Just a week after I came back from the 3 Nation Charity Ride, I left Singapore on my bike again. This time, to explore the central region of Thailand. I went riding alone.... Once again... heehee...
Highlights of the ride
- Kanchanburi Bridge week
- Hellfire pass
- Myanmar
- Longest hand built bridge in the world
- Ayutthaya Historial Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Lop Buri Buddha's Foot Print
- Kamphaeng Phet Forest Historial Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Sukhothai Historial Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Overview of the route travelled
Note: Want to see the photos better? Click on any of it to enlarge it.Day 1
As usual, the ride through Malaysia is boring but ineivtable. Than I arrived in Thailand. Since our Singapore motorcycle insurance only covers up to 50km into Thailand, I had to buy a temp Thailand Insurance since I am travelling much further than that. It can be bought at the shops just after the Thai border. It cost me 220B for a 10 days insurance.
The Thai Border
One of the Insurance shop
The Temp Insurance
Since I only have 8days for this trip, I had decided to buy myself more time by transporting me and my bike from Hatyai to Rachaburi through the night on a train. This way, I can be resting and sleeping while I on the move. There is nothing I wanna see on this part of the route anyway.
I arrived pretty early at the railway station. At about 1am+. Wanted to take the 3pm+ train but only to realise that the only train that can transport bike is at 6pm+. So I had some extra time on hand and I took a walk around Hatyai town.
Railway Station
At the Railway Station
My bike, now still very clean.Wait till I am back. HA!
The place behind my bike is the lagguage room. Here is the place to "check in" your bike as a cargo.
These are the ropes that they are going to secure my bike later.... scary.. :(
The train has finally arrived
Uploading of my bike
Finally up.
It cost me 866B for a 2nd class sleeper, 1800B for my bike,750cc and 600B for tips. I smell a scam as a friend of mine only paid 1400B for his R1. Hmmmmmmm......?!?!?!
Getting comfortable at my seat.
Had my dinner
Seat unfolded to become a bed.
And well, everyone is asleep and I am going to sleep too.
Day 2My train was expected to arrived at about o715hrs. So I woke up earlier to wash up. And manage to catch the beautiful sun rise.
Than I found out that the train had a delayed. It will arrived 1 1/2hrs late. So I had breakfast in bed.
Finally the train arrived at Ratchaburi and my bike is now being off loaded. Notice the different between the height of the people standing on the ground and height of bike on the train. There is quite a distance to lift up the bike ya.
Hahahaha... Finally... And off i went heading towards Kanchanaburi. Upon reaching, I went straight to the guest house first. I wanted to get a room, and than I ride towards Myanmar and be back here for the night. But the lady at the guest house told me that it is not possible to make it there and back. So she advise me to spend the night at the Thai-Maynmar border instead. But I told she that I can make it back and she dont believe me. Never mind. I know I will prove her wrong and so i went off towards Myanmar first.
Some sceneries along the way towards Myanmar.
The view got nicer as I got nearer to Myanmar
Note: You might not be able to come to this place at times when the Karen army is active. This place is somewhat like in the South Thailand at times. There are army checkpoints along the way. And if they dont allow you to go pass, you should know why.The Main attraction at the border is these 3 pagodas. This place is called the 3 pagaoda pass.
The other attraction is the remains of the railway track which was built during the World War 2 Japanese Occupation.
This way is leading towards Myanmar. (See that boy? He is on the Myanmar's side)
On Thailand side
Pictures at the Myanmar Border
Map of the area
The place across the border at Myanmar is called Payathonzu.
The border here is kinda different. You dont get your passport stamp. In order to cross, you will have to fill in a form and hand it over together with your passport and a passport size photo to the Thai Immigration. They will check it, and give you back the form with the photo attach. But they will keep your passport. You will get it back when you return back to Thailand.
Than you go to the myanmar side with this form, and pay 10USD or 500B. And they will give you this. This is your "passport" to enter Myanmar.
Your movement there is controlled and restricted to a radius about 5km. And you got to leave there by before nightfall. This is due to the active Karen Army activities in the area beyond the restricted area. I hope you know who are the Karen Army and what they can do.
This is not a very "legal" crosspoint into Myanmar.For the burmanese, if they wanna enter thailand, they will only have to grab a similiar card and they can enter but also to a restricted area in Thailand side.
The Payathonzu town
100 teak wood temple at Myanmar.
500 monks along the way to a temple.
