The Proton Wira is a legend when it comes to local cars. Despite having seen better days, just hearing about it takes us back to the old times, back to yesteryear.
In a recent post that has been gaining attention online, a local man took to his Facebook to share with netizens about his adventurous 11-day journey to Tibet in his Proton Wira.
En route to Thailand!
Fauwaz Zamzam began his journey to Tibet on March 23rd from Kelab Saga Bukit Kapar, where he was joined by his team of like-minded enthusiasts as they convoyed together.
“By 9:30pm, we’ll reach Changlun and cross the Thailand border by 11pm. Please pray for our journey to be smooth and safe.”
According to Sin Chew Daily, his crew includes a total of 20 people: 13 men, 7 women, and they’re traveling in a convoy of 10 vehicles.
He participated in an event called the Malaysia-Mecca Friendship Tour, organised by Aimpro Samudra Resources in collaboration with the Malacca State Government as part of the 2024 Malacca Tourism initiative.
“They are set to pass through 11 countries, including Thailand, Laos, China, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, and Kuwait, with plans to reach their final destination in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by April 27th.”
The distance travelled is 1,524km
On the March 24th (day 2), Fauwaz shared that how they’ve crossed the Thailand border at 11:30 pm and made a 3-day journey to Chumpon, covering a distance of 550km, where they reached Chumphon on March 27th (day 5).
He also made a stop at a gas station, refueling 30.6 liters for THB1150, equivalent to RM150 RON91.
“This morning, I only managed to sleep for 3 hours after Subuh prayers. During this journey, wherever the tyres stop, that’s where we spend the night.”
His Proton Wira is equipped with a 12V battery system
Fauwaz mentioned that his car is equipped with a 12V battery system capable of powering 12V items like fans, phone chargers, and boiling water. The battery is said to last for at least 10 hours (100 Ah).
Upon reaching Laos on the day itself (March 27th), he and his team headed straight to Luang Namtha, covering a distance of only 190km. Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on his side as he hit a pothole along the way, resulting in a burst tyre and a bent rim.
“We’ll use the spare rim until we get a new tyre. Tuned absorbers are great for rough roads. Tomorrow, we’ll head to Boten and stay overnight before entering China.”
“Today we entered the Tibet checkpoint”
After 2 days of travelling in Laos, they entered Xishuangnanna, Yunnan, China on March 29th (day 7).
They set off from Nanjian on March 31st (day 9), covering a 450 km journey before reaching Shangri-La on April 1st (day 10).
Fauwaz and his team encountered another challenge with the temperature at 4°C as they take on a 395km journey from Shangri-La to Mangkang.
On April 2nd (day 11), Fauwaz and his team successfully made it to Tibet!
“Several factors need to be considered: the terrain and winding roads, cold weather, decreasing oxygen levels, and handling vehicles on bends and black ice on the road surface. Hopefully, our journey will be smooth.”
Fauwaz’s determination and commitment are truly inspiring! We look forward to more updates from him as they journey towards their final destination in Mecca. Stay tuned for further updates!
Also read: “Stop worrying & start doing” – M’sian Shares Inspiring Journey of Walking from Selangor to Melaka
