Chan’s sprawling cabin tent with his 175cc scooter in view, a humble and cosy home away from home.
Solitude is a blessing not many can enjoy due to work, family and social obligations. If you seek the bliss of alone time, consider solo camping like Colin Chan.
“It’s not that I truly want to be alone; I prefer camping on weekdays when most managed campsites are practically deserted. Plus, I enjoy going on my motorcycle, which so few of my friends do,” he explained.
Being alone allows Chan to savour his camping trips in his own way and at his own pace.
While Chan finds himself a minimalist – one who packs all his gear on his motorcycle – he does not believe in roughing it. Chan lugs a spacious cabin setup measuring 2.4m by 2.4m and 1.8m tall, enabling him to walk right into his tent.
“At my age, if I had to use a one-man tent and crawl in and out every time, it would be torture for my knees and back,” laughed the 68-year-old.
While a large cabin tent typically requires at least two people to prop up, Chan has mastered the technique and can pitch it single-handedly.
To stay above the cold draught on the ground while he sleeps, Chan brings a collapsible cot, with legs wrapped in rubber to prevent damage to the tent’s groundsheet.
With a small Buddha statue gracing a collapsible table, Chan’s roomy tent, designed to accommodate four to six people, affords him relative luxury when he camps solo.
Although he runs a cafe in Melaka offering Baba Nyonya delights, he does not indulge in his culinary skills while camping.
“I just bring biscuits, instant noodles, canned food and three-in-one coffee or chocolate drinks.
“It’s only two nights of camping and I don’t want to busy myself with meal preparations,” he explains.A devout Buddhist, Chan places a small green Buddha statue on a foldable camp table in his tent.
He rises around 5am to practise a popular meditation technique known as “Mindfulness of the Breath”. The practice involves focusing entirely on the sensations of inhalation and exhalation, disregarding all other sensory input.
“I’m not very good at meditating yet. But I find it a helpful way to calm and centre myself,” Chan admitted, adding that he spent time as a novice Buddhist monk in his youth.
During the day, Chan enjoys nature walks, takes in the streams typically found at managed campsites, and spends time in introspection and reflection.
Chan’s 115cc bike being well-equipped with off-road tyres and his camping gear, including a three-litre jerry can of extra petrol.
“When you’re alone with your thoughts, especially while peacefully camping, you have the time to contemplate your recent experiences and examine yourself.
“There’s also the beauty of nature. I once spotted a huge tapir passing by my tent.
“Sometimes, a dog or two would appear from nowhere. They are tame and I give them treats. Then, the dogs sit around my tent as if they are my own, guarding my camp,” he smiles.
Chan aims to go solo motorbike camping at least twice a month, choosing simple managed campsites that charge about RM20 per night.
He owns two motorcycles: a 175cc scooter and a 115cc underbone motorbike, commonly referred to as a “kapcai”.
Chan laying out his ration of instant noodles and snacks, which serve as quick and convenient options when hunger pangs suddenly strike.
Admittedly, it takes planning and skill to pack enough supplies for a pleasant camping trip by motorcycle. But Chan has been biking for years.
In his youth, he even journeyed to the Cambodian border on a 1,250cc cruiser. He has been camping since the 1970s, including climbing to the peak of Gunung Ledang more than 10 times.
“I love being in nature. There’s a special sense of freedom that comes from going outdoors alone,” he said.
