Pattaya: Weekend 7-8 January 2012

This would be a significant weekend motorcycle trip as the plan is to ride to Pattaya. It is significant because it is retracing steps taken 4 months ago when I had my heart attack.

The hotels are now in high season so prices have increased substantially since my last visit in early December. Accordingly I have booked to stay at the Hotel-J Pattaya. This was chosen from the Agoda Internet booking web site because of price, it was advertised as being new, and it is at the north end of Pattaya.

Decided not to rush my journey so departed at about 9:30am after my morning exercise.

Took the Talat river ferry and the coastal road as far as was possible. A quite lovely ride. The weather was perfect and there was very little traffic. Stopped twice, once for a drink and a second time for petrol and coffee.

Reached the hotel at about 1:00pm and was pleasantly surprised. An under ground car park for the motorcycle, a very nice room and more than adequate facilities (swimming pool, gym, 24 hour restaurant, bar, room service and free in-room wifi). It was about two blocks and a 15 minute walk from the beach which was not an issue for me. It is also quite close to the Bangkok Pattaya Hospital which was the primary purpose of my weekend trip to Pattaya. Subject to room rates, would be quite happy to stay there again.

Given I was "re-tracing" my fateful weekend of 4 months ago, I decided to make my way to the English Pub for dinner that I didn't get to previously. It was quite a special feeling to sit in the pub and eat my bangers and mash (sadly with soda water rather than a beer!). The diner was quite super!

After a very successful 4 month medical check-up the next morning so celebrated with a Bon Cafe breakfast and the purchase of a Cremesso Coffee machine. It will be delivered to my apartment next week and I'm quite excited to try my first expresso.

The ride home was equally enjoyable with even less traffic than going. As always, the Talat ferry crossing the highlight of the trip.

Mahachai: 3 January 2012

While on holiday, managed to visit Ace Cafe London - have wanted to do this for many, many years:

First trip for 2012 having returned from Christmas holiday a few hours earlier was, for a change, the seaside and Mahachai. So, at about 4:45am departed, once again, for one of my favorite rides (temperature was 77C, humidity 88% and mileage 6,378 kilometers)
Reached usual PTT gasoline station and the 7-11 at about 5:45am and had breakfast of 0% fat milk and yogurt. Upon return to Bangkok a much needed "coffee" (6:45am and mileage 6,475 kilometers):

Mahachai: 17 December 2011

Last trip for 2011 as shortly leaving for Christmas holiday. Given an expected  busy weekend ahead, I decided to keep the trip short and start early. So, at about 5:15am departed for the "seaside" - Mahachai and one of my favorite rides. I took the rural roads and came across my first "flood" in Thailand. A stretch of road that runs between shrimp ponds was flooded for 50 or so meters - not particularly deep but fun to ride through nevertheless.

Reached usual PTT gasoline station and the 7-11 (mileage 6,308) at about 6:45am and had breakfast of 0% fat milk and yogurt. Upon return to Bangkok a much needed "car wash" was quickly followed by chain oil to ensure everything remained healthy on the motorcycle.

Mahachai PTT gasoline station - Latitude : 33° 42' 36" N Longitude : 100° 15' 53" E

New Tires: 13 December 2011

6,000 kilometer service completed (plus oil, filter, ring) and 2 new tires (Pirelli touring) fitted.

Nice!

Nakon Ratchasima: Weekend 10-11 December 2011

Had a lovely couple of days riding my motorcycle. Got up Saturday morning feeling very good and, with nothing special to do, packed a small bag and decided to take off somewhere. Departed at about 8:00am and followed Rama IV and then Sukhumvit to highway 34. Stayed on highway 34 until I reached Bang Pakong where I travelled along route 314 north until Bang Phra. A right turn to route 304 took me through Phanom Sarakham, Kabin Buri and Wang Nam Khaio.


It was a wonderful day for riding with some of the best weather I have ridden in. The roads were lovely with good asphalt surface, twisty, hilly, and with very little traffic. In the "mountains" of Khao Yai National Park it turned quite cool. Before departing I had removed the lining from my jacket because I thought it would be hot - next time I will remember to check the weather forecast before I leave for a trip!

Stayed overnight at the V-One Hotel in Nakon Ratchasima and returned the next morning to Bangkok by way of highway 2 to Saraburi and highway 1 into Bangkok. On the way back I stopped for coffee at an outlet shopping complex and bought some new towels (hence why my bag looks so full in the picture below). When I returned to the motorcycle there was an elderly gentleman looking at it. He pointed to a nail in the back tyre. He also pointed down the road, so off I went to a vulcanizing shop - it was soon fixed!

The ride back to Bangkok was as lovely as the day before - warm, beautiful road and little traffic. When I returned, the mileage was 6,158 so I dropped my motorcycle off at Motoaholic for a 6,000 kilometer service and two new tires.


Total mileage for the weekend was 813 kilometers.

It's now 7:30am on Monday and I'm off to Dean and Deluca for breakfast. 

Amphawa Floating Market: 27 November 2011

Set-off at 8:30am with mileage at 4,985 and had leisurely ride along Rama III to Rama II. Stopped for 30 minutes at 9:15am for coffee and gasoline. Arrived Amphawa at 10:40am with mileage 5,075 and parked in school motorcycle park. Had stroll around the shops, bought ice cream and coffee, and then departed at about 11:40am. Arrived home with mileage of 5,155 at 13:15pm.

Royal Thai Navy Base, Laem Fa Pa: 22 October 2011

First ride for a month. The Kawasaki started first click of the starter and soon warmed-up to a steady 1,300 rpm. I decided a gentle ride to one of my favourite spots, the Royal Thai Navy Base at Laem Fa Pa on the Chao Phraya River estuary would be appropriate.

Rama V Naval Dockyard Department

Thailand, at this time, has been battling with some of the worst floods for more than 50 years. Many parts of the central area, north of Bangkok, have been heavily flooded and the waters are gradually making their way south towards Bangkok. This, coupled with seasonal high tides, is expected to result in breaches to the river walls and extensive flooding across much of Bangkok.

 

The floods, caused in part by unusually heavy monsoon rain, have already killed 373 people in Thailand and disrupted the lives of nearly 2.5 million, until now mostly in the north and central provinces. The rains have also killed dozens in neighbouring Cambodia and Burma.

At Laem Fa Pa on this Saturday afternoon, there did not seem much difference in height between the river and the road. It would only take a few extra centimeters for the walls to be breached. Sandbags were evident everywhere, but it is difficult to imagine how enough sandbags can be positioned to protect the whole of Bangkok which now seems to be invaded by waters from earlier heavy monsoon rains in the north, and sea  high tides from the south.