Last day- riding into Bangkok

•October 10, 2010 • 3 Comments

So I’d read on cycling forums a range of opinions regarding riding in Bangkok. The most popular opinion seems to be that it is overrun by non-law abiding and unlimited traffic and hence incredibly dangerous…bring it on!

It actually wasn’t all that bad. Infact having ridden through Ho Chi Minh City, it was a piece of cake. A very straight forward route along highway 1 from Ayutthaya almost directly to my desitination on Sukhumvit (location of NIST where meeting up with Roger, old friend from London days). A few hairy sections where I was required to cross over exit on entry lanes on the highway, often 2-3 lanes wide with a fairly constant flow of traffic. Luckily there was usually some kind of barrier or road marking that gave me a place to stop and take a few deep breaths before I launched myself in front of the traffic waving my arm frantically hoping that drivers would allow me to share the road with them for just a brief moment. Once in town proper the traffic, although busy, was faster moving than expected and after squeezing through gaps between buses, cars, tuk tuks and motorbikes I arrived on Sukhumvit in time for lunch.

Choice; squeeze through the gap or go around...gap definitely feels like the safer option.

Had celebratory dinner and drinks with Roger, Glynis and Ivy and went to bed dreaming about riding for the first time in 3 months! Hard to believe I made it (without any more assistance than my 15km truck ride in Laos) and that it’s all over.

Celebratory dinner at Bangkok Japanese restaurant with Roger Glynis and Ivy.

Hanging out by the pool in Bangkok.

Bike is now packed and I’m ready to head off to the beach for a well earned rest.

The sign that it really is over. Fingers crossed it's under 20kgs, please no excess charges!

The final ‘flat’ leg

•October 9, 2010 • 1 Comment

Sukhothai to Bangkok was a 5 day ride through 2 more ancient cities (Kamphaeng Phet and Ayutthaya) and a couple of non-descript Thai towns (Nakhon Sawan and Sing Buri) that don’t register in the guide book. It was the flattest section of the whole trip which meant I did long somewhat boring days with occasional pleasant scenery, increasingly busy roads and plenty of “I’ve had enough of my own company and need entertaining” thoughts.

Still loving the Thai sky.

Dinner by the river in Khampaeng Phet.

Early morning view over the river in Kamphaeng Phet.

Some friends I met at a morning noodle stop.

We had some fun with the phrase book.

Flatness.

More friends along the way.

Accom. in Nakhon Sawan...named after the great smelling sensation.

Ode to the Frangipani

Ancient folk in an ancient city.

Dinner by the river in Ayutthaya.

Nourishment Thai style

•October 9, 2010 • Leave a Comment

Something that became a feature of the last section of the trip was my increasingly regular visits to the increasingly more common 7/11. These wonderfully airconditioned stores are all over Thailand and stock a amazing variety of cold drinks including the very childlike but wonderful  ‘Slurpee’.

One of my favourites...ham and cheese toasty. Excellent take away breakfast food conveniently available at 6am!

The 7/11 burger bar. Selection of burger ingredients and sauces...including the very tasty 'Mastard'.

The 7/11 burger. An excellent 'just need a quick and filling snack' kinda food.

Moochan parked out the front of 7/11 in...hmmm, don't remember where, some random town.

Mmmmm, Slurpee 🙂

Sukhothai

•October 9, 2010 • Leave a Comment

The ancient city of Sukhothai…

The local wildlife…

And the new city…

Mae Sot to Sukhothai

•October 6, 2010 • Leave a Comment

The first day out of Mae Sot took me back over the mountains(only further south) that I had crossed to get to the border road a week ago. It was my last day of hills before the long flat rides that will take me to Bangkok. The hills were not too bad, not as steep as earlier experiences and the weather held out so that it neither rained or got too hot (until the straight flat boring 20kms at the end of the day).

Mae Sot to Tak random shots…

Coffee break...another very unexpected coffee shop/stop...had one just cause it's there! and it was at the top of a hill so had an awesome view.

Police check point. They always just wave me through...this time I waved them down and forced them to pose with me!

Pool at fancy hotel in Tak...loved Tak, not in the guide book, no other tourists and great night market with tastey dinner treats.

Tak night market

Yummmy sweet roti at Tak night market made by the smiling roti lady.

Tak to Sukhothai random shots…

I've seen quite a few snakes along the way, including a very live and sizable one directly in my path. Although I don't really wish death on any creature, I was kinda glad this one was not living when I came across it!

Sweet sticky rice snack in road-side shelter.

Yet another 'just because it's there' coffee break.

My first Bangkok signpost.

Not sure that video is a good idea

•October 4, 2010 • 3 Comments

I have been mulling over for a while what photos/videos might be most interesting for the blog and that I might appreciate to look back on in years to come. The usual thought and recommendation from others is the everyday routine things. Not sure if I’ve hit the mark re suitability for the blog, but this series of videos certainly shows the everyday. Hopefully they’ll provide you with at least a little entertainment!

Mae Sot

•September 30, 2010 • 2 Comments

Arrived in Mae Sot on a VERY hot afternoon. Was a hard last push to make it into town and I did find myself hanging out in an airconditioned service station shop only 12kms out…I think the lady in the shop wondered if I’d ever leave!

