Managed to dig out some ride photos. This was taken in Dec 2009 spanning 6 countries along Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - Laos - Cambodia - Vietnam.
Set off on an eventful 26 days trip. Cruised through Malaysian North South Highway till Thailand's Hatyai Train Station. Plan was to start riding in Chiangmai as the southern route was taken before. Passed through scenic Northern Laos all the way to Southern Pakse passing by Vientianne where the 2009 SEA Sames was taking place.
Entering cultural Cambodia into Kratie and Phnom Penh where wife flew in to join the ride. Managed to spend a bit of time in Saigon, Vietnam and head back to Phnom Penh to visit the mass killing field. Visited magnificient Angkor Wat and spend some relaxing time in Siem Reap.
Visited sis in law in Bangkok before wife flew back home. Continued to Chumphon and spend New Year's Eve in Koh Samui.
Some friends flagging off
Hatyai Railway Station
Transit at Hua Lamphong Train Station, Bangkok
Found this in some back alley in Bangkok
With 10 hours train ride, we couldn't possibly avoid using this
Chiangmai Railway Station
On the way to Fang
Misty morning at Tho Tun
Kids of Mae Salong
Golden Triangle
Arrived Chiang Khong in no time with the help of David and Mai who stopped and gave us directions.
Thailand - Laos border crossing
The mighty Mekong at HuayXai
400 baht triple sharing in HuayXai
The road to Luang Namtha
Met this bloke who was on the way to South Africa to catch the FIFA world Cup. He had a 6 months headstart.
The highway leading to Mongla, China
Taking a breather after I ran over a suicidal chicken. I stopped eating the meat for 1 week.
:
Good road on your left, bad road on your right, which one you'll take?
Contemplated on putting the RT up there when I learnt about the hell road of Luang Namtha. It took us almost 6 hours to clear Luang Namtha - UdoumXay stretch.
Typical Northern homes
Gets chilly up North
On the way to Luang Prabang
Northern Laos offers breathtaking views. We were really inspired.
Arrived Luang Prabang in time for school kids heading home.
Checked into cosy little Lao Lu Lodge by the Mekong river.
Plenty of colours at Luang Prabang's night market.
Jeff needs a lot of work with his bargaining skills. He lost to this witty little girl.
Morning market. Great opportunity for photo enthusiasts. I suck at that.
I was wondering if the French were one of the first to invent fast food.
Off to Vang Vieng, and many will agree with me the views along the stretch was mindblowing. I have been to awesome sceneries in Northern Thai of Mae Hong Son, Mae Salong and Northern Vietnam's Sapa but this is really top class.
And he agrees with that.
A stick of ciggy and he lets Jeff to get his hands on them
I remember Jeff told me that he loves me here3 3 3 3 3
Romance over. Back on the road now.
Distributed stationaries to kids we find along the way.
Reaching Vang Vieng.
Checked into Ban Sabai Bungalow.
With magical view for breakfast
Time to explore some caves
You haven't been to Vang Vieng if you didn't tube by the river. So they say. The party was madness ...
Off to Vieng Chang
They're hosting the 2009 South East Asian Games. So we decided to by pass Vientianne as there was massive crowd and prices were insanely high.
Soccer finals between Malaysia and Vietnam about to start.
The common view at the South. Had a night in Savannakhet. Nothing fancy. Just dinner then off to bed.
Headed for border crossing into Dong Kralar of Cambodia. The twin was having some plug failure. Amazingly, a small makeshift workshop had a spare.
VuenKham-Dong Kralar border
Cambodian entry
Spent a night in the town of Kratie. Somehow the people smile a lot lesser than Laotian and Thais.
Headed for Phnom Penh where wife will be waiting. Then off to spend a night in Bavet where we will crossed into Vietnam.
Bavet immigration checkpoint.
Vietnam checkpoint
Our temporary license plate.
In Saigon
Warm receptiion from Vietnamese motorcycle club - ACE MotoSaigon
Local seafood dinner
5 adults on a moped.
