[Trip Report] My Crazy "LITTLE" Adventure Up North - 11 Apr to 18 May 2008

[whisperer]

Trip Facts:

my ride : kawasaki ksr 110

duration of trip : 5 weeks (11th April 2008 - 18th May 2008)

places covered :

 

Thailand - hatyai, phuket, surat thani, koh phangan, bangkok, chiangmai, mae sariang, mae hong son, ban rak thai, pai, mae ai, golden triangle, chiang saen, nong khai, nakhon ratchasima

 

Laos - houay xai, pak beng, luang pra bang, vang vieng, vieng chang

 

M'sia - fraser's hill

 

Total dist : approx 9000km (7000km on road, 2000km on train, ferry and slow boat along mekong river)

 

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Expenditure on fuel : $220(and that's an over estimation =D)

 

Total expenditure : $2200 (including after market parts and accessories)

 

Prologue

 

the thought of touring on my ksr crossed my mind several times, and more often than not, the stupefied looks or "huh? you siao ah?" comments usually greet my shared thoughts over teh peng. one day, i just decided to do it. i think that's what happens when you bum around too much.

 

having just returned from a UK trip and only a week to Songkran, i only had 4 days or so to prepare for the big adventure. Didn't make plans and stuff as the trip was only confirmed when i got back from UK. So basically, i just made up my mind(well, with the help of a few factors), packed and left. The void of uncertainty excited me. i didn't even know when i would return.

 

initial plan was to ride up to penang, stay overnight den continue to hatyai the next day, but there was still much to be done, so i postponed departure by a day, so i could have enough rest as well, but then again, how the hell can anyone sleep before a trip like this?!

 

D-Day 11th April, 0000 hours

 

i saddled up my little warrior and headed for the 2nd link. 2 close friends from my riding group were at GP esso to send me off. The trip was only disclosed to a few people. with a few photos and well-wishes, i rode off into the night of the NSH

 

(and yes, in case you're wondering, that's hair on my head! i only shaved it when i was in phuket!)

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my little mascot, tiny yet mighty

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taking shelter from the rain. i was too lazy to put on a raincoat. not that i had one anyway!

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meeting a convoy of m'sian bikers at a petrol stop

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riding from night till day

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14 hours later, i finally reached the thai border. it poured like crazy before the border, but curiously enough, the rest of the bikers seem dry -..-"

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[Seastorm]

salute on youur sprit of adventure!

If you are going to write a blog on your trip, I would definately like to read the things you did, your thoughts and things that happened.

Am glad you took up your personal challenge.

[PaLmEr]

damn! you just upped the ante!

[Seastorm]

damn! you just upped the ante!

 

Palmer, go with a 100cc bike?

[YuaN_]

this is cool

[ahJap]

finally u post up

 

3 cheers for u

[PaLmEr]

Palmer, go with a 100cc bike?

 

i just came back from Koh Phangan FMP just now leh.

[whisperer]

rained again after i cleared thai customs. Reached Hatyai and checked into Sakura Hotel @800bht per night. In the condition i was in, the last thing i wanted was to ride around looking for a cheap guesthouse.

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a little mishap along the NSH, didn't fall, but busted my ankle and limped around for a few days. That's what happens when u don't rest enough before a long ride. Well, could've been worse!

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Day 2 - 12th April 2008

 

woke up early but took my time to get ready to check out. was abit annoyed when i found out the 800bht didn't include a breakfast. moved off around 11am for phuket

 

enroute to phuket along highway No.43

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stopped for lunch after Trang and met a group of m'sian road king riders. Apparently they set off from hatyai at 8am, but got lost along the way. It pays to do a little homework before each ride

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shortly after continuing my way, i encountered a flat tyre. i discovered my tyre repair kit was useless, as it wasn't a puncture. The tyre valve joint had "melted" due to overheating of the tyres. i guess it was because i didn't rest at all the fuel stops and allow the tyres to cool, just pump and go. Managed to ride to a nearby motorshop, had the valve replaced with a stainless steel one used on car tyres and probably bigger bikes. Damage was only 300bht, and took less than 20 mins.

