Its been 4 months since the last cross border ride, also this is the first ride of 2013 for me. So a ride to the south of Thailand was planned. The problem is ....we are running out of places to ride to in the south. Except the states with the internal conflict, we have ridden to almost all the regular places. So within a distance of 1000km we have to find new places for our regular short 4 day ride.
Thanks to a fellow rider at Versys proboards we got to know of a really nice place.
On the bike !!!
** all the clear on the bike shots are by Han
Not so clear by Go -Pro
Day 1
Today we are riding almost 900km
Big boss sudah sampai :-P
We started at 5am
A short break around 7am
Soon we were in Gurun for the paperwork
Met some fellow riders.
This particular bike has been places.
Check the exhaust out.
A stop at our usual place after crossing the border
Riding in Thailand
Mainly straights with some curves..
Love these roads
A short shower to cool us off
Dry roads again
We never hurry
Just maintain a consistent speed
Take regular breaks...
And enjoy the road..
Even with a relaxed pace...
we still planned to reach early...
And check out the place.
We didn't book a hotel here...
As this place is mainly a local spot...
That there is not much info on hotels...
And what little there is ...
Is all in Thai..
By word of mouth we know there are hotels...
But we have to find them. :-)
Its already evening here...
Riding west...
We're close...
Here we are :-)
Kampung roads...
We kept a look out for lodging
Nice huh
We wanted a hotel as close to the pier as possible
Its around 5pm there
We're on time....
So we get to explore a bit
Welcome to the Guilin of Thailand
We're almost there
Welcome to Rajaprabha Dam.
Surathani..
Beautiful views
All around us
A short break to savour the views
An imprint it in our memory
Nice huh
Look at that la...
We are actually on the dam proper
And stopped further ahead because of the views
Nice huh...
After 900 + km ,......Yes!!!
On the bike...
Time to look for a hotel...
We had 3 saved in the GPS
Again we stopped for the views
So cool
Dusky Black FJR and Red Versys at Rajaprabha Dam :-)
Beautiful Huh
A last look
And off we go
Reached the harbour for tomorrows reference
Later we would find out ,its the wrong harbour
Looking for the hotel
We went to 3, but all were closed. There were a few at the road entrance but its about 15km away.
Stopped to ask this guy for directions. As usual Thai people are really nice.
He got into his pick up and guided us to the nearest one.
Kap Khun Krap.
After 900+km and leaving at 5am .Finally :-)
Nice room
Went out for dinner at the only restaurant nearby where i DID NOT try this :-P
ha ha ha
Here
Been a long but fulfilling day.
Day 2
What a view in the morning
True blue
Our babies
After breakfast at the same place. We rode the the correct pier.
Bought our tickets , didn't get overcharged as we did our homework beforehand- They tried !
Our next ride ..
Batman lives here...........look carefully
On the boat :-)
We could have shared the boat with others....
Then we can't move around
Every where you look....
Its gorgeous
Reminds me of the New Zealand...
And Omani ....
Fjords...
Look at that water...
Huge limestone cliffs .....
Right next to the water.
look at the color
This place is known as the Guilin of Thailand
with good reason...
Nice huh...
We're coming to the main cove...
When the sun hits the water...green :-)
Karst mountains
This is the best part...
Really nice huh...
Threading through...
You can snorkle here
Rich green
self portrait time
The far bank zoomed in
Headed there
The 3 sisters...
We went around...
Where the view was so much better
Success :-)
After reaching the main site...
We took a slow ride back
This was a great experience
We saw this on the way in
So we went to check it out
The hotel on the water...
Rickety...
Lobby, restaurant, Toilets .....
But the view.....
On the boat again
Hmmmmmmmm familiar sticker :-P
Reached back, on the bike, and back to the hotel.
A quick stop to appreciate the view.
Bathe ,change, check out, and on the bike...
We were on the road by 2pm
Leaving Khao Sok national park
Nice huh
Stretching my legs :-)
Today we ride about 230km only
Through village roads....
And freeways...
Thats me in the distance.
Was having so much fun on the great roads ,that i looked down and saw the needle at the 200+ mark :-)
Kilometers and kilometers of straights.
Gunning it again ....ha ha
Back on the normal highways
Nice views.
Fuel for the bike and us.
Soon we hit the first ferry
Waiting to board.
On board.
A nice 10 min ride.
Panas ke boss :-P
Finally :-)
On Koh Lanta Noi
Took the second ferry to Koh Lanta Yai
Mainly farms and residential areas
Reached the hotel. Bath ,change, and now dinner by the beach
Our table :-)
Day 3
Today is a free day after all that riding.
The white car is our ride for today.
Streets of Lanta
7 seater ,looks small huh
We stopped at the pier first
This is where you get the ferry to Phuket or Krabi
Passenger ferry
Restaurants along the water.
How many crabs do you see ?
Soon its back on the road.
Map of both the Lantas
If you are a problem child you get sent here :-p
our second stop
Mangrove walk...
Not much on this island so.........
You can go for a river cruise.
no thanks !
Nice view though
Restaurant and fish breeder
From there we went to the old town.
Its population is mainly Chinese descendants
Reminds me a lot of Malacca
Time to hit another pier.
Its a long way from shore.
View of the old town
We're heading there next.
Nice boat
imagine sailing the world in that...
On the Taxi
To our next destination
The sea gypsy village
Their life centres around the sea......duh
Houses by the water.
Tools of the trade
Parking next to home :-)
We didn't want to be intrusive so we didn't stay long
Next was here.
For lunch with a view...
And what a view !!
Finally we hit the southern tip
This is going to be picture intensive
Because of the weather...
Surroundings .....
And views :-)
We decided to climb to the top
Views along the way
There is 2 beaches on either side of the tip
On the slipper .....
The rocky beach
and the sandy one...
Look at that water...
Is hot .....
Not many visitors
Amazing color
Both sides
Both beaches
Around the lighthouse.
Beautiful
Everywhere you look
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
At the top :-)
What a view.
Ha ha ha kantoi
Innocent look :-P
Memories...
Time to go
See that .....
Ha ha ha
Back in the main town-Sala Dan
Yummy
So we had seconds...
Eat ,massage ,sleep.
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Day 4
Today we are going to ride directly home.About 900km.So we woke up early, had breakfast in the room. then......on the bike.
Leaving the hotel around 7am
Deserted streets....
We left early not for the distance...
But cause there are 2 ferry crossings...
And a couple of hundred kms of old roads before the freeway
Nice and quiet
At the ferry
on the boat :-P
Back on the bike...
Riding in Koh Lanta Noi
One more ferry
There...
A bigger one this time
Back on the mainland
Into the sun
A short break here
Near Krabi
Soon we hit the freeway and then it was straight to the border.
Stamped out and back in to Malaysia
It was a great ride and we got to explore new and wonderful places.
More to come.
Cheers
