A Tankful of Time
by Michael P Fong
This books takes you on a journey from the concrete jungles of Singapore to the deserts of the Sahara by road and on a 1989 BMW 900 GS motorbike. Travel with the author on a road tour across the 3 continents , the book does not bother us with menial details like the formalities of border clearances and their difficulties, trials tribulations etc, difficulties with the bike , the journey , husband wife quarrels etc.
Instead This is more of touchy feely book with lovely profiles of places visited and people they met on the way. He makes an RTW(Round the world ) motorbike trip look very easy, reading this book you end up feeling just like as if the author was on a short ride on a long weekend.
The Author, Michael Fong comes across as the friendly guy next door , a very down to earth practical person. The book is very Motivating especially when he describes how he was initiated into motorcycling , when his school principal had arranged for another legendary motorcycle traveller passing through Singapore to address the students. If the purpose of him writing this book was to motivate others I am sure he has more than achieved the same.
You can follow the writer and his pics and travelogue here.
Monday, January 29, 2007
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12 comments:
HI-
I am an old friend of Michael Fong from Singapore days before he set off to live in Australia and then ride the globe with Sonya. We have lost contact and now I would really like to catch up with him.
Is there anybody out there who can give me a lead to enable me to do so please.
Nigel Folker
Durban, South Africa
nfolker@gmail.com
Nigel ,
He had an old Yahoo geocities page that I had found ages ago when I wrote this post and read his book. I'd tried to get in touch with him as well.
I think he was in Perth if my memory serves me right. I couldn't find any old emails, sorry can't be of much help.
Hari
Hi there -
I live in South Africa now but was rsident in Singapore many years ago where my ex-wife and I were very great friends with the whole Fong family, spending many evening and weekend hours with them.
I am desparately trying to get acopy of the book (think I have now found a source) but more importantly I am trying to contact Michael himself - directly. Can you please help on this score? I do not know where he and Sonya settled after their epic trip but I am presuming Melbourne.
Many thanks indeed -
Nigel Folker
PS: By the way I love your review. Michael is very definitely a very genuine and 'love-to-live' guy, with a great sense of fun and the ridiculous to boot.
try contacting "Grant Horizons" ,
He is an unbelievably great guy > http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/books/books.shtml
and he might have his old email address, as I said I didn't have any direct correspondence with him. Sorry couldn't help much,
Hari
hi, I'm from Singapore. I love riding and reading about people who write about their rides. One good book is from Ewan Mcgrgor and Charley Boorman. But what I didn't realise was that I had people from my own land doing it waaay before the latter did. A colleague borrowed the book from the library and I fell in love with it immediately. I have been googling on where to buy the book and I haven't found any. If you could enlighten me as to where I might be able to purchase the book, I'd be more than happy. Tks!
Iskandar,
You did not leave a reply address where I could send a reply to but to answer your question.
The name of the book is the - Long way around - There is also a DVD by the same name.
Also if interested you can get the second ride the did which is Long way down which is from the UK to Africa.
Personally if you want a book on real Bike travel, I would recommend Jupiter's travels by Ted Simon. You can get it online on Amazon.
Cheers,
Hari
Hey Hari,
I was actually asking about the book by the Singaporean. I finished The Long Way Round. I could get A Tankful of Time at my local library but my concern was where I could purchase it. Been going around and I can't seem to find any luck. U think u could help?
Tks!
Hi Iskandar,
Sorry I got you know and unfortunately I don't know where to direct you , I think the book is out of print and the writer has gone missing. All my efforts to trace him have been in vain, You can also see the conversation with Nigel above.
He couldn't find the Author. The only other possible source if you are that keen would be to contact the publishers of the original book(I think They'd be in Singapore and ask them if they can arrange a copy for you)
Best luck,
Hari
Hey Hari!
i think i'll do just that! Tks!!
hi, if u are looking for him, do leave me your contact at my blog. i have his latest email n phone number.
goh mia chun
Hi Hari, Tank you very much for the wonderful write-up ;) My apologies for being off the radar for so long, family and two toddlers have kept me occupied. I intend to do an e-book of 'A Tankful of Time...' with links to video and images. Something I haven't had time to do in the last few years. It was also nice to see that Goh Mia Chun picked up the baton, and made an excellent tour of the world on his Singapore registered motorcycle too...hats off :) Cheers, Mike
Nigel, I believe Michael is currently in Scotland. He has a presence on Facebook. Look at the pictures and you can find him.
cheers,
b
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