16 February 2018 – We left Hua Sai for Surat Thani.
So far, my bike had clocked in more than 1300 km since I left Singapore on 14 February 2018. The longest ride was on the first day where I covered almost 818 km – SG to Changlun, Kedah, Malaysia. Met with Pak Ngah Ishak and Bro BO at Rawang Rest & Relax (RNR) area along Asian Highway 2 (AH2) in Selangor – both are Malaysia Bike Tourers residing in Selangor. The long ride took some tolls on us. Due to aging, we decided to move on our separate ways. Pak Ngah & Bro BO will continue to ride back to Malaysia from Surat Thani, and I will continue to ride up north solo.
Frankly, it was not an easy decision. Many things suddenly playing on my mind. Fears, worries, believes, confident, and many more, started “talking” to me! Am I going to call-off the trip, ride back with them and continue to dream; or fulfilled what I have planned for the past months without them. It was a decision that could break or make my future trips!
It was an epic solo motorcycle ride in a country where languages would be one of the obstacles I will definitely encounter. What if I could not meet locals who could communicate with me in English? Then I will use language translator; or in a worst scenarios, to use sign languages; or the use of pictures, would help me to overcome. Life has to go on, ride has to move on, the rest was history!
17 February 2018 – Solo Ride to nowhere!
In the morning encountered some technical problem on my bike. Went to GT Superbike Surat Thani to get the bike check with the help of Google. Very comfortable with them, the way they handled and serviced the bike and the friendliness of both husband and wife team. I will not hesitate to recommend them to any riders who have problems with their bike if they are in Surat. Since then, I will stop-by their shop for general maintenance, whenever I passed Surat Thani to move up north.
It was a long ride to nowhere of 487 km – 11.30am to 5pm. Decided to retire at Cha-am, a district in Phetchaburi which is famous for its beautiful beaches.
18 February 2018 – Cha-am to Phitsanulok
I decided to plan the routes on a day to day basis, as I have till the first week of March to be back home – 21 days.
Before leaving Cha-am, decided to visit the beach again to take some pictures.
It was another 548 km to reach to my planned destination, Phitsanulok. It took me about 8 hours. Managed to find a hotel next to a mosque in the heart of the city centre, Kraisaeng Place. As a Muslim, I need to find halal food too, and if not available, then I have to rely on 7-Eleven outlets that provide halal food to locals Muslim. You can even find a halal beef or chicken burger too.
The adventures just begun.. Good night – (To be continued)
Jailani Mahmood
"Many years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails...…. Explore the Dreams, Experience to Discover it"
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