Solo Cambodia Ride 2015: Day 07 - Pattaya

"It takes as much energy to wish as it does to plan..." - Eleanor Roosevelt

(Visiting the Pattaya Floating Market, bustling with tourists)

Day 07: 12 February 2015

Route: Koh Chang – Pattaya

Distance: 270 km

Hotel: Siam Country Club

(Getting ready to board the ferry to the mainland)

(Another antique ferry in the Gulf of Thailand)

(Taking the right route to Pattaya)

Pattaya, located on the Gulf of Thailand, is approximately 160 kilometres south Bangkok, The main sweep of the bay area is divided into two principal beachfronts. Pattaya Beach is parallel to city centre, and runs from Pattaya Nuea south to Walking Street. Along Beach Road are restaurants, shopping areas, and night attractions.

On weekends, it becomes increasingly crowded, with many Thai visitors coming from Bangkok. It offers water sports such as jet skiing, parasailing, and small sailboat hire.

(Our chalet at Siam Country Club)

(The arrival of bikers for the Pattaya Bike Week)

The Pattaya Floating Market is the largest in Thailand, located in the outskirts of the city. The Floating Market is separated into four sections – each representing and selling items from the four major parts of Thailand, North, Northeast, Central and South. There are many eateries, fruit stalls, souvenir shops and some art galleries.

(Variety of t-shirts for souvenirs)

(Taking a boat ride around the floating market)

(Music by the Pirate of the Caribbean)

(Thronging the jam to the beach at night)

     2015 Solo Ride: 08 Pattaya, Thailand👉

👈2015 Solo Ride: 06 Koh Chang, Thailand

Solo Cambodia Ride 2015: Day 08 - Pattaya

"Every traveler has a home of his own, and he learns to appreciate it the more from his wandering..." - Charles Dickens

(Pattaya Bike Week welcoming bikers from all over the world)

Date: 13 February 2015

Route: Pattaya Bike Week

Hotel: Siam Country Club

(The entrance of the Bike Week site)

(The logo on the official t-shirts)

Pattaya Bike Week is a huge event that brings bikers together for various activities and shows. It is held every year in Pattaya around mid-February and it raises large amounts of money for charity each year. It is a time for local and tourist bikers to come together and showcase their bikes.

Bike Week is filled with music and food with a warm concert festival atmosphere. It was a busy, loud, exciting and of course a fun event. There were booths selling bikes' merchandise, especially for the choppers.

(Taking a photo shot with the predators)

(Bulky and mean bikes)

(Red Indian tee pees decorating the site)

(A Malaysian flag at one of the booths)

(Live music entertaining visitors to the event)

      2015 Solo Ride: 09 Pattaya - Chumphon, Thailand👉

👈2015 Solo Ride: 07 Koh Chang - Pattaya, Thailand

Solo Cambodia Ride 2015: Day 09 - Chumphon

"Our entire life consists ultimately in accepting ourselves as we are..." - Jean Anouilh

(Seafood restaurants along Nana Beach, Chumphon)

Day 09: 14 February 2015

Route: Pattaya – Chumphon

Distance: 594

Hotel: Thung Wua Laen Resort

(Getting ready to leave Pattaya)

(Heavy rain drenching the souls)

(King Bumiphol Bridge, a route to avoid)

Hat Thung Wua Laen, 15 km north of Chumphon town, is an excellent beach with plenty of guesthouses and chalets. It is a beautiful unspoiled area on the east coast of Thailand about 450 kilometers south of Bangkok.

(Our lodging at Chumphon Beach)

 2015 Solo Ride: 10 Chumphon -Hatyai, Thailand👉

👈2015 Solo Ride: 08 Pattaya, Thailand

Solo Cambodia Ride 2015: Day 10 - Hatyai

"Preparation doesn't guarantee success, but it increases the odds..." - Scott Annan

(Ready to ride to Hatyai)

Day 10: 15 February 2015

Route: Chumphon – Hatyai
Distance: 480 km

(Injured side mirror with temporary solution)

(A smiling gecko as company during breakfast)

(Another good coffee outlet)

Next Trip: 2015 Kembara Borneo Ride

Hatyai 2015: A cool weekend in Hatyai...

"The days you are most uncomfortable are the days you learn the most about yourself..." - Mary L Bean

(Freezing cold in the Ice Dome)

Date: 17 - 19 January 2015

Route: KL - Hatyai - KL

Distance: 1,070 km

That weekend we took  a riding trip across the border and stayed in Hatyai for two nights. We had no idea what we wanted to do but with a little help from a tuk-tuk driver, who later became our travel guide, we visited the Magic Eye 3-D Museum, the Ice Dome and rode the cable car to the top of the hill to have a panoromic view of the city.

