Stories Archives - The Wandering Wasp

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The First Big Step – Malaysia Boleh! My Helpful Neighbours.

Juvena July 13, 2015

Singapore – Malaysia 16th May 2015 The trip my friends and I talked about 5 years ago was finally happening. However, I will be doing

Video Excerpt on my Couchsurfing Experience in Italy

Juvena September 5, 2014

I was toying around with a new video editing software and decided to put together clips taken in Barile, Italy two years ago. I have

Got Vespa, Can Travel! – Glimpse of our Road trip in 3 minutes.

Juvena August 10, 2014

Have a glimpse of our 3 weeks road trip packed into a 3 minute video. There are much more to see than this 3 minute

They rode from Italy to Singapore on a Vespa

Juvena July 9, 2013

A few weeks back, the Vespa Club Singapore hosted a couple who have been travelling with their Vespa. Paolo from Italy and Lindsay of Canada

Dumplings Distribution with Vespa Club Singapore

Juvena June 18, 2013

I have transported many things with my simple rack and spiderweb netting. For the past 6 years, it tended to most of my day-to-day transport

Meeting the World Travellers and their Words of Wisdom

Juvena June 9, 2013

As I have mentioned in my first post of this blog, Master Goh and Samantha often host overland travellers and arrange for meet ups/sharing sessions

Celebrating Women Riders Month with Harley Davidson Singapore

Juvena June 4, 2013

May is the month when we celebrate Mothers’ Day. Little did I know, May is also Women Riders Month. In celebration of this special month,

Italy V – Couchsurfing in Barile and the Remarriage Proposal

Juvena May 2, 2013

Made up my mind. At around 9pm, I decided to go Barile by myself the next day. I called Francesco to inform him that I will be coming

Italy Part IV – Pompeii, Herculaneum, Naples, Plastic bags as Decoy against Snatch Thieves

Juvena April 28, 2013

Naples – the birthplace of Pizza, a city that has also gained notoriety for crimes and association with Mafia. A few months before the trip, I

Italy Part III – Rome and Vatican City, Encounters with Pickpocket Syndicates

Juvena April 27, 2013

Rome Before I left for Italy, Samantha told me, “Rome is not the safest place. You must be careful. Don’t go out at night. Becareful

thewanderingwasp

Rode 44,000km S'pore - Czech by 🛵solo.
Change-maker through travel & human stories, Content creator. DM for collab, 📍🇸🇬

Live is not always how you expect it to be. #fyp

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗼 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗺𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 - 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲

Throwback to 6 years ago. I was looking lost when I reached Stelvio Pass, wondering if I was in Italy or Switzerland.

My overloaded scooter with a non-European plate became the centre of attention. People asked me where I came from, some asked to take a photo with me. This candid photo was taken by Dave Morris who later followed this page and sent this to me. Thank you.

I always joke about this, if I were to charge $1 for every photo taken, I would be rich. But that is not the case. Money was tight while travelling in this part of Europe. I started carrying a lunch box in that blue bag because eating out was expensive. I didn't have mobile data travelling in Europe because the frequent country change in Europe made SIM card purchases not economically worthwhile. Instead, I relied on offline maps, free wifi at petrol stations or stopping to ask locals.

Being in the expensive part of the world compelled me to devise ways to stretch my dollars. Travellers I met along the way have inspired me to think out of the box on what I can do in exchange for travel experience. One talented singer and guitarist shared he busked on the streets and even went to the extreme of dumpster diving for food.

What can I offer? I volunteered for accommodation as a receptionist, social media manager, and yoga teacher. I camped, couch-surfed and bunked at friends' homes. In return, I bought food, cook, do some housework, did gardening, harvesting and shared travel stories. Many times, strangers randomly gave me cash and food on the road, just because they value what I was doing and my stories.

(Cont'd in comment)

#motonomad #bikersofsingapore #vespa #whyweride #motoadventure #overland #horizonsunlimited #motorcycletravel #womenwhoride #motorcyclediaries #solofemaletravel #mototravel #motorcycleadventure #bikelife #womenoverlandingtheworld #advriders #womenadvriders #womenadventure #sustainabletravel #conscioustravel #mindfultravel�

The Wandering Wasp in a Nutshell from 2015 to 2017

𝗜 𝗙𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗱. 𝗠𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗼.

I left Singapore 7 months ago to explore my backyard of Southeast Asia (SEA). It was meant to be a much shorter and simpler trip as compared to the more ambitious intercontinental trip I embarked 8 years ago. However, this SEA trip proved to be much more challenging.

What went wrong this time?

My biggest mistake was being complacent about going to an authorised Vespa workshop in Cambodia for a simple oil change, which was not done properly. Learn from my mistake, always double-check after servicing, even if it is done by an authorised workshop.

A loose oil cap started a cascade of problems - 2 engine rebuilds, each with a downtime of 2 months, and an impending fine for scooter overstaying in Thailand. Problems didn’t end there. 1,500km after the second engine rebuild, the scooter had problems again in Malaysia. I wasted 5 days waiting only to receive incompatible parts. Since it was the last 500km of the journey, I decided to courier the scooter back. Enough time has been wasted waiting for parts and for clueless mechanics to troubleshoot issues.

Unlike the old Vespa PX Vespa which I rode to Europe, this Vespa GT200 does not really have a presence in SEA except Singapore. Thus, there isn’t much business or community support for this particular model in the rest of the region. Piaggio factory has discontinued the production of its piston and cylinder, only aftermarket equivalents are available. Plus, shipping parts to Thailand through dealers is a long tedious process. Not all mechanics are familiar with this scooter.

