At 5:00 a.m. on July 12, with bleary eyes and a full tank of ambition (and petrol), Jeremy kicks off the ultimate drive from Singapore to Japan—yes, by car.
Through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos, China, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, and finally, Japan. That’s nine countries, countless border crossings, and a travel plan that your mom would absolutely not approve of.
Originally joined by his friend Clement as co-driver, the plan takes a sharp left turn when Clement decides to take his own car instead. Enter Zhenghao, the last-minute MVP who bravely signs on for part of the ride (and immediate sweat duty).
The first leg of the journey takes them into Malaysia, where the infamous border jam lives up to its reputation. After a petrol stop and a brunch, the crew heads north. Somewhere along the way, Clement’s air-con goes rogue, turning his car into a mobile steam room. The fix? A tinting detour in Penang and a lot of perspiration-powered suffering.
In Thailand, the convoy enters the Land of Smiles with an appropriately sweaty grin. They dive into roadside food courts, snack on snake fruit, and discover grilled bananas that would put your grandma’s desserts to shame. They also find Michelin-recommended dough sticks at a hidden breakfast spot in Surat Thani—crispy outside, fluffy inside, served with kaya and a cup of thick, condensed-milk coffee. They cross police roadblocks, tries everything in sight (including heart-stopping portions of grilled fish, pork belly, and mushroom soup), and stumble upon local markets brimming with mysterious meats and morning chaos.
Despite the tropical heat and the occasional “where are we even?” moment, they keep rolling—laughing, sweating, eating, and adding country stickers on the car at each border like badges of honor.
Watch as things go sideways in the best possible way, from AC malfunctions to surprise Michelin meals and language-barrier fruit bartering. It’s like Top Gear, but with more curry puffs and less yelling.