2013 Kembara Qurban Q2 3NR - A journey through many terrain...

“Four wheels move the body, two wheels move the soul...”

Q2 Kembara Qurban

(11 - 25 October 2013)

Alhamdulillah... It has been nearly two weeks since we came back from our Kembara Qurban 2 and we have rested well.

It has been a worthwhile, once in a life time experience. I am trying to recollect and record our travels through Thailand, Laos, to the border of China and Myanmar, referring mostly to the photo shots I have taken. Those pictures taken were mostly while on the bike riding pillion with my mind more on the road rather than on the surrounding sceneries. But also at times, unintentionally I had snapped local scenes with a tinge of candor. Here you may find my recent travel stories, lots of photographs, thoughts on hardships and despair, joyful, clever and stupid things we had done, tales of adventures and everything in between.

We called ourselves ‘Kita-kita Bikers’ for simplicity. I am glad to be with this biker’s group. Patience is something I admire in them. During the two weeks traveling together, we have gone through a lot of hardship, perseverance and shared joyous moments together.

This coming Friday the gang is having a TTS, most probably we'll be reminiscing our last trip and planning our next ride.

(Boten, border of China)

(We conquered the 'Thousand Corners')

Life is a journey through many terrain

From garden of pleasure to desert of pain

From an ocean of love to a jungle of hate

From mountains of glory to canyons of fate...

There’s a highway for joy and highway for sorrow

A road for today and a road for tomorrow...

Q2 3-Nation Ride Routing:

Day 01: KL - Surat Thani

Day 02: Surat Thani - Kanchanaburi

Day 03: Kanchanaburi - Chiang Mai

Day 04: Chiang Mai

Day 05: Chiang Mai

Day 06: Chiang Mai - Huey Xai

Day 07: Huey Xai - Boten - Luang Namtha

Day 08: Luang Namtha - Chiang Kong - Chiang Saen

Day 09: Chiang Saen - Mae Sai - Pai

Day 10: Pai - Mae Hong Son - Mae Sariang

Day 11: Mae Sariang - Kanchanaburi

Day 12: Kanchanaburi - Cha'am

Day 13: Cha'am - Hatyai

Day 14: Hatyai

Day 15: Hatyai - KL

 2013 Q2: 01 KL - Surat Thani, Thailand👉

2013 KQ2: 01 KL - Surat Thani

"If you don't step forward you will always remain in the same place..."

KEMBARA QURBAN 2

DAY 01: 11 OCT 2013 - FRIDAY

KL - SURAT THANI

DISTANCE : 831 KM

We woke up at 0530hrs. After prayers we quickly had our breakfast of toast and half boiled eggs. Luckily we packed our things last night and loaded them in the boxes of our Vulcan and had refueled. We were running late but reached Sg Buluh R&R just in time for the supposedly 0700hrs flag-off but needed to wait for some others who still had not arrived.

(The participants and friends)

(The line of 12 motorbikes)

There were 7 Versys (Shawal, Chon, Taufik, Zali, Shanaz, Zaini and Kathi), 2 BMW (Hj Din/Yati and Fadzil), a Tenere (Syed Zain), a Vulcan 900 (Mus/Mun) and a Honda CBR600 (Juma). Altogether there were 12 motorbikes in this trip. This morning, there was a reporter from a Tamil newspaper, Malaysia Namban, interviewing some of us and taking pictures.

(A Short briefing and reciting of prayers)

We were running late and to make matters worst, Juma was stranded on the highway with no petrol but luckily she was rescued by a passing Plus Ronda. She was asked to ride ahead and wait for us at the R&R Rawang.

After a short briefing by Tuan Shawal, the group leader, and reciting of prayers, we started our journey of Kembara Qurban 2 sharp at 0800hrs.

(Border clearance at Bukit Kayu Hitam)

(Having a light snack while waiting)

It was a leisure, free and easy ride on the PLUS highway towards Bukit Kayu Hitam. We were accompanied by a few bikers who rode with us to the border. We completed insurance and money changing process at our favorite Chinese coffee shop at Changlun. The border clearance was smooth for most of us but it took longer for the few first timers.

