This story is about a Malaysian couple who have travelled across 25 countries, all while depending on their Honda RSX 150cc motorcycle, fondly known in Malaysia as a ‘kapcai’ bike.
Mohd Alfishahrin ‘Alfi’ Zakaria, 38, and his wife, Diana Latief, 37, are not millionaires, but against the odds, they’ve managed to travel to over 25 countries across Asia and Europe, all on a humble ‘kapchai’ – Malaysian slang for an underbone-type Honda Cub motorcycle.
Using the commonly seen bike, which is a staple mode of transport in Malaysia’s cities and towns, Alfi and Diana have crossed deserts, mountains, and seas, all while navigating language barriers, visa requirements, and rough weather conditions.
Travelling across Europe on a shoestring budget
Via Mohd Alfieshahrin/Facebook
In their most recent sojourn, the couple officially left Malaysia on December 29, 2023. After shipping their motorbike to Pakistan, they began their journey across several countries in the region.
Their first stop was Qatar, where they watched Malaysia compete in the AFC Champions League Elite tournament. Afterward, they traveled through Pakistan, Iran, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and back to Qatar.
In their second leg of the journey, they continued through Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, and ended up in France in time to catch the Olympics this July.
Watch the video:
@kapcaipackers Pergi Olimpik Paris naik flight ❌. Pergi Olimpik Paris naik motor ✅#traveltiktok #kapcaipackers #travel #fyp #kapcaipackeradvanture ♬ original sound – oldphilosophartaccount
Alfi and Diana document their travels on their Tiktok and Facebook pages, where they recently posted a video of themselves arriving in Paris after a long four-month journey. Since they started their journey in 2017, the couple have visited Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, China, Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Slovakia, Germany, France, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, The UK, Denmark, and Sweden.
Alfie and Diana cover 750KM per day
On the road, Alfie and Diana can cover up to 750KM of road in a single day.
With all the kilometers they cover, people often wonder how they keep their kapchai running smoothly. Alfie offers two golden rules on how to keep his bike in tip-top shape:
“Don’t ride recklessly. Be mindful of basic maintenance like engine oil and the filter,” he said.
Via Mohd Alfieshahrin/Facebook
In order to continue their long-distance travels without major issues, Alfie dedicates a lot of time to maintaining the bike, focusing on regular upkeep and ensuring the engine oil is always in good condition.
Unforgettable moments in their journey
Via Mohd Alfieshahrin/Facebook
In their social media posts, Alfie and Diana are able to show off the beauty of different cultures from across Europe and Central Asia.
Highlights from their travels include seeing the aurora borealis in Sweden, visiting a fishing village in Norway, crossing the 8 km-long Øresund Bridge connecting Sweden to Denmark, visiting Paris during the 2024 Olympics, and crossing the desert at 53 degrees celsius in UAE.
Their travels also took on added significance when they celebrated Malaysia’s National Independence Day and Hari Malaysia while far from home. These important events gave them a chance to reflect on their Malaysian identity while celebrating abroad.
“Many Malaysians abroad gather to celebrate these days,” Alfi shared. “Sometimes it feels like we’re not so far from home after all.”
For their next travel plans, will they make a North America or South America tour?
“Our next destinations are still up in the air,” Alfi shared. “We’ll keep travelling as long as our Schengen visa allows. Plus, my wife’s happy since we’re ticking off places on her travel wishlist.”
You don’t need to be rich to see the world
Via Mohd Alfieshahrin/Facebook
Despite the simplicity of their kapchai, Alfie and Diana have shown that grand adventures are possible with limited resources.
Their journey is a powerful reminder that while jobs can provide financial stability, it’s the adventures we embark on that truly enrich our lives.
Before parting, Alfi left us with some valuable advice: “Go out and see the world with whatever you have. You don’t need to wait till you’re rich.”
“Start with what you’ve got—even if it’s RM1,000, travel like someone with RM1,000.”
Through their travels, Alfi and Diana show that you don’t need vast resources or a perfect plan to explore the world. With a little courage, a sense of adventure, and the willingness to embrace uncertainty, anyone can set off on their own epic journey.
Via Mohd Alfieshahrin/Facebook
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Also read:
Why I Left My Comfortable Office Job in Kuala Lumpur to Work on an Island
Why I Left My Comfortable Office Job in Kuala Lumpur to Work on an Island
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