Another temple in Myanmar. The left half of the mountain behind the temple belongs to Myanmar and the right half belongs to Thailand.
The beautiful mountain view of Myanmar. But this is also where the Karen Army is active.
The karen village
After spending some time in Myanmar, I went back to Thailand. And along the way back to Kanchanburi, I went to see this wooden bridge. Hand Built, 400m long. It is the longest hand built wooden bridge in the world.
There used to be a village here where the lake is. But when a dam was built somewhere nearby, It flooded the whole village. Now, during dry season, The roof tip of the temple of the sunken village still can be seen. But too bad. It was not dry season when I go there.
The village at the end of the bridge.
Other Senceries on the way back to Kanchanaburi
I reached back at Kanchanaburi at 7pm. But the guesthouse that I wanted to stay in is already fully book. Just as I was about to leave to look for other places to stay, someone came up to me and talk to me. Ask me where I was from. Say he also a biker. Than when he realise that I do not have a place to stay, he said that he happend to have an extra room as his friend is not coming anymore and ask if I wanna take it. Well yes of course. I took it.
This is the room. Only cost about s$3. the room only has a bed and a fan. For bathroom, you have to go outside and share with others.
Anyway, it is the Bridge over River Kwai Week. And they have a very big festive over at the bridge. And even re-enact the whole story of the death Railway using light, sound and fireworks. very nice.
You can find many things in this fair. It is about 1km by 1km BIG!! From cars to food to anything. Even University enrollment. :)
Day 3
I woke at about 5am+ so that I can catch the first train to Nam Tok. I wanna try the train ride on the death railway. Once again, there was a delay. It seems that the Railway is not on time. Should have sleep awhile more. The train finally arrived at 0630hrs.
If you a thai, you pay 16B for the train if not you will pay 100B. What a great difference.
Morning view of Kanchanaburi
Sun rise from the train.
Inside the train.
Riding the death Railway, along the way.
Look at the Track, it is supported only by wood. :(
When the train arrives at NamTok, I went to the NamTok Noi Waterfall.
There is a cave nearby.
Inside the cave
Kids exploring the cave.
Since I did not ride here, I had to take a bus. And I had a hard time looking for the bus stop. Finally I found it. But only to realise that the bus comes once every hour. Long wait.
When the bus came, I took the bus and went to see the Hellfire pass (another inportant place to see). Here you will walk through and see the life of the Prisoner of war and how terrible it is to built the death railway.
This is the road that they have to walk everyday.
In memories
This is the hellfire pass. The POW had to cut out a path for the railway track. But the only tools that they have are things like spade and changkol etc. Imagine using those tools only to cut out a pass like this..... And they work 12hrs a day. During the night, candle flames were use to light up the place. And when the flames lights that hit on the surface , it gave a very eerie feeling. Just like hell. And it is hell here for them. So they called it the hellfire pass.
Some remains.
Around the hellfire pass
Peace finally
After the hellfire pass, I took a bus and went back to the guesthouse. Pack up my stuff, and started my ride to Ayutthaya.
Sunset along the way.
I reached Ayutthaya in the evening and checked into a guest house. After which I went for my dinner and a drink. And surprisely, I met a Thai who loves Singapore. Had been to Singapore many times. She can even speak hokkien to me and her english is really singlish... I felt like I am back home as She really sounds very singaporean.
Day 4
I went to visit the Ayutthaya Historial Park(UNESCO World Heritage Site). Very Beautiful. All of it were at least thousands of years old.
Wat Mahathat
Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Phra Mongkol Bopit, one of Thailand largest bronze buddha images
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
Wat Phranan Cheong, very Chinese temple
After the visit to the park, I went back to my guest house, pack my stuff and started my ride again.
My room last night.
The owner let me park my bike inside for last night.
I first rode to Lopburi to see the buddha's footprint. Photos taken along the way.
At Lopburi, Wat Phra Phutthabat, Temple of buddha's footprint. It is said when buddha passby here long ago, he left his footprint.
A monk praying to the Buddha's foot print.
The buddha's footprint. But too much money covering it. I cant see it properly.
After a short while, I made my way to Kamphaeng Phet. But somehow I lost my way. I ended up somewhere which i can only see a river and a road that has no end.
And i see these on both of my sides
But luckily I had my compass. So I manage to find my way out after about half an hour or so.... And I made it to Kamphaeng Phet for the night.
