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IndoChina 2000
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National Day 2000 marked another major milestone in the annals of four wheel driving in Malaysia. The Petronas Indochina Team took up a new challenge – a 10,000 kilometre drive along old logging trails, through some of the oldest and thickest rainforests on earth.
45 four wheel drive enthusiasts in 15 vehicles took on the jungles of Indochina. Theirs would be the first ever Trans Indochina off-road event. The expedition promised a gruelling 26 days across six Southeast Asian nations - Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia , Laos, Myanmar, and Thailand.
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More than 45 per cent of the route was off-road. Dense jungle, muddy tracks and river crossings topped the agenda. Major obstacles included harsh terrain, a typhoon, and heavy rain. There were drastic changes in weather - rainy in the early stages and dry towards the end. Nevertheless, community service took centre stage. The Team distributed clothes, books, and computers to needy children at selected destinations along the route.
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From flag off at Shah Alam, the convoy made it to Thailand on the first day, crossing the border at Bukit Kayu Hitam. They then headed for Pataya the next day before crossing into Cambodia. By the 6th day, they had arrived in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Laos would only be reached on the 11th evening. Another four days of driving brought them to Nan in Thailand. By Day 18, Myanmar was in sight. After 21 days, the team arrived once again in Thailand. From Chiang Mai they proceeded to Bangkok and finally Hatyai before returning to Malaysia to a warm welcome at the Petronas Twin Towers.
All said, it was an exhilarating experience for all concerned. With the routes well mapped out for this expedition plus the experience gained from Passage to Tibet in 1999, the organisers have set their minds on something more challenging for 2001...
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