Really enjoyed this one. I took the boat from Penang to Belawan in 1999 and loved it but again, chaos landing in Sumatra lol. Hope you can cycle back to the ships in the old port, would love to see that. Btw, maybe put 'Indonesia' in vid title as it may get more clicks. Safe travels.
Good suggestion about putting Indonesia in the video title. Thanks. I always forget about things like that. By the time the video is done and uploaded, I always feel a rush to just have it out there. It's difficult to slow down and take the time to do the SEO stuff. And I'm terrible at that anyway. 😁 I wonder if the boats from the Penang area will ever make a comeback. It would be nice.
@@PlanetDoug Unfortunately the Penang-Belawan ferry never recovered after khovid closure and now with Air Asia and other LCC flying into Medan, the old passenger ferry is likely relegated to history sadly. Even Pelni only appears to ply Belawan-Batam. But with all the freight arriving at Belawan from Malaysia there must be a way, perhaps via Port Klang. Forgot to ask, did you revive your Macbook or editing on phone? (CC btw;)
No, the MacBook has not been revived. I left it behind in Malaysia with a friend. If he has time, he might bring it by a repair center and get a quote for getting it up and running again. But, to be honest, considering recent history, that might be just throwing good money after bad. Perhaps time to let it go... I've been editing these videos on my phone. That's not without its issues, but at least it's an option and it gets the job done. And there might be exciting news on the laptop front soon...
Very enjoyable video thanks Doug. This is my type of travel video where us the viewers feel like we are travelling with you. Also informative including the prices of many items. 👍
Thanks, Peter. I appreciate the comment. I did a couple of things differently with this video, in particular the inclusion of voiceover to add some information. I kind of liked the effect, but I don't know if it really worked or not. 🙂
It's definitely handy to have a hands-free mount option for the GoPro. I needed both hands to get through the luggage check-in process. And I could have used a third hand. Even with my 2 hands free, I was dropping my passport and struggling to get through. 😁
I took the Indomal ferry from Port Dickson a month ago and it was pitch dark when I arrived to Tanjung Balai, I guess your ferry was faster))) I agree about the friendliness of the locals in Tanjung Balai. Not the most atmospheric place in Sumatra, to be sure, but pleasant and interesting nonetheless))
Your ferry must have left at a much later time. I can't imagine the ferry leaving at 10 or 11 and then not arriving until after dark. That would be a long, slow trip to Tanjung Balai. Maybe some super strong headwinds? 😁
Hi Doug, glad that you are good and well and reached safely in Sumatera. I was busy setting up my homestay in PD. Only today i have time to watch your great video. Take care and drink lots of fresh coconut water for your throat. Bye Bro.
It's definitely chaotic. But I guess I'm fairly accustomed to it. I tried a bit of a bike ride in Sumatra a while back when I attempted to ride in the Bukittinggi area. And I actually rode my bike all around northern Sumatra to Banda Aceh and back a few years ago. That was before I became a GoPro guy, so I don't have any video of that trip. But I was on my bike quite a bit in Sumatra in those days, and so I guess I have some experience with it. I've often commented in the past that this type of chaotic traffic can actually be easier than the more organized traffic flow in a country like Canada. I did some bike touring in Canada, and it was FAR more difficult and stressful there. That's because the traffic was so fast, consisted of only cars, and there so little room on the roads for a bicycle. It's a bit crazy in Sumatra, but there are so many different types of vehicles on the road and they are all going at different speeds and in different directions. So in a way it's easier to find your place in it on a bicycle. Just got to be on your toes. 😁
Thank you for bringing me along this journey/adventure😅. I like this kind of raw style. Hope u coming back to malaysia anytime soon. Have fun anywhere u are my dude
In the back of my mind, when I was contemplating taking my bicycle on this ferry to Sumatra, I was thinking that if it felt right, I could return to Malaysia the same way and perhaps ride around Malaysia by bicycle, too. That's one way I justified all the work I put into assembling this bike and getting it ready. It wasn't just for this quick trip to Sumatra. I was thinking that maybe it could become my main way of travelling, and I could ride through Malaysia as well on my return. I kind of gave up on cycling before because it was too difficult to ride a bike AND record/edit/upload TH-cam videos. Both require too much time. It's hard to combine them. But I wanted to give it a second try.
Seasickness is definitely awful. If I knew I was going to get seasick all the time, I'd never get on a boat. But it's pretty rare for me to feel that way. And I've taken these ferries across the strait before, and I was never sick. The water just seemed to have more swells in it on this day. The boat rocked and rolled a lot more than before.
