Three Months With Motorbike in South-East Asia

Dec 3, 2005
19
0
1
Finally it was 31.01.2006, from Belgium we drove with the car to Dusseldorf Airport to take the plane to Bangkok. Though it was not our first trip to Thailand, this one had something special. We wouldn’t go for three weeks but three months. Filip en I we quit our work temporary to travel around in Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Singapore with the motorbike we bought last December.

The first of February we arrived at Bangkok Airport from where we went to Pattaya to stay a few days in Cabbages and Condoms before starting our adventure. We still had to arrange the insurance, the transfer of the motorbike at Siam Racing in Pattaya and we also wanted to recover from the flight.

75631004-S.jpg
75631005-S.jpg

5683 km at departure at C&C, Pattaya
On Saturday, 04.02.2006, at 10 a.m. we drove to Nakon Ratchasima, from there via Ubon Ratchatani and Nakhon Panom to Nong Khai were we would like to cross the Friendship Bridge to go into Laos. On the way we could take a lot of beautiful pictures. The weather was very nice, the people we met very friendly and the surrounding became more and more beautiful.

75631006-S.jpg
75631007-S.jpg

Freedom & Tobacco plantation

Thursday 09.02.2006, after a day of rest in the very cosy guesthouse Mut Mee in Nong Khai we left enthusiastic to the boarder. At the Thai side everything went smooth but at the Lao side the problems began. They decided (the government) that from February on no moreThai registrated bikes could enter Laos through the Friendship Bridge. Khampean, a lovely women, from room number 6, would like to help us, she sent us to the Ministry of Transport and Communication so that we could ask permission to enter Laos with our motorbike at the general-director in personal. The answer of the big boss was short and snappy “NO”. Back at the boarder Khampean told us the best we could do was driving to Chiang Khong and cross boarder over there.

75631009-S.jpg
75631013-S.jpg


75631011-M.jpg

At the Thai-Lao Border with Khampean

A few hours later we were back in Thailand. Now we had to change our plans. After putting a mail on the GT-Rider site David Unkovich gave us the same advice as Khampean, via Chiang Khong there would be no problem to enter Laos. That day we drove to Khon Kaen and from there via Sukhothai and Mae Sariang to Chiang Mai. The roads became more beautiful the more we drove to the North. The road from Mae Sot to Mae Sariang is magnificent. You pass a Birmese refugee camp, it is 5 to 6 km long. The nature is wonderful, nice curves and not much traffic, ideal for bikers.

75631019-S.jpg
75631021-S.jpg

On the way to Sukhothai

75631023-S.jpg
75631027-S.jpg

Birmese refugee camp & On the way to Mae Sariang

From Mae Sariang we drove via Doi Inthanon to Chiang Mai where we stayed a few days to relax and to give the motorbike a check up because once in Laos there would be no more opportunity to do that. After two days of rest we drove to Chiang Kham and from there via Doi Pu Chifa to Chiang Khong. The last part by the Mekong was magnificent.

75631029-S.jpg
75631032-S.jpg

Doi Inthanon, the highest spot of Thailand & On The way to Chiang Kham

75631037-S.jpg

On Doi Pu Chifa

Eventually on Friday 17.02.2006 we could cross the Mekong to enter Laos. In Chiang Khong we had to go first to Custom House for the export papers of the motorbike, than there was the passport control and we had to fill in the ownershippaper and the passengers list. Everything went okay. After this we took the ferry to Huai Xai where we had to go again to Custom House to arrange the papers for temporary import of the bike, than we had to arrange the insurance and after that we had to go to immigration to stamp our passports. We succeeded, we were in magnificent Laos. The ferry costs 500 Bath, it isn’t cheap for such a small distance but you don’t have another opportunity to cross the Mekong.

75631038-S.jpg
75631040-S.jpg

75631042-S.jpg
75631044-S.jpg

The ferry over the Mekong from Chiang Khong to Huai Xai

The day after at 8 a.m. we went to Luang Namtha. This road was under construction, we had to do 190 km and only 6 km was asphalted. But that was positive for us, it was the hardest day of our trip but also the most beautiful day. We rode through many little villages where everybody waved to us and said SAIBAIDEE what means “hello”, we didn’t know where to look first, it was amazing. We had to pass small rivers and wooden bridges, I had to get of the bike to control first if there came no nails out of the wood. Also the ride through the jungle was very nice but muddy because the sun couldn’t come through the leaves. Our bike, a BMW GS-adventure was actually too heavy for that route, full loaded and me behind, but we wouldn’t have missed it. At 16.30 we arrived in Luang Namtha, as we only could ride in first or second gear and we stopped many times to take some pictures, we did it very well.

