2014 Phuket Bike Week Ride

“The way we choose to see the world creates the world we see…” – Barry Neil Kaufman

  

Day 01: Friday, 18 Apr 2014
Route: KL - Phuket
Distance: 961 km

We slept around 10:00 pm and the alarm woke us up four hours later. We took a quick shower and left the apartment almost 2:45 am. We stopped to refuel at Shell Petrol station at Bukit Lanjan and then rode direct to Rawang R&R.

We were supposed to RV with the rest of the gang at 3:00 am. While waiting for the rest to arrive we had ample time for a heavy breakfast of nasi lemak and toasts. We only started riding around 4:00 am and it was raining heavily when we reached Petronas Simpang Pulai.

(A cold and wet morning)

(Riding cautiously on the slippery road)

(The lights playing tricks to the eyes)

We performed solat Subuh while waiting for the rain to stop. The weather was cool and fresh early in the morning. We rode leisurely as to enable another biker who started later from KL to catch up. We made another two stops in Juru and Changloon for refueling.

In Changloon we completed documentations for border crossing at our favorite Chinese coffee shop. Later we went to a nearby warong for an early lunch and wasted precious hours waiting. The late rider and partner joined us just in time when we were about to cross the border.

(The Chinese Coffee Shop)

(A welcoming sign at the Amazon Café)

(Refreshed after a tall glass of iced coffee)

Border clearance was fast. We decided to ride direct to Phuket in the unpredictable weather, riding in the scorching sun for the first part of the journey and later braving the rain when we were nearing our destination. On the way we had a few stops for refueling and a short rest and coffee break. We reached Aloha Villa at Patong Beach Phuket around 9:00 pm.

(Newly paved road before Trang)

(A stretch of road still under construction)

(A short rest at R&R area)

(Still raining and wet)

(Riding into a beautiful sunset)

(Looking for road signage to Phuket)

After we checked-in and a short rest, the gang walked quite a distance to have dinner at Kusuma Seafood Halal Restaurant. The nasi goreng was not as good as expected. After dinner we had an hour of foot massage before we retired to bed.

(Entering Phuket, heading to Patong Beach)

(Having nasi goreng for dinner)

Day 02: Saturday, 19 Apr 2014
Route: Exploring Phuket

We woke up early and gathered at the lobby around 9:00 am. Today we decided to rent a scooter and explore Phuket town. Our first destination was Saveena Halal Restaurant near the Masjid Nurul Islamiah where we had nasi lauk or roti telor for breakfast. After breakfast we refueled our scooters and headed to Phuket town to look for the Phuket Bike Week site. We managed to locate the site with the assistance and directions from the helpful locals.

(The view from our hotel room)

(Aloha Villa, Patong Beach)

(A matching color rented scooter)

(Riding by Hard Rock Café)

(Asking for directions)

(Taking a rest under the shade)

The 20th Annual Phuket Bike Week was held from 11 – 14 April 2014 in Patong Beach and from 18 – 19 April 2014 in Phuket town. We purposely avoided the one held in Patong Beach as we did not want our visit to Phuket to clash with the Songkran festival. 

We bought a few t-shirts for souvenirs and watch a motor show for a while before we rode back to Patong Beach. On the way, we stopped at the warong next to the mosque for a steamy beef mee soup lunch and Air Batu Campur.

(Couple shot at Bike Week site)

(Motor show by locals and foreign participants)

(Buying souvenirs)

(Cooling off under the shade)

(Ready to ride back to Patong Beach)

(Photo shot at the entrance of the site)

(Coin-operated petrol kiosk in front of a mosque)

(Masjid Nurul Al-Islamiah, Patong Beach)

(Hot spicy beef mihun soup)

(Colourful ABC)

We took a good refreshing nap for the rest of the afternoon while the rest of the gang went shopping for souvenirs. At around 6.00 pm we gathered in the lobby. Earlier a few of the gang went to look for a good place to have dinner and had arranged for a van to take us to and from the restaurant.

The Laem Hin Seafood Restaurant is situated across Phuket Island about 21 km from Patong Beach. It is one of the famous Phuket’s floating seafood restaurants situated along the east coast of Phuket. The trip involves a fun ride in a comfortable 12-seater van and a brief long-tail boat ride from Laem Hin Pier to one of the Muslim floating restaurants.

(21 km ride to a seafood restaurant)

(The long-tail boats at the jetty)

(Happy faces aboard the boat)

(Watching the beautiful sunset)

(One of the many floating restaurants)

 
The restaurants usually buy fresh seafood from other fishermen and rear the produce until the right time, keeping fish, crabs, prawns and other seafood in floating wood-and-net enclosures. All guests have to do is walk along planks between the enclosures and choose the seafood they want to eat. It’s a great unique dining concept of a more relaxing way to dine and relax. The seafood dishes were delicious too.

After dinner we went for souvenir shopping again and later indulged in a round of strong foot massage.

(Waiting for the sunset)

(Muslim seafood restaurant)

(Dining on the floating restaurant)

(Reflections of lights on the water)

Day 03: Sunday, 20 Apr 2014
Route: Phuket - Hatyai
Distance: 416 km

We checked-out early morning. By 9:00 am we rode out of Patong Beach and stopped for breakfast at the Muslim restaurant near the Mosque. The ride to Hatyai was smooth and leisurely. On the way, some of us stopped near the road junction to Koh Lanta and had roasted chicken for early lunch. We made another stop to buy dried fish and belacan from the road-side vendors. Others rode on and waited for us at Amazon Café somewhere in Phatthalung.

(A glimpse of the beach)

(Small restaurants by the beach)

(Sarasin Bridge connecting the mainland to Phuket)

(Limestone hills along the route)

(Crossing different districts)

(Unpaved hilly road)

We reached Hatyai late afternoon and checked-in Golden Crown Hotel. We had a short rest and had early dinner at Khalid Restaurant next door. Later we walked to the area around Lee Gardens for a round of foot massage. We had teh tarik at Warong Aji before we walked back to our hotel for a good night sleep.

(Taking the right junction to Hatyai)

(Bracing the heavy rain before reaching town)

Day 04: Monday, 21 April 2014
Route: Hatyai – KL

Distance: 533 km

We had breakfast of nasi kerabu and roti canai next door. We started riding out of Hatyai around 9:00 am and went through fast border clearance. After refueling in Changloon we shot off to Juru for Ikan Bawal lunch in the Palm Oil Plantation.

After refueling, we rode direct to Ulu Bernam for a short coffee break and later rode home separately in the heavy rain. We reached our Putramas apartment before Maghrib. Alhamdulillah…

(Refuelling in Bukit Kayu Hitam) 

(My new hippy trousers)

Total mileage: 2015 km
Route taken: KL – Phuket – Hatyai – KL
Bikers gang: Mus/Mun, Munawar/Rose, Hj Din/Yati, Zali, Syed, Zaini, Taufik and Amry

Next Trip: 2014: Koh Samui/Songkhla solo ride, Thailand