Hot on the heels of my recent Genting/KL trip, I am planning on my next. I have a few in my mind, part of which I intend to go with my dearest dad. But I shall not elaborate on those trips. I’ll touch on my bus extravaganzas which I’m planning as I’m typing this entry.

After my orgasmic gunzelling on the MAN 24.460 double-deck (or high-deck/semi-decker to some) coach, I am now ‘enthused’ with these amazing machines! It started with my virgin trip in 2006 on the Aeroline’s Scania K114IB coach with power rated at 380hp. Since then, I was certainly looking for an opportunity to ride on double-decker coaches, or at least high-deck ones. My wish eventually came true on my 2nd Genting trip last year, when I rode on Transtar Premium’s Scania K124EB double-decker with an amazing 420hp! That ride made me even more enthused with such coaches. I booked on the Premium coach again on the return leg and was hoping to get on the other coach with the sksbus e128d Twindex bodywork. Hopes were dashed coz I got on the ’sister coach’ as the Genting leg.

I was always hoping to get onboard the MAN coach. And it was fulfilled when the MAN 24.460 with MTrans bodywork was deployed for the northbound trip. This German coach was more powerful than the Transtar’s coach, at 460hp! Fitted with the double-deck version of the hugely popular Irizar PB bodywork, it was almost an unbelievable dream. the ride was super-smooth, the acceleration was fabulous and the suspension was absolutely suuweeeeet!

There ain’t that much variety of chassis to choose from for the double-deckers, except for MANs and Scanias. However, I’m more interested in trying out the frills onboard as well as a feel of the interior itself. I’ve a couple of trips planned out, which I hope I can embark on if the opportunity arises.

• A one-day trip to Genting/KL. Take the new Transtar Solitaire or Premium coach in the morning to Genting. Rush to KL and hop on Airebus back to Singapore. Other coach alternatives on this trip are Sri Maju, Odyssey, Grassland, WTS Travel, Luxury Exclusive, Aeroline and Five Stars.
• A 2-nights trip to Kelantan and KL. Take the early morning train to Kota Bharu. Then hop on the Mahligai DD to KL and then any other DD coach back to Singapore. Other coach alternatives on this trip are Sri Maju, Odyssey, Grassland, WTS Travel, Luxury Exclusive, Aeroline and Five Stars, plus Transnasional, Sani Express and Mutiara Express on the KB-KL leg.

It sounds crazy but hey, the passion is just overwhelming. Any followers?

This entry was originally published on April 9, 2008.