(A bright cloudy day)

(Heavy intermittent showers on the way) 

We rode on Highway 4 towards Hatyai then on Highway 43 towards Phatthalung keeping to the average speed of 120 km/hr and keeping a safe distance from each other. We stopped for refueling and refreshment at the Cafe Amazon which will become our regular stop points along the Thailand highways. After a light lunch, we continued until late afternoon only to stop for prayers at one of the petrol stations.

(Favorite stop for refreshments)

(Having pizzas or burgers for lunch)

It was raining intermittently from Phatthalung to Surat Thani on Highway 41. Heavy and windy weather awaited us in Surat Thani but the rain stopped once we reached city center. Surat Thani is a city in southern Thailand situated near the mouth of the Tapi River on the Gulf of Thailand. The city offers no major tourist attractions in itself, and is thus mainly known to tourists as a transfer destination to the nearby popular Ko Samui island.

(Riding on Highway 41)

(Riding at dusk into Surat Thani)

We managed to get to a Muslim restaurant by the Tapi River with the help of a tuk-tuk. We used to come and eat here during our trip in November 2011 and the ambiance is still the same. We had a heavy dinner of white rice and lauk pauk.

Tonight we stayed at Princess Park Hotel owned by one Muslim entrepreneur.

 2013 Q2: 02 Surat Thani - Kanchanaburi, Thailand👉

👈2013: Q2 3-Nation Ride

2013 KQ2: 02 Surathani - Kanchanaburi

"Challenges are what make life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes life meaningful..."

KEMBARA QURBAN 2

DAY 02: 12 OCT 2013 - SATURDAY

SURATHANI - KANCHANABURI

DISTANCE : 794 KM

We woke up early this morning but breakfast was not ready till 0800hrs. We were only served when we were seated. It was a hearty breakfast of toasts, hot dogs and eggs.

(With Yati, after a good heavy breakfast)

Once everyone were ready, after a short briefing and reciting of prayers, we started our journey on Highway 41 towards Chumphon. We only stopped for refueling and had a light lunch on the way. We passed a few police road blocks along the main roads but our convoy was allowed to ride on.

(Shawal bin Shariff)

(Fadzil bin Salleh)

(Noor Sazali bin Mohd Ramli)

(Syed Zain Bin Edrus Al Edrus)

(Saharudin bin Moin and Norhayati bt Jumali)

(Mohd Taufik bin Mohd Nor)

(Mustafa bin Mohd Ali)

(Mohd Shanaz bin Mohd Adnan)

(Katiravan A/L Subarayan)

(Shamsuri bin Mohamed)

(Mohd Zaini bin Kemat)

(Jumaiyah Bt Ismail)

We stopped at Khaopho Service Area, one of the major R&R stops and had our refreshment and performed our prayers there. We used to stop here to rest and pray on our last trip to Kanchaburi and the owner of the cafe still recognised some of us too.

(Riding in formation on a good day)

(Looking out signage to the right route)

(Riders wearing bright vests for safety)

(Policemen checking on cars and lorries)

It was raining heavily on Highway 4 and we stopped by the road side to wear our rain coats as we will be drenched wet. Beside the heavy downpour, the ride was slowed down further by slippery and uneven road. It stopped raining when we reached our destination.

(Khaopho Service Area)

(Wearing raincoat, getting ready for the downpour)

(Many roads being upgraded and under construction)

(Riding with care on wet slippery raod)

We reached Kanchanaburi early at night. There was a massive traffic jam all the way once we entered the city center and made worst by the crowd and on-lookers for a shoot out incident where we saw a covered body by the road side. Luckily there were many policemen controlling traffic so we passed the scene quickly and rode direct to the night market for nasi ayam dinner.

(Taking the right turn to town)

(Traffic jam caused by a shoot-out)

After checking in the River Kwai Hotel, we had a hot shower and later went for a full body massage at a nearby massage parlor. A 2-hour full body massage was so soothing and therapeutic to a tired body.

(Nasi ayam dinner at the night market)

I slept like a log at night oblivious to the loud disco music from a nearby night club.

