Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thailand

0. January 2010 / Bangkok to Ayutthaya / 51 km / Total  2511km
With a Taxi we left Bangkok in order to escape the heavy traffic. Somewhere on the outskirts of Bangkok we started again with the bicycle in direction of Ayutthaya.



31 January 2010 / Ayutthaya to LopBuri / 71 km / Total  2582km
Today we reached the famous city of Lop Buri. Famous because of its Monkeys.


1 February 2010 / LopBuri to Narai Hill / 69 km / Total  2651km
The first time ever some serious hills in order to reach Narai Hill Resort. Now we can feel every addtional kilogram we have put on the bikes and on ourselves over Christmas.



2 February 2010 / Narai Hill to Wang Kan Lueng / 55 km / Total  2706km
From the nice Golf Resort we made it to a beautifull Waterfall. We decided to stay here even there were no Hotel or Guesthouse available. Therefore we used for the first time our brand new tent.


3 February 2010 / Wang Kan Lueng to Wanchai Buri / 85 km / Total  2791km
After a early shower in the water fall and a coffee we left Wang Kan Lueng. During the ride to Wanchai Buri we saw a lot of workers in the sugar cane fields.


4 February 2010 / Wanchai Buri / rest day / 0 km / Total  2791km

Today we had our rest day with Massage, Internet, Pool and loads of sleep. We also found out that the battery charger from Monicas camera was left behind in Spain. We need to try to find a spare one here in Thailand before we leave for Laos.

Somewhere on the road


5 February 2010 / Wanchai Buri to Petchabun / 126 km / Total  2917km
Early start in Wanchai Buri and after 2 breakfast ( at 07:30 and 09:30) and a nice nodle soup, we reached after easy 126km Petchabun. In Petchabun we tried to organize the battery charger for Monicas camera. Lets see on Monday if we were sucessfull.

Lunch somewhere on the road


6 February 2010 / Petchabun to Lom Sak/ 60 km / Total  2977km
Today we had only 60 km until Lom Sak, we slept a bit longer, had some breakfast in the Hotel and left Petchabun around 11:00. In order to take small roads we had to spend some time and kilometers around Petchabun, but finaly we made it. On a small road we rode along tobacco fields to Lom Sak. Somewhere inbeteew Petchabun and Lom Sak again I got a flat tyre. The rear one and I don't know why??

Rear tyre is flat?


7 February 2010 / Lom Sak to Dan Sai / 77 km / Total  3049km

Today we passed the 3000 km total done so far since we started in November 2009 in Bangkok. A very hard ride today in the hills and mountains around Loei. On a very steep hill even Monica had to push her bicycle. Something she would never ever do unless realy necessary. The last 11 km down to Dan Sai was the best ever I have experienced on a bicyle. With 68km/h down to the villlage always checking a bit the brakes....you never know. In Dan Sai when we asked for a Hotel, we just were invited and started to drink beer and whiskey with them. Back in the room we had a 2 hour massage and then we went out drinking again with the locals.

Steep hills towards Dan Sai



Drinking with the locals from Dan Sai

8 February 2010 / Dan Sai to Baan Phu Pha / 14 km / Total  3063km
Very late start today, at 10:30. We still do not know, if it was from the Singha beer or the 77km mountains we did yesterday. Without breakfast we went in to the mountains again. Very hot and steep until after 14km we passed a super nice Resort. We stopped and went in for breakfast. When we saw the nice pool and spa, we decided to stay here for the rest of the day.

Swimming Pool at our resort


9 February 2010 / Baan Phu Pha to Loei / 78 km / Total  3141km
Today we had ABF ( American Breakfast) in the Hotel and around 8:00 we left our nice resort. After some 20km and around 09:30 we had the second breakfast in a town called Phu Reua, fried rice and water. After some hot coffee we sent of for Loei. We arrived in Loei at around 14:30 after some nice downhill parts. Went straight to a bank in order to make the money transfer for the charger of Monicas Camera. We were told that by Thursday Morning we schould have the charger here in Loei. Let's see if this is working.

 
Monica is preparing next days ride


10 February 2010 / Loei rest day /0 km / Total  3141km
We had breakfast in the Hotel at around 09:00 ad later rented a motorbike to explore Loei and the area around Loei. We ended up on a very nice lake with small bambu huts floating like rafts on the water. We rented such a raft and spend the afternoon on the lake with Fried rice, Beer Singh relaxing and reading. We also had a hair cut both of us and of course a footmassage.

Bambu Raft

Out on the lake

Geting a Haircut


11 February 2010 / Loei to Chian Khan / 51 km / Total  3192km
We decided for a late start today. We had breakfast in a western style restaurant at 10:00, then we handed back the Motorbike and around 11:00 we left Loei for the easy 50 km ride to Chian Kan which sits on the Mekong river. We checked in at a nice Guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong with a nice view across the Mekong in to Laos.

Water jars

An like this all starts


Guesthouse at the Mekong River


Monica is surfing the Web


Doing the laundry


12 February 2010 / Chian Khan to Pak Chom / 47 km / Total  3238km
Again a late start today and when we loaded the bicycles again a flat tyre on my bike. ( the rear again). Anyway, after fixing the problem, we left the beautiful town of Chiang Khan and some 47 km later, we arrived at Pak Chon. We got a phone call from the Kings Hotel in Loei and were told that Monicas battery charger had arrived and we could pick it up at the Bus station in Chiang Khan. So we looked for Motorbike and went back again the 47km to Chiang Khan to pick up the battery charger.


Fixing the rear tyre


On the way to Pak Chon  / Mekong River and Laos
 
 
Sun set in Chian Khan

 

13 February 2010 / Pak Chom to Sang Khom/ 73 km / Total  3311km
For breakfast we had only a Nudel soup and some instant coffee, but today we had a very nice ride along the Mekong River with loads of Banana, Papaya and Coconut trees. Also again we saw a lot of tobacco fields along the shore. After some 15 km we met a Belgian Cycler which gave us some tips regarding the road and where to sleep. We made it until Sang Khom where we found a nice resort on the Mekong River banks.

On the road in Pak Chom


Mekong river and bike


Banana tree


14 February 2010 / Sang Khom to Sri Chiang Mai / 45 km / Total  3356km
We started very late today because of St. Valentine Day. ( Something like that comes always handy to sleep a bit longer). As we only had to do 45km, we stopped a lot along the road to visite a Wat, a waterfall ( without water) and some view points along the Mekong river. At around 17:00 we reached Sri Chang Mai which lies just opposite of Vientiane, which will be our next destination tomorrow.

Monica with the local MTB team from Sri Chiang Mai


Inside the Wat


Thai football




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