75631046-S.jpg
75631055-S.jpg

The whole village was curious

75631059-S.jpg
75631057-S.jpg

The road from Huai Xai to Luang Namtha, dusty but so beautiful

From Luang Namtha we went to Udom Xai. Because we were so close to the border of China we made a detour to Boten, the boarder to China. There we got a penalty because we parked the bike after the stop-sign. From Udom Xai we drove to Luang Prabang, again a very beautiful road, we could not get enough of the amazing sights, landscapes and the friendly people. Luang Prabang is a world heritage city and quite rightly, it is a nice small city. There we had a few days of rest. In the neighbourhood we visited the beautiful Kuang Si waterfall. Maybe it is getting boring, but we can’t say anything else about Laos, it really is a beautiful country.

75631060-S.jpg
75633455-S.jpg

Morning haze over the rice fields in Luang Namtha & Village people in traditional outfit

75633457-S.jpg
75633464-S.jpg

Kuang Si Waterfall

75633466-S.jpg
75633468-S.jpg

Woman and children in a village nearby Luang Prabang

75633456-S.jpg

Women making brooms beside the road

Friday 24.02.2006 we went further to Phonsavan, a very nice road through the mountains, an amazing view. We visited the Plain of Jars and the Tampui Cave where, before the American bombardments, a village was situated with a hospital and a school. We also visited a Hmong Village.

75633471-S.jpg
75633473-M.jpg

The beautiful road to Phonsavan

75633474-S.jpg
75633475-S.jpg

Tha Plain of Jars & Little house on a undercarriage of bombs

In the morning and the evening it was rather cold in the North of Laos, during the day it was pleasant warm.

75633482-S.jpg
75633486-S.jpg

Morning haze in Phonsavan & Crossing Luang Prabang – Vang Vieng – Phonsavan

After Phonsavan we went to Vang Vieng, there you have a splendid view on the Karstmountains. The time we were there the streets in Vang Vieng were under construction but it didn’t bother us, for us Vang Vieng was a pleasant village. We hired a bicycle and visited many caves and small villages, that was a nice change after weeks on the motorbike.

75633488-S.jpg
75633495-S.jpg

The Karst mountains in Vang Vieng

75633485-S.jpg
75633487-S.jpg

Friendly people everywhere

Our last day in Laos we spent in the capital Vientiane, we didn’t liked the city that much, maybe because it was our last day. VIA the Friendship Bridge we left Laos for the second time, that was on Friday 03.03.2006.

75633497-S.jpg
75633501-S.jpg

Delicious Banana pancakes & Triumphal Arch in Vientiane

Already more than one month was passed, time goes quickly when you go through a lot of things. We have a positive image of Laos, we will never forget the beautiful nature, the friendly people, the pigs, turkeys, chicken, buffalos and dogs on the streets, as a biker you have to have eyes everywhere. Also the many dust roads we won’t forget, you imagine that you’re years back in time, people live on the rhythm of nature, stress is far away and let’s hope it will stay like that for a long time. We will sure go back, probably (definitely) next December.

75633491-S.jpg

A mobile foodstore & Beautiful ricefields

Back in Thailand we drove via Nakon Ratchasima to Hua Hin, in Bangkok we lost a lot of time because we couldn’t find the right way immediately. From Hua Hin we drove to Ranong and then to Phuket were we stayed four days. We found a nice hotel in Makam Bay where it was very peaceful. We passed Khao Lak on our way to Phuket, the Tsunami made a lot of victims there. It was a shock for us when we saw all the new buildings and the cleanliness, it gave us an unpleasant feeling.

75636242-S.jpg
75636245-S.jpg

The boat that was throwed kilometres far on land in Khao Lak

In Thailand there is much more traffic, you really have to be careful on the dual carriageways, oncoming traffic pass cars if they don’t see us, we have the feeling that they think we are as manoeuvrable as the small bikes. You see that they aren’t used to big bikes. Many times we have to swerve because the motorists make a wrong assess of our speed and size.

75633504-S.jpg
75633506-S.jpg

Nearby Phi Phi Island

From Phuket we went to Satun where we crossed boarder to Malaysia. We thought it would go quickly, but no. We couldn’t get an insurance because our green book wasn’t translated in English. We had to go back to Satun to the Ministry of Transport to get a translation. Lucky for us they helped us very good, a few hours later we were back at the boarder with the right papers, that was 14.03.2006.

75633507-S.jpg
75633509-S.jpg

At the border of Malaysia

Malaysia is a more structured country than Thailand, you don’t see overloaded pick-ups and people adhere the traffic rules pretty well. The first day we slept in Kuala Perlis where you can take the boat to Pulau Langkawi (an island). We would like to go to Pulau Langkawi, but we could’t go together with the bike, it would be two separate boats, so we changed our plans and went to Pulau Penang, Georgetown, which you can reach to take a 13 km long bridge, it was quite impressive. In Malaysia you can take in contraxt to Thailand the tollway, but they aren’t used to big bikes, we had to follow the signs of the small bikes, sometimes it was very small for us. But on the other hand we didn’t have to pay to use the tollway.

