[Trip Report] 8 days thailand trip

[tom cool]

Day 1 – 13 Feb 2010

Singapore – Surat Thani

 

Our plan was to ride to Chiangmai & Mae Hon Son [MHS], it’ll be a grueling 1st 2 days ride for us, in order to reach Chiangmai & MHS in 9 days.

 

- We set off on 13 Feb @ 12.01am, in the early morning of Chinese New Year eve.

- Towards 1km to Malaysia custom, my petrol ran dry and I’m stuck in the middle of nowhere.

- Lucky about half an hour, a Harley Davidson rider, Amin came and helped me to push my bike all the way to GP Esso meeting Elvin & Paul. Thanks to him or else I’ve to wait for Paul’s to deliver the petrol.

- We have a nice chat with Amin before we left GP Esso around 1.30am.

- We rode and reached Sadao, Thai custom in the afternoon. Saw Ah Seng & his family also to Thailand in car.

- We continued our ride, bypass Hatyai and all the way to Surat Thani.

 

Surat Thani was a small town, not much happening…..we’d our dinner and booked a hotel for a good night rest. We really need it!

 

On day 1, we rode 16 hours continuously to reach Surat Thani. It was demanding and tiring for us because we did not have enough sleep in the day.

 

I tried to keep awake by stretching here and there while Elvin, later told me in the hotel that he nodded a few times while riding. Paul too was tired & sleepy.

 

Learning point – We’ve made a point before the trip, to flash our headlight if anyone of us were tired and would stop and rest for safety sake.

 

As we rode, we endured the tiredness and continue to ride, trying not to slowdown the others. I’d say it was a mistake we made, lucky nothing happened to us.

 

Day 2 – 14 Feb 2010

Surat Thani – Hua Hin

 

We’ve a good night sleep and prepared to conquer our quest.

 

- We left the hotel and continue our journey. The weather was terribly hot towards Hua Hin…

- At the 1st traffic light, Paul’s bike can’t started due to rectifier cable burnt. Took us 2 hours to fix the problem.

- Due to the unforeseen problem, we decided not to proceed to Chiangimai & MHS, so we set our next destination, Hua Hin. It was a blessing in disguise, in the next few days, we rode leisurely, not that stressed as day1.

- From Surat Thani, we went to Chumphon beach.

- At Chumphon during one of the hairpin corner to the beach, I lost control & my bike went into the grass patch. I had a minor sprained on my arm and my bike’s windshield and mirror damaged. It was lucky to me.

- Chumphon beach was isolated, not much activities and beach-goer. We stayed for awhile and set off for Hua Hin.

- We reached Hua Hin at night, booked a hotel and wandered around.

- Hua Hin was very crowded with Ang Mos and stalls all over the town selling tourist stuff from clothing, accessories to food.

 

Day 3 – 15 Feb 2010

Hua Hin – Bangkok

 

- We left Hua Hin for Bangkok

- Towards Bangkok, Paul’s bike rear tire nipple melted and the tire deflated. The bike was temporary fix and he rode cautiously few hundred metres to a tire shop to get it replaced.

- We reached Bangkok, Pratunam around 5pm.

- Visited Suan Lum night market and called it a day.

 

Into Bangkok city, the traffic was ‘chaos’ with turns here and there. Our first time ridding underneath the expressway [a strange feeling, maybe because we were not used to it] and into the city.

 

Day 4 – 16 Feb 2010

Bangkok

 

- We stayed a day in Bangkok.

- Places we’ve visited, Platinum Fashion Mall, Erawan Shrines to pray for a safe journey, Mah Boon Krong & the notorious Patpong.

- It was a great trip shopping in Bangkok but heavy on our wallet, hahahaa.

 

 

Erawan Shrine

 

- It's Brahman, not strictly Buddhist. And yet, this famous shrine attracts more visitors than many of the city's temples. It was erected during the mid 1950s, after the Thai government had decided to build the luxury Erawan Hotel on this location. However, the first stages of the construction were beset with so many problems that superstitious labourers refused to continue unless the land spirits were appeased.

 

- After consultations with astrologers, the erection of a shrine to honour the four-faced Brahma God, Than Tao Mahaprom, was considered to be an auspicious solution. A magnificent image of the Brahma God was especially cast and gilded, and The Erawan Hotel opened to acclaims and worldwide fame for three decades. Towards the end, the property could not compete with more modern facilities, and was replaced by the privately owned Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok in 1991. As the shrine was originally constructed to grace the old Erawan Hotel, the location became known as the Erawan Shrine.

 

Day 5 – 17 Feb 2010

Bangkok – Koh Samui

 

- We left Bangkok early in the morning 6am to avoid the morning traffic rush. Nice ride, very cooling.

- Reached Raja Ferry Port about 4pm and rode our bikes into the ferry to Koh Samui.

- Too tired that I slept on the ferry…took us 1 or 2 hours to reach Koh Samui.

- Booked a new hotel in Nathon, we rented Kup Kia and rode to a night carnival.

- Late a night, we rode and parked our bikes in the open pub along the road. Went to the pub & order SPY as we chatted warmly in the relaxing atmosphere.

