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The Grand Adventure
  • Helene Rimberg
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  • Helene Rimberg

The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Lue lisää
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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Guardian
    GuardianMosaic glass tiles1Black Buddha in foregroundNasty looking creaturesThey "recycled" Chinese porcelain that broke to create artworkEmerald Buddha made of jade. 66 cms. Has 3 outfits - one for each season. The king dresses himCorn cob spireMany guardiansUsed for banquets and holds royal ashesThrone hall - where the royals are laid in state

    The Grand Palace & Wat Phra

    1. syyskuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Although our intent was to get to the Grand Palace by 8:30, that didn’t quite happen. Thus the day was already hot and crowds had arrived by the time we got there. Entered the palace grounds and quickly became dazzled by the beauty. Waited for a tour to try and learn along the way. Though the King now lives elsewhere, the palace buildings are used mostly for ceremonies, housing royal ashes and to house the “Emerald Buddha”. I really have never seen anything so lavish and immense. Afterwards walked to see reclining Buddha in Wat Phra - another huge and ornate complex. Did a bit more meandering afterwards and then back to hotel to cool down and rest. Took a break from Thai with Israeli food for dinner.Lue lisää

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    Just like Venice?!
    Just like Venice?!Royal Boulevard leading to palaceFor wishes or prayersHeading up to templeA mantra for everydayBuddha sitting on NagaHow a king gets aroundUnless they ride an elephant

    Wat Saket and National Museum

    31. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 30 °C

    Wake up quite late thus adjust plans accordingly. Breakfast first (pancakes!) and then walk along canal to Wat Saket - a temple built into a hill. Quite impressive and a nice city view at the top. From there go to
    National Museum. Get a nice overview of prehistoric and ancient times and the lives of the royalty. Rain comes down in buckets while inside. Back to hotel and out for ok dinner.    Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Fancy it's not
    Fancy it's not2The white structures honor the deadLots of canals in this cityOne of a few fortsBridge across Chao Phraya riverThere were 180 of them. Maybe people interred? Have placards for each family memberVery fancy tuk tuksFerry across the riverVery crazy nightlife

    Onto Bangkok

    30. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Early morning rise to catch the 8:25 train. Manage to figure out what we need and where we wait. Cost - $4 each (with bikes). Train is late. Ultimately have to take packs off to get them through narrow door (though mine gets shoved through the window). Sit up front with them. Luxurious it isn’t but we quickly get to Bangkok. Opt to ride to get closer to main city. Not too bad or unsafe. Await check-in. Meander out with no real destination. Fortunately there are interesting sights everywhere. Get 6 miles in. Meet our new Italian friend Stefano for dinner (met on the way to Koh Tao).Lue lisää

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    Safe way to cross highwayThe tracks we have followed for many miles

    Rice fields and dogs

    29. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Take care of a few errands before leaving. Ratchaburi and the train is our destination. Very flat riding, thankfully, as it’s very hot. Rice fields and marshes dominate the landscape. Side roads are great but full of dogs who seem particularly aggressive. They generally go away after you yell at them. But still …. Stop for a smoothie and finish our ride. Ensure we can take our bikes to Bangkok and find a hotel. Check out Ratchaburi at night.Lue lisää

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    Goodbye Gulf of Thailand

    28. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Made our way out of Hua Hin and road a quiet road near the coast (couldn’t see the water but could see high rise resorts). Finally stopped at quiet beach and had final swim in the warm water. Began our journey inland as rain began to fall. Did find ourselves on a proper cycle lane for about 10 miles. Very flat riding and managed to stay pretty dry as entered big town of Phetchaburi . Found our nice room by the river. Walked amongst one of the large temples before having a very good dinner.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Quietly watching us1Houston we have a problem. Had to turn around1Hmmm. Why is Buddha in pieces3What happens when a stalagmite meets a stalactiteCould have saved some walking by taking boatVolcanic rock stepsWho would think to do this1

