My Virgin ride to Thailand (Hatyai) 11-15 April 2008 Part 2 of 2

Day 4, 14 April 2008.
Thailand Hatyai and Danok
Again I'll keep the story brief and short.

The 3rd morning at Hatyai, We received morning calls to have breakfast at a near-by coffee shop. Raymond said the mix pig organ porridge were good, we also had cuppa-egg. After breakfast, we went to a market place to get some bike accessories, we wanted Thai license plate sticker, but the owner wasn't around to convert English to Thai. Proceed to see see look look at some neckless and walked around the market place visiting some bike accessories shops.


Breakfast


Licence sticker making shop.


Many Neckless being sold in this area


More Pics


Amulet casement and neckless


Wet market


Saw Mickey & Minnie licence plate screws


Si pei Chio Fino.
Fino were commonly seen along the roads


Bike accessories shop

After we got what we wanted, we left the market area. Next, we couldn't help stopping at the bird nest shop once more. Today we brought Stan and Mark along to enjoy this wonderful dish :)


BirdNest!!

As part of the plan, we were to ride to Danok to stay for 1 night coz its nearer to the Thai border and has night life activity in the area. Getting ready our bikes to leave Hatyai, we were going to visit a temple and then head to our hotel in Danok. Pay my respect at the temple and left for Danok.



Hotel to temple.


At Danok's street.

Parked our bikes at the hotel's carpark and brought our stuff to our rooms. Took a quick bath, make ourselves cozy and had a good rest. Later, Raymond, Kris and I had a simple dinner in one of the stall along the main road. The food were too good for being just a simple stall. We walked along the street of Danok, it was pretty lively, many stalls were set-up along the main roads, passed by several pubs and night clubs.


Many of these fried chicken stall were observed along the road


Simple but yummy food, the best was "Tom Yum Pig trottle"

After our meals, we walked along their "pasar malam" before have another massage. By the time we finished and head back to our hotel rooms, it was close to mid-night, I gave Jean usual good night call before turning in.


Donuts!!


"Pasar Malam"

The last morning of our trip.

Woke up by a phone call asking for breakfast again, we gathered and came to a near-by coffee shop. Everyone had "Ba Kut Teh" and eggs. I notice the half-boiled in Thailand were all serve in cups unlike Singapore serving in small plates.


Our Breakfast!


Walked pass 7-11 and saw a rare Kawazaki Concourse

After our meals, we return to our rooms to packed our stuff, we were heading back to Singapore. I wanted to bring back the water guns for my nephew and nieces and managed to duct taped it to my side box racks. Everyone were excited and at the same time disappointed that funs' over.


Getting ready at the hotel


Our group photo.


At Semanggol R&R, directing others to stop here.


Finally at GP Shell after almost 9 hours of ride from Thailand.

While riding home, I was rather excited to see Jean. She must be very excited while waiting for me to return home. I remember when reaching Lornie road, I sped up so I could reach home faster as I cant wait to see and hug her, and also to show her all the presents that I've gotten for her.

This was a very wonderful ride for me, no serious accident and everyone travel safely to and fro with us. I was glad I went with this group of riders/buddies and they took good care of everyone and help those in need of help.

Thank you everyone, you all play a big part in one way or another,
Looking forward for more rides like these.......

June Hatyai bike week and October's 3NCR......With Jean this time!

My Virgin ride to Thailand (Hatyai) 11-15 April 2008 Part 1of 2

Date : 11 April 2008 - 15 April 2008
Venue : Thailand (Hatyai)
Mileage frm GP Esso - Thai Border 820km
Total distant travel frm GP Esso to GP Shell 1,835.3km

Duration (To) 11pm - 7.30am (8.5hr)
1st stop 12 Apr 00:56 (Ayer Keroh)
2nd stop 12 Apr 02:15 (RaWang)
3rd stop 12 Apr 04:21 (SG Perak)
4th stop 12 Apr 05:57 (Gurun)
Thaiborder 12 Apr 07:33

Riders:
Ti§h : Busa
Freddy : ZX12R
Raymond & Kris : 08 Busa
Maverick : Busa
Mark : Busa
Bunny : BlackBird
Stan : VFR 800
Songkee : Suzuki 1000
"Sor kai" Suzuki 1000

Duration (Fro) 12.30pm - 9pm
1st stop 15 Apr 14:42 (Bukit Merah - Semanggol)
2nd stop 15 Apr 16:48 (Ulu Berman)
3rd stop 15 Apr 19:02 (Ayer Keroh)
GP Shell 15 Apr 21:06

Riders:
Ti§h : Busa
Freddy : ZX12R
Raymond & Kris : 08 Busa
Maverick : Busa
Mark : Busa
Bunny : BlackBird
Stan : VFR 800
Songkee : Suzuki 1000
Kent : CBR 900
Uncle Huat : CBR 900

It was my virgin ride to Thailand, a ride of my dream and one of my goal for touring - a non-stop ride from Singapore to Thailand border,(Except for petrol stops). I felt I had accomplished what most tourer's would love to when they first found love in touring.

