2015 Phetchabun & Route 12 Solo Ride...

"What is not started today is never finished tomorrow..." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

(A morning walk along the rocky beach)

Date: 21 - 29 August 2015

Route: KL - Phatthalung - Cha'am - Phitsanulok - Phetchabun - 

Phetchaburi - Ranong - Krabi - Pak Bara - KL

Total distance: 3,850 km

Day 01: KL - Phatthalung

Distance: 630 km

Hotel: Park City Hotel

(A nice cozy boutique hotel)

(Peaceful ambiance and clean)

Day 02: Phatthalung - Chaam

Distance: 690 km

Hotel: Onn Inn

(Sunset at the beautiful beach of Cha'am)

(Getting ready to ride the long distance to Phitsanulok)

Day 03: Chaam - Phitsanulok

Distance: 640

Hotel: @Me.2 Hotel

Phitsanulok is a historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. Phitsanulok is about 377 km from Bangkok. The province around it covers an area featuring mountains, plains and forest in the east and river basin. The Nan River runs through the heart of the city.

(A welcoming sign to the town)

(A modern new hotel with full facilities)

Day 04: Phitsanulok - Phetchabun

Distance: 90 km

Hotel: Naree Guest House

Phetchabun is 346 kilometres from Bangkok, borders on three regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. The central part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors. Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested areas and is off the beaten track.

(Coffee stop along Route 12)

(Western cafe with stunning view of the mountains)

(The R&R area with eateries and hotels)

(Cool sunny weather on the mountain range)

(A unique spider table at one of the eateries)

(View from one of the Mountain Resorts of Khao Kho)

(Khao Kho is also known as the Switzerland of Thailand)

Day 05: Phetchabun - Phetchaburi

Distance: 515 km

Hotel: Sun Hotel

Phetchaburi is an old royal city, with official name of Phra Nakhon Khiri. Petchaburi is situated on the north-western shores of the Gulf of Thailand and borders Myanmar to the west, where the dense jungle peaks of the Tanaosri Range serve as a natural division between Thailand and Myanmar.

(The KTM taking a coffee break with the transformers)

(Passing through the town of Suphan Buri)

Day 06: Phetchaburi - Ranong

Distance: 470 km

Hotel: Tinidee Hotel

Ranong is one of Thailand's southern provinces, on the west coast along the Andaman Sea. It has the fewest inhabitants of all Thai provinces. Neighboring Ranong are Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga. Ranong is a rainy province filled with pristine natural beauty that serves as a gateway to southern Myanmar.

(The narrowest point of the Isthmus of Kra)

(A short distance to Myanmar border)

(The famous Hot Spring of Ranong) 

(Taking a dip in the hot spring water)

(Myanmar border, a view from our hotel)

Day 07: Ranong - Krabi

Distance: 303 km 

Hotel: J Mansion

Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phang Nga Bay. Krabi has some 83 islands scattered around. Each one of these islands are a short distance away from one another. And during low tides, you can even wade your way to the neighboring island. Ao Nang beach is supposed to be the best.

(Limestone rock formations of Krabi)  

(A new landmark at Ao Nang Beach)

Day 08: Krabi - Pak Bara

Distance: 234 km

Hotel: Lake Terrace Resort

Pak Bara is popular with its beach overlooking the beautiful Andaman Sea. There's many Muslim food stalls along the beach where one can enjoy the sunset. Pak Bara is the only place where you can reach Koh Lipe at any time of the year. It is the main terminal for boats going to most of the islands in the Tarutao Marine National Park.

(Lake Terrace Hotel owned by a Muslim couple)

(Cozy chalets surrounding a small lake)

(A concrete walkway along the rocky beach of Pak Bara)

Next Trip: 2015: Silk Route Pakistan Adventure

Thailand 2015: A Pre-Ramadhan Ride to Koh Samui...

"Take time for all things: great haste makes great waste..." - Benjamin Franklin

(The KTM and the GSA)

Route: KL - Changlun - Koh Samui - Hatyai - KL

Date: 11 - 15 April, 2015

Hotel: Verticolor Hotel

It was the last weekend before Ramadhan. And this is our last ride before the fasting month's hiatus.

The KKB riders gang had initially planed for a ride to Koh Samui but because of last minute commitments of some, the trip was cancelled. Regardless, we went ahead with our plan to ride and Kittwan joined us in Changlun and we rode together to Koh Samui.

We stayed for for two nights on the island, enjoying its serenity and visited some of the attractions. Another night we spent in Hatyai before we rode home. 

(Arriving in Koh Samui in early afternoon) 

(Riding more than 20 km to Chaweng Beach)

(Lunch in front of Bangkok Hospital)

(Our lodging for two nights)

(Delicious banana honey pancakes)

(Colorful and vbrant Verticolor decor)

(The many attractions to visit)

(Beware of buffaloes on the road)

(Masjid Nurul Ehsan in the Malay Fishing Village)

(The grandma and grandpa rock formations)

(The Aquarium and Tiger Zoo)

(A beautiful clean beach of Chaweng)

(By the Big Rock)

(Lamai Beach viewpoint)

(Mus and Kittwan, taking a short rest at Samuang Safari Park)

(One of the attractions, the elephant ride)

(Riding around the island on rented bikes)

(A calm sea, a peaceful view of the pier)

(A roadside bistro for crispy crepes and coffee)

(Taking the Seatran ferry to the mainland)

(The KTM and the GSA waiting in line before boarding)

(A 2-hour ferry ride to Donsak Pier)

(Arriving on the mainland)

(Riding leisurely towards south)

(Spending a night in Hatyai)

(Nasi kerabu breakfast at Salma's before the ride home)

Next Trip: 2015 Phetchabun & Route 12 Solo Ride

Hatyai 2015: A Leisure Free and Easy Weekend Ride...

"I'm killing time while I wait for life to shower me with meaning and happiness..." - Bill Watterson

(Getting ready to ride back to KL)

We have been riding free and easy back and forth to Hatyai.

But this is the first time we have time to visit the KTM Bike shop and showroom. We bought accessories and few t-shirts before we rode back to KL.

(Visiting KTM showroom in Hatyai)

(A photo shot with the mighty transformer)

(Another bike event in Hatyai)

Next Trip: Thailand 2015: A Pre-Ramadhan Ride to Koh Samui...

Krabi 2015: A Short Family Trip...

"Bad things happen every day to everyone. The difference is in how people deal with it..." 

(Family photo at the Black Crab)

Route: KL - Krabi - Hatyai - KL

Date: 1 - 4 May 2015 

It was a long labor day weekend.

We convoyed in two cars with Iwan and Fitri taking the wheels. It took us more than 20 hours to reach Krabi and experienced an agonizing 3-hour crawl at the Malaysia/Thai border at Bukit Kayu Hitam. We were lucky that the grandchildren were very well behaved and survived the long tiring journey.

We stayed for two nights in Krabi and a night in Hatyai. With whatever time we had, it was good to have all in the family having a holiday together once in a while...

(The children and grandchildren at the beach)

(A relaxing picnic in the morning)

(A boat ride on Krabi River at night)

(A seafood dinner on a floating restaurant) 

(A morning walk along Ao Nang Beach)

(A photo shoot before we drove out of Krabi)

(Hana and Alia at the Amazon)

(Hana, Alia and Amir having fun with Donald Mc Donald)

Next Trip: Hatyai 2015: A Leisure Free and Easy Weekend Ride...