Thursday 31 December 2015

THE VERY SOUTH THAILAND RIDE, Day 5 - Papa sent the ice-cream man to us! (5 to 13 August 2015)

Love Station at Kan Tang
Here comes our train!
Inspection
Assembling our bags
Bikes all lined up to go up the train
With the legendary "Love the Fold" blogger, Alvin and his partner
Open washroom on the train
River crossing!!!
Group photo with Joe, just before we left Yamawa
62.8km

TRANG - KANTANG - PAK MING

We met at the lobby of Yamawa Guesthouse at 8 am. The weather changes from sunny to drizzle to heavy rain. ETD was 8.30 am but most of us voted for a quick breakfast or even breakfast on the train. Nobody wants to get to the train station wet!

Joe predicted the rain will stop in half hour. He speaks like a prophet for it actually stopped raining as said!

We left Joe with a prayer and a photo shot. All our bikes were freshly lubed while sitting out the rain.

We passed the restaurant we dined in on our first night.

We passed the 3 bike shops. Jiam was standing outside. He got a wave from both
Claudine and VT.

We cruised past the market.

We stopped for roti prata in a Muslim coffee shop. This shop is rather distasteful. All tables are not wiped till you sit down to dine! Inside the shop is a wall of empty cake boxes, perhaps for a later bake day.


A fully veiled lady makes our prata. She flattens the dough, she adjusted her veil. She tossed the dough, she adjusted her dress. She pulls the dough, she adjusted her apron. She curls the dough to allow it to rest, she pulls her sleeve!!!!

Claudine said a silent prayer as she walks away!

Papa did not trust the prata lady. He had some rice with cooked dishes.

Meanwhile, too much walking and soaking was giving Lance blisters. His strappy canvas sandals  was biting into his flesh. Papa Mike, the STR self appointed sandal shopper went with Lance!Both went across the street and came back with a bumble bee Kroks.


After breakfast, we proceed to the train station. Alvin bought tickets for 10 passengers to Kantang from the charming lady behind the counter. This is the same lady he made enquiries with yesterday. He paid 50 baht.

The lady took him and a curious Claudine to another office next door. They were slapped with a 900 baht charge for cargo space on 10 bicycles!!!


With a lot of time in their hands, KC disappeared to spend intimate time with his masseur. He came back satisfied, having taken some photos of her!

Papa Mike tried to get everyone to play a game of charades. He did not get a favourable response.

Then, as the day is coincidentally Singapore's National Day, Alvin flicked out some stick on tattoos. KC, Alvin and Lance had the Singapore flag on their cheeks. YC had a lion's head on his neck. George and Wendy pasted "I love Singapore" on their cheeks. Papa Mike tried loving Singapore too but he was rejected for oily reasons!!! Celia had too much sunblock and she too, does not make the citizen cut! Claudine tried the lion's head, but Simba knew she is from the country across the border and rejected her. VT stayed true to his country! He refused to have any body art on him.


While we were playing tattoos, Papa Mike's boom box belted out music from yesteryears.

Just before our train arrived, the train officials told us to move our bicycles forward. From experience, they knew where the engine will stop and thus the position of the box car for freight and subsequent carriages for the passengers.

As in every case in train stations, there was the passing of flags between the station master and the engine driver. Then, the yellow engine trundled to a stop. We witnessed the way a motorcycle is brought down from the box car. 2 strong men, no grace, no care. Broken or not is irrelevant. Final objective is, the cargo arrives at its destination.


Then, it was time to haul our bikes up. George and KC jumped up the box car. The rest pushed their bikes forward to VT who was manning from below.

When all were onboard, we chugged along.

The carriages were old and dirty. One of the strong men, seen pushing the motorcycle down at Trang is now sweeping the floor. He does not use a dustpan. All rubbish is pushed from the front of the carriage to the back and out through the door. As he moved further rearwards, the mount of rubbish gets higher and higher! So, does the dust circling in the air!!! Claudine and VT, tactfully moved from their seats. When he was done, he turned on the fans again and was gone.

Alvin moved to the back to chat with Claudine. He showed her the photo of our male sweeper. He pointed out the words on his T-shirt...ACS aka Anglo Chinese School, a chain of school in our region famous for churning out excellent performance. Cheekily, Alvin remarked, if you don't study hard, you are gonna end up sweeping floors!

