23]

I think there is some info on it. But nothing that indicates smoothing out border crossings. Part of the idea was for tourist to be able to travel about Asia freely. It's seems to be only being applied to commercial traffic.

Anyone got good info on travling to Malayasai from Thailand I know it's done my understanding is yopu have to get yuor book translated before you go. But Insurance on the Malayasai side. Anybody got other insights?

Vietnam as I understand is real restrictive as to the size of bikes. China you need prior approval and have a guide meet you at the border. So far the only thing I'm hearing is ti get the prior permission is to be in China in the first place. Kind of defeats the idea.. Only certain places yuo can cross into Lao. Know nothing about Cambo.

[LivinLOS]

I certainly dont hold my breath but the fact is if they build cross border roads they have to do so with the intention of allowing cross border traffic.. That quote above saying Vietnam has now implemented a cross border transport agreement in one border is at least a lead.

As To malaysia, its easy.. Technically you need the book if in your name, and also a letter from the owner of the book, and ID card I think also, if its not in your name. But the fact is the malay border is very open.. I have ridden and driven through in both directions without even showing a book. despite what the common consensus of the GT-R forum is, I suspect they are applying their (no doubt accurate and highly experienced) knowledge of the northern borders, which are not easy, to the southern one which is a high traffic and pretty transient border. If you want to slide through without doing the temp import export papers, my way is to park up, go in and do your stamps like a visa running foot passenger, come back to the bike and then do the vehicle lanes, once they see your already stamped out / in I have just been waved through with no further mention of the vehicle. The rules say different but as ever in Thailand the rules are what they do not what they are in the book.

Once you go past the Malay side checkpoint (who really dont look or care about about books etc as far as I can tell) theres a bunch of small insurance agents that can do weekly / monthly compulsory insurance.. I dont know how you would do for proper fully comp (or class 1, or all risk, or whatever name your used to) insurance..

I was also told you need to get a 'romanized' license plate and have never done so either in cars or on bikes.

Edited May 3, 2009 by LivinLOS

[Ithailian]

Here's my experience (in a car). Bike should be the same.

Heading south is very easy. Got a English language statement from the Land Transport Ministry (Mo Chit) that confirmed the vehicle was registered to me, all the details about it, and the English translation of my license plate number (using western letters). Also at Mo Chit, got a little purple book (car passport) and a international driver license. The purple book is only required for Laos I was told. Since this is Bangkok, they were very familiar with the process. All total, it took less than 1/2 day. Then, I went out and got a couple stickers made with my english translation of the license plate and stuck them on the car.

Ready to go.

Thailand-Malaysia: Leaving Thailand took all of about 5 minutes. Simple check passports and registration documents. Then into Malaysia. Again very very simple. Once over the border in Malaysia, there are a couple roadside building selling "circulation permits' and insurance. Both are mandatory. This process takes less than 30 minutes. Then all is free and clear in Malaysia. Malaysia is a fantastic place to tour by car or motorcycle, IMHO, much better roads and drivers than Thailand.

Malaysia-Singapore: Entering Singapore is also very efficient. You buy insurance at the border before they let you in. What's cool about Singapore is that you can drive all over the city and not have to worry about the toll system. They just keep taking pictures of your car when you violate and then collect the money you owe at the border. This is not a 'work around' but exactly the way they want foreign cars to do it. Excellent.

From Bangkok to Singapore is a 2 day drive.

Roads all the way to Singapore are very good, with Thailand being the worst, but still quite acceptable.

It 100% possible to ride from northern Laos all the way into Singapore.

I have a buddy who also rode in China. That requires a lot of preplanning, a chase car (Chinese "minders"), etc etc.

I'd like to figure out how to do Indonesia. From Singapore a ferry crossing is possible, so it's only a matter of paperwork. There are a lot of people who have ridden around the world on cycles so it can be done with enough effort. I think Thailand is a particular problem because I hear that Thailand does not issue a "Carnet" like most countries, so moving the bike/car is not as easy outside ASEAN. If I were going to do a world ride, I start with a bike registered in the USA. Just yesterday I met a guy at Tesco On-Nut who was riding around the world on a KLR650. California registration.

If you are really interested in this kind of thing, check out: Adventure Rider!

Edited May 3, 2009 by Ithailian

[LivinLOS]

I'd like to figure out how to do Indonesia. From Singapore a ferry crossing is possible, so it's only a matter of paperwork. There are a lot of people who have ridden around the world on cycles so it can be done with enough effort. I think Thailand is a particular problem because I hear that Thailand does not issue a "Carnet" like most countries, so moving the bike/car is not as easy outside ASEAN. If I were going to do a world ride, I start with a bike registered in the USA. Just yesterday I met a guy at Tesco On-Nut who was riding around the world on a KLR650. California registration.

If you are really interested in this kind of thing, check out: Adventure Rider!

This is what interests me probably the most.. I have done java / bali / lombok before and my brother has a base on bali.. So riding from here to bali and back would be great, I am confident of no problems dealing with the actual ride but its the indo border thats a real problem.

What ferry goes with vehicles from Singapore to Indo.. I was given a total negative on that.. in fact I was given a negative on any roro shipping into indo at all, cargo only from every point I looked.

I was also warned that riders in a few places had a major problem even with carnets.. impounded bikes, lots of bribing.. I know indos are a blackmail and bribe type governance so expect some but its the hassle factor. The main entry I can see is 'Mr Lims' doing the Penang Belawan onion boat routes.. But he wont help unless you have a carnet, he offered to take me carnet free but made it clear, if the indos hold the bike its not his fault and it IS my problem. The fact is tho it shouldnt need a carent for asean, but if the border / customs police say the day is night it is what they say it is..

You can get a carnet on a Thai bike.. But not from the Thais.. I have a contact in the RAC UK who will issue any bike with a carnet providing you use the translated ITP document and romanized plates. Again however the carnet is not that cheap. Ok for serious adventurers with a budget, less ok for just hop on and go riders. once in indo you have all the island until timor !! A huge playground with kimodo flores etc all down there.

Edited May 3, 2009 by LivinLOS

[ray23]

Thanks guys I will settle for Malayaia, from the south this year.

[FlorC]

One thing they said at the border and at the embassy in BKK, that is not in these posts:

In Malaysia and Singapore it is illegal to have a car window film darker than 50%.

If you go over the border for a day like the Thai, it is ok, but further in M , you may have

to take it down.

When I went for my Cambo visa in BKK, I asked the woman there, what do I need to do to take my car into Cambo.

She said : "don't ... to many foreign cars get stolen there"...

Edited May 5, 2009 by FlorC