One of the issue that was constantly on my mine after crossing into Thailand was the Tourist Visa and the Motorbike Temporary Import Permit (TIP). I had entered on the 15 October and I have till the 13 November 2018 to get out of Thailand. Both Visa and TIP was the same date.
One month to get out of Thailand. I just got in and already I have to ration everything properly so I can get out in time. Target was Surin to enter O’smach in Cambodia but counting the routes and places I would need to stop either for sightseeing or just to break the journey to less than 200km a day had me counting days every few hours in my head.
The bureaucratic red tape of traveling. In my mind the route was already set, which goes something like this ...
Hat Yai – Trang – Ko Lanta – Krabi – Phuket – Khao Lak – Ranong – Chumphon – Hua Hin – Bangkok – Khao Yai – Nahkon Ratchasima – Surin – O’smach (cambodia)
That's 14 stop all together ... if I stay two night at each place that will leave me with almost no buffer if anything goes out of plan. I hate not having buffer and planning to travel on days every two days really depends on the weather. It’s rainy season now.
My Cuz who works in Phuket say it’s raining everyday in Phuket, Uncle says Ranong I can skip because it rains continuously for 8 months a year, but then it was raining the whole time I was traveling in Malaysia so I was not concern about the rain for I know there are always windows to travel.
Problem was I needed time to wait for windows, and with the Visa and TIP restricting my time I can’t but feel like an invisible leash around my ankle. Put your bike on the train to Bangkok was one of the suggestion, but then I wont get to see southern Thailand especially up the Andaman coast.
ARRGHHH ... the dilemma now, but for bad or worst I know that usually once I have sat down and considered all the possibilities, the way-point set would normally be the route I take for it is the best route. Only the minor adjustment that has to be done along the way, such as when I heard from Uncle that there is a Casino in Ranong but in the Myanmar side, there was no way I am missing Ranong after hearing that.
Its on the Myanmar side though.... I don't have Visa for Myanmar, although in my mind I have already thought of applying the E-Visa that only takes 3 days but had no idea if Ranong accepts E-Visa.
No problem, just go there and tell the boatmen, those corrupt bastards wants money will somehow magically bring you to the casino and sort out all the passport issue for a small fee. Stamp in Stamp out in Ranong and tada you have extended your Visa in Thailand for another 30 days. You wont have to worry about rushing to Cambodia in one month says my Uncle.
But then I could not abandon Bluey, I could extend the Visa but the TIP was still 30 days since that border crossing is only via Boat. Still .... Casino .... Casino .... I smell adventure .... and chance are that I will go over to enjoy the illegal shit of things.
Anyway back to topic ... since I have been writing this blog so ever slowly I can tell you the actual route I took through the Southern of Thailand
The Actual Route Taken
Hat Yai – Trang – Ko Lanta – Krabi – Khao Lak – Ranong – Chumphon – Prachuap Khiri Khan - Hua Hin – Kanchanaburi – Phra Nahkon Si Ayutthaya - Khao Yai – Pak Chong – Prachin Buri – Aranyaprathet – PoiPet (cambodia)
Obviously some changes towards the end ... guess as i made pass the halfway mark and still had plenty of time to spare the route changes
As those above are stop points, sometimes within that stop points of two to three days there would be internal day trips sightseeing ... but of course sometime I just too tired and have to do nothing for a while. Anyway the short version of things to do along the way ...
Hat Yai - Best border town to restock on anything and with family around to guide me with local knowledge, best town to fine tune Bluey.
Trang - Daytrip Circuit as per map below, beautiful scenery, hot springs and unbroken waves upon waves along the coast.
Ko Lanta - Daytrip going around the Island of course
Krabi - Day trip to Tiger Cave Temple & a crazy climb up to the viewpoint
Khao Lak - Daytrip to Takua Pa, Hot Springs, Countryside in mountain valleys
Ranong - Daytrip to Myanmar Casino (Mandatory Visit ^^)
- Daytrip to countryside, Dam, freshwater lake,
Hot Spring’s ( there are many – I found 4 )
Chumphon - Daytrip Riding the southern coast visiting beautiful view point after view point
Chumphon to Prachup Kiri Khan - This part is best done while riding actually and surprisingly many things to see along the way.
Prachup Kiri Khan to Hua Hin - Similarly to above best done on the road riding. Visited numerous beach, temples on hills, military base, lemour monkeys, national parks
Hua Hin - Quick Stop & go here ... so I cant really advice
Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi - Lovely countryside riding first along the coast seeing the Royal Project of coastal agricultural then inland along the Kwai river all the way up to Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi - Daytrip to Big Monkey Tree pod, temples on the mountains, view points, and of course the Kwai bridge
Phra Nahkon Si Ayutthaya - Temples, temples and more temples ,,, If you like ruins its a nice place to visit where the temples ruins are integrated by a living city
Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong, Prachin Buri - Camping inside National Park, View Points, Nature & Hiking
Aranyaprathet ( Border with Poi Pet Cambodia )
One month to get out of Thailand. I just got in and already I have to ration everything properly so I can get out in time. Target was Surin to enter O’smach in Cambodia but counting the routes and places I would need to stop either for sightseeing or just to break the journey to less than 200km a day had me counting days every few hours in my head.