Day 5I seems to be waking up very early everyday. This time round, its about 6am. No choice, must make full use of my time. I went have my breakfast near the clock tower.
Look at the time... Still very early.....
After which, I went to visit the Kamphaeng Phet Forest Temples. (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
As the name implys. This is a ride into the forest and all the temples are in the forest..... Interesting.
I love this one...
If u look at it carefully, it is the remains of the body of a buddha image.
I move on to see another 2 temple in the old city. This is the old city wall.
It was a good choice to wear this colour. The thais love this colour and the lady at the enterance thought that i am a Thai as I am wearing this colour and I spoke thai to her. So I paid a Thai enternce fee. So much cheaper.
Suddenly decided to take photos in black and white to give it the feel.
On the way back to my hotel, I bump into a parade. Seems like they are having sports day for a school.
Saw this bike outside the school.
On my way back to the hotel, I saw this bike shop and i decided to get some stickers for my bike.
Owner of the shop and daughter.
The daughter can speak English,Thai and Jap. hmm... Seems to me that many of their University Student can speak more than one lang.
Back to the hotel, pack up and ready to move again. This was where i stayed last night. Very good price. Nice hotel. 3-4star hotel standard, budget hotel price. Its called Gor Chor Chai hotel. Difficlut to find though. No english sign. Staff there cannot speak english.
I rode further up north to Sukhothai. Checked in a guesthouse and went to see the Sukhothai history park, Another UNESCO World Heritage Site.
This is very beautiful.
Night is falling and the temple looks even nicer when the sunlight hits on it.
Sunset in the park.... So beautiful... I am lost for words....
Its time for me to go back to my guest house. After taking a shower, I went for dinner. Along the way, I met people from canada, ireland, spain. even though we just met, we had dinner together and after that we had a long talk over a drink. I love to make new friends.
Day 6This was where I stayed last night.
Bamboo huts
My bed with mosquito net.
The toilet. Very open concept.
Surroundings of the guest house.
After checking out, I made my way to Tak. Wanted to see the usual suspension bridge over River Ping but I could not find it. Only see the river Ping.
So I made my way back to Bangkok. Photo taken along the way.
Typical Bangkok jam in front of MaBoonKong
Finally I reach Hualampong Railway Station
So much of sun rise and sun set... now it Moon rise... haha..
After buying my train ticket. I went to a Hard Rock Cafe to have my dinner.
And after dinner, I made my way to Bangkok University to look for friends. But to my disappointment, I did not manage to get them. So I went looking for a place to stay. Its sat and its holiday. So difficult to find a place to stay. I finally found one. but quite funny. The guest house of that whole street is fully book. But there is one which is very empty. Building very old and creepy. Quite dark and got one uncle sitting outside the hotel. But I got no choice so i stayed there. 550B for a room with aircon and hot shower... IN bangkok?!?! SO cheap?? something must be wrong. And when i was taking a shower, there is always the bubble sound from the toilet bowl. eeeeEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee............. Never mind......
Day 7I went to chaktukchak market for awhile and went to the railway station in the afternoon. Check in my bike again. This time I only pay 1400B for the bike... cheaper... y?!?!!?!
Its so heartwarming to see fellow singaporean biker there. They were on their way to ChiangMai bike week.
My train left Bangkok at 3pm+ and headed towards Hatyai... Guess what? I slept throughout the train ride... Was so tired. I wake up very early everyday... Remember?
Day 8After a long rest on the train I was ready for the final ride through Malaysia and back home. Saw this lady in Hatyai, quite poor thing, so decided to help her by setting some birds free. 100B.
Finally, I got home after a 8hrs ride. Time to check out how "clean" my bike had become. Look at the number of flies I killed. And also a butterfly.
Overall, this was a FANTASTIC trip. I never like history when I was schooling but now things are different. Going on a bike alone gives me the sense of freedom. FREEDOM...... thats what i want. This was an eye opener trip, unlike those typical holiday tour most people go on. This trip gives me a sense of achievement. From planning to executing it. Everything was done alone. Thanks to those people who gave me advise here and there.
Most importantly, I met alot of new friends from all over the world. Sorry if I forget to mention about some of you in this blog. But i will never forget the times we spent together from stranger to friends.
Thailand -- the land of wats, till i come again...Chok Dee Khrap....
For all my other rides, please go to the main page : zeevincez.blogspot.com
and look for the links under "My Past Rides".