Some classic in the streets of Saigon
Leaving Saigon
ACE motoSG guys escorting us back to the border
Couldn't resist
Such warm people. Gave them my stinky riding jersey.
Didn't have any trouble leaving Vietnam but was denied entry at Cambodian border. The officials was trying to pull a fast one. Luckily, i met and chatted with an elderly custom officer some days earlier. I gave him my number and he gave me his card. His card reads Commissioner of Cambodian Immigration. I showed the card to the officer who refused us entry. He called another officer who speaks English, apologised and stamped our passport. The power of a namecard. :G
Back in Phom Penh, Jeff's Twin had an oil change. Labour charge was complimentary. Found out that, the owner of the shop and Jeff have a common friend.
Time to visit few historic sites.
Next day, headed for Siem Reap
Upon reaching Siem Reap, attempted to gatecrash Angkor Wat. Was immediately asked to leave
Checked in Angkor Sina guesthouse, USD$5 twin sharing room.
A long stretch night market for locals.
Town of Siem Reap by night. Much cleaner than Phnom Penh and less touting. And definitely more friendlier than Kratie town.
Visited the Angkor Wat
Next day, headed for Bangkok
This time clearing Cambodian border was a breeze.
Back to the land of smiles.
Bangkok for the next destination to visit some relatives.
This beauty was spotted at KhaoSan Place
Wife flew home from Suvarnabhumi Airport and we continued to Chumphon for a night before we found Don Sak ferry terminal to spend Christmas in Koh Samui.
Breakfast in Chumphon
On board ferry to Samui
As it's Christmas period, rooms are difficult to find and they are at unreasonable price.
Samui beach by night
The rest of the journey was riding through Southern Thailand and the boring North South Highway all the way down to Singapore.
Somewhere in Seremban, the Twin was cursed again
So up to the back of the truck she goes.
Quite an exhausting 1st half of the trip but certainly rewarding. The Northern Laos is worth visiting again. Hopefully the road gets better but then again that's part of an adventure.
Set off on an eventful 26 days trip. Cruised through Malaysian North South Highway till Thailand's Hatyai Train Station. Plan was to start riding in Chiangmai as the southern route was taken before. Passed through scenic Northern Laos all the way to Southern Pakse passing by Vientianne where the 2009 SEA Sames was taking place.
Entering cultural Cambodia into Kratie and Phnom Penh where wife flew in to join the ride. Managed to spend a bit of time in Saigon, Vietnam and head back to Phnom Penh to visit the mass killing field. Visited magnificient Angkor Wat and spend some relaxing time in Siem Reap.
Visited sis in law in Bangkok before wife flew back home. Continued to Chumphon and spend New Year's Eve in Koh Samui.
Some friends flagging off
Hatyai Railway Station
Transit at Hua Lamphong Train Station, Bangkok
Found this in some back alley in Bangkok
With 10 hours train ride, we couldn't possibly avoid using this
Chiangmai Railway Station
On the way to Fang
Misty morning at Tho Tun
Kids of Mae Salong
Golden Triangle
Arrived Chiang Khong in no time with the help of David and Mai who stopped and gave us directions.
Thailand - Laos border crossing
The mighty Mekong at HuayXai
400 baht triple sharing in HuayXai
The road to Luang Namtha
Met this bloke who was on the way to South Africa to catch the FIFA world Cup. He had a 6 months headstart.
The highway leading to Mongla, China
Taking a breather after I ran over a suicidal chicken. I stopped eating the meat for 1 week.
:
Good road on your left, bad road on your right, which one you'll take?
Contemplated on putting the RT up there when I learnt about the hell road of Luang Namtha. It took us almost 6 hours to clear Luang Namtha - UdoumXay stretch.
Typical Northern homes
Gets chilly up North
On the way to Luang Prabang
Northern Laos offers breathtaking views. We were really inspired.
