The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 3

Day 3's route. Some 800km from Thale Noi to Ratchaburi.
Day 3’s route. Some 800km from Thale Noi to Ratchaburi.

Yes, I’ve broken every rule I made before I started the trip. No more than 500km a day after Malaysia. Broken. No riding in the dark. Broken.

I did a somewhat iron-butt distance of 800km. On Thailand roads. This is no Malaysia NSHW – where the road conditions are generally very, very good. In Thailand, you quickly get from smooth, recently paved tarmac to pot-holes filled roads – so full of them that it’s practically impossible to avoid. Speaking of which, pot-holes aren’t the only things to avoid on the roads.

Let’s see what I had to swerve around in the last 2 days…

  • Pot-holes (yeah, of course). Lots of pot-holes.
  • A cow
  • Dogs. Dogs running across the road.
  • A dead dog. Probably freshly hit by a vehicle. Blood still looked fresh.
  • 3 ducks.
  • 2 dogs. Oh did I mention dogs already? Anyway, these 2 were humping in the middle of the road. I kid you not!
  • A fallen tree.
  • An egret (or what I thought was an egret). It flew so low, so near that I swore I could have touched it if I had reached for it with my gloved hands.
  • Cars and trucks from the opposite direction trying to overtake and expecting me to give way all because I’m on a puny bike.
  • Sand falling from a truck in front of me. Kinda reminds me of an hourglass.
  • Oil palm fruits falling of a truck in front of me.

But really, riding in Thailand is not as crazy as it seem to be. Just remain predictable and always predict what other drivers are trying to do, and you should do fine.

Anyway, my room for last night came with breakfast. Traditional Thai breakfast. So I was up by 6am and had one of the best rest I had in awhile.

Eating the Thai breakfast is like a birthday. There are so many presents to unwrap.
Eating the Thai breakfast is like a birthday. There are so many presents to unwrap.
Present #1 - Gluttonous rice with banana filling.
Present #1 – Gluttonous rice with banana filling.
Present #2 - Sticky rice with kaya (coconut jam)
Present #2 – Sticky rice with kaya (coconut jam)
Present #3 - Gluttonous rice with sweetened ground / minced coconut.
Present #3 – Gluttonous rice with sweetened ground / minced coconut.
That's the guy who runs the resort. He gave me a biscuit and 2 mangoes as a parting gift. So sweet.
That’s the guy who runs the resort. He gave me a biscuit and 2 mangoes as a parting gift. So sweet.

So after breakfast, I packed my stuff and loaded up my bike. Inserted my key and turned on the ignition. Hit the starter button, and….. nothing! “Oh, sh*t! Stupid Bajaj!” I thought to myself. Was it the battery? Could it be the starter motor? Is it an electrical problem? Am I gonna get stuck here? Can I push start? After about a minute of meddling, I realised I had the 1st gear engaged. Pulled the clutch lever in and tried cranking again, and the bike fired up beautifully. It was Bajaj’s built-in safety that prevented cranking when the gear is engaged. Phew! Clever Bajaj and stupid me after all!

In some countries, people walk their dogs. Here in Thailand, people walk their cows. I've seen quite a few cow owners taking a morning walk with their cows.
In some countries, people walk their dogs. Here in Thailand, people walk their cows. I’ve seen quite a few cow owners taking a morning walk with their cows.
Along the way, I soptted a fellow biker travelling with his BMW F800R. He was on his way to Ranong to meet a friend. We happened to stop at the same restaurant for lunch. I later found out that the restaurant was called คุณภูมิรีสอร์ท.
Along the way, I soptted a fellow biker travelling with his BMW F800R. He was on his way to Ranong to meet a friend. We happened to stop at the same restaurant for lunch. I later found out that the restaurant was called คุณภูมิรีสอร์ท.
Lunch. The green curry was really spicy. REALLY spicy.
Lunch. The green curry was really spicy. REALLY spicy.
My lunch buddy and new-found friend who bought me lunch. Can't remember his name though. (Sorry, I'm really bad with names.)
My lunch buddy and new-found friend who bought me lunch. Can’t remember his name though. (Sorry, I’m really bad with names.)
It was raining and I pulled over into a Caltex station. After I put on my rain gear, I noticed my top box rack was loose. Had to perform my first roadside repair.
It was raining and I pulled over into a Caltex station. After I put on my rain gear, I noticed my top box rack was loose. Had to perform my first roadside repair.
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side, of course!
Why did the chicken cross the road? To get to the other side, of course!

By the time I got to Ratchaburi, it was around 8pm – just when it turned dark. I had initially intended to not travel that far up north. But when searching for accommodation at one of my rest stops, I found this sweet place in Ratchaburi for THB650 including an attached bathroom and private parking space. And since I rested well last night, I thought I’d just push it a little further.

After checking in to my room, I was hungry. There was a restaurant 150m down the road and the hotel reception recommended it. But it was already closed by the time I got there – which was around 8:30pm. So I walked back to the hotel, hungry. The reception was apologetic and recommended another place to eat. After a 10min ride, I found myself in a local Thai late night hawker centre.

When in Thailand, do what the Thais do, right? As I was really drained and warm after the long ride, and since the food place was a nearby 10 mins away, I rode the bike without my helmet for the very first time. Why? Partly to get the fresh air, and mostly because it now resembles more like a bugs graveyard with bug-juice splatter all over, and I was too hungry to be in the mood to clean it up. Like most of the local kup-chai’s, my speed rarely exceeded 40kmh. Shhh… Don’t tell anyone!

The night market / hawker centre.
The night market / hawker centre.
Street food for dinner.
Street food for dinner.
I've got no idea what this is. I just pointed to a picture of this on the stall's front, and ended up with a bowl of soup. THB30.
I’ve got no idea what this is. I just pointed to a picture of this on the stall’s front, and ended up with a bowl of soup. THB30.
Sweet desserts... I got the one with the cream and cheese fillings. Yum!
Sweet desserts… I got the one with the cream and cheese fillings. Yum!

On my way to and back from dinner, I heard some worrying rattle around the chain area. I’m too tired now to check it out. I just wanted to head to my room and rest. Will probably perform some bike maintenance tomorrow.

Good night for now…

2 thoughts on “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 3”

  1. Hi bro,
    Been following your blog to get some info on your lodging accomodation during your trip. I also prefer private parking for my S4 away from prying eyes. Just to add abt riding in the night on Thai roads, it is NOT advisable esp AH2 between Pattahalung to Surat Thani. I did that once with my bros & when we met a group of Thai bikers near Chiangmai, they told us that even Thai riders don’t ride at night! Just my 2-cents worth.. Anyway thanks for your blog. Hoepfully I’m able to share my adventure in the future.
    Andy.

    1. Yeah – I make it a point not to ride after dark too. Unless it’s just riding around town. I brought along an alarmed disc brake lock, a chain lock to chain the bike to an immovable object, and a bike cover (to keep it from prying eyes). Also, the Pulsar is an unknown brand in most of the places I went too, and unlikely to attract too much attention.

      Looking forward to your adventure stories, bro!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *