7-April-2016, Thursday
Finally, the day been waiting so long....
It is consider as free and easy ride, as we only have 7 bikes for this trip...
To avoid long waiting time while queuing up for documents declaration, we had split into few smaller team, whoever able to depart earlier, will wait at the Danok McDonald, as some still need to work on Thursday morning.
Me departed with another 1 bike, around 1:30pm from Alor Setar, reached Malaysia passport control station, with no traffic. Noted that I had visited Thailand during Sadao Bike Week, and we had our documents prepared. Stopby Duty Free complex to get ciggy, and straight towards Thailand border for passport stamping. Maybe the time we arrived still early, not much crowd as well at their passport control.
First thing to do when completed necessary documents, walking distance of 50m or so, i stopby telephone shop to purchase Thailand simcard with data, it only cost 299Baht, one week usage unlimited (but i think sure after 1gb, they will capped). Then we proceed to Mcdonald to wait for the rest of the team.
Been waiting for so long (almost 1.5hrs), at last, all team members arrived, and without any further, we prepared to start our long journey, somewhere around 4:30pm.
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| we are ready to depart.... |
Having homework done ahead, we roughly know our route without GPS, as from Danok, we headed to Hatyai interchange, then turn left into Phattalung. According to planning, the first pitstop should be around 146km from Danok, and i'm leading the group... One thing i need to highlight here is, don't ever rely 100% on your speedometer, they never accurate as those information obtained from Google Map. I had miss the first pitstop, as the speedometer only shown me 135km (Google Map shown me 146km). Without more choice, we have to stop at any petrol station ahead.
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| First pitstop @ Phattalung |
After some discussion during the break, we had came into conclusion that will use the prepared pitstop as reference, and not necessary to follow as planned, still, no GPS activated yet. ~30mins of rest, we continue our journey, towards next pitstop, Surat Thani. I'm glad that had chosen this route, as it was straight all the way towards Surat Thani, with minor roadwork. Anyhow, from Nakhorn Si Tammarat towards Surat Thani, the traffic become slower with only contra-lane of road due to roadwork, but still manageable. With the previous experience of mileage on speedometer not accurate, I put more effort to find the suitable pitstop. Anyhow, I still manage to arrive at the planned petrol station just before the junction.
Take note that from Danok, up till this petrol station, no GPS was activated, and now, is the time to activate it. Due to facts that we don't have proper GPS, here is why Thailand simcard is important. We use Google Map. According to previous planning, I will only lead up to this point, as i don't install handphone holder or any tank bag for me to place my phone. But one of my friend (the owner of the workshop) saying that he was using fullface helmet and is not easy to see the map, with the phone attached to tank bag, at the end, he insist to put his tank bag on my bike and ask me to activate my GPS. At this point, we have 3 Google Maps activated, and I choose to become sweeper.
After around 15mins of journey, i'm seriously feeling sleepy with the speed of the lead, with only average of 80~90kmh, on a nice curvey road, and due to fact that i'm equipped with the GPS, I've put more pressure on the throttle, and redeem back the lead position. As we already quite late (already night time), no more delay allowed. According to google, from Krabi to Phang Nga, there is one big U-turn, and after that left turn. I wasn't aware that there were 3 bikes at the back, still with slower speed (lead where can take care all), they miss out that junction and lost (noted that among the 3 last bikes, there were 2 GPS activated, and the front 5 bikes, only with 1 GPS on my bike).
After hilly road, once arrived at the junction, I stopby at the side of road, to wait all arrived (at this point, i still not aware that we had already separated into 2 group and the second group lost their way). After asking around, only the last person on the first group told that actually few junctions before, the 3 bikes already not within sight (holly shit)... After trying to call them, and wechat them, finally we received their updates, and still, after waiting for almost half hour, still no sight of them. After majority votes, we have decided to separate into 2 group and meet up at the hotel (as they have 2 GPS, we confident that they will have no problem to reach hotel). Even though is already late night, and tired with the travel (hot, sweaty, thirsty, hungry, sleepy), the route from Phang Nga towards Phuket is super delicious with tonnes of high speed cornering, but my rookie skill doesn't make me a pro corner tackler.
Finally, after so many hours (noted that i'm already start my journey around 1:30pm from Alor Setar), we reach Phuket town (not much of traffic, but road construction is still alot), we headed toward Patong beach, where the hotel located. Kindly take note that the route toward Patong beach is hilly and curvy, and put more care during the ride. We reached the hotel around 12:00am, The Stay@Phuket, nice and cozy hotel, and the owner is Malaysian.
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| All arrived safely |
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| Cozy feel inside the room, very clean |
After quick shower, and the night was still young, we had continue our activities... and will be write more bout this on next post....
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