Our train ride lasted about 20 minutes. Then it was time to disembark. Another railway man in overalls and a skullcap was given a small tip by Wendy, by the orders of Alvin! Happily, he pretended to show a helpful hand. But our bikes were too precious. We did not trust him to push our bikes down!

After disembarkation, loading and suit up, YC called out to Alvin. "You've got to take this photo!"


Curious, we all went to the small little house with a hung up bicycle! It is the "Love Station" (p.s. We have yet to find out how Kantang station earned that nickname!)

Within minutes of cycling, we stopped for chicken rice. The train station and an old locomotive on display, was still within sight. This chicken rice was decent but the soup served with it was pretty good.


Then we went through town, turn right and as Alvin had promised earlier....another surprise!!! A ferry ride across the river!!! 2 baht per person, bikes included.

Alvin humbly mentioned that YC was responsible for this adventure. Thank you, YC!


It took minutes to cross the river. When we got across, we started riding. Just a little ahead, YC called out if anyone needed anything from the convenience store. Nobody requested anything so we rode on. Up and down some minor slopes, we turned left.

Where's Papa???

He must have stopped at the convenience store.

We waited.....

Nobody was particularly worried as George was with him. Everybody were wondering what is taking him so long.

Suddenly, we spotted the ice cream man and following closely behind was Papa and George! Could it be???

It actually didn't turn out the way we thought it did. Papa did not send the ice cream man to us. Incidentally, his bicycle chain drop. Coincidentally, they rode together to us!!! Nonetheless, we had a treat!


Then, we rode to burn off the calories consumed. However, before long, we saw the sign of hot springs. Claudine sent telepathic signals to YC.

"Turn right, turn right" she fried his brains.

He succumbed to her consciousness.

The hot springs was just a few kilometers off the main road. Entrance is free. The place, well kept. The hot springs varying in temperature, we chose to stop nearest to the main building. The water in this spot is super hot.

Wendy found some pails and buckets to fill with water. Towards the end, the scooped up water were still too hot.


Papa Mike cooed and coaxed for a massage. Priced at only 150 baht for 1 hour, many could not resist. Finally, a pleading Papa won! KC, Alvin and Papa went for their treat. More would have liked to go but there were not enough masseurs.

Celia, Wendy, Lance, VT and Claudine napped in the wide verandah instead while the remaining men wandered around. Celia and Wendy sprawled on the floor. The other 3 soon found out that the chairs and earthen pots at the verandah were meant for soaking one's feet. Lance and VT were shooed off. A sleepy Claudine refused to budge, asked for the price and happily paid the 20 baht so she could continue her siesta.

It was a perfect afternoon siesta. The wind were constantly blowing.... The chicken rice slowly digesting in our stomachs.... Lance's rhythmic soft snorts.....

Ding! Ding! Ding!

A refreshed Alvin rung the bicycle bell. Time to go! He didn't allow enough time to shake off the sleepies. In 10 minutes, we were riding again. Down a good slope, turn right and the fight starts!!!

While she was lulled by the strong gusts of winds during her afternoon siesta, Claudine now has to fight the strong headwinds. Her groggy self was not helping here.

Soon, she found herself riding alone. The devil sitting on her left shoulder whispered, "VT left you behind!" The angel soothed her, "See? He's falling back for you to catch up!" But pedal as she might, she could not latch on to him!

After not much of cycling but a huge battle with the wind, we stopped at a shop. Drinks were passed around. Papa Mike took a long time to reach us. When he did, he went into the store and came out with a Red Bull!!!

While Claudine openly complained to the others, she shot daggers at VT. He took the cue. The next push off, he allowed Claudine to draft behind.


But of course, by which time, Claudine was properly awake. So, together they led the others to the next 10km stop. Up-Sell and Up-Sized Cha Yen!

After filling up full tank on Cha Yen, we fought the winds again. This time, it was the coastal wind.


A frightened herd of cows forcefully crossed our path.

We passed by Anantara Sikao, a classy resort where Papa Mike had stayed previously.

We passed by signs pointing to our opposite direction...in case of Tsunami, run the other way!!!


A group photo was taken with the famous dugongs that has been shadowing us since Satun. They pops up every where we go!