(Sheer fun of posing with trick arts)

(3-D paintings on walls and floors)

(Penguins basking in the hot sun)

(Acclimatize the body before entering the freezer)

(Ice sculptures of wolves in the Arctic)

(A 3-headed elephant at the cable car hill station)

(A tall standing Buddha at the base station)

Next Trip: 2015: Cambodia Solo Ride

2014 4-Nation Ride Routing

“So, I would breathe in the dust, and keep the memories alive…”

(On top of the mountain in Laos)

Date: 11 – 26 December 2014

Route: Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos

Total distance: 5,756 km

Time on bike: 74 hours

Average Speed: 85 km/hr

I just got back from a mission trip and I have the memories of many foreign adventures, but to forget them would be foolish. Having glimpses of their ways of life, I realize how blessed we are here in this country.

Day 1: KL – Surat Thani

Princess Park Hotel (Gps: 9.1034844,99.304483)

Muslim Restaurant (Gps: 9.080893,99.362892)

Day 2: Surat Thani – Kanchanaburi

Luxury Hotel (Gps: 14.030021,99.528559)

Muslim Stall (Gps: 14.021059,99.532813)

Day 3: Kanchanaburi – Chiangmai

Diamond Hotel (Gps: 18.784579,99.000636)

Restoran Sophia (Gps: 18.786117,99.001249)

Day 4: Chiangmai – Golden Triangle - Mae Sai

Mae Sai Complex Hotel (Gps: 20.443690,99.881205)

Muslim Restaurant (Gps: 20.427168,99.883644)

Day 5: Mae Sai – Phu Chi Fa

Phu Chi Fa Hill Resort (Gps: 19.846266,100.443823)

Day 6: Phu Chi Fa – Chiang Khong

Sophaphan Guesthouse (Gps: 20.264579,100.406272)

Day 7: Chiang Khong – Boten - Oudomxay

Charming Lao Hotel (Gps: 20.692369,101.982495)

Day 8: Oudomxay – Luang Praphang

Sala Prabhang Hotel (Gps: 19.894240,102.137130)

Nisha Restaurant (Gps: 19.88614,102.13618)

Day 9: Luang Prabhang – Vang Vieng

Elephant Crossing Hotel (Gps: 18.922910,102.445562)

Nazim Restaurant (Gps: 18.926030,102.449485)

Day 10: Vang Vieng – Udon Thani

Pruksasin Hotel (Gps: 17.412704,102.789656)

Muslim Restaurant (Gps: 17.402188,102.786897)

Day 11: Udon Thani – Bangkok

Astera Sathorn Hotel (Gps: 13.717668,100.516471)

Sophea Restaurant Asiatique (Gps: 13.703774,100.504629)

Day 13: Bangkok – Chumphon

Thung Wua Laen Resort (Gps: 10.561765,99.272791)

Day 14: Chumphon – Hatyai

Golden Crown Plaza Hotel (Gps: 7.008165,100.473141)

Khaled Restaurant (Gps: 7.008165,100.473141)

Note: All the GPS coordinates are verified during our recent trip. They may vary by 10-20 meters, the most. I will update them if there are discrepancies.

 2014 Q3 4NR: 01 KL - Surat Thani, Thailand👉

2014 4-Nation Ride: 01 KL - Surat Thani

"The result you achieve will be in direct proportion to the effort you apply..." - Denis Waitley

(The back of our official t-shirts)

Date: 11 December 2014 (Thursday)
Route: KL - Surat Thani
Distance: 856 km
Hotel: Princess Park Hotel

Today is the start of our 15-day Kembara. The 4-Nation Ride will cover Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar and Laos. And once we enter Laos we will ride to Boten, the border of China, insya-Allah...

At 07:30hrs ten motorbikes started riding from Sg. Buluh R&R heading towards north. First refueling was at R&R Simpang Pulai then we rode direct to Changlun for our second refueling.

(Motorbikes ready to roll)

(With Ct and Sha for the flag off)

(Taufik, Zaidi, Zali and Shawal)

(Haji Din and Yati)

(Pok Deng and Aizan)

(Rose and Munawar)

(Aji Long and Fauzilan for the flag-off)

(Mat Put, Taufik and Pok Deng)

(Tuan Shawal, the leader of the Kembara)

(Final briefing and reciting of prayers)

(A group photo before the flag-off)

Tuan Shawal, the leader of the group had to detour at Juru to settle some urgent work-related issues. While waiting for the chief, the rest settled insurance and money exchange matters at our favorite Kedai Kopi.

We had lunch at Warong Kambing Bakar then performed our prayers at Masjid Ihya' Ulumuddin Changlun. It was already late when we crossed the Malaysia Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam.

We reached Surat Thani, also known as ‘City of Good People’ around 21:30hrs and had our dinner at a Muslim Restaurant.

We checked in Princess Park Hotel for the night.

2014 Q3 4NR: 02 Surat Thani - Chiangmai, Thailand👉

👈2014: Q3 4-Nation Ride Routing