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continuing my way to phuket with the sun setting soon

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was nightfall by the time i reached phuket town. first thing i did was to head to an internet cafe to look for a cheap accomodation. found what i was looking for and made my way there. The hostel was better that what i imagined, in fact one of the best hostels i've seen.

 

the nicely decorated reception

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the lounge with free internet access, 42in LCD tv and a HUGE collection of DVDs and books available free to hostel guests, mostly travelers and backpackers

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the super friendly staff and a dutch traveler i met

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some more travelers. basically i hung out with this BIG group of travelers during songkran, and the cool thing was no one knew each other before, but we had loads of fun chilling out and partying

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the clean and spanky common toilet and shower

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nicely decorated hostel with a cosy feel

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this swedish guy i met had a sunburn. a visit to the doctor revealed 2nd degree burns. i felt bad for laughing at him the day before, when he was reeaally red like a lobster, but then again, we all had a good laugh, even him

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[whisperer]

Day 3 - 13th April 2008, Songkran Day

 

headed to patong beach with some of my dorm-mates. Huge jam due to the water festival, and the bus was ambushed several times along the way

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chilled at the beach and suntanned for awhile

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on the way back to the hostel, we walked along the street facing patong beach and joined the water fight. bought some beers from this restaurant and we had unlimited access to water! (passer-bys asking to refill their water guns had to pay 10bht) didn't manage to take any pictures, considering the situation.

 

18 of us from the hostel headed out to patong beach again for the songkran partying. the waterfights were insane and it was something you had to experience to know what it's like. No pictures, and no prizes for guessing why.

[whisperer]

Day 4 to 8 - 14th April to 18th April

 

chilled in phuket for a week while waiting for a friend who was flying over. Set off for Surat Thani for the full moon party

 

my bike on the night ferry to Koh Phangan

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Day 9-11 - 19th to 21st April, Koh Phangan, Full Moon Party

 

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dirt roads on the eastern part of the island

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there was an election going on, and alot of speculation that the party would be moved to the 21st, by then which i would have to be on the train to bangkok. luckily the date stick, and i had a helluva time

 

a notice in 7-11

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row of stalls selling buckets of cheap booze

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heading back to Surat Thani on the HUGE ferry

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the interior of the ferry, taking up cars, pickups, lorries and even tour buses

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waiting for the night train to bangkok

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loading up to the cargo carriage.

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1100bht for first class sleeper ticket, 800bht for bike. Don't approach travel agencies to get you tickets and accommodation, they will tell you there are no more tickets or rooms and "force" you to take up the more expensive rooms. I made such a mistake and paid 1500 bht for my first class ticket, 400bht more than getting it straight from the counters. Not really my style, but then again, a friend who flew over to meet me for the party arranged the tickets and stuff.

[PaLmEr]

bro, pics a bit the small leh. cant enjoy them in its full glory.

[tangmulong4488]

wow impressive?! won you get lonely or at times helpless?

[whisperer]

Day 12-17 : Bangkok

 

as much as i disliked the city for its fast paced, chaotic feel as well as not-so-friendly locals in general, i hung out in Bangkok for a bout a week. Explored a good part of the city, mostly to bikes shops in search of parts. Didn't do the usual tourist sight-seeing. Traffic in Bangkok is crazy, and the worse thing is, the road signs are totally different from those on the maps, even when it's the same road! Out of the few days i was out battling the Bangkok traffic, i got lost every time, but somehow always manage to find my way back to the guesthouse, and each time swearing never to ride in Bangkok traffic again

 

Hu Lam Pong train station, Bangkok

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the guest house i stayed in, 450bht a night, air-con

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the cosy room

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I casually mentioned to the receptionist about not having a rack or anything in the rooms to hang towels or clothes with, well, except for the doorknob, curtain bar and my mobile phone charger sticking out from the wall socket. 10 mins later, they sent a guy up to install one! i was actually planning to move out to another guesthouse the next day, but that made me stay on for a few more days =). Highly recommended, clean environment, good security

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MBK, a huge shopping mall popular with tourists and locals. On just on section on the electronics level, there were almost 100 shops selling handphones!