Arrived Luang Prabang in time for school kids heading home.
Checked into cosy little Lao Lu Lodge by the Mekong river.
Jeff needs a lot of work with his bargaining skills. He lost to this witty little girl.
Morning market. Great opportunity for photo enthusiasts. I suck at that.
I was wondering if the French were one of the first to invent fast food.
Off to Vang Vieng, and many will agree with me the views along the stretch was mindblowing. I have been to awesome sceneries in Northern Thai of Mae Hong Son, Mae Salong and Northern Vietnam's Sapa but this is really top class.
And he agrees with that.
A stick of ciggy and he lets Jeff to get his hands on them
I remember Jeff told me that he loves me here
3 3 3 3 3
Romance over. Back on the road now.
Distributed stationaries to kids we find along the way.
Reaching Vang Vieng.
Checked into Ban Sabai Bungalow.
With magical view for breakfast
Time to explore some caves
You haven't been to Vang Vieng if you didn't tube by the river. So they say. The party was madness ...
Off to Vieng Chang
They're hosting the 2009 South East Asian Games. So we decided to by pass Vientianne as there was massive crowd and prices were insanely high.
Soccer finals between Malaysia and Vietnam about to start.
The common view at the South. Had a night in Savannakhet. Nothing fancy. Just dinner then off to bed.
Headed for border crossing into Dong Kralar of Cambodia. The twin was having some plug failure. Amazingly, a small makeshift workshop had a spare.
VuenKham-Dong Kralar border
Cambodian entry
Spent a night in the town of Kratie. Somehow the people smile a lot lesser than Laotian and Thais.
Headed for Phnom Penh where wife will be waiting. Then off to spend a night in Bavet where we will crossed into Vietnam.
Bavet immigration checkpoint.
Vietnam checkpoint
Our temporary license plate.
In Saigon
Warm receptiion from Vietnamese motorcycle club - ACE MotoSaigon
Local seafood dinner
5 adults on a moped.
Some classic in the streets of Saigon
Leaving Saigon
ACE motoSG guys escorting us back to the border
Couldn't resist
Such warm people. Gave them my stinky riding jersey.
Didn't have any trouble leaving Vietnam but was denied entry at Cambodian border. The officials was trying to pull a fast one. Luckily, i met and chatted with an elderly custom officer some days earlier. I gave him my number and he gave me his card. His card reads Commissioner of Cambodian Immigration. I showed the card to the officer who refused us entry. He called another officer who speaks English, apologised and stamped our passport. The power of a namecard. :G
Back in Phom Penh, Jeff's Twin had an oil change. Labour charge was complimentary. Found out that, the owner of the shop and Jeff have a common friend.
Time to visit few historic sites.
Next day, headed for Siem Reap
Upon reaching Siem Reap, attempted to gatecrash Angkor Wat. Was immediately asked to leave
Checked in Angkor Sina guesthouse, USD$5 twin sharing room.
A long stretch night market for locals.
Town of Siem Reap by night. Much cleaner than Phnom Penh and less touting. And definitely more friendlier than Kratie town.
Visited the Angkor Wat
Next day, headed for Bangkok
This time clearing Cambodian border was a breeze.
Back to the land of smiles.
Bangkok for the next destination to visit some relatives.
This beauty was spotted at KhaoSan Place
Wife flew home from Suvarnabhumi Airport and we continued to Chumphon for a night before we found Don Sak ferry terminal to spend Christmas in Koh Samui.
Breakfast in Chumphon
On board ferry to Samui
As it's Christmas period, rooms are difficult to find and they are at unreasonable price.
Samui beach by night
The rest of the journey was riding through Southern Thailand and the boring North South Highway all the way down to Singapore.
Somewhere in Seremban, the Twin was cursed again
So up to the back of the truck she goes.
Quite an exhausting 1st half of the trip but certainly rewarding. The Northern Laos is worth visiting again. Hopefully the road gets better but then again that's part of an adventure.