Will try to keep my bore stories short.

Never expect a slight jam at Tuas Singapore custom at 10pm on this Friday night, the Phuket bike week event participaters should have already left a few days ago. Anyway, reached GP Esso and 9 bikes of us left for Thailand, most stops were for petrol and short breaks. Road conditions were ok, some normal traffic and most of the time clear. Occasionally, careless drivers of 4 wheelers & big truck will overtake while we were coming very fast from behind forcing us to hard brake. Despite the condition and some road bullies, we've reach the Thai border in approx. 9 hours.


One of the petrol stop, everyone's taking a short break:
Cig break, pee break, stretching break, shoulders aching break, bones breaking break.....

At the Thai border was another story, I never tot that the queue to get pass the custom was another head ache. But I was told by a BlackBird Malay rider, Bunny, that it was because tomorrow is the Thai's New Year, Songkran, that causes the big crowd. When everyone was getting bored waiting for their passport to clear, a small ceremony at the border with girls doing their traditional Thai dancing took place.


Dancing Ceremony

Songkran:
Sprinkle water to pay respect, most people splash or shoot water.
Apply powdery water on opposite sex to ward off evil, most people use it on other's face/neck.


My bike in between Malaysia and Thailand Custom.


Thailand Border, custom.


During the Thai New Year, Songkran.
Powder were smear on our bikes by the Thais.
A sign to ward off evil.

After the long queue to get our passport clear, we headed off another 60km to Hatyai, to our hotel. There, everyone had a good clean up and rest. Later, we gather and head off to Oliver, a massage parlor where they do good Thai massage. The massage were very comfortable, easing off the aches and pain on everyone's muscles and joints. Others felt so comfy and doze off snoring away.....


Our hotel.


Massage Parlor, a place that only does massaging.

With our bodies fully rejuvenated, stomaches started groaning in its hollow bowl. Freddy brought us to the 2nd floor of a building somewhere. I was surprise to be on a hill top on the 2nd floor. The building was built against a hill, probably preventing land slides? Anyway the food was superb!! Other than some spicy and sour Thai sauce, the variety and cooking method was something new to me! Dont ask me what, I have no idea!


A forest on top of a building.


Is this the "Wa-yang Show" stage??


Some very very very YUMMY food!!!

Emptied the dishes and drown ourselves with beers, we left the restaurant to walk along a busy street with plenty of side stalls set up for the mid night count down. There were many various food and accessories displayed for sale.


Some weird food....


More weird food.....

With too much food in the stomach, blood starts to flow down from the brain to the tummy to start/support digesting process. Thus, getting sleepy. Went back hotel to end the day... Outside, the countdown was starting and getting very noisy..... I made a call back to Jean before turning off the lights..... I missed her so much then.

The very next morning:
Woke up from a call. It was Freddy asking to have breakfast. Got myself ready and while looking out of the window, saw 2 pickups with family members all geared up for the water war.


This is nothing compared to what I seen on the main road later in the day.

Was suppose to have "Dim Sum" for breakfast but it was super crowded, we then picked a Muslim stall so Bunny could join us. There was nothing much to order except for rice with Muslim dishes and prata. Guess what, almost everyone had prata. The choice of variety were almost the same except for the cooking style and the taste of another country's food.


"Dim Sum!! Dim Sum!! Dim Sum!!"


A different onion Prata!
Prata with curry chicken was surprisingly yummy!

I behaved like a kid bothering the others if they wanted to start a war with water guns. Most ignored me, I guess I was going to miss all the fun. So we took a stroll back to the Hotel. While walking back, some of us were constantly "shot/hit" Finally Mark Aka Mercenary said "THATS IT!! BUY THE GUNS AND SHOOT THEM BACK". There, my fun's coming, haha!!

We brave into the war zone to the stall selling our weapons, 3 of us took the biggest and most powerful guns(300baht), from there on, it was a never ending war.................


Blindly walked into this mess which later, made us "Mercenaries"


the Warriors!!



