[Trip Report] My drive to Central Thailand CNY 2007

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 08:52 AM

The Route....

My inital plan was to drive to Angkor Wat in Siem Reap via Aranyaprathet(Thailand) during the Chinese New Year Holidays. However a friend of mine who did this trip recently on a bike advised me not to, citing the extremely bad conditions of the road.

And so I packed my bags, prep my car and took it for a ride to Central Thailand along with my parents. Covering over 4000km of roads within a period of 7 days from 17th to 25th Feb 2007. The main towns I have traveled to include Hatyai, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, Kanchanburi and Hua Hin.

Here's my story together with some photos I have taken.... Enjoy

Leaving Singapore @ around 1:30am, I reached Tapah R&R @ 4:30am

Arriving @ the Malaysia / Thailand border (Sadao) bright and early 8:00am

HATYAI - Southern Thailand, 888KM from Singapore

Stayed at The Regency Hotel, Hatyai and watched the Annual Lion Dance

The Dragon Dance

Picture of the city town centre

Road side stall selling cuttlefish @ night

Dessert....

A little boy @ the roadside stall

Towards Bangkok... Along the way we pass many villages each selling different products. We stop for some bananas...

Road towards Prachuap Khiri Khan

There's this shop along the Highway after Hua Hin selling hot cakes. Thais buy them in dozens..

We bought some hot cakes too.

1 more cake

Rama IX Bridge into Bangkok. Toll charges 40 Baht for cars.

BANGKOK - Capital of Thailand, 1900KM from Singapore

Grand Business Inn is where i stayed in Bangkok. Located beside NaNa BTS. 1500 Baht for standard rooms.

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 08:58 AM

This was what happen last night when we were in Hatyai. The attacks were in Yala. About 100km away from Hatyai.

The Nation Newspaper

We went shopping @ Pratunum Market

Bags @ MBK

Flowers / Baiyoke Sky Hotel

Beggar @ Pratunum

A boy packing food along the roadside..

A boy outside Chit Lom BTS Station

This is the hottest retro bike now. Yamaha Vino Automatic.

My Favourite, Omelette with Minced Pork on rice, Fishes not included.

This is my V-Com. Sleeps most of the time...

Victory Monument. Good market but security is maximium there due to the bombings last nite.

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 09:00 AM

Went to check out the cracks @ the airport too before heading to Ayuthaya...

AYUTHAYA - Ancient Capital, 85KM North of Bangkok, Unesco World Heritage Site.

Temple parking

Tuk Tuk here have sharp noses... This 1 in pink..

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon (Wat=Temple)
Built in 1357 by King U Thong

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 09:03 AM

Often i wonder how they build these hundreds of years ago. Lot at those stairs... This one's really tall.

A local gardener @ the temple

Shared half of my fried noodle lunch with her.

Wat Mongkhon Bophit / Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Contains one of Thailand's largest Buddha images. Also the largest temple in Ayuthaya. Most temple here charges 35 Baht per entry for conservation purposes.

A pic taken @ the door. Look at the size...

Entrance to the next temple.

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 09:05 AM

Lots of Buddha images has been destroy during the war and some are even stolen. The remaining are kept in the temple.

I caught this temple caretaker idling on the fence.

An old lady selling handmade stuff outside the temple. My papa bought one. 20 baht.

Rides around the temple

Wat Phra Mahathat
The most photographed sites in Ayuthaya.

After spending more than half a day in Ayuthaya, we continued our journey to Kanchanaburi through Nakhon Pathom.
I was lost for about 2 hrs or so while skirting in and out of Bangkok till i saw this sign... I was on the right track.

I stop to shoot some cows too....

4km more....

KANCHANABURI - 130km West of Bangkok.

My Hotel. 1500 Baht per night for triple room.

hunkiedave · 06-03-2007, 09:55 AM

I'm amaze

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 11:30 AM

Saw our fellow Malaysian bikers there too..

Allied War Cemeteries

I really love this province but didn't have the time to explore the full 220km of it up to the 3 Pagoda Pass. There are lots of foreign tourist in town.
Gasoline for sale here...

Only a few of these bikes are left in Singapore.

A special custom bike.

Bicycles

I found this beautiful guest house by the Mae Klong River. VN GuestHouse. Rooms are 350 Baht. Free enclosed parking for cars and bikes.

WWII Train

fc3s1 · 06-03-2007, 11:30 AM

The Bridge Over River Kwai (Death Railway Bridge)
This was what my papa is here for..

Walking on the bridge to the other side of the river was a scary experience for me. Heard that 16,000 POWs died building this railway. Found this on the other side.

My dad tells me that the Japanese used to hide in one of these and shoot their automatic weapons. Looks more like a lifeguard post to me..

Wat Tham Seua / Wat Tham Khao Noi

Large hill-top monasteries with steep steps and rewarding views.

Those who cannot climb the 100+ step can take the MRT at the side too..

Rewarding views from the top. Kanchanaburi and rice fields.

Throttle · 06-03-2007, 10:25 PM

Very cool....applause!!!

fruitcakepablohoney · 06-03-2007, 11:10 PM

Great Shots!

speedevil · 07-03-2007, 12:47 AM

POWER LEI!

Leonard_35 · 07-03-2007, 01:55 AM

Nice man. Time for reminiscence...

fc3s1 · 07-03-2007, 12:17 PM

After spending 1.5 day at Kanchanaburi, we move on to Hua Hin. Driving outside of Bangkok is a whole lot easier. Made a right turn down to Ratchaburi at the intersection.

