I have finally made it to the trip and came back in one piece. Total mileage clocked was 5,167 km in 8 days.
Day 1 Summary
Sat - Total distance 995 KM
RV RnR Sg Buloh at NSE at 3.30 am
KL (Refuel KM0/E1) - Gunung Semanggol (Refuel KM264/E1) - Changlun (Refuel KM186) - Hatyai (4) - Thung Song (Refuel KM238/4 & 41) - Chumphon (Refuel KM310/4)
Steven actually made it on day 1 at RV 3.30 am, honestly I didnt expect him to actually turn up for this trip.
After we fueled up at Sg Buloh then off we went. Our first check point was Gunung Semanggol RNR which was about 260 KM away where we would be fueling up. I always remembered this rest stop as the one just opposite Bukit Merah Laketown Resort which is about half an hour from Penang bridge. During the stop I had some cold nescafe coffee in a can and I was good to go again.
The weather was fine that morning and I did not feel that cold riding early that morning as my big ass windshield blocked most of the cold wind off my chest. There were some slight drizzle that I wouldn't call it rain on the way to G. Semanggol. We arrived Changlun soon enough and once we reach the usual coffee shop to have breakfast, it hit me. There were thousands of people in the queue awaiting to cross the border that morning.
I have never seen such a big crowd at the BKH check point before, with the amount of cars, coaches, trucks, bikes that were going through and 100 meter long queues, I did not anticipate this crowd. With the earlier delay at the coffee shop that took more than an hour to prepare our paperwork/insurance we were already 1 hour behind schedule. At the end, we paid a tout (abang ulat) RM 20 per person to cut queue but we still have to get our bike's paperwork done.
By the time we were on Thailand soil, it was already 10.30 am (MY). There was a long way ahead of us to head to Ratchaburi, which was the original plan. I've started to think that it would be a challenge to get there within the day.
It was nice riding in Thailand again, with a familiar feeling. The smell of rotten rubber in the south, the reddish dust, the unexpected u turns by the local pick ups, and the ever familiar taste of Amazon coffee at PTT gas stations. After refueling at Thung Song, we reached Chumphon district at about 6 pm (MY). I made the decision to stop here for the night as it was already a 15 hours day for us. After searching online for a couple of minutes for hotel, we headed for a decent looking one about 20 mins away. It was at Chumpon town which I have never visited and I was excited.
Steven cooling down his ride at Chumphon stop over before we ride in. I'd say this was probably the only naked XJ6 with a wind shield that big I have ever seen.
The view from the hotel room. I sent this picture with my hand sign to my wife as proof of safe arrival.
View of the Chumphon Garden Hotel after we got cleaned up. The hotel has a big open area for parking and we left our bikes just by the main entrance. The room was 800 baht with breakfast if I remembered correctly. The room was not too bad, clean and quiet.
After asking directions from the hotel reception on where to get dinner, we decided to go there by foot.
Some local businesses.
Chumpon is a lonely quiet town. Didn't even see a massage place. This place will definitely grow on me.
We decided to have dinner at this small little restaurant called Mao Hoi by the end of the row, opposite the train station. Funny the name of the restaurant means closed in my dialect.
Walk down the row then you'd see peddlers selling all sorts of stuffs.
Behind the stalls was the train station. Location here.
Street food if you fancy.
Local market selling the latest fashion.
This furry friend was doing some shopping as well.
Seafood by the street.
My regular drink when I am in town, Singha beer, locally known as beersing. Steven only looking at me in awe as I drank 3 of these on my first night. It's always been beersing for me, no Chang, no Leo, no Heineken.
The cute looking waitress walked over and ask to take a picture with me. I wonder whether it is because I finished 3 bottles at one go.
The first day milestone was as per the below. We have a long way ahead of us on the next day if we were to arrive Chiang Mai on the second day. But we gotta remember not to push it too much, safety is still priority.
We went back to the hotel after dinner and get some rest to get ready for tomorrow.
