I have been on a few road trips. Most were taken with family or friends from Lawas (Sarawak) to either:
The further places I've had the chances of road-tripping to were:
This year, I did a few mini road trips on my own. Since I was working in Bintulu (one of the 11 divisions in Sarawak), these trips were mostly taken between Miri and Bintulu, and some between Miri and Lawas. These trips which take around 2.5 hours and 5 hours respectively were taken when I had to go to Miri or go back home from Bintulu for a holiday; or get back to Bintulu when my breaks were over.
After I quit my job in Bintulu, I had to do my farthest yet solo drive ever in one stretch: Bintulu to Lawas. It was about 8 hours drive through about 455 km. Not that far, I know. But it was, for me. This driving period will definitely depend on the day of the week or the time of the year you make your trip. It's a cross-border road trip passing through Brunei. The roads at the immigration check points between the countries get pretty congested during festive seasons and on some weekends; so, you should expect long queues. On the day of my trip, the road was not busy.
With that (one almost legit) experience, I may not be an expert, but, I would like to share with you some of my personal tips on how to survive a - let's call this long distance - solo drive. This applies not only to the ladies but to the gentlemen as well. So, here are my tips:
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- Limbang (Sarawak),
- Kota Kinabalu (Sabah),
- Ranau (Sabah),
- Miri (Sarawak),
- Ba' Kelalan (Sarawak. our village. through logging roads) or
- Brunei (which is one of the two countries we share the island of Borneo with).
The further places I've had the chances of road-tripping to were:
- Kuching (Sarawak. A couple of times, with my brother from Miri and once with my mom and sisters. The one with my mom and sisters was for my Bachelor's Degree graduation. Mummy drove us through the Lawas-Kuching route which is about 1,060 or so km and then back to Lawas a couple of days after. That was my longest road trip!)
- and Berian (which is my paternal grandmother's village in Indonesia, the other country we share the island of Borneo with; right across the border from Ba' Kelalan. My cousin took us in a 4-wheel drive. The road was terrible.).
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| Sabah (Malaysia) - Brunei - Sarawak (Malaysia) map |
After I quit my job in Bintulu, I had to do my farthest yet solo drive ever in one stretch: Bintulu to Lawas. It was about 8 hours drive through about 455 km. Not that far, I know. But it was, for me. This driving period will definitely depend on the day of the week or the time of the year you make your trip. It's a cross-border road trip passing through Brunei. The roads at the immigration check points between the countries get pretty congested during festive seasons and on some weekends; so, you should expect long queues. On the day of my trip, the road was not busy.
With that (one almost legit) experience, I may not be an expert, but, I would like to share with you some of my personal tips on how to survive a - let's call this long distance - solo drive. This applies not only to the ladies but to the gentlemen as well. So, here are my tips:
- Make sure the car you are driving is in good condition.
To reduce the chances of a breakdown, have a safety check done. Have the car checked up for its engine, tyres, oil, water and other important things. This check up should be done at least a week or two before your trip. This gives time for you to do any necessary repairs on your car. Also, during your trip, have a quick check on your tyres everytime when you make a stop.
I had a broken front light - Have an emergency kit.
Prepare an emergency kit for your car and for yourself. Have a few handy tools which you might need in cases where your car breaks down or have a flat tyre. It is important for you to at least know how to change a tyre. I still don't, but, thank God, I did not have a flat tyre during my trip! Also, have a first aid kit in case you have a cut or a slight headache and need antiseptics, band aids and aspirins. - Pack your car the night before.
Pack everything you need for your trip in your car the night before your trip. You can prepare a list to avoid from forgetting anything important. I made the mistake of not packing everything the night before and had to rush the morning of the trip to make sure I didn't leave anything behind. - Know your route or have some sort of vehicle navigation system.
It would be easier if you are familiar with the route. I was very familiar with mine. If you're not, you can use a GPS or a navigation system that you are familiar with so that you won't get lost. Knowing where the gas stations are on your route is very important. Gas stations have got food, bathrooms, and fuel all in one. Therefore, in one stop, you can fuel up your car, eat, have a toilet break, and have a good stretch! - Start your drive early in the morning (Get enough sleep).
Sleep early, get up very early and leave early. This gives you more daylight driving time. I prefer to make my move about half or one hour before the sun starts rising.
Look at that beautiful sky! - Have good music on board.
Save some music that you enjoy or that will keep you awake. I like to tune in to fun radio channels. Apart from the mix CDs I had in my car, Traxx FM and Pelangi FM were good company throughout my trip. - Carry enough cash.
Make sure you have enough cash / currency with you for toll or ferry fares if there's any. I only had to pay for a toll fare in Brunei. Paying in Brunei Dollar would've saved me some, but all I had was Malaysian Ringgit. Besides fares, you might need to buy food if you haven't got enough or other things you need on the road.
Know what fares you'll need to pay on the road - Stock on water and snacks.
Have a bottle of water which you can easily drink out of even when you're driving. Pack on snacks which are easy to eat and dispose and don't make too much of a mess. I packed a sandwich, chocolates, chips, water and canned milo and coffee. It lasted me the whole 8 hours drive. I know. Not very healthy. But that's because I just grabbed whatever leftovers I had in my fridge. - Drive easy.
Don't drive too fast or too slow. Be aware of the speed limits and make sure you don't get caught by speed traps. But, also, keep track of the time and see to it that you're not going too slow either. You'll get exhausted pretty easily if you drive too slow and reach your destination way over your estimated time. - Wear comfortable clothes.
Dress depending on the weather and wear outfits which promote mobility. We've got shorts weather all year round in this part of the world, so, I just wore one of my favourite white cotton t-shirt, a pair of short pants and flip flops. It is advisable to have a cardigan, sweater or scarf easily accessible for when it gets a bit chilly (probably only when it's night time or it rains here). You can have an extra change of clothes which is not put into the trunk just in case your clothes get wet or dirty for some reason.
My outfit taken on the actual day of my solo drive - Stay safe.
Use the road frequently travelled! Don't be a smart-ass and choose that short cut with the stretch of dark and deserted road. Always ALWAYS wear your seat belt. Make sure that your car is always locked even when you're driving. Better safe than sorry. - Ensure your handphone is fully charged.
Before you leave for your trip, make sure you charge your handphone. A power bank or a car charger can come in handy in case your handphone runs out of juice on your long journey. Buy one if you don't already have any. - Stay in touch.
Announce your whereabouts to at least a friend, your parents or a family member. A quick text should do. I used Whatsapp and told my family and friends on a couple of Whatsapp groups about my plans and sent a Whatsapp everytime I made quick stops. This record of your whereabouts would come in handy in the very rare event that something sketchy happens. - Be self-aware.
If you feel tired or your concentration begins to lapse, stop driving and do something about it. Eat, stretch, exercise, take a quick nap, have a coffee break or whatever. - Enjoy your drive!
Enjoy your own company and the open road!
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| On one of my mini solo trips |