    From quiet beauty to chaos

    27. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Another late start as tire needs to be fixed again. Short ride to Khao Sam Roi Yot National
    Park. Stop at the headquarters and notice very aggressive monkeys that the workers fight off with sling shots. Do a little walk amongst mangroves and monkeys. Stop to investigate Porcupine Cave. As seems to be the norm, round a corner and see a temple and golden Buddha. Detour to Phraya Nakhon cave. Steep walk up to amazing caverns, with skylights and a temple in the middle. Push on along through quiet resort villages before arriving in the chaotic resort city of Hua Hin. Check in, do some laundry and cringe at all the white people on holiday in the western bars. Are we still in Thailand?Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Just another temple by the side of the road
    Just another temple by the side of the roadMonkeys love templesA real bike path

    Another tiny coastal village

    26. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Day started with a flat tire. Fortunately hadn’t left hotel. Late start but short day planned. Arrive quickly into the largish town of Prachuap Kiri Khan. A few stops to pick up some needed items. Find myself in the Thail version of Costco. Not quite what you need on a bike. Head along the coast in the drizzle. Arrive at our chosen destination and find a nice little hotel. Check out local beach and then local seafood restaurant. Back to no English on menus but we did fine.Lue lisää

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    Our beach in morning sun
    Our beach in morning sunFiguring out water filter machineSo many fruitPineapples!Temple on the hilltopAfternoon market

    Continuing along the coastline

    25. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 29 °C

    Continue our journey northward. Sun is out for a bit which is a nice change. Get stopped on the road by the police; all of whom take out their phones to video us. Ride a bit to get breakfast and coffee. But do find one of our favorite “rest areas”. They have bathrooms, coffee shop and at least one store - all of which is quite handy. Continue on and make our way to giant golden Buddha looking out to sea. So ornate. Clouds roll in. Stay on small roads until very end. Stop at small village outside of Prachua Khiri Khan. Water is a bit rough and too late for a swim. Nice dinner at nearby resort.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    3Nice little cafe with pastries in middle of nowhere
    3Nice little cafe with pastries in middle of nowhereHe is huge!1Quite the guardiansSo big!Love the colorsDidn't know we were dangerousOur beachBusy crabs

    Back to Thailand Riviera

    24. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Early start but stop almost immediately for coffee. Day is overcast and quiet as we take small roads to return to the coast. Find ourselves on the Thailand Riviera again - apparently a project to create a 900 km route from south west coast up to Bangkok. Loose it a few times on our ride but stay on fine roads anyway. Stumble upon huge sleeping Buddha! Rain comes and goes but light and keeps us cool. Make it to tiny seaside village of Bang Saiphon Noi. Nice bungalow by the sea. Quick dip before dinner.Lue lisää

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    Goodbye Koh Tao

    23. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    A lovely sunny morning. Walk back to shark bay and get a nice bit of snorkeling in. Just love the big coral gardens. Pack up and hang at the beach before riding back to the pier to catch our ferry. Much quicker ride back to the mainland; though a late departure didn’t leave us with much daylight to ride very far. End up right across from the night ferry port Eat at same restaurant as when we leftLue lisää

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    1

    A snorkel adventure

    22. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Cloudy skies and windy conditions has us dithering all morning about whether to go on a snorkel cruise around the island (we seem to be dithering a lot lately). Opt to go. Picked up and taken to the other side of the island and the boat. Short trip to first stop - a lovely little island off our island. Though crowded, manage to snorkel away from others. Great coral formations and big fish. Back in the boat for lunch Stop at two more snorkel locals (both quite nice) and then the skies open up. Tad bit chilly as we head off into the wind and waves. Opt to sit out the next two stops as too cold to go in. Battle rough seas back to dock and return to our bungalow. Out for Spanish tapas and gelato.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    We stole its bed. Reclaimed ASAP

