14/6/2024

Nakhon Ratchasima to Khao Yai Thieng Windmill - Khao Yai

120km, 2.5 hours ride time


Weather was excellent if not a little hot. But I would take being hot over being wet.
Went to the windmill which was really nice.
Blossom Bloom flowers were ok only.
Wanted to enter Khao Yai National Park to go to the viewpoint at KM30 but the entrance fee was 420Baht for foreigners. I declined as I felt it was too expensive.

Thought Khao Yai's temperature would be a little cooler but it was hot and humid.

Lunch - simple but delicious






Delicious dessert - ubiquitous mango stick rice

Yes, Thailand is quite bad at having 'special' prices for none Thai's. I don't bother going into any of the National Parks for that reason. I would hazard a guess that the Thai price was about 40 baht!
I could imagine the outcry in the UK if foreign guests or tourists were charged a massive mark up over the locals

Wayne

__________________
The Balkans
https://new.horizonsunlimited.com/poi_entity/8417

It happens in Malaysia too mate.

15/6/2024

Khao Yai to Khao Yoi, Petchaburi

My original plan was to to go to Ayutthaya but I reckoned since I already went to Sukhotai I would skip Ayutthaya.

326km, 6 hours ride time

Departed at 0730.
Even though I did not enter Bangkok itself and bypass only the traffic was congested. Weather was sunny and hot. Even though it was 1st gear and 2nd only for more than an hour (I think) it's still better than in rain.

I didn't even get the chance to look around the roads as was concentrating on the road with cars zooming left and right. Having a modular helmet helps a lot at slow speeds. I would have cooked if I was wearing a full face.

Luckily I had music to relax me. This is the first time I have music while touring. The Cardo Spirit HD was nice to have!
But when you use earplugs you lose the highs and the volume set at maximum you still can't hear much especially when at speeds. But if riding without ear plugs you can really hear the bass and treble.
I personally cannot wear earplugs more than 2 to 3 hours straight as my ears hurt. So, I wear them when I am on highways or doing faster speeds. And if my speed is slow like on mountain passes I don't wear earplugs.

I've been using Alpine Motosafe Tour for few years now. I tried the Race version but it cuts off too much traffic noise. I was in Vietnam and when a car overtook me i got jolted as I did not hear the car at all.





After clearing the Bangkok traffic, stopped for break at 7-11

16/6/2024

Khao Yai, Petchaburi to Hua Hin

93km, slightly over 1 hour ride.

Left at 0700 and arrived at 0830 riding slowly.
Short ride to Hua Hin which I had chosen as a rest point.
First impressions as I rode into Hua Hin was nice town and looks upscale with lots of big nice houses and expensive cars.
Stayed 3 nights.

The hotel I stayed in did not have any parking for Tiger so i just parked beside the road and used the disc lock.
I was concerned initially but the hotel was paid for so there was nothing I could do. It was actually safe as there are lots of people walking till late at night as it's on the bar street.
When I book hotels i always look for secure parking and this hotel said it had parking for bikes but in reality it converted the bike parking with tables and chairs.

The owner of the hotel actually allowed me to check in at 0900hrs so that was nice!

Good weather at Hua Hin during my stay there and enjoyed the food.

I actually went to Honda Big Wing Hua Hin and asked if they could change my front brake pads. The mechanic was willing but the supervisor said they only do Honda.
Contrary to what I heard, Honda Big Wing do not do other big bikes from other manufacturers.


Nice quiet place to have coffee


I had lunch at thus place 2 days consecutively. Food was nice and cheap








The Khao Soi isn't as good as the one I had at Chiangmai.

19/6/2024

Hua Hin to Chumphon

266km, 4 hours ride time

After a few days rest at Hua Hin, ready to hit the road again.

Departed Hua Hin at 0945 and arrived Chumphon at 1245.

Good weather but was boring highway only.

Coffee break at th ubiqitous 7-11



The Clover Savana 3 jacket has been with me on all my tours and it's very well ventilated and makes it suitable for hot & humid climates. The only thing I wished was that the arm ventilation was a little more longer and had chest armour pockets.
But overall it's a good jacket with CE AA rated and Level 2 armour all round.

My pants is a Clover Ventouring 2 with Level 2 knee and hip armour. It's also very well vented but I believe it's not CE AA rated. Just A rated only.



The Astars Bogota Pro is my favourite jacket if I get another jacket.


I don't have any pants shortlisted as I can't really find any with such great ventilation.
Anybody have any recommendations for a well ventilated pants with Level 2 knee & hip armour?




Late lunch


Unique bed configuration in my room.

20/6/2024

Chumphon to Khura Buri District, Phang Nga

257km, about 6 hours with stops due to rain





Torrential rain all the way.
Stopped 3 times to take shelter.
It was a wet wet ride.

It's a small town as Krabi was too far away to do in a day's ride.
The hotel I stayed was deserted... I was the only guest.
Not a great place to stay.

The hotel owner wanted to fleece me thinking I was a walk in customer. I told him I had already booked via OTA and it was already paid for. Told me to open the gate by myself and the only person I saw at the place was a lady sweeping the floor.

21/6/2024

Khura Buri District, Phang Nga to Krabi

190km, 3 hours ride time



Light rain all the way to Krabi. I only stopped once for a ciggie break as was worried the clouds might open up and start pissing!
Weather forecast for Krabi was wet for the next few days! Will not be able to explore. But it is what it is.

When I arrived I went to the Yamaha flagship store and asked if they could change my front brake pads. The lady said they only do Yamaha bikes and I then asked for recommendation.
She gave me location of the said shop and I went there straight away and got it sorted out. The man was well experienced and had the brake pads changed in 30 minutes. And the labour charge was 100Bahts. I kid you not! Bloody cheap. I gave him a very good review at Gmaps.

Supposed to stay 2 nights but ended staying 3 nights due to the shitty weather.
The hotel was very nice though. The room was big and it was beside the river.
Tiger was parked inside the hotel beside the reception and at 2200 hours the hotel doors were closed and she was safely parked inside.

I stayed at Krabi town and there are no beaches there. The beach is located at Ao Nang and it is about 30 minutes away. I never got the chance to go to Ao Nang due to the rain.

Another thing weird about Thai drivers is that I am cruising along at 90kmh and then this fella on a car overtakes me on the right and immediately proceeds to slow down at 90kmh and go back to the left lane! Makes me boil!
If you want to overtake go ahead and maintain a steady pace.... not overtake at 110kmh and then slow down to 90kmh where I am right behind your ass!
I opened the throttle and rode at 130kmh for a minute or two on the long stretch of straight road and never saw the ahole again.
When they overtake they don't look at the rear view mirror and just move back to the left lane as they please.
I noticed this a few times........... weird...........

About to leave Phang Nga


Only stop of the day for a quick ciggie.



Walked to the night market for food





Nice view from the hotel balcony. My room did not have a balcony but there was a door on each floor where you could see the river.

22/6/2024

Krabi

In the morning I went for a 6km walk as it wasn't raining. The sky was gloomy though.

Along the walk along the river I saw a eating place with lots of locals. I saved it and I would go there for lunch later.

Morning walk



















Coffee after the walk


Lunch