 

Day 6 – 18 Feb 2010

Koh Samui

 

- We stayed for a day in Koh Samui.

- Went to Chaweng beach, we’ve a great time frolic in the clear blue sea with waves after waves hitting the shores. I dropped my spectacle in the sea when a wave hit me…wtf

- At the sandy beach, were beach boys, babes and bikini…even topless sunbathers. Too bad I missed the nice view cos I lost my spectacle. -_-“

- Made a spectacle at the nearby shop if not how am I to ride back. *haiz*

- It was hot, our feet burning when we walked bare-footed to the nearby spectacle shop.

- We rode around the island visiting temples & wats, the viewpoint.

 

Koh Samui gives one a relaxing feeling with nice beaches, low buildings, temples & wats that gives one a peaceful mind.

 

Still few places yet to explore in Koh Samui, the waterfall, ATV ride, shooting etc

 

Day 7 – 19 Feb 2010

Koh Samui - Krabi

 

- We left Koh Samui 9am to meet up with Encik & his bor in Krabi.

- The weather was ‘unbearable’ hot & we reached Krabi in the afternoon.

- Met Encik and had our lunches together.

- Went to the beach and shop around the town.

- The guys bought a Khoon Loi and set it free for good luck.

 

Krabi beach is much smaller than Koh Samui but is happening here...

 

Day 8 – 20 Feb 2010

Krabi - Singapore

 

- We left Krabi to return back to Singapore

- Along the way in Phattalung, visited an army shop where Encik bought a pair of ammo box for his TDM. Paul helped to transport his ammo box on his PC8oo.

- At Hatyai one of the bike shop, Encik fix his ammo box onto his TDM.

- Reached Sadao, Thai custom around 5pm.

- I reached GP Esso at 2am and met the guys there waiting. We parted our way home from GP Esso.

 

In the 8 days trip, we’ve clocked a distance of more than 4oookm, covered 4 beaches, visited 6 places, spent more than 1k but the experience, the memory is priceless…..

 

here is link to my video of the trip, enjoy...

 

http://cold68.multiply.com/video/item/38/100213_-_8_Days_Thailand.wmv

Edited March 17, 2010 by tom cool

[ninjapura]

nice video... more story plllssss

[tom cool]

bro, just did the write-up

Edited March 17, 2010 by tom cool

[tom cool]

nice video... more story plllssss

 

the write up done

[chrislayer]

:thumb:

[oriental]

Bro, juz saw ur writeup..always looking forward to see ur vid n pic..u do a very gd job..machiam pro.

[Cool_Cruiser]

........ nice video......

 

[tom cool]

hi chris, me still a newbie compare to you

 

hi oriental, video so so compare to those pros...still learning

Edited March 18, 2010 by tom cool

[racingter]

nice video and write up...i enjoyed it very much..

[tom cool]

thanks...just to share it here

[pipipapipu]

tom can be the next jack neo liao le...

[tom cool]

i bo lui, bo peng yu, bo tao mo, bo yan dao...simi boon bo, how to be jack neo...

jack in the box, maybe

[SC Gaban]

how long did it u guys take to reach bangkok from hatyai? which route did u guys take? is d route a highway or is it normal federal road?

[tom cool]

how long did it u guys take to reach bangkok from hatyai? which route did u guys take? is d route a highway or is it normal federal road?

 

we left from hua hin to bangkok, takes 8 hrs. maybe need 2 days to reach bangkok from hatyai.

 

we went by the highway...hope this helps.

i'm a follower nia, really have to thanks both my wonderful kakis, paul & elvin

[SC Gaban]

we left from hua hin to bangkok, takes 8 hrs. maybe need 2 days to reach bangkok from hatyai.

 

we went by the highway...hope this helps.

i'm a follower nia, really have to thanks both my wonderful kakis, paul & elvin

 

whoaa!! 2 days from hatyai 2 bangkok?

[ninjapura]

whoaa!! 2 days from hatyai 2 bangkok?

 

yes, 2 days can be done even with a 2b bike...

[pipipapipu]

i might re-attempt this August...

[Azahari]

upz for the trip and videoz

[sambora67]

great write up bro,

 

aniwae wats the mileage from Esso GP to Hua Hin ?

[tom cool]

hi james, gp esso to hua hin approx. 1,6ookm...

 

[ganman]

Excellent idea to skip Hatyai if you still have the endurance to travel a bit more further up.

 

Impressive long rides especially on the first and last day.

[pipipapipu]

Excellent idea to skip Hatyai if you still have the endurance to travel a bit more further up.

 

Impressive long rides especially on the first and last day.

 

 

Please try to avoid extended endurance rides if possible, especially under the blazing sun. Drink plenty of water to keep you awake.

[pipipapipu]

I will try retrace our initial planned route next month.

[tom cool]

I will try retrace our initial planned route next month.

 

ride safe and take many pics for memory. not forgetting field report.

[pipipapipu]

ride safe and take many pics for memory. not forgetting field report.

 

what field report? kena the bone? or fall into the longkang? lol..