The bureaucratic red tape of traveling. In my mind the route was already set, which goes something like this ...
Hat Yai – Trang – Ko Lanta – Krabi – Phuket – Khao Lak – Ranong – Chumphon – Hua Hin – Bangkok – Khao Yai – Nahkon Ratchasima – Surin – O’smach (cambodia)
That's 14 stop all together ... if I stay two night at each place that will leave me with almost no buffer if anything goes out of plan. I hate not having buffer and planning to travel on days every two days really depends on the weather. It’s rainy season now.
My Cuz who works in Phuket say it’s raining everyday in Phuket, Uncle says Ranong I can skip because it rains continuously for 8 months a year, but then it was raining the whole time I was traveling in Malaysia so I was not concern about the rain for I know there are always windows to travel.
Problem was I needed time to wait for windows, and with the Visa and TIP restricting my time I can’t but feel like an invisible leash around my ankle. Put your bike on the train to Bangkok was one of the suggestion, but then I wont get to see southern Thailand especially up the Andaman coast.
ARRGHHH ... the dilemma now, but for bad or worst I know that usually once I have sat down and considered all the possibilities, the way-point set would normally be the route I take for it is the best route. Only the minor adjustment that has to be done along the way, such as when I heard from Uncle that there is a Casino in Ranong but in the Myanmar side, there was no way I am missing Ranong after hearing that.
Its on the Myanmar side though.... I don't have Visa for Myanmar, although in my mind I have already thought of applying the E-Visa that only takes 3 days but had no idea if Ranong accepts E-Visa.
No problem, just go there and tell the boatmen, those corrupt bastards wants money will somehow magically bring you to the casino and sort out all the passport issue for a small fee. Stamp in Stamp out in Ranong and tada you have extended your Visa in Thailand for another 30 days. You wont have to worry about rushing to Cambodia in one month says my Uncle.
But then I could not abandon Bluey, I could extend the Visa but the TIP was still 30 days since that border crossing is only via Boat. Still .... Casino .... Casino .... I smell adventure .... and chance are that I will go over to enjoy the illegal shit of things.
Anyway back to topic ... since I have been writing this blog so ever slowly I can tell you the actual route I took through the Southern of Thailand
The Actual Route Taken
Hat Yai – Trang – Ko Lanta – Krabi – Khao Lak – Ranong – Chumphon – Prachuap Khiri Khan - Hua Hin – Kanchanaburi – Phra Nahkon Si Ayutthaya - Khao Yai – Pak Chong – Prachin Buri – Aranyaprathet – PoiPet (cambodia)
 |
| South Thailand Road Trip Route Info - Hat Yai to Aranyaprathet |
Obviously some changes towards the end ... guess as i made pass the halfway mark and still had plenty of time to spare the route changes
As those above are stop points, sometimes within that stop points of two to three days there would be internal day trips sightseeing ... but of course sometime I just too tired and have to do nothing for a while. Anyway the short version of things to do along the way ...
Hat Yai - Best border town to restock on anything and with family around to guide me with local knowledge, best town to fine tune Bluey.
Trang - Daytrip Circuit as per map below, beautiful scenery, hot springs and unbroken waves upon waves along the coast.
 |
| Trang Day Trip Loop |
Ko Lanta - Daytrip going around the Island of course
Krabi - Day trip to Tiger Cave Temple & a crazy climb up to the viewpoint
Khao Lak - Daytrip to Takua Pa, Hot Springs, Countryside in mountain valleys
 |
| Khao Lak - Takua Pa Day Trip Loop |
- Daytrip to countryside, Dam, freshwater lake,
Hot Spring’s ( there are many – I found 4 )
Chumphon - Daytrip Riding the southern coast visiting beautiful view point after view point
 |
| Chumphon Day Trip Loop |
Chumphon to Prachup Kiri Khan - This part is best done while riding actually and surprisingly many things to see along the way.
Prachup Kiri Khan to Hua Hin - Similarly to above best done on the road riding. Visited numerous beach, temples on hills, military base, lemour monkeys, national parks
Hua Hin - Quick Stop & go here ... so I cant really advice
Hua Hin to Kanchanaburi - Lovely countryside riding first along the coast seeing the Royal Project of coastal agricultural then inland along the Kwai river all the way up to Kanchanaburi
Kanchanaburi - Daytrip to Big Monkey Tree pod, temples on the mountains, view points, and of course the Kwai bridge
Phra Nahkon Si Ayutthaya - Temples, temples and more temples ,,, If you like ruins its a nice place to visit where the temples ruins are integrated by a living city
Khao Yai National Park, Pak Chong, Prachin Buri - Camping inside National Park, View Points, Nature & Hiking
Aranyaprathet ( Border with Poi Pet Cambodia )
Traveled on : Oct 2018
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