100% answer truthfully!

You wasted lot of time planing a solo trip in the end

Cooking oil and semi oil

Can motorcycle run on cooking oil? In theory YES if you can boil it and eat it why not? It's suitable? Cooking oil boiling point estimates at 300c a motorcycle engine run 230-250c depend on weather some goes up to 300c so again in theory it seem fine. Again is cooking oil not suitable? Due to not enough chemical, like acids,  bases and lack of  viscosity cooking oil will degrade very fast in high temperature.

Do not buy "overpriced" semi-synthetic oils you can actually DIY yourself if you find mineral oil not good enough and full synthetic not withtin your budget. In industry standard semi-synthetic are mixture of mineral oil and synthetic oil, with no more than 30% synthetic oil ratio 70% mineral and 30% full synthetic.

Mix 2.8L of mineral and 1.2 fully synthetic you will get 4L of DIY semi-systhetic. Personally still insisted on quality fully synthetic oil last longer in long run actually save bucks.

My 2 cents.
Also can read my thoughts on Engine Oil myth
http://tripdrive.blogspot.sg/2014/12/the-engine-oil-maze-literally-drive.html

Route 1157 to Betong 勿洞

From Gerik town ride to Betong 勿洞 had 2 way I personally perfer "route 1157" more smooth compare to ride all the way up to Pengkalan Hulu and turn into Jalan Betong but beware on coming bus which may cut into your lane.
When reach Gerik town on the left had a "petron petroleum" (Photo taken on opposite side). The is the last top up for your tank unless you like to pay more pumping Thai fuel. After refill reset your odameter to zero ride to 23km all the way up do not turn right keep left straight up. And you will see the sign "Betong 25km" after the sign turn right to route 1157. You will reach Malaysia border in 30min.

Correct

We remember moments

Solo or not my ride normally had a DIY poster and a "ride song' although no song was play during my ride!
Ooga-chaka, ooga-ooga
Ooga-chaka, ooga-ooga
Ooga-chaka, ooga-ooga
Ooga-chaka, ooga-ooga

Mae Hong Son 1864

Mae Hong Son will be postpone to 2017 due to halfway ride at Bangkok received call my Grandma pass away. And had to return to Singapore.

Solo Laos-China border Boten

Need to blog this trip last year February till now no update...

"Once upon a time... I confirm no one in Singapore did a SOLO Laos-China border round trip in 8 days."

In order to complete in 8 days there is "3 days" you need to ride 24hrs in hot sun or complete darkness. And you have no time for photography, blog or vlog. You main focus is nothing but riding, drinks, foods, toilet break and refuel. At the end you will suffer butt sore "Pain in the ass"! Prepare to chase by "stray dog" as they're in defensive mode during the night.

Prepare to answer questions when having pit stop.

Where you come from?

How many days you been here?

Where you heading to?

How much $$$ is your bike?

Is Honda how many cc?

Are you Malaysian?

You alone?

Children in Laos Luang Namtha

Disclaimer: This is not a story to lesson city kids how fortunate they are this is a ride of what I experienced. Happiness came from heart not mesure by wealth. City kid may built wealth with their help from parents. Will they found happiness in life with parent help?

"Children in Laos Luang Namtha villages had to walk up and down hill withtin 5km to 10km daily to go to school or work. Most of their parent also need to walk distance away to work on the field.. There is no buses or others transportion to go school or work. This is their daily life walking fews hours to achieve education and bring foods to the table."

Laos had less privileges compare to their neighbors.