For the old Vespa PX which I rode from Singapore to Europe, I could get spare parts so easily, even in sanctioned countries like Iran. The machine is so simple and ubiquitous that most mechanics know how to repair it. Even a mechanical idiot like me can perform roadside repairs on the PX.

After the first engine rebuild in March, the nagging thought at the back of my mind was, “If something goes wrong with this scooter again, it is going to cost me time and money again.” True enough, (Cont'd in comment)

It’s so hot and yet you can’t leave this place

No one is going to stay with you forever except yo

Hey, that is a different scooter! Thank you Alex f

Riding the Rails - A thrilling adventure ride in B

A few years ago, I told a young friend how proud I

I may not be able to reconnect physically with som

As a traveller, you make friends in different part

Finally, the scooter engine parts are in after a m

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸-𝘂𝗽 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸-𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗲

Last Valentine’s Day was my most agonising one.
I was waiting for a response from my partner to resolve a broken relationship. After one and a half months of non-response, I was finally told it is best to move on. I decided to go on a long ride with the scooter he bought me, rewriting a future without him in my life. (In case you wonder why I rode this Vespa GT200, I didn’t choose it.)

Within a month of my journey, the scooter got towed 3 times due to a variety of issues, the latest issue requiring an engine overhaul. I found out that my Thai friend of 7 years is a pervert when he tried to kiss me. I returned to Singapore to spend the Chinese New Year with my family and to get engine parts for my scooter. The wrong engine part was delivered and I had to forfeit my return flight to Phnom Penh. Yes, I am still waiting for engine parts!

This ride is just problem after problem. This is how my break-up ride turns into a break-down ride. I think I need mandi bunga, a flower ritual bath to get rid of negative energy. If you have no use for your Valentine’s Day flowers anymore, you may donate them to me. 😂

Special thanks @scooternarcotics for all the technical support along the way and @piaggio for sending the engine parts.

#silenttreatment #motonomad #bikersofsingapore #vespa #whyweride #motoadventure #overland #horizonsunlimited #motorcycletravel #womenwhoride #motorcyclediaries #solofemaletravel #mototravel #motorcycleadventure #bikelife #womenoverlandingtheworld #advriders #womenadvriders #womenadventure #sustainabletravel #conscioustravel #mindfultravel

It has been 5 weeks on the road - 4000km and 3 cou

Greetings from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. After 20 day

𝗜 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗼𝗳𝗳 𝗼𝗻 𝗮 𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗽 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻.

It has been 5 years since I returned from the two-year journey riding from Singapore to the Czech Republic. I never expect the journey to have touched lives.

The pandemic has disrupted the continuation of the trip. Now that borders are opening again. The Wandering Wasp is wasting no time in getting back on the road. The old scooter is still in the Czech Republic. However, heading back to Europe this time means riding in winter.

For now, I am going to explore my backyard of Southeast Asia which I rushed through the previous time.  Thank you for staying with me after all these years. I am grateful for all those who have support in different ways, emotionally and monetarily.

I have set up Buy Me Coffee and a Merchandise Store for ways that you can support. (Links in the bio) Your encouragement will keep me going.

This time there are businesses that support me in kind to offset the starting cost of another motorcycle tour.

My sincere gratitude to
Image 2 - @scooternarcotics for providing mechanical support and the new coat of paint for the Vespa GT200. @sipscootershop for parts support
Image 3 - @steadymoto for sponsoring @firstgearusa riding jacket pants and @nelsonrigg saddle bag
Image 4 - @chongaikai for giving me the @cardosystems Freecom4X to try out for this trip
Image 5 - @dbunkd.sg for making the scooter shine with the delicate detailing and coating
Image 6 - @bamboostrawgirl for providing @allmatters eco-friendly feminine and hygiene products (Use “JUVENA10” at their store check out for 10% discount, link in bio)
Image 7 - @crcdrones for the drone lessons

#motonomad #bikersofsingapore #vespa #whyweride #motoadventure #overland #horizonsunlimited #motorcycletravel #womenwhoride #motorcyclediaries #solofemaletravel #mototravel #motorcycleadventure #bikelife #womenoverlandingtheworld #advriders #womenadvriders #womenadventure #sustainabletravel #conscioustravel #mindfultravel

The Wandering Wasp wouldn't have started if not fo

𝐓𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐦𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐨 𝐢𝐧 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐀𝐬𝐢𝐚?

Although I may have ridden from Singapore to Europe and come from Southeast Asia, I have not really explored my own backyard. I have not been to Laos, Cambodia, Philippines, Brunei, Cambodia and Timor Leste (our latest inclusion to ASEAN).

The two years of pandemic restriction has starved us of travel. For many countries in Southeast Asia that depends heavily on tourism, that translates to people’s livelihood.

Now that restrictions have greatly eased, I am planning to explore Southeast Asia before returning to my scooter in Europe. If you know of any small businesses or community-based tourism activities to support in this region, drop me a DM or comment.

@malaysia.truly.asia @tourismthailandsg @amazingthailand @laos_simplybeautiful @vietnamtourismboard @tourism_phl @wonderfulindonesia

#MalaysiaTrulyAsia #CutiCutiMalaysia #DreamMalaysia #GoThailandLah #laossimplybeautiful #laos_simplybeautiful #laossimplybeautifulcampaign #LiveFullyinVietnam #VietnamNOW #MyVietnam #WonderfulIndonesia #ItstimeforBali

#whyweride #motoadventure #overland #horizonsunlimited #motorcycletravel #womenwhoride #motorcyclediaries #solofemaletravel #mototravel #motorcycletravel #motorcycleadventure #bikelife #womenoverlandingtheworld #advriders #womenadvriders #womenadventure #southeastasia

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