HUA HIN - 200KM South of Bangkok.
Famous beach resort town, full time residence to the King Of Thailand.

The hotels here are all very expensive by standard. This is my hotel. 2550 Baht for triple rooms. Good location though.

Partial seaview from our rooms

Our hotel is right behind....

Beach around Hilton Hua Hin

This is my favourite picture. This little girl and friends were play at a construction site barefooted with heavy machinery thumping behind. When they saw my camera aiming at them, all ran behind the canvas sheet except this liitle girl. That was when i took a picture of her...

Famous Hua Hin Night Market

Banana prata

We had mango prata instead.

fc3s1 · 07-03-2007, 12:22 PM

Beautiful lights for sale

A shy balloon man. There weren't much kids around and business was bad.

We had western food dinner at this good and cheap and restaurant called..

We went around town the next morning... Morning market

Wanna buy a house here.. 3 million baht = SGD$140,000 Seaview

The Clock Tower

School's starting

Wat Hua Hin

Shared my morning otah cake with this cat outside the temple..

Just look @ me... what do you expect.

fc3s1 · 07-03-2007, 12:23 PM

Nice Vino @ Hua Hin

Hua Hin Train Station

Took a pic of this rather sad looking dog @ the station

Fishing boats in Hua Hin

View from the best View Point

I found these admiring the beautiful view of Hua Hin with me there... so cute.

This little girl was struck on the tree after trying to follow the monkeys.

Wat Huai MongKhon(Luang Po Thuad - Master Thuad)
The Largest Luang Po image in the world

I notice this shop beside selling buddha pendant with lots of thais in there..

YZFx · 07-03-2007, 01:18 PM

way to go dude!!!!

fc3s1 · 08-03-2007, 02:25 PM

A closer look.... I realised that this master makes powerful pendant. Car crash can save u... Kenna black magic also can cure...

Saw this Thai Bro on the last nite in Hua Hin

Left Hua Hin early next morning for a direct drive into Kuala Lumpur. It was the longest drive of my life. I drove for 17 hrs leaving Hua Hin @ 8am and reaching K.L @1.30am with a one hr break along the way @ Hatyai.

Along the way back I passed by Pineapple Shopping Arcade.... Biggest one i have seen so far...

Fruit village...

Prawn cracker village (All the stalls in each village basically sells the same things)

Coconut village

I couldn't sleep that very night we arrived @ K.L after driving for the longest time... We concluded our journey with a final drive up to Genting Highlands before heading back to Singapore. Anyway what is CNY without a gamble!!!

This very trip saw me burning $245 for gasoline95 in Thailand, $100 for gasoline97 in Malaysia, $100 for Malaysian Toll, $5.00 for the local Thai insurance and for the experience, priceless.

For those wondering how I can navigate through these foreign lands, here's my GPRS (Available in Manual Mode Only @ all good bookstores around u!!!)

And needless to say, all this wouldn't have happen without my dearest Mom and Dad.

arjen · 08-03-2007, 05:56 PM

Hi amos, hope you still rem me.

very nice trip and write up

YZFx · 08-03-2007, 06:44 PM

really nice to see you done it with ur parents.... 3 upz fpr u...

minorsage · 10-03-2007, 06:31 PM

bro, thx for sharing your photos.

love to see such trips.

btw, what rims are you using for ur m3?
looks good man!

jiaju · 11-03-2007, 01:48 AM

jaw drop for the kind of effort and courage to do such long distance travelling.

good write up!

Teamlm · 11-03-2007, 02:46 PM

My dearest Bro Amos,

Looks like your adventure bugs bite you deeply.. Got to learn from your great stamina and good time plan.

We shall do a Nhnon Khai "friendship Bridge" trip when you get your bike.

Good trip!!

Teamlm · 11-03-2007, 02:54 PM

bro Amos!

Power man! I think China will be your next destination.

Gnixer · 13-03-2007, 09:54 PM

love to join in if any for the next time (if u dun mind waiting for small cc car)

cheomech · 15-03-2007, 01:43 AM

Hi fc3s1 ,

nice trip u did to central thailand . Maybe the next one you should try Siem Reap again . No problem to drive there with your car if you go there in the dry season . Maybe abit slower only , bcos of the road condition .

If you interested , can take a look at some of my videos in youtube .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ed_u7-src9k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ra3VF9a1mo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oo1iKX5YncM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eb8yfCWm67U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpWb5_zB-go

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPc-mVZ2wo0

Cheers !

ArthLine · 12-04-2007, 12:09 AM

wa.. u not heart pain ah? drive so far and the bangkok road very humpy de.. traffic very omg...!!! squeeze here n there..

somemore yr u got kit and yr suspension put so low.. i will cry man..

zonk · 22-04-2007, 12:19 AM

Awesome trip you had there. Seems that it has been a relatively safe drive for you and your family.

zasrock · 16-01-2008, 12:57 AM

how much did it cost you for the entire trip?

honda_lover · 16-01-2008, 09:29 AM

coooooll trip bro ... wanna try that next time .. nice ride too ..

but i would think that the experiences will overcome the "pain" for ur expenses .. haha

NormalAspirated · 18-01-2008, 06:24 AM

..........

merlino · 29-04-2008, 01:02 AM

I plan to do this too on a bike

racingter · 01-05-2008, 12:28 AM

***salut** for the adventous trip u have,u must have enjoyed it very much bro...