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crazy traffic

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found the cheap canal boat which took me back to near my guesthouse

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dinner of chicken noodle soup with lots of chilli flakes. yumm....

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i found an A&W during one of night rides out, and gave in to temptation. It was a good thing as well, because 5 minutes after i started eating, it rained cats and dogs outside. At least i got to nap comfortably(oops) on the cushioned seats while waiting for the rain to stop!

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[whisperer]

bro, pics a bit the small leh. cant enjoy them in its full glory.

 

haha... leave it to you imagination. i spent the whole night just uploading them to pc, sorting, and uploading to the net man... and so far out of 1000 over photos, i've only uploaded 50 since noon today -..-

[sibingai]

my gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on a KSR!!!!!!!!!!???????????????

 

 

RESPECT MAN!!!!!!

[whisperer]

double-post

[dinie]

hey bro did u go alone? as in jus totally urself? very nicely done bro.. next we'll see the honda cubs going up to thailand trying to beat ur record.. lol.

[whisperer]

salute on youur sprit of adventure!

If you are going to write a blog on your trip, I would definately like to read the things you did, your thoughts and things that happened.

Am glad you took up your personal challenge.

 

thanks! i did try to start a blog on the trip, but kinda lazy to keep at it, just uploading the photos is taking ages! am trying to condense this thread to keep people from falling asleep!

[fattsum]

subcribed... more please....

[whisperer]

wow impressive?! won you get lonely or at times helpless?

 

lonely, not really. i meet alot of travellers along the way, and sometimes, being alone helps to relax. i find that the best way to travel is alone, cuz that way, you force yourself to actually chat up with anyone you come across. everyone has a story to share, and you'll be amazed by some of the stories you hear.

 

and no, there wasn't a time i felt helpless worried at times, especially when i had to ride in the dark on unknown roads in the mountains, but nothing i couldn't handle

[whisperer]

my gawd!!!!!!!!!!!!!! on a KSR!!!!!!!!!!???????????????

 

 

RESPECT MAN!!!!!!

 

yah, unfortunately, yet a blessing in disguise that's the only bike i have now after i sold my super 4, no regrets though, i love my KSR!

[PaLmEr]

haha... leave it to you imagination. i spent the whole night just uploading them to pc, sorting, and uploading to the net man... and so far out of 1000 over photos, i've only uploaded 50 since noon today -..-

 

i took 1000+ photos on a 9 day trip! Just returned this morning. Sorting them out now too!

[whisperer]

hey bro did u go alone? as in jus totally urself? very nicely done bro.. next we'll see the honda cubs going up to thailand trying to beat ur record.. lol.

 

yup, i went solo, my first solo.

 

maybe, if they're equally crazy! haha... while cubs have slight advantage in terms of speed, they lose out in terms of range due to their small tanks. i heard there are plug-and-play tanks mods in thailand though, so that might help. but would be advisable to build up touring experience first, not recommended for 1st timers.

 

kids, don't try this at home!

[whisperer]

i took 1000+ photos on a 9 day trip! Just returned this morning. Sorting them out now too!

 

i took alot more actually, but i usually filter them out every few days

[whisperer]

some place i chanced across on the way back to the guesthouse, didn't walk in though, was raining and was only stopping to check my maps. looked pretty sleazy

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Boredom at a traffic junction. Somehow the traffic light timers seem to take longer than indicated. I could've dismounted, take a leak, take a photo and get back on my bike with time to spare. Well, i didn't do that of course!

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movie crew filming at Khao San Road

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aspirations of a little girl?

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Khao San Road at night. This begger literally dragged himself down the whole stretch of road

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bbq meat on sticks, kinda like satay with extras

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the famous thai pancakes. Banana chocolate... and i'm craving for some now...

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the hot girls of Lava bar. The sight of them posing drew a lot of catcalls

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