Then, we left Papa Mike and a few others at Restaurant Yok Yor. Papa dearly remembered the lover he left behind. She on the other hand had forgotten the bum and put all her energies on building a little empire of her own. She now owns a resort!

Half truths!!!

Anyhow, Papa prebooked a meal for us. When we returned to Yok Yor, all fresh and clean, a hearty meal was waiting for us!

Happy National Day Singapore! The United Nations of Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan celebrates SG50 together
Dear Papa was so thoughtful! He made sure everyone had their favourites. Egg omelette for Alvin, fried pork for Celia, non spicy fish for Wendy, sour soup for VT and lots of vege for KC! Perfect meal enjoyed with personal music coming out from Papa's boom box!


We finished the night with coffee at Beach Hut opposite our Saithong Resort. When we bid our beautiful barista good night, we found out, she too has a resort in town!!!

Wednesday 30 December 2015

THE VERY SOUTH THAILAND RIDE, Day 4 - Leisure time in Trang (5 to 13 August 2015)

,
The streets of Trang
The Church
Old world charm
Canal

Typical Clock Tower in the middle of the street

Town Centre
Spooky Koh Teng
Quiet hallways of Koh Teng
Cold staircase of Koh Teng

TRANG

We finally had a great sunny morning. We set out for dim sum breakfast. Alvin, checked out a dentist on our way to breakfast. Satisfied with the price quoted for scaling, he made an appointment.


We soon found our dim sum shop with a giant tea cup at the roof. This shop has been in business for the last 30 years. Besides dim sum, it also offers pork porridge and roasted pork though in Thailand, the roasted pork comes off slightly sweet.

CSI Agent KC was quick to identify our dim sum dolly to the life size printout standee of a Airasia stewardess placed in the shop. She denied she is the girl in the advert but was sporting enough to pose for photos.


After breakfast, we did some sightseeing. We passed by a church, we came up to the closed door of Happy Wheels, we passed the morning market, we went back to the train station, we spotted KC's vomit from last night!!!



Alvin checked out the train schedule and tickets for the next day's journey. 10.30 am, 5 Baht per person for a journey from Trang to Kan Tang. This will save us about 30 km of pedal work.

After the train station the group dispersed. Alvin and Lance went for their dental appointment but not before dropping Celia's breakfast. George and Wendy went to a bike shop and pet shop. YC and Papa Mike went for a massage and so did KC, Alvin and Celia.

It started to drizzle again as the group made their way, on foot to Richy Ice Cream and Cafe during lunch hour. Alvin, Celia, KC and Lance arrived late even though they hailed a tuk tuk. The old driver was hard of hearing and did not know the way. Instead, Alvin was the one who showed him the way!!!


We had a starter course of fried cempedak from the shop next door, main course of sorts and a dessert of mangosteens, on the house! Then we left for more fruits sold on the street, made a mad dash in the rain and had to seek shelter in a government building.

When the rain reduced to a drizzle, we went our way again. This time, we stopped at the Vespa Piaggio shop. George and Wendy could not resist posing for a photo on the orange scooter with a side car.

During all the running to escape the rain, Celia's bedroom slippers finally quitted on her. She went shopping for slippers, looking queer with one foot in a good bedroom slipper and the the other foot in Alvin's Kroks! Papa Mike, escorting her must have pulled a brave front!

Meanwhile, Alvin who was left with one Kroks glided into the Green House Cafe with his chin up. Everyone had a good afternoon tea of cakes, coffee and tea.

Most of us went back to Yamawa again for a short rest before dinner. As usual, Joe was there to greet us. Claudine asked for yet another flask of hot water and additional blankets to pad the very hard bed. It seems the 9 hours of soaking the previous day, hard bed, noise from the main road, menstruation has put her a bit under the weather.

With the caffeine from Green House keeping her up, Claudine and VT decided to check out the 3 bike shops near the night market last night. Jiam of http://www.facebook.com/jiam.bicycle sold very cheap jersey and cycling pants.

Jiam and his daughter
By dinner time, Claudine was sneezing non stop. Dinner was a stone throw away from Yamawa. We had yellow curry, kang Kung, chap choy, fish basil, lemongrass , bah kien, Kau yok. Many voted the kow yok, a dish of steamed pork with yam in red bean curd and tauchu sauce as one of the best dish on this trip.