Interesting video, we have the same welcoming in Malaysia. Sad for us, we haven't been to Indonesia yet. We are currently in KL and eating too much good food and meeting friendly and hospitable Malaysians. The weather is nice too. Where in Canada are you from Douglas? almost forgot CC
I'm from Sarnia, Ontario. That's my hometown and where I grew up. And then I went to university in London and Guelph, both in Ontario. I spent a decade after that sort of based in South Korea. And then I moved to Taiwan for a while. And Malaysia has kind of been serving as a base for me for the last few years as I visit the surrounding countries. I see you are from Saskatchewan. Lots of classic combines and wheat fields and granaries in your video thumbnails. I love that. It's such a great part of Canada. It's interesting that you flew into Kuching for your Malaysia trip. Did you start there and then go to KL? Has my video tempted you to hop onto a ferry over to Indonesia? Since you are so close? 😊 Thanks for the CC!
@@PlanetDougWe have been here a few times, the first time in KL was 2019. In 2020 we were here again and left early due to the pandemic - one day before KLIA closed. We have been in Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak and really prefer the slightly quieter life and nature of Borneo. Last year we had a brief visit in Kuching and Miri, then stayed a bit in Labuan and KK. We toured around KK, Kundasang and Kota Belud. This year from Saskatoon we flew on Air Canada to Singapore and to Kuching on Air Asia in one long stretch. We spent 3 weeks in Kuching which is a beautiful place! We were there for international dragon boat racing and then their local regatta. Gary could live on Sarawak Laksa, it’s something we can’t even make in Canada due to ingredient sourcing. We are here until the end of November when we start making our way back to Singapore and (likely winter) at home for Christmas with family. Thailand is calling us in January.
@PlanetDoug from tg balai karimun there is a ferry to kukup in johore. Plus to many other islands in KEPRI. Or islands of riau. Such as Batam, Bintan etc.
That's actually not a camera. It is just a camera neck mount from a company called Telesin. My GoPro cameras now have the Telesin quick release mount attached to them, and the idea is that I can move the GoPro from the bicycle and quickly click into this neck mount when I want to get off the bike and go do something and still be able to record it with my hands free. Oddly enough, I think I wore that silly thing for this entire day, but I didn't end up using it even one time. I've used it a lot in other situations and on other days, but on this day, I think I might as well have left it in my knapsack. I think I just forgot that it was around my neck. 😂
Hi Douglas Do you ever think of getting citizenship any of these Asian countries you does visit I really don't know how you does back up your stuff every 2 months get new visa and move the different place or extend your Visa all the stress I think you should give it a thought and make your life a lot more easier I just feel so sorry for you❤😂
I've thought about it. It would be nice to have a home base and some kind of resident status in a country in Asia. And I spent so much time in Taiwan, that I was actually getting close to qualifying for something like that there. But I guess I wasn't interested enough in having a stable life like that. Oddly enough, there are benefits to always having short-term tourist visas. It forces you to pack up and move. And then you end up having new adventures and new experiences whether you want to or not. It's not easy sometimes to move on, and the constant threat of your visa expiring is stressful, but it keeps life interesting.
Another thing Douglas you was seasick I'm riding your bike 8 kilometers honestly you look shaky you could not take a taxi or something watching you ride I am frightened for you next next thing you know you could get sick of something dark out or something please don't get me wrong but I am just concerned for you
Once you commit to getting around by bicycle, you are kind of stuck with it. What I mean is that it may be stressful and a bit tiring to ride 8 kilometers to your hotel in a brand new country after a long ferry trip. BUT trying to put that bicycle into a taxi would be even MORE stressful. I've done it in the past. I remember a couple of times when I decided to put my bicycle onto a bus or into the back of a truck. I thought it would be easier to get to the next city by bus rather than riding my bicycle all the way there. But the hassle and stress of putting a bicycle onto a bus, train, taxi, or plane is so great that it's not worth it. You might as well ride your bike. It ends up being easier in the long run. 😁
Hi Doug, glad that you are good and well and reached safely in Sumatera. I was busy setting up my homestay in PD. Only today i have time to watch your great video. Take care and drink lots of fresh coconut water for your throat. Bye Bro.
Really enjoyed this one. I took the boat from Penang to Belawan in 1999 and loved it but again, chaos landing in Sumatra lol. Hope you can cycle back to the ships in the old port, would love to see that. Btw, maybe put 'Indonesia' in vid title as it may get more clicks. Safe travels.
Good suggestion about putting Indonesia in the video title. Thanks. I always forget about things like that. By the time the video is done and uploaded, I always feel a rush to just have it out there. It's difficult to slow down and take the time to do the SEO stuff. And I'm terrible at that anyway. 😁
I wonder if the boats from the Penang area will ever make a comeback. It would be nice.