After realising that the COUNTRY's War isn't going to end at all, we decided to end our war. On the way back to hotel, water bullets and bomb were still aimed at us. Sadly, we were low on ammos..... while walking, passed a Bird Nest Stall and Raymond asked me along for some goodies.....


Wanted the "1st class Xue Yan" but out of stock
So I had "1st class Gold Bird nest" and we shared a big bowl of Shark's Fin.

Head back to hotel to wash up, while everyone were recovering from the " wounds of war", some came over to our rooms to have a game of "dai ti", passing time away towards dinner.


Nice ass.... 500baht can?

Some suggested to ride out to have dinner, so we gear up partially and rode off to dunno what restaurant sitting on another hill. Parked out bikes infront of the the building as usual and walked in..... The view was wonderful, there was a view of "Golden Buddah" on aother hill and the "streets of Haiyat" We had some simple dishes and a good chat before heading back hotel.


We're the boss!


View of the Golden Buddah


View of Haiyat.
At that time, I wanted so much for Jean to be there with me.


Almost everyone....


Some simple dishes...

Night time, the time for activities.... Raymond asked if I would like to join him at the night bazaar. I immediately agreed and left with him, not knowing where the others were heading.... I need to be at the bazaar so I could buy some presents for my Wife. Shopping for her, on her behalf. "Searching for Mickey! Searching for Mickey!"


Bought her some earrings, hand phone cover, neckless, shorts, pants, belts, slippers, door mats, nail stickers... I guess thats' all ?

The story is getting too long and needed another part...........

Stay tune............

Rear Brake Rotor replacement

It was raining Cats & Dogs in the morning when I was suppose to replace my rear rotor. The idea was to replace as early as possible and come home to take plenty of rest!

So wait wait wait... and wait wait and wait and wait and wait...... but rain didnt stop, until finally it became a drizzle. went down to factor around 11am and finally had it replaced.


Worn-out disc brake


Nicely fit and ready to roll!!

With new disc brake in place, braking still not very effective, shall hold lightly on the lever till the pads are fully bedded in and disc had roughen out....

Thailand Blues....

When I first got my very own bike(TA200), Stanley brought me to Malaysia for makans, that is where I started loving Touring with bike. Since then were just short trips to nearby Johor towns. It was only when I rode my babe (GSX1300R) before I went further to places like Genting, Malacca, KL, Penang, Port Dickson.

One of my goal was to ride up to Thailand from Singapore thru Malaysia. I've missed out one last year (2007) when Freddy invited. This year, I'll told myself I'm going to ride at least 1 time to Thailand and in future if there is more chances, I'll travel more to Thailand with Jean and tour around it.

This Thailand trip, we were suppose to join the Phuket Bike Week 2008 event. Due to Sokrang festival, there wasn't anymore cheap hotel rooms. Unlike the others and Neo who were going for the bike week. We're just going to enjoy the Sokrang festival in Hatyai. Leaving on 11th April 2230hrs and coming back on 15 April.

For the past few weeks, Jean's been getting reckless, she cant go with me due to her exams, and she very worried coz since Dec last year till now, there were many reports of bike accident along NSHW and Thailand. Jean kept asking me to take care, ride cautiously and safely. I promise myself that I will call her whenever I could, and ride safe.

Even myself, I started feeling reckless and moody. Coz I was going on a long trip without Jean. I felt her concern and I was worried about her.

Another reason of mu blues where, most of my closer friends were not coming along, they give reasons/excuses like :
Mindef related exercises
Just change job, not nice to take leave
Bike not fierce enough
Gf dont allow, scare Gf scold

However, this is 1 trip that I have been waiting for along time.......... Thailand, here I come!!!!

Rear Brake Rotor (After Market)

Rear Brake Rotor, £14.99(SG$42.10) Start Bid price, £25(SG$70.20) buy now price
Shipment £10 (SG$28.08)
Got a good deal from the same guy at £23.99 ($67.37) inclusive shipment.

The story was, My rear rotor(disc brake) had been wear since day 1 I took over the bike from Johnsen. Other riders seldom use the rear brake, but not me. It became worst each day till today and now, it was so worn out that I've decide to look into ebay for a cheap after market deal.


Spotted on ebay. There were many sellers selling it.

I had my drive chain and sprocket replace in the morning, when I got home, my rotor was lying on my table. It was delivered to me while I was at the bike shop.


On my table when i got home from replacing chain.

Assuming that the rotor will reach my doorstep only when I'm in Thailand, I could have had the rotor installed together with the drive chain! Damn!!! Now I'm desperate to get the rotor installed, because its lying uselessly on my table!!!!