We walked another night market after dinner but not before securing Loratadine from a pharmacy nearby. Thank goodness, Papa Mike was with us because the pharmacist did not understand Claritine even though the drug was on her shelf!!!

What did we have from the night market??? Steamed corn, durian, ban chan kueh, some thin crisp with coconut cream...

To walk off the food, we did some hotel sight seeing. First stop was Koh Teng Hotel. The front of this hotel serves as a coffee shop so by night fall, the access is through the side lane. The lobby was bare and everything inside spells 50's. A curious Alvin, Lance and Claudine went up the wide old fashioned stairs. A long, lonely and quiet corridor leads to the many rooms. The whole place spells spooky.


Our next stop was Sri Trang hotel near the train station. A nice balcony on the front of the building greeted us, followed by a center court inside, with a hanging bicycle decor. Upstairs, a nice wooden banister leads to the rooms. This place has been in operation since 1952.


Sri Trang hotel also runs a nice cafe. We could not resist sitting down for a night cap while Celia went for yet another massage.

Thursday 24 December 2015

THE VERY SOUTH THAILAND RIDE, Day 3 - The Day The Sky Fell On Us (5 to 13 August 2015)



Bike friendly hotel. Yamawa Guesthouse allow us to park the bikes inside!
The market place at Thung Wa
Noodle in blood soup
Quite a few nasty hills to climb
Wet for 9 whole hours!!!
Charcoal roasted dried squid at Trang night market
77.6km

THUNG WA - TRANG

A call was made for a 8 am meet up. But it rained the whole night and by meeting time, it was still raining! VT and Claudine had given up on wearing sports shoes since Day 1, at Satun. The crocs or kroks sandals, all made excellent rain wear.

A table was set up for us under the make shift garage. Our sweet "hotelier" brought us a breakfast of fried "Yu tiau" and kuih-muih. This time, the hot thermo pot has an extension wire attached to it, the electricity source coming from his house. Tea, coffee and needless to say, hot green tea!!!




As the rain pelted away, sometimes heavily, sometimes reduced to a drizzle, nobody wanted to move out so fast. We enjoyed the view of the fish pond below with powered water wheels which created oxygen for the fishes.

We exchanged notes on our "love hotel". Claudine and VT did not have hot water to bathe. The air-conditioning drips in their room and so it did too in YC and Lance's room. Nobody had free wifi. YC and Lance played dodge with a giant spider in their bathroom!

George and Wendy......

George and Wendy may or may not have an amorous time last night. The condom was actually used as a protection for George's rear light!!!!



George spotted a cow's skull behind the owner's house. Brave KC picked it up to model with it!

When we finally decided the rain will never stop, we moved out. We rode to the town's market for breakfast. It was really uncomfortable sitting in our confined area, by the 5 foot way in the dirty market area. YC, Lance, Wendy and KC were worst off as they frequently gets sprays and mist of rain on their backs. But everyone were too polite to complain and tried to make the best out of the worst situations. 



Breakfast was a terrible nasi briyani laden with too much spices, chicken rice with very little chicken and decent roti prata. We downed the food with Cha Ron and hot green tea.

When we finally retrieved our bicycles to move out, it was still raining. The earlier heavy downpour had flooded the road. This time, we had to wade through inches of water to get to our bikes!

As Celia had to answer a short call of nature, we stopped by a Chinese coffee shop 50 m away. This shop sells what looked like fried roasted pork with noodles. As breakfast was just minutes ago, nobody could eat anything, anymore.

The people in the shop all walked barefooted. Business on that rainy day was zero. Celia asked if she could borrow their toilet and was not refused. Reluctant to remove her glad wrap, she trudged into the shop with an apologetic look.

Now, having done enough damage, some of us ordered drinks just to appease the owner. The good Thai people came back with the orders and on top of that, hot green tea to pass around!

We rode out again. Again, it was raining.

This will be a scenic route. Kampung roads, limestone hills, rolling hills...

We came upon a road block manned by the military. They let us pass with a wave.

We saw a pick up truck carrying a cow. There will be 3 more cows heading for the butcher later on.

We saw a "dick" hill.

