Archive for May, 2008

[Nakhon Si Thammarat] So I’ve had my first collision… sort of. Riding down the highway the other day and I hear squeeling breaks behind me. The order of business on the Thai freeway shoulder from outside to the inside is 1) people (step on the pavement at your own risk),  2) traffic running in the opposite direction, 3) bicycles, 4) other rolling vehicles like trailers or hotdog stands, 5) motorbikes and 6) a few odd lorries or big trucks who think it’d be funny to say hello with a blast of wind.

I learned this quick. It works pretty well. But for some reason this guy on a motorbike decided to just haul up on my back tire and kiss it lightly with his front wheel?! I have no idea what he was thinking. There was plenty of room, I could see no real emergency or hurry, I was well to the left, I was wearing a highly visable pink shirt on a bright pink bike, there was no one barreling down on his back tire… just weird. Thinking about it, I figure he was just curious to know if he could do it?! I can imagine wondering the same thing, I just wouldn’t be crazy enough to try it!

Nothing happened and it was actually pretty funny. After the fact. My first response was to bark at him with a mean face that he was indeed crazy while he jumped back a bit saying “sorry, sorry”. Sorry what? Sorry I didn’t think it was funny?!

“Cause actually I did, I just can’t have you going out there and smacking every silly tourist on a bike on the bum because you’re bored and its a fun was to say hello… not everyone is as freshly meditated, agile and forgiving as me!” :)

Photos from this leg: Thailand, Surat Thani to Nakhon Si Thammarat (May 13-17)

Day one back on the bike… Hard to make myself do after 10 days… ouch!

Then the following day…
“Today is better than yesterday. Always better. Everyday getting better.” - a quote from Tan Medhi “The Chanting Monk” at Suan Mohhk (that I was trying to remember!)

For more pictures check the link in the gallery page, I’ll activate it as soon as I upload and comment the photos.

[Surat Thani, Thailand] Finally, after a long inactive break of silent meditation, I’ve mustered the courage to hit the road again. I’ve been lingering in this ugly useless town for 3 days now - gratefully, saved only by new friends and good company from the recent retreat.

Anyway, heading to Hat Siphon today, Nakhon Si Thammarat (15-May), a town that starts with P (16-May) then Song Khla (17-May). From there I make a hard decesion as to whether to take a train to Malaysia or take a bit of risk and ride through the southern area that is currently suffering from sporadic violent tensions. Leaning against it, but feeling silly and stubborn… it would probably be alright. ?!?

New fun and games. Flickr now has videos and I once again have a compact camera that takes them so…

Now Introducing: Real Live Video!

My first day cycling after leaving Bangkok.

And at the end of the day…

(The local air-con bus picked up me and my bike no problem and to my complete and total surprise charged me nilch! Nada. Zero!)

That night I realized I had a visa issue (see Thai Visa tirade/update below) and only got to cycle around town the next day while waiting for a train. Nice town though…

(Ended up hitching a ride with a German & Thai couple to Ranong from Chumpon, then going to Burma for a day and able to get a new 30-day Thai visa upon re-entry. If only someone besides the immigration office on the border itself could’ve told me the actual rules, it would’ve been a very simple process.)

For more photos of this adventure, see Thailand, Hua Hin to Chaiya slideshow.