      2013 Q2: 03 Kanchanaburi - Chiang Mai, Thailand👉

👈2013 Q2: 01 KL - Surat Thani, Thailand

2013 KQ2: 03 Kanchanaburi - Chiang Mai

"Life is about breaking our personal limits and outgrowing ourselves to live our best lives..."

KEMBARA QURBAN 2

DAY 03: 13 OCT 2013 - SUNDAY

KANCHANABURI - TAK – CHIANG MAI

DISTANCE: 884 KM

Breakfast was at 0800hrs. After a short briefing and reciting of prayers we rode to the Bridge over the River Kwai to do the customary tourist bit, that is to have some photo shots of the famous bridge.

(All geared up for the long trip...)

(Souvenir t-shirts of Kanchanaburi)

(Relaxing while waiting for others to pack)

(A normal morning short briefing and prayers)

Kanchanaburi is located where the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers converge into the Mae Klong river. The town spans the northern banks of the river and is a popular spot for travelers. Its location at the edge of a mountain range keeping it much cooler than the other provinces of central Thailand.

(The infamous bridge)

(De Javu! The last visit was in 2011) 

(A photo shot with the legendary Vulcan)

(Capturing the moment with Juma, the lady biker)

(Where are the rest of the gang?)

(Still energetic and raring to ride...)

In 1942 Kanchanaburi was under Japanese control. It was here that Asian forced laborers and Allied POWs built the infamous Burma Railway and constructed a bridge, an event immortalized in the film “Bridge on the River Kwai”.

(A rest area, with free wifi) 

(Onward route to Tak via Chai Nat)

(Time to refuel and a short rest)

(Favorite lunch combo, Chili Tuna and bread)

Today the weather was good for riding but we had to be very wary of long double or triple-train lorries. When we rode further north on Highway 340 to Chai Nat then Highway 1 towards Tak the weather was foggy and the vision became hazy most probably caused by open burning. The road condition was mostly good except for a few stretches of undulating road surface and pot holes here and there. The road condition varies as we go.

(Riding towards Tak town)

(Riding with care along long-train lorries)

We reached Tak quite early in the afternoon. Tak is a town in the lower northern Thailand. In the past, Mon, the ethnic group from Myanmar lived here. The evidence of Mon arts still remain. Tak is about 426 km from Bangkok. Its geographical features are mountains and forests. This province has many national parks with pristine forest and reputedly beautiful waterfalls scattered throughout Tak.

(Mus and Mun, passing Sugar Cane plantation)

(Tuan Shawal, the Chief De Mission)

(Shamsuri aka Chon, the wing Man)

(Zali, another Wing Man)

(Kathi, Mr Wonderful)

(Zaini aka Aji Long)

After refueling and a good rest in Tak we decided to continue our journey on Highway 1 then Highway 11 to Chiang Mai. The road to Chiang Mai was good with mountainous sweeping corners and traffic was quite heavy during this time of the day. It was a long tiring journey but we will save a day of traveling and have ample time to service and tune our bikes before the long journey to Laos and China border.

(Tuan Syed on his Yamaha Tenere)

(Juma, the lady Sports-biker)

(Taufik, the Sweeper)

(Fadzil with his BMW GS)

(Shanaz, with recent  back injury)

(Hj Din and Yati on their BWM GSA)

We did not stop to refuel but we reached Chiang Mai safely although our fuel tank was nearly dry. We parked our bikes and straight away went to a nearby Muslim restaurant for a hearty tom yam dinner.

(Riding the mountainous winding road)

(Long overload lorries on the same road)

We checked in Pornping Tower Hotel and had a good bath. Later we walked quite a distance along the night market looking for a Massage Parlor but they were full with tourists. Later at night we managed to get a 2-hour full body Thai massage for only B350 per person.

(Safely arrived at Pornping Hotel, Chiang Mai)

On the way back to the hotel we met with some of the gang having foot and shoulder massages at the open space next to the hotel, while watching life local cultural stage performances.

2013 Q2: 04 Chiang Mai, Thailand👉

👈2013 Q2: 02 Surat Thani - kanchanaburi, Thailand