After about 17 km of rolling hills, we stopped by a convenience shop. Cha Ron on a cold, wet day makes a perfect beverage. 


Then, we rode out again. Again, it was raining.

We rode for about 10 km before reaching a town. Here, we stopped at a big petrol station with a 7 Eleven and Cafe beside it. Potty break!

After potty break, we rode out. Again, it was raining.

YC had informed that just 5 km down, there will be a major junction. We will need to turn right to Trang. There were orders to look out for food as Alvin feared that beyond this point, there will be almost to none food stalls for the next 30 km.

We reached the junction. No food.

We turned right. No food.

We rode a little ahead. Petrol kiosk. No food.

We stopped at the petrol kiosk. Papa was briefed on the possible famine.

Looking worried and trying to be brave, he quickly flicked out a muesli bar. Thankfully, he was still willing to share it with Wendy!

Perhaps a little drama is added here to spice up the story!

We then rode again. Again, it was raining.

Before long, we came upon a big school. There were some events held that day. A short row of shop houses beside the school perks up VT's senses. Civilization!!! He rode slowly and not far beyond, he chanced upon a quaint little cafe. 



A very long lunch stop.

Free wifi.

It rained heavily, it drizzled.

A young German couple also on bike joined us. They bought their bikes in Bangkok and has been touring our region. 



When the wait was getting too long, the owner treated us to langsat. He even asked us to help ourselves to the huge pile of petai on the table.

Finally, the rain slowed down to a drizzle, safe enough for us to leave. We managed some group photos with our new found friends. 


Then, we waved good bye and rode out. Again, it was still raining!

Not long later, it rained cats and dogs! The roads were too narrow to stop so we rode slow and safe. Rain water stung our eyes. It pelted our faces. We braved the punishment.

Thankfully, our sufferings were short. The rain teetered off to a drizzle. We rode for about 10 km to yet another petrol kiosk for regrouping.

Then, we rode out again. Again, it was still raining.

A few kilometers later, we saw water! Lots and lots of water! The whole road was flooded!

George opted for the far left. His whole crankset went underwater. Slosh! Slosh! Slosh! His shoes and pedals went like the water wheels at Captain Resort aka "love hotel".



Wise KC opted for the far right. He cruised behind the slow moving cars. That went well. Seeing this, VT and Claudine followed suit.

We rode for awhile until we came upon a noodle shop. Funny rice noodles are served in thick black soup garnished with fried pork lard. Cold and wet since morning, we ate it up without much thoughts.

After our late lunch of strange food, we rode out again. Again, it was still raining.

Riding out, Celia was having some problems with her glad wrap. They were getting undone. Pedal, pedal, stuck to chains. Pedal, pedal, bend and yank! Celia managed to remove the little dangling bits. But wait!!! She held on to the bits until a 100 m down the road. Spotting a blue barrel by the road side, presumably a dustbin, Celia aced the glad wrap into the barrel!!!

Before long, we reached Trang. 78 km under our belt, 9 hours of playing in the rain.

We weaved through an after school traffic condition. We weaved through the busy town. We arrived at Yamawa Guesthouse. 



Claudine and VT were placed on the 4 th floor. YC and Lance too. All trudged wearily upstairs.

Dinner was at 6 pm. With whatever time we have in our hands, we had a hot shower and laundered our wet clothes. Celia and Alvin though, arranged for paid laundry with Joe, the proprietor.

When we met for dinner, Joe the perfect host led us to a restaurant nearby. Papa Mike was at his top elements ordering and giving instructions in the kitchen. Sadly though, when the food arrived, they were in the smallest possible portions. 



Luckily, we had plans to visit the night market. So after dinner, we all trundled down the lanes to the market situated near the train station. Food were purchased and shared. 



Later, we separated and recongregated in a cafe nearby.

Good laughs! Good sharing!

Tired out, some wanted to head back. Some wanted to get massages.

KC did not finish his Cha Ron. He was feeling bloated. The elephants in the Chang Beer from dinner time were creating a stampede inside him. Then, just outside the shop, as we were all leaving, KC released the elephants. They came out trumpeting!

After that, nobody was in any mood for massages. We all went back to Yamawa. But not before conspiring with the greedy ones to meet for supper after KC was tucked in bed!