@@PlanetDoug Unfortunately the Penang-Belawan ferry never recovered after khovid closure and now with Air Asia and other LCC flying into Medan, the old passenger ferry is likely relegated to history sadly. Even Pelni only appears to ply Belawan-Batam. But with all the freight arriving at Belawan from Malaysia there must be a way, perhaps via Port Klang. Forgot to ask, did you revive your Macbook or editing on phone? (CC btw;)
No, the MacBook has not been revived. I left it behind in Malaysia with a friend. If he has time, he might bring it by a repair center and get a quote for getting it up and running again. But, to be honest, considering recent history, that might be just throwing good money after bad. Perhaps time to let it go... I've been editing these videos on my phone. That's not without its issues, but at least it's an option and it gets the job done. And there might be exciting news on the laptop front soon...
Unfortunately there's no ferry service between Belawan and Penang anymore since budget flights got cheaper.
Very enjoyable video thanks Doug. This is my type of travel video where us the viewers feel like we are travelling with you. Also informative including the prices of many items. 👍
Thanks, Peter. I appreciate the comment. I did a couple of things differently with this video, in particular the inclusion of voiceover to add some information. I kind of liked the effect, but I don't know if it really worked or not. 🙂
The Voice over adds depth. Like it a lot
Doug became instant celebrity in Tanjung Balai town. Looking forward to your videos there. CC.
It's a friendly place. The welcome from the people there can even be a bit overwhelming if you're not accustomed to that sort of thing. 😁
Hi! Greeting from Myanmar. I also like your previous Sumatra videos. Looking forward new videos from there. Thanks .
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed them. 😊
that's a congested area at the entrance/check in area. It's great you have a hands free setup for filming.
It's definitely handy to have a hands-free mount option for the GoPro. I needed both hands to get through the luggage check-in process. And I could have used a third hand. Even with my 2 hands free, I was dropping my passport and struggling to get through. 😁
I took the Indomal ferry from Port Dickson a month ago and it was pitch dark when I arrived to Tanjung Balai, I guess your ferry was faster))) I agree about the friendliness of the locals in Tanjung Balai. Not the most atmospheric place in Sumatra, to be sure, but pleasant and interesting nonetheless))
Your ferry must have left at a much later time. I can't imagine the ferry leaving at 10 or 11 and then not arriving until after dark. That would be a long, slow trip to Tanjung Balai. Maybe some super strong headwinds? 😁
Hi Doug, glad that you are good and well and reached safely in Sumatera. I was busy setting up my homestay in PD. Only today i have time to watch your great video. Take care and drink lots of fresh coconut water for your throat. Bye Bro.
Really enjoyed watching you ride out of the dock at Tanjung Balai. That local scenery is a sight to behold indeed.
How is it you guys are both in Indonesia at The same time But on different Islands? More Dalat duo type videos would be welcomed.
@@norlizahmohdnor88 hahaha.. yes I was just telling him exactly that when I landed at Jakarta.
love your video ... CC
Thank you. And I appreciate the CC! 👍
It's raining seasons in Sumatera.Once I took the ferry from Melaka to Dumai,Indonesia
Traffic is chaotic- you did well to keep your cool. CC
It's definitely chaotic. But I guess I'm fairly accustomed to it. I tried a bit of a bike ride in Sumatra a while back when I attempted to ride in the Bukittinggi area. And I actually rode my bike all around northern Sumatra to Banda Aceh and back a few years ago. That was before I became a GoPro guy, so I don't have any video of that trip. But I was on my bike quite a bit in Sumatra in those days, and so I guess I have some experience with it.
I've often commented in the past that this type of chaotic traffic can actually be easier than the more organized traffic flow in a country like Canada. I did some bike touring in Canada, and it was FAR more difficult and stressful there. That's because the traffic was so fast, consisted of only cars, and there so little room on the roads for a bicycle. It's a bit crazy in Sumatra, but there are so many different types of vehicles on the road and they are all going at different speeds and in different directions. So in a way it's easier to find your place in it on a bicycle. Just got to be on your toes. 😁
@ my son’s girlfriend was born in Sumatra, but grew up mostly in Java. I will show her your video and see if she recognises where you are.
Thank you for bringing me along this journey/adventure😅. I like this kind of raw style. Hope u coming back to malaysia anytime soon. Have fun anywhere u are my dude
In the back of my mind, when I was contemplating taking my bicycle on this ferry to Sumatra, I was thinking that if it felt right, I could return to Malaysia the same way and perhaps ride around Malaysia by bicycle, too. That's one way I justified all the work I put into assembling this bike and getting it ready. It wasn't just for this quick trip to Sumatra. I was thinking that maybe it could become my main way of travelling, and I could ride through Malaysia as well on my return.
I kind of gave up on cycling before because it was too difficult to ride a bike AND record/edit/upload TH-cam videos. Both require too much time. It's hard to combine them. But I wanted to give it a second try.