So nice, its ready to install,
but why of all time when I just got back from bike shop!!

Chain replacement for Thailand trip.

DID X-Ring 50VM(530VM) 120ZB approx $170
Front Sprocket approx $80
Mileage approx : 111,770km

About a month ago, While cleaning my chain, I notice some *tok *tok sound while rotating the rear wheel slowly. Was it time for my chain or sprocket to go? My drive chain had been running in all sort of condition, hard, fast, gently, slow, sudden, wet, dry, sandy, clean, etc et.... The chain clocked approx. 40,000 KM. I guess its really time to replace them.


D.I.D, My prefered brand.
X-Ring, My prefered choice.


New set of Chain & Sprocket

It was for the best coz I'm going up thailand on friday and cannot affort to have a chain snap(unlikely but super dangerous). I need to travel with a safe and peace mind and to come home to see my worried wife


This is 1 Area I always wanted to open up for cleaning.


Tools that are required to open up the sprocket cover and remove the sprocket.
Not forgetting a Jack.

Order from Motor Factor the same set of chain as my current, and a stock front sprocket. Told them to alter to the shortest my wheel could hold. Was comparing my old and new sprocket because it ran almost half the mileage of the drive chain. It did wear enough for me to decide a change.


Comparing the Old and New Sprocket, the (teeth) are
slightly tilted and sharper, a sign of wear.


Old Chain


New Drive Chain, the *tok sound went away.

ZeeVinCeZ teach you how to save petrol

Quoted from ZeeVinCeZ:

Tips For Filling Up Gasoline

This is an advice from the expert on How not to lose money at the petrol stations especially when petrol prices are sky rocketing!

Read it and take action to start saving the next time you go to the petrol station:

I've been in the petroleum pipeline business for about 31 years, currently working for the Kinder-Morgan Pipeline here in San Jose, CA. We deliver about 4 million gallons in a 24-hour period from the pipe line; one day it's diesel, the next day it's jet fuel and gasoline. We have 34 storage tanks here with a total capacity of 16,800,000 gallons. Here are some tricks to help you get your money's worth.

1. Fill up your car or truck in the morning when the temperature is still cool. Remember that all service stations have their storage tanks buried below ground; and the colder the ground, the denser the gasoline. When it gets warmer gasoline expands, so if you're filling up in the afternoon or in the evening, what should be a gallon is not exactly a gallon. In the petroleum business, the specific gravity and temperature of the fuel (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, ethanol and other petroleum products) are significant. Every truckload that we load is temperature-compensated so that the indicated gallonage is actually the amount pumped. A one-degree rise in temperature is a big deal for businesses, but service stations don't have temperature compensation at their pumps.

2. If a tanker truck is filling the station's tank at the time you want to buy gas, do not fill up; most likely dirt and sludge in the tank is being stirred up when gas is being delivered, and you might be transferring that dirt from the bottom of their tank into your car's tank.

3. Fill up when your gas tank is half-full (or half-empty), because the more gas you have in your tank the less air there is and gasoline evaporates rapidly, especially when it's warm. (Gasoline storage tanks have an internal floating 'roof' membrane to act as a barrier between the gas and the atmosphere, thereby minimizing evaporation.)

4. If you look at the trigger you'll see that it has three delivery settings: slow, medium and high. When you're filling up do not squeeze the trigger of the nozzle to the high setting. You should be pumping at the slow setting, thereby minimizing vapours created while you are pumping. Hoses at the pump are corrugated; the corrugations act as a return path for vapour recovery from gas that already has been metered. If you are pumping at the high setting, the agitated gasoline contains more vapour, which is being sucked back into the underground tank so you're getting less gas for your money.

Hope this will help ease your 'pain at the pump'.

Bearing for rear Wheel set.

SLS Bearings
KOYO Sprocket 62/32 : $12+ (price increased from $8+)
NIS Wheel 60/32 2 set : $6+ each
Labor @ Planet motor $20
Mileage : Approx 111,500km

After changing only the front wheel bearings at HKL last sat, I had been thinking that I should get the rear's change as well for a 1 time change thingy. I didnt change the rear at HKL coz they didnt have stock and I do not want to wait for them to bring in.

I was told of getting alternative from SLS Bearings near Lavender S11 Food Court. I would like to get the whole set KOYO coz they were made in Japan, however there were no stock for wheels so I got NIS from China instead. I was assure the standard and material were same quality. But if given a choice, I would get all KOYO or Nachi.