75633510-S.jpg
75633513-S.jpg

The 13 km long bridge to Pulau Penang

In Georgetown we stayed three days. We visited the 2000 years old Kapitan Keling Mosk, the Penang Museum, several temples, Fort Cornwallis and the Fatt Tze Mansion. The last one we liked a lot, it was a beautiful mansion, you can also stay there (on reservation) in restored rooms. We did everything by feet so we discovered many beautiful small streets, cosy restaurants, small temples and mansions. The heat was oppressive the time we were there.

75633518-S.jpg
75633514-S.jpg

The Kapitan Keling Mosk & Colonial houses

75633519-S.jpg
75633522-S.jpg

The Fatt Tze Mansion & People at a Chinese temple after getting free food

Saturday 18.03.2006 we left Pulau Penang to go to the magnificent but cooler Cameron Highlands. On Sunday we visited the wonderful teaplantations of Boh, and of course we tasted some and bought it as souvenir for when we were back home. We also did the highest mountain Gunung Brinchang. We had rain in the Highlands but we enjoyed the beautiful rides in the amazing nature. On Monday we drove to Bukit Fraser, you have a beautiful one-way road to the top and back with beautiful views and a lot of monkeys near the road. For the biker this is the most beautiful part of Malaysia.

75633523-S.jpg
75633524-S.jpg

Tea plants in the Cameron Highlands and the beautiful road in between

The same day we drove to the capital Kuala Lumpur where we met some Malay biker friends who helped us two years ago when we had trouble with a rented bike in Thailand. These people, Kenny and Serwee, gave us a very warm welcome and spend their time with us after their work. They took us to the best Chinese Restaurants in town, we enjoyed it a lot.

75633530-S.jpg
75633532-S.jpg

Serwee, Kenny and girlfriend, Marleen and Filip A nice painted skytrain

In KL are many colonial houses but the Petronas Twin Towers impressed us the most. From our hotel room we had a magnificent view on the Towers. Wherever you were in town, you could practically always see this beautiful piece of architecture. Most of the time in KL we just hang around an drunk good cappuccino’s while we had to hide for the heavy rain and thunderstorms.

75633529-S.jpg
75633536-S.jpg

The Petronas Twin Towers

Friday 24.03.2006 we went further to Melakka, that day we had rain from the start in KL until we were almost there, that was not so fun. Melakka is a beautiful and quiet city. We visited several museums, temples and nice small streets. Jonker Walk is cosy to walk around in the evening with a street market and many food stalls.

75633556-S.jpg
75633558-S.jpg

St. Pauls Church in Melakka & The Dutch influence in Melakka

Two days later it went in the direction of Johor Bahru, this city is nothing much but because we already travelled so far we would also like to visit Singapore. We had a hotel with swimming pool out of the city and that’s why we spent there a few days to relax.

75633560-S.jpg
75633561-S.jpg

On the way to Singapore where in the morning and the evening passes al lot of traffic at the boarder

We couldn’t get into Singapore with the motorbike because earlier at the boarder in Satun they didn’t give us the original insurance-paper but a copy. The day after we went back with the bus. This was very easy. Once you passed the boarder you see a big difference with Malaysia, Singapore is a clean country, you cannot spot one little paper on the ground. In Orchard Road, the most famous shopping street, you find all big names of the fashion-world. We only did window-shopping because of too expensive. On Clarks Quay it was very cosy, after visiting Chinatown we went back to Clarks Quay to have a good dinner there.

75633562-S.jpg
75633567-S.jpg

Orchard Road & Clarks Quay

After staying the night over in Singapore we went back to Johor Bahru where we left Friday 31.03.2006 to Kuantan. Kuantan is situating at the east-coast, we would like to stay a few days at the beach but it was water-festival and we could only find a hotel for one night. The road to Kuantan was beautiful with the nice wooden fishing houses. Than we drove to Tasik Kengir, a big lake, where we had a boat-trip to a beautiful waterfall, a herb-garden and a fishing-village. We also visited the Kengir Dam, also very beautiful, and in the late afternoon we arrived in Kota Bahru where we would spend our last night in Malaysia.

75633568-S.jpg
75636223-S.jpg

On the way to Kuantan

75636227-S.jpg
75636229-S.jpg

The Kengir Lake

75636231-S.jpg
75636233-S.jpg

The Kengir Dam

Malaysia was beautiful, we saw and did many beautiful things, but it couldn’t equal the feeling we had of Laos. Malaysia is not a dreamland for a biker, the really nice roads you can count on one hand and the food can not be compared with the food of his neighbour Thailand. The people, a mix of different races and cultures, was friendly everywhere, we can not complain about the hospitality of Malaysian people.

75636235-S.jpg
75636237-S.jpg

On the way from Kota Bahru to Hat Yai

On Monday 03.04.2006 we arrived in Hat Yai, Thailand. From Hat Yai we went back to Phuket, Makam Bay, for a few days of lazyness, swimming, Thai massage and having good food was our only concern.

75636238-S.jpg
75636241-S.jpg

They transport everything in their pick-up & Hiding for a tropical shower

From Phuket we drove via Chumpon and Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi where we stayed two days in the very cozy guesthouse Sugarcane near the River Kwai.

75636247-S.jpg
75636248-S.jpg

The bridge over the River Kwai

Wednesday 12.04.2006 we were riding again in the direction of North Thailand, in Mae Sot we spent the night. They were already celebrating Songkran, at first we liked it, they just throw a little bit of water to us, but the next days we didn’t liked it anymore. You have to take care of the road and the people who are throwing water because when they throw a big bucket with water to you and you haven’t seen it coming it can be very dangerous.

75636249-S.jpg
75636252-S.jpg

On the way to Mae Sot

From Mae Sot we took the same wonderful road to Mae Sariang as two months ago. This time the people from the refugee camp were at home for Songkran, it was very nice to see them celebrating. The locals gave us permission to take pictures of them but the guards told us to drive on. I still wonder if it is forbidden to take pictures or not.

75636256-S.jpg
75636257-S.jpg

Local transportation & The daily live in the camp

75636259-S.jpg

Having a rest at a checkpoint

75636261-S.jpg
75636262-S.jpg

The magnificent road to Mae Sariang

In Mae Sariang was a big parade for Songkran and at the river was a Songkran party. The next morning the monks were having a special procession, people offered a lot. This gave us the opportunity to take some beautiful pictures.

75636263-S.jpg
75636264-S.jpg

Very young monks

From there we went to Pai, a small cosy village, the roads became more beautiful, Filip had the time of his life on the motorbike and so had I. From Pai it went to Tathon, we also did Doi Ang Khang at the Birmese boarder where we passed a nice mountain-village.

75636266-S.jpg
75636268-S.jpg

On the way to Pai

75636271-S.jpg
75636274-S.jpg

Tourists and locals celebrating Songkran in Pai & A mountain village near the boarder of Birma

75636275-S.jpg
75636278-S.jpg

On the way to Tathon & The countryside of Tathon

Thursday 17.04.2006 we drove via Doi Mae Salang to Chiang Mai, a very nice road, little traffic. In Chiang Mai we spent a few days in the beautiful and peaceful hotel Tamarind Village, situated in the old town.

75633537-S.jpg
75633541-S.jpg

On Doi Mae Salang & Tamarind Village

We also had the opportunity to meet David Unkovich, the godfather of gt-rider. As cartographer he makes very good (the best) road-maps of Laos and the North of Thailand and through the site you keep in touch of the changes at the boarders and a lot of good travel information. When you are in trouble he will always try to help you or give you good advice, through the site you can always communicate with him. This was a height on our last days, he is a pleasant and nice man. We met him in a biker cafe called Jai Yen en managed by an English guy Jeff.

75633546-S.jpg
75633545-S.jpg

Together with David Unkovich and Jeff

From Chiang Mai we drove in two days to Pattaya, the first day to Nakhon Nayok (744 km), was a hard ride. In Pattaya we could enjoy four whole days of the peace at the sea in the beautiful and peaceful resort Cabbages and Condoms before we had to take the plane again to Düsseldorf where our parents were waiting for us to drive us back to Belgium.

75633547-S.jpg

Relaxing in the swimming pool

75633555-S.jpg

Delicious food at the beach

Before we knew it the three months were passed by. It was a great experience for us, if we have the opportunity to do this again in a few years we won’t hesitate. But before it’s so far we will definitely spent our yearly holiday in Asia like we did before.

75633553-S.jpg
75633551-S.jpg

Stabled the motorbike for a few months & 20,813 km at the end of out trip

We made this report on request of David Unkovich and later, when we were back in Pattaya, Scott from Siam Racing asked us the same. We hope you enjoyed reading it and maybe you have the feeling to go to Asia and to explore it yourself.

Filip and Marleen from Belgium
 
Dec 3, 2005
19
0
1
Hello David.
First off all thanks for putting our trip report on the site. I know it must have been a lot of work, I also worked several days to finish it. In december we go to Cambodia and Laos, I hope we can meet you there to buy you a couple of drinks for all the work you did for us. See you,
Filip and Marleen
 
Nov 14, 2004
239
0
0
Fillip & Mar, thanks for a great post!! I enjoyed reading and viewing all the pics. Hey send a post on riding in Belgem, if you can drag yourself away from all those yummy chocolates,but you don't wont to overload the bmw do you!!
Regards Scott...Land of OZ..