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Thailand cycling 2020
  • Chris Tomes
  • Chris Tomes

Thailand cycling 2020

A 17-day adventure by Chris Read more
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  • Trip start
    January 17, 2020
    Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Manchester to Dubai

    January 17, 2020 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 14 °C

    Airports and planes all day.

    Worries about the Manchester side we’re ticked off one by one.

    Reached the airport in good time, bikes in boxes fairly manageable and acceptable to the airline. Van parked in long stay secure park.

    Smooth flight, watched two films. Plane about 70% full. Just steeling ourselves for the next flight to Bangkok at 03:30 local time / bedtime in my head.

    Yellow arrows nothing to do with a Camino!    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Dubai to Bangkok

    January 18, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 27 °C

    Bikes arrived in Bangkok with boxes intact but missing a couple of straps. Followed advice and caught a bus from airport. We had to pay an extra fare for each bike but at £1.50 each it didn’t seem extravagant. Driver dropped us outside hotel and porters sported is quickly.

    Nice hotel by river, not large but smart. Pool on roof.

    Trekked the local streets to have our first Thai meal not in the UK!    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    A day in Bangkok

    January 19, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 28 °C

    Cafe breakfast -pancakes and fruit with muesli. Boat along canals to bring us to Jim Thompson’s house (JT was an American who revived the Thai silk industry).

    Afternoon spent exploring the Bangkok Arts and Community Centre. Located in Siam Square criss-crossed by sky walks and elevated metro lines - looked futuristic.

    Dinner in evening was our first chance to meet fellow tour participants    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Bangkok to Trang

    January 20, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    To Wat Arun temple in the morning by river bus. Very humid due to an early shower.

    Taking pictures of people taking selfies was like shooting fish in a barrel.

    Tension slightly increased for the taxi trip to the airport for internal flight to Trang. Apparently our bike boxes are bigger than anyone expected. It remains to be seen whether the bikes arrive with us and they manage to take them by taxi to our next hotel.Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Trang

    January 21, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 33 °C

    Bikes arrived safely in Trang and we were greeted by local cyclists and helpers who managed transport to the hotel.

    Ride out to Elephant cave and weavers cooperative. Lunch in a smart mall - bicycles have their own, full time security guard so no need for locks.

    Hi rise hotel in Trang is smart but quirky. They hold underwater weddings here.

    School bus is a pick up truck. Crazy mains wiring in the streets.

    Julia trying to “work” in Internet cafe. Could not turn off Thai script in MS Word.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Koh Ngai island

    January 22, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Another sunny day in paradise...

    8:30 scheduled start (we are always delayed by 15 mins because someone has lost something). A 25 mile cycle on big roads to Pak Meng pier, then a passenger ferry to Koh Ngai.

    Bikes have been left on the mainland, lightly locked.

    Bit of rugged coastal walking, but if swimming until the jellyfish stung.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Koh Ngai 2

    January 23, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 30 °C

    Early breakfast, choppy kayaking then off on a “longtail “ boat trip to neighbouring islands.

    Two sessions of snorkelling and a swim in the dark through Emerald Cave to a hidden beach.

    Spotted hornbills and a metre long lizard this afternoon.Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Cycling back to Trang

    January 24, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 33 °C

    Ferry takes us back to mainland to collect bikes which have been lightly locked at tourist information. Nothing missing.

    Rest of day spent cycling back via Kantang / Kalantang. Here the group spilt between the vegetarians and the rest. Excellent vegetarian lunch plus coconut water for 50 baht / £1.25.

    Very hot.

    Evening meal in bar 1952 and a walk round the night market.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Trang trip out

    January 25, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 24 °C

    8:30 start for a cycle out to waterfalls at the foot of some mountains, via lots of temples. We were happy in the slow group, the faster riders clocking 65 miles in the heat.

    Regular stops to keep hydrated - Sprite and chilled coffee.

    Special lunch for vegetarians (pricey at £3.75 a head).

    Evening spent away from the group allowing us to spend time at a big outdoor celebration - Thailand’s Got Junior Talent show included.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Koh Sukorn

    January 26, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    A hot 37 mile ride to Tassae Cape where we grabbed a 40 baht / £1 stir fry. Then it was hiring three longtail boats to take us, our bikes and luggage the mile to Koh Sukorn.

    Koh Sukorn is an agricultural island with a sideline in tourism. We are booked into beachside villas on the west of the island.

    Crab spotting on a star-lit beach before bedtime.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Koh Sukorn all day

    January 27, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    Enforced relaxation on the island.

    A cycle tour round didn’t take long but was interesting : seeing fishing, crab and rubber processing, rice drying.

    Kayak play and sea swimming (twice).

    Our chalet is under a tree whose fruit the hermit crabs love.Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Back to Trang

    January 28, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Swim in the sea before breakfast.

    Longtail boats back to mainland, seven per boat.

    A long, hot ride back to Trang, mainly in the cycle lane of busy roads. The vegetarians stick together and lunched at Green House cafe. Salads and cheese on toast making a welcome change from Thai cooking (nice though it is).Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Last day in Trang

    January 30, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Train to Kantang in the morning. 5 baht in 3rd class (12,5 pence). School parties on board for the return journey.

    Taxi to botanical gardens pm. Free entry Had to enlist the help of two girls in the cafe to get a taxi to collect us for the return. Very hot. Rain shower in the evening.Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Back to Bangkok

    January 30, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    Early start to get the Smiling Fish bus to Trang airport. Tense moments checking in the bicycles which were all over the weight allowance of 20kg but were boarded without penalty in the end. My bike box quite knocked about now, needing running repairs before the final journey on Saturday.

    Exploring Bangkok using express river boat and Sky Train - just for the he’ll of it.

    The number of people wearing mouth/ nose masks has risen dramatically due to fears of the corona virus. Hand cleaning available at stations and shops and body temperatures are being monitored.    Read more

  • Chris TomesThailand cycling 2020Traveler

    Last day in Bangkok

    January 31, 2020 in Thailand ⋅ ⛅ 32 °C

    A morning guided tour of the royal palace and several temples including a huge reclining Buddha.

    Then a lumpy boat ride along the river ending up at-a floating buffet restaurant for lunch.

    The afternoon we spent having a guided tour of the heritage museum of Banglamphu. We learned there how to show our respects, Buddhist style. Last meal together this evening.Read more

    Trip end
    February 2, 2020
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