From the Tally Book - 10 tips to driving

1. Word to the wise - avoid peak hour.

2. Look left. Look right. Look bike. A lane there or not scooter drivers have an unshakable bravado. They will undertake or overtake - wherever a gap can be found.

3. When merging - if you go, they will stop. As you soon understand, the Malaysian road system is guided by a 'loose' set of rules. This works because unlike the aggression that is Australian drivers, Malaysians are incredibly courteous on the road. So despite the traffic being bumper to bumper. If you start to pull out someone will stop.

4. A premise to the above point - size does matters. And I like to take full advantage of the (comparative) beast that is the hilux.

5. Where there is space... A lane can be made. What works for a scooter also seems to work for a car. This is super practical and something I have readily adopted (much to the 'delight' of my wife). This includes emergency lanes, road shoulders or just straight down the middle of a dual carriage.

6. iPhones fail as a comprehensive navigation device.

7. Carry some extra change for that embarrassing u-turn thru a toll bridge after missing an exit. 

8. Asian car parks are not made for a dual cab hilux. The 10 point turn is an art one must quickly master!

9. On the topic of parking - beware that double park. Similar to the case with driving it seems that if there is space then that means you can park. A wonderful freedom to have with a hilux. Just simply mount the curb and quadruple park across the free scooter bays. Of course there is a downfall to this system... As you can see in the photo... 

Here this 'free space' includes the section of road directly behind your car. What to do if you find yourself in such a predicament? Simply lean on the horn and keep blowing, hoping that the owner is somewhere close by.

10. My personal favourite...

When in doubt - speed... You will receive the same fine regardless of how much you are over. Such a great concept. Fixed priced speeding fines!. So I figure if I am going to get caught (and it will happen cause sign posts are ad hoc at best) it might as well be worth it.

ok thats it.... see you-lah

NB