Very good👍
when u say sea sickness i think i cancel my plan to ride on that boat😂
Seasickness is definitely awful. If I knew I was going to get seasick all the time, I'd never get on a boat. But it's pretty rare for me to feel that way. And I've taken these ferries across the strait before, and I was never sick. The water just seemed to have more swells in it on this day. The boat rocked and rolled a lot more than before.
100 years ago😊
vip seat 😅
Interesting video, we have the same welcoming in Malaysia. Sad for us, we haven't been to Indonesia yet. We are currently in KL and eating too much good food and meeting friendly and hospitable Malaysians. The weather is nice too. Where in Canada are you from Douglas? almost forgot CC
I'm from Sarnia, Ontario. That's my hometown and where I grew up. And then I went to university in London and Guelph, both in Ontario. I spent a decade after that sort of based in South Korea. And then I moved to Taiwan for a while. And Malaysia has kind of been serving as a base for me for the last few years as I visit the surrounding countries.
I see you are from Saskatchewan. Lots of classic combines and wheat fields and granaries in your video thumbnails. I love that. It's such a great part of Canada.
It's interesting that you flew into Kuching for your Malaysia trip. Did you start there and then go to KL? Has my video tempted you to hop onto a ferry over to Indonesia? Since you are so close? 😊
Thanks for the CC!
@@PlanetDougWe have been here a few times, the first time in KL was 2019. In 2020 we were here again and left early due to the pandemic - one day before KLIA closed. We have been in Sabah, Labuan and Sarawak and really prefer the slightly quieter life and nature of Borneo. Last year we had a brief visit in Kuching and Miri, then stayed a bit in Labuan and KK. We toured around KK, Kundasang and Kota Belud.
This year from Saskatoon we flew on Air Canada to Singapore and to Kuching on Air Asia in one long stretch. We spent 3 weeks in Kuching which is a beautiful place! We were there for international dragon boat racing and then their local regatta. Gary could live on Sarawak Laksa, it’s something we can’t even make in Canada due to ingredient sourcing. We are here until the end of November when we start making our way back to Singapore and (likely winter) at home for Christmas with family. Thailand is calling us in January.
CC .. all the way till the end.
I was hoping its tanjung balai in kariimun island. But its not.
A lot of people get those two places mixed up. I think there is also a ferry to Tanjung Balai on Karimun, but I've never been there.
@PlanetDoug from tg balai karimun there is a ferry to kukup in johore. Plus to many other islands in KEPRI. Or islands of riau. Such as Batam, Bintan etc.
what kind of camera is that around your neck and is it good?
That's actually not a camera. It is just a camera neck mount from a company called Telesin. My GoPro cameras now have the Telesin quick release mount attached to them, and the idea is that I can move the GoPro from the bicycle and quickly click into this neck mount when I want to get off the bike and go do something and still be able to record it with my hands free.
Oddly enough, I think I wore that silly thing for this entire day, but I didn't end up using it even one time. I've used it a lot in other situations and on other days, but on this day, I think I might as well have left it in my knapsack. I think I just forgot that it was around my neck. 😂
Hi Douglas
Do you ever think of getting citizenship any of these Asian countries you does visit I really don't know how you does back up your stuff every 2 months get new visa and move the different place or extend your Visa all the stress I think you should give it a thought and make your life a lot more easier I just feel so sorry for you❤😂
I've thought about it. It would be nice to have a home base and some kind of resident status in a country in Asia. And I spent so much time in Taiwan, that I was actually getting close to qualifying for something like that there. But I guess I wasn't interested enough in having a stable life like that. Oddly enough, there are benefits to always having short-term tourist visas. It forces you to pack up and move. And then you end up having new adventures and new experiences whether you want to or not. It's not easy sometimes to move on, and the constant threat of your visa expiring is stressful, but it keeps life interesting.
CC
Another thing Douglas you was seasick I'm riding your bike 8 kilometers honestly you look shaky you could not take a taxi or something watching you ride I am frightened for you next next thing you know you could get sick of something dark out or something please don't get me wrong but I am just concerned for you
Once you commit to getting around by bicycle, you are kind of stuck with it. What I mean is that it may be stressful and a bit tiring to ride 8 kilometers to your hotel in a brand new country after a long ferry trip. BUT trying to put that bicycle into a taxi would be even MORE stressful. I've done it in the past. I remember a couple of times when I decided to put my bicycle onto a bus or into the back of a truck. I thought it would be easier to get to the next city by bus rather than riding my bicycle all the way there. But the hassle and stress of putting a bicycle onto a bus, train, taxi, or plane is so great that it's not worth it. You might as well ride your bike. It ends up being easier in the long run. 😁
Cc.
Cc
Hello, KY. Hope life is good back in Malaysia.
Hi Doug, glad that you are good and well and reached safely in Sumatera. I was busy setting up my homestay in PD. Only today i have time to watch your great video. Take care and drink lots of fresh coconut water for your throat. Bye Bro.
CC
Cc
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CC