    A coastal hike

    21. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Sleep in and awake to overcast skies and rain. Make our way to our breakfast buffet. Afterwards ponder our options over cappuccinos by the sea. Decide to hike along the coast. A bit rough at times but very pretty. Stop and snorkel a bit on quiet little beach. Enter busy port town, get gelato and high speed ferry tickets for our return journey. Walk back along busy road (lots of motor bikes). Out for ok pizza dinner.Lue lisää

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    Koh Tao

    20. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    A smooth, yet noisy crossing. Dock at 3:00 am but can stay on the boat and sleep. Finally disembark at 6:00 and find an
    open coffee shop. Very short ride to the south side of the island and try to check in. Too early so go hang on the beach
    for awhile. After checking in, walk to the next bay over - shark bay - and do a bit of snorkeling. Relax on a quieter beach before returning to our bungalow. Nice dinner up on the hillside.    Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Breakfast companion
    Breakfast companion"Beware. Broken bridge"Very small rural roadOur ferry1WTF?Yes they are hoisting my bike up to top deck

    To the ferry we go

    19. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Another late morning for some reason. Continue our northward journey along the “Thailand Riviera”. Very nice quiet road along the water. One bit of amusement - it is common to “employ” monkeys to help with coconut and palm kernel picking. We see them hanging ion to the trucks coming and going from work sites. Cross a sketchy bridge and deal with a few rain drops but not too bad. Pass a number of temples and a very large Buddha before finding the ferry dock. Quick dinner before boarding our night ferry. Each get a bunk.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Our route took us right through marketOne of many temples along the wayRoad to ourselves

    The Gulf of Thailand

    18. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    With a long day ahead of us and hot weather predicted, opt to get breakfast at the cafe. Nice choice. Leave before 9 - early for us. Rather quickly spot a large cobra crossing the road. Stay vigilant after that. Make good time on quiet rural roads. Quick lunch and then reach the Gulf. Stop for a swim - very warm water. Opt to continue to a larger town. Check in to hotel and out for a very good dinner - soft shelled crabs and red meat.Lue lisää

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    A two pool day

    17. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ⛅ 31 °C

    Wake up mostly recovered from yesterday’s adventures. Walk across the road to the local swim hole. Beautiful, cool water. Pack up and continue eastward towards the Gulf of Thailand. Roads remain relatively quiet. Decide to go a bit farther to a riverside resort with a pool. Nice bungalows and cool salt water pool. Eat dinner by the pool.Lue lisää

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    I hate mud

    16. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    After our morning showers set off, heading east towards the other coast and hopefully dryer weather. Make good time on the big roads but are glad to get onto quieter ones. After a turn, road is no longer paved and muddy from the rains. Continue on. And then it becomes thick and like clay. And we are stuck. Literally- having to clear tires and crevices so that the bikes will move. HORRIBLE! After about 2 hours and maybe 2 miles land back on gravel. But we are spent. Roll along the hills and amazingly enough come to a tiny car wash. Doug hoses us down. Late lunch and return to big road. Make our destination of Bang Sawan and find a hotel a bit outside of town. Fortunately they have a restaurant. Unfortunately it’s closed. Walk back to night market. Our first one. Manage to find some dinner (not bugs) and return to room.Lue lisää

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    Doug startles the birds for the photo opp

    Unintended rest day

    15. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 27 °C

    Very rainy morning. Pore over weather forecasts to figure out how bad it will be. Finally decide to stay and right after we pay for another night, the rain stops. Stays relatively dry for the remainder of the day. Do some planning and go out on a beach walk. Help groups of children with their English lessons by being “interviewed”. Out for very good Indian food.Lue lisää

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    Railay Beach

    14. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ 🌧 28 °C

    Bit rainy in the morning so take our time getting ourselves ready for the day’s adventure. Take a longboat down the coastline to Railay beach - a peninsula only accessible by boat. Explore on foot with the hordes of tourists. Check out a very cool cave and follow the submerged walkway to tip. Heavy rain comes down but we have our ponchos. It lets up a bit and mosey around for awhile longer before heading back. Another nice Thai dinner and find good ice cream.Lue lisää

