SG - Siem Reap - Phnom Penh - Kampot - Kep - Sihanouk - BANG (accident)!

[papabread79]

The riding trip started few days late (23rd Dec 2011) due to lack of leave. Bunch of good friends have left for China earlier (http://www.singaporebikes.com/forums/showthread.php/346731-Lost-In-Yunnan-Province) and sadly, i was not able to follow suit. The plan was to meet them at Siem Reap as they were making their way southwards from China. For me, it was going to be my first ride up to Cambodia. Initially, was supposed to be a ride with another friend, but due to unforeseen circumstances, he had to back out, leaving me with 2 Second-Class seats on board the train from Hatyai to BKK.

 

I wouldnt say the bike was prepped up well. Soft panniers were borrowed items, secured by just cargo nets and elastic straps. The bike was a KTM 530 EXC-R, using a 24L Acerbis tank to last the distance. Taking inspirations from Marc Coma (450cc in the Dakar Rally), i've always believed that its the rider and not the bike that makes things happen in life. So again, a solo trip to Siem Reap, at least.

 

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True enough, the panniers had to go due to the heat from the FMF Ti 4.1 full-system exhaust. This was at a pit-stop at Pagoh R&R. Luckily for me, Profatsir/Tonychan, Chris Chen and friends were also at the R&R to assist me. They lent me a huge cargo net to secure my 40L dry pack onto the back of my 530. The headlight also blew, hence i was riding in the dark throughout most sections of the NSH, depending on lights from other vehicles.

 

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From here, i trudged on to Hatyai to catch the train.

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Loaded up the train as usual. No hassle and not many people bearing in mind that it was end of the year.

 

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Once i alighted at BKK, i headed for the checkpoint at Aranyaprathet, the Zumo 660 providing directions out of the mazy BKK streets. Cleared the customs, but reached the "Custom House" at Poipet a bit late.

 

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As it was near dusk, i had to continue my journey to Siem Reap still. Travelled in the dark once again to reach the agreed hotel (meeting point). Hotel staff were kind enough to let me park the bike in the restaurant area.

 

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After a day of wait, finally met up with my friends.

 

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We trolled the streets and night market the next day.

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Naturally, a visit to Angkor Wat beckoned. We rode into the temple without paying a fee cause we woke up that day feeling like ********. So we just had to piss off some Cambodians. Took few photos here and there, with this as one of them.

 

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We continued our journey onward to Phnom Penh from AW. As expected, the environment is dusty and the traffic, jam-packed.

 

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Our hotel faced the mighty Mekong River, hence we were grateful to get such panaromic view. At night, there will always be this handsome-looking guy who conducts a slow-dance session. He seems to be quite influential. I saw tourists who were taking a night walk joining in the dancing session without hesitation. Perhaps some kind of hypnotism was employed too.

 

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Day time, the weather was picture-perfect.

 

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As a rite of ritual, we visited the infamous school and another site of the killing field. Just being in those places will make you wonder what drove Mr Pol Pot to commit such atrocities towards his very own countrymen. I already consider the atrocities committed to Singaporeans by our leaders a level below Mr PP.

 

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Once we were done with Phnom Penh, we headed to Sihanouk Province. Along the way, we stopped by Kep for some photo-taking and seafood. At this point, my side-stand already gave way, hence i had to rely on their bikes for support.

 

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We rode up to Bokor National Park after the late lunch and took some nice pics as the sun was setting. Myself in the pic makes the pic even sweeter.

 

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We finally reached Sihanouk at night.

 

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Sadly, as we were heading to Koh Kong the next day, an unfortunate incident happened. I swerved to avoid an oncoming truck which were trying to make an overtaking maneuver. And crashed at the side of the road. Luckily only suffered a closed fracture of the radial shaft. Did an x-ray at a clinic nearby after my friend gave me a can of Coke.

 

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These better x-rays were taken at CGH, of course.

 

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An angel gave me a lift back to Phnom Penh and from there, i spent a night and flew back to SG the next day. Headed straight to CGH for my operation.

 

The bike was left at the clinic, with my fingers crossed.

 

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The 2 dudes continued their journey onwards to Pattaya and safely back to SG.

 

The forearm after the operation.

 

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Bike has since been collected (flew there and road back of course) and sold. And a new bike has been bought. Looking forward to more rides up-north.

[fx]

heard abt your accident.. dah baik?

where did u leave & park the bike there?

[papabread79]

heard abt your accident.. dah baik?

where did u leave & park the bike there?

Dear Sir,

 

I left the bike at the clinic where I did e x-ray. The picture wif Al-Simmon posing beside it was its final resting place.

[pipipapipu]

Spoken like a warrior. You dream, you plan, you fall, you fail, you pick yourself up, fix yourself together, and you start to dream again. For this, I need to buy you a milo dinosaur.

[Ianie]

Nice ride. Accidents during such trips are always ****.

Love the pic you took at the peak!