Checked into LP recommendation again. ‘Ban Thai Guesthouse’ is the accommodation of choice for many of the volunteer NGO workers here in town, of which there are many. I no longer get asked where I’m travelling, but which organisation I’m volunteering for!

Mae Sot is a pretty standard border town with not that much of interest (although they did have some nice coffee shops!). Wandered around the temple and took some photos…

Classic Thailand

Blue skies make for excellent backdrops.

Classic + Blue skies. While in Mae Sot I visited the AAPP (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners). They have a small museum run by Burmese ex-political prisoners who have been exiled from their home country. It was a very sobering and emotional experience. All of the staff have personal stories to tell, including our guide who was imprisioned for 5 years, 9 months simply for being involved in the writing of a document. She shared her experiences in and outside of prison. She now lives permenantly in Thailand due to the fear of rearrest should she return to Burma. There are currently over 2,000 political prisoners in numerous jails across Burma, all of them living in less than humanitarian conditions.My last night in Mae Sot it rained! During wet season, when it rains, it rains!Rain and sunset. View from Casa Mia restaurant (where they serve a great Masaman curry!)

The border road

•September 28, 2010 • 1 Comment

The road from Mae Sariang to Mae Sot hugs the Thai-Burma border. It is mostly hilly, forested and very green, making for one of the most beautiful and strenuous rides so far.

Again I stayed in a National Park. Mae Ngao NP is 4 kms off the main road and felt very remote. It was advertised on road signs that there was a restaurant and accommodation at the park, but being the off-season the ‘NZ tramping hut’ style lodge needed a little dusting off and the restaurant this was far from open. One of the staff managed to rustle up some fried rice and omelet for me which was delivered to me on a tray as they were on their way home. What I couldn’t eat (weird dried meat and way too much rice, yet again) was then devoured by an unknown animal in the middle of the night!

People keep asking me if I feel safe traveling alone. Staying at this National Park, where all the staff went home and I was the only one around in the dense jungle I kept telling myself maybe I should feel afraid…but I really never do. The only thing that scares me is hard beds and bed bugs…both making very a bad night’s sleep!

Another of those shots. This one on the way out to Mae Ngao National Park.

The mountains and the mist.

The ride from Mae Ngao continued in the mountains and the mist for the most part. Amazing and beautiful scenery and definitely a work out! Very little traffic or people around, but a few animals to keep me company…

Not far from Mae Sot, the border road travels past a very large Burmese refugee camp. ‘Mae La’ camp goes on for about 3kms and is a very busy area with many people walking up and down the road. Despite the unpleasant circumstance the people were very smiley and the camp made for interesting photos.

View over the roof tops of the huts in Mae La camp.

Mae Sariang

•September 27, 2010 • Leave a Comment

This route, being a last minute addition to the trip, is not something I’ve researched much. Hence, when I arrived in Mae Sariang I was pleasantly surprised. This area is not on the main tourist trail yet Mae Sariang is a great (although somewhat sleepy at this time of year…not a bad thing at all) little town with some wonderful guesthouses and restaurants, mostly along the river, which provides great views and a host of things to do.

The main street of Mae Sariang and my guesthouse 'Riverhouse Hotel' - very nice.

'Sawadee Bar'- loving it.

Hanging out at Sawadee Bar I met Daniel from Germany. We were invited out by Beng, the owner of the bar. She took us to HICLASS PUB, which was super hiclass! It was really a mini club playing all the latest dance tunes…and we were the only ones there. Never-the-less we had a wee boogy and tried our hand (and feet) at pole dancing and didn’t get home until 3am! Big night out in Mae Sariang!

Daniel from Germany.

Despite our late night out, Daniel and I managed to get up the next day and go kayaking on the river with tour guide Bobby.

Aahhhh.

On the river.

Little bit of mud by the side of the river. Actually, it was more like quick sand!

Enjoyed my last night at the ‘Riverhouse Hotel’, waking up with a view over the river and had a slow morning before heading out on the road again. Took this photo of the Mae Sariang Wat on the way out.

Very different and beautiful Wat in Mae Sariang

Bring on the National Parks!

•September 26, 2010 • 2 Comments

Based on both advice from Holly and the fact that I have oodles of time, I have changed my route south. Rather than heading directly south from Chiang Mai on the busy main road I’m heading east to follow the road along the border of Myanmar. This road takes in numerous national parks has far less traffic, and many more hills. As was explained to me when I first entered Thailand, the hills are not as big here (as in Vietnam and Laos) but they are steeper!!

Another one of those bike and landscape images.

These boys put up the tent for my attempted camping experience at Ob Luang National Park. I was ushered from the tent around 6pm due to the fear of oncoming rain (thunder and lightning being a sure sign). Ended up sleeping in the guesthouse that I had declined due to the cost...for free! (well I did pay 200baht for the tent). Never did rain.

At the top of the hill in Ob Luang National Park.

The road from Ob Luang to Mae Sariang...amazing riding.

What country am I in??

Very unexpected roadside coffee house...much appreciated. Put it down on the list of good cycle routes for Ma and Pa.

Rice terraces Thai style.

Unfortunately technology doesn’t last forever and during these days my cycle computer bit the dust! Here’s the final odometer reading…

It's not over yet!