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    Ban Ao Nang

    13. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 30 °C

    Very short ride out of Krabi town to the seaside resort of Ao Nang. Very touristy, yet beautiful. Walked along the beach to the tip, and hung out watching the tide go out; opening up a walkway to nearby ‘island’. Returned on the beach as it had become much bigger with the lowering tide. Watched sun dip down before going out for pizza. Sometimes you just need gooey cheeseLue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    Those roots were crazy
    Those roots were crazy1Cheeky little buggersLittle houses amongst the cavesThey were a bit aggressive

    Wat Tham Suea

    12. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    No rush this morning. After coffee head into Krabi for breakfast. Skies open just as we are about to leave. Wait it out and catch a ride to Wat Tham Suea; a Buddhist temple in the hills. Check out the main temple before heading towards the caves. Once again it pours and we wait. Finally continue along, getting wet anyway. Rain tapers and decide to ascend the 1200+ steps to Buddha and views. Well worth it. Clouds add to the mood. Nice outing. Back to hotel before laundry and another very good dinner.Lue lisää

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    It’s a warm rain

    11. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C

    After deliberating back and forth between heading to the theoretically drier east coast or staying on the likely wetter but more scenic west coast , opted to take our chances. Wait out the first rain shower in the hotel. Have a nice stretch of dry rural roads before hitting the busy highway. Sun peaks out momentarily but the rain returns forcing a lunch break undercover. Opt to push on to Krabi. Nice hotel in quiet area. Out for dinner, first stopping at Booze Bar.Lue lisää

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    Longan fruit shared by a man at 7-eleven

    To the Andaman Sea

    10. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 29 °C

    Have a “normal” breakfast (yogurt) but stop for coffee before leaving town. Because of all the estuaries, it’s impossible to go in a straight line. Stop at a Botanical garden and do a short jungle walk. Lovely trees! Enjoy the view from above with a canopy walk. Day heats up and we go onward. Stop at 7-eleven (our new favorite stop) for smoothies. Day is also a bit windy - not in our favor. Finally make it to the sea. Stop for a bit before continuing to our hotel. Beautiful, long Beach full of locals enjoying their Sunday afternoon. Great seafood dinner with the help of an English menu!Lue lisää

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    Rubber trees"Beware of monkeys throwing rocks"Beautiful headstones

    Meandering through the countryside

    9. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 32 °C

    Rainy night gave way to clear morning. Odd breakfast delivered to our door. Ok but not my fave - chicken and rice soup (Congee). Quickly find ourselves on small roads, amongst the jungle interspersed with rubber trees and other fruit bearing trees. Stop in a cemetery for a snack and continue on - reaching Yan Ta Khao. Find our hotel (harder than you think when can’t read signs). Relax and then venture out for dinner. Google translate to the rescue again.Lue lisää

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  • Helene RimbergThe Grand AdventureHelene Rimberg
    HmmmmmYa think I will be eating a lot of rice?Never seen such grapes2This is going to be challenging

    Thailand

    8. elokuuta 2025, Thaimaa ⋅ ☁️ 31 °C

    Early morning to catch the 9:30 ferry to Thailand. Pay for our tickets and await clearing Malaysian border patrol. Do notice the sign that says bikes not allowed but they do let us through. First on board to stow our bikes in the back. Short trip to Thailand. Last off and wait to clear Thailand border patrol. No problem. Ride quiet roads at first and then join the larger road with an ample shoulder. Hot day but make good time to town of La-Ngu. Find our hotel and relax before venturing out. Find the restaurant we had chosen and with the help of google translate manage to order our first Thai meal (in Thailand). Stop for dessert on the way back - much easier as could just pointLue lisää

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