First Attempt to Thailand on bike
Date: 09 Aug 08 Time: 0400hrs
Meet up at GP Esso
Travelling Buggies: Patrick, Dave, Sam, Stan, CStay and Razin(Malaysia)
Waiting At GP Esso. Move off around 0430hrs; 1st stop Ayer Keroh ~200km
Day break
Encik doing his stunt again
Dave on his ST1100
Stan on his Frazer 1
Second Stop Rawang where we waited for Razin. 0800hrs.
Third Stop Tapah R&R where we had our breakfast. Guys had Halal Wanton noodle while we have Kway Teow and Bee Hoon Goreng.
Here is where Patrick overshoot to Tapah exit.
Meet up with Patrick and Top up at Sungei Perak R&R.
Patrick's box LED cover flied away.
After S.Perak, we exit Kuala Kangsar and headed toward the Gerik 76 highway.
Along the way we saw Tasik Raben.
Some of the attraction along the Gerik highway.
Here was Sam on his Frazer 6
The last top-up before we enter Thailand border. Gerik is roughly 50km from the border.
CSTay and Stan at the Gerik petrol kiosk.
The Gerik Town
The Malaysia Custom
Between the Thai and Malaysia Custom; there is a duty free shop where we all purchased Asahin beer 2 litre for RM26.40. One whole roll of Cigg is only 62 or 64RM. Thinking how to finish 10 pkt of cigg within 2 1/2 days. Decided not to buy otherwise have to throw it away before we come back into Malaysia border. Together with the beer, Sam advised us to buy mineral water. Thai mineral water taste funny.
The Thailand Custom (Betong)
Queue to stamp entry; RM2 per person
Collect white card here RM1 per passport to have it filled for u.
Thailand and S'pore/Malaysia Timing is 1 hour differ.
After clearing custom, we had to pay RM2 for our bike. There was a declaration room for vehicle entry. Bike log card is need here.
Sri Betong Hotel-our stay for 2 nights (800baht weekend, 750baht for weekday)
Laundry 25bahts per piece
Thai king photo and dragon chair at hotel lobby
Our lunch seafood mee goreng with special noodle that differ from Singapore. 500baht for 7 persons. Mordecai and Stan took 2 plates of the noodle
Went back to hotel and sleep till 8pm come down for dinner. Restaurant was located at back of an alley. Here, we had green curry wild boar, local fried chicken (commando meat), steam fish, tom yam soup, tafu, fried egg with sugar cane water. Meals for 6 persons 1150bahts. Each person paid about RM12/120bahts.
Here, Dave brief us that cigg and beer were discourage in thailand. It was available but only upon request. Beer is pour into cups and served. Bottle not suppose to be seen on diner table.
After dinner we went to some shops, here was some real bird nest.
Lock wet market
Dave brought us to a incest paper shop to purchase of Fire Crackers 100baht per box of 1000pcs(5 boxes were bought), addition to Fire Crackers, I bought a box of First Aid RM27.
Mordecai and I decided to go back to hotel while the rest of the guys went for their body massage. We were suppose to meet up for beer but our body were too tired. Slept. They returned around 11:30pm and hang out till 2am.
This was our underground parking lot. Night time, they lock up the parking lot.
Day 2 10Aug08, we meet up at 8am for Breakfast. Sam overslept. Nearly had to break in to wake him up. Cause Sam was the only guys who know the way around.
An Old Mercedes parked along the road.
Near the Sri Betong Hotel, here was where we had our bike insurance bought.
For a year, it cost 645bahts or bike that is above 150 cc. The year in the insurance is differ from our calender year. Log Card is needed.
Tutu, bike rider without helmets.....kids age 10 can ride.
The Must Eat Dim Sum stall (always pack with people)
Breakfast zu chong fang with turnip
Betong Town Circle
Dim Sum ordered
Lok mui rice
Char Siew Bao
Betong Tunnel
Our Asahi beer
The previous night restaurant alley (Next to the hotel)
After breakfast, we meet up 0930hrs. First tour around the town, stadium, swimming pools, museum.
Group photo
Sam's rack screw was loosen.
We headed out of town, heading Yala (Heard got booming)
This is the famous Red colour Post Box in Asia..
Out side the town, we came across a long strip of gravel road.
Lake view
We u turn here back to Betong
Notice the barriers and sand bags. Security Step Up.
Around Noon, we arrived Betong Hot Spring
We decided to eat first. Coconut drinks for everyone. BBQ Chickens 5pcs, BBQ fish, mango salad, fried rice for lunch. Total 950baht. Very expensive. Found out the the fish itself cost 250bahts.
The Core of the hot spring; metal support was meant for people to place their bought egg/ quill eggs to be boil here. The ground cannot be stand on without shoes. The temperate here was 80 deg C.
Sulphur Deposit
Soaking our feet, after a while; all perspire.
The temperature where we placed our feet in 48deg C
After Betong Hot Spring we rode to Piyamit Tunnel
Here, Dave ordered his lunch; Durian RM2.5/kg. The auntie opened the durian with this cool fixture. By the way, the auntie gave us a brief of her presence, she was from Muar (malaysia) exile during the 70-80s communist movement. Only recently given her citizenship by the Thai government.
50 baht per person for entry
The long stairway walk to the campsite
The uncle briefing us about their communist existance during the 70-80s. Exile from Malaysia they hide themselves in the forest and making tunnels. In order not to let the local know of their presence, they even had a filtering the smoke from their cooking area. So that the smoke can be seen as cloud. These exile communist ate anything they could lay their hands on; tigers, elephant, deers, wild boar etc..
The map of their tunnels.
Inside the tunnel, this was their fridge. While walking inside, it was relatively cool. There was any fan around but it was cool compare to outside temperature.
Must watch out of tunnel height
Chair
Air Vent; hot air rises here.
Bed
After a long walk, finally could see the exit
Museum of their tools, machines, arms etc...no photo taking inside was allowed.
Fire Crackers Time
Before leaving, group photo taken with the uncle.
All went back to hotel, we joined Dave to explore some nice structure.
This was their University; it was guarded by two policemen. We approached them and asked for permission to view the place. They were very polite and granted us the entry.
This was their queen summer palace
After that we headed back to hotel to wash up before dinner.
Betong View from the Top
Our Room
Dinner at stall, Sam with a pregnant cat
My RM7 frog porridge with salted egg that look like century egg.
Day 3 11Aug 08 Breakfast @ Dim Sum place again because at 8am no stall open yet.
We came across school parade.
After breakfast, we packed up and check out of the hotel.
At custom group photo.
Must Ensure get stamp and sign on declaration paper here, if not next time bike cannot enter.
Around 11am, we were out. Lunch at Banding Island
Cheap, chicken,fish,beehoon with drinks for 2 persons RM13
Finally I captured the Elephant Crossing Sign
Gerik-Banding Island(Noon
)-Jeli(1330hrs)-Gua Musang(1500hrs)- Cameron Highlands(1630hrs)
Early Dinner at Cameron RM80
Brichang to Simpang Pulai (1930hrs)
Top up and coffee break at Tapah, Sungei Buloh ate fries drink float(2200hrs), Stan, Pat, CSTay missed the turn during E6 entrance. Waited for them at Seremban (2300hrs).
Pagoh top up and coffee break.
Reach GP Esso 12 Aug 08 0230hrs. Dave, CSTay and Stan went off while we waited for RSM and Black returning from Koh Samui. They arrived 0330hrs.
Dead tired.
Reach home 0500hrs
