Category: Far East Trip 2022-2023

I set off at about 9.30am in the beast with 468 km to drive to Pattaya. On a European motorway it would take less than 5 hours (UK excluded), but my map app said 7 hours 41 minutes. In the end I did it in about 6 hours 40 minutes, but still a long way….

It’s been a little while since I posted an update, but I’ve been relaxing in a small village in the north east of Thailand, so not much to report unless a sick cat or a cow with 3 working legs interests you. I do bump into the odd foreigner in the nearby market town of…

I dithered on the train for hours , should I go to Langkawi or Georgetown in Penang. In the end I went for Georgetown, the second city of Malaysia famed for it’s old colonial architecture and amazing street food. Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand and the border crossing at Padang Besar was very…

It’s been two weeks since I flew back into Bangkok and I probably should have made a few notes as it’s all becoming a bit of a blur. It’s hard to put in to words my time here as one sunny day merges into another. I have had the honour to be completely immersed in…

The traffic in Hanoi is extreme. Forget off roading on your motorbike, this is much more fun. Think motorbike meets Tetris, you have to see it to believe it. The only other time I recall experiencing this much chaos was in Madras. Motorbikes are literally everywhere and weave in and out, ignoring for the most…

Up bright and early and it’s overcast at the moment, but not raining. I stop off in Da Nang at the Motorbike Station to get the bike checked over and pick up a second crash helmet for Danika, for when I arrive in Hanoi. Hanoi is 794km away, so I have a lot of road…

The bus is seriously swish. Comfortable seats, tv screens in the headrests with a good selection of films and air conditioning. There is even a hostess who comes around on a regular basis with drinks, snacks and even a meal at lunchtime. The journey takes 6 hours, although the traffic was bad so it took…

Heading back south today. I have about 1000km to drive, but I will do it in 2 days as the roads here make that sort of distance nigh on impossible for 1 day. Just the 132 km from Pai to Chang Mai takes a good 2 and a half hours. The road is endless, but…

So I’m in Chang Mai for a few days and I’m not really sure what I want to do with my time here. On reflection I realise that I did it all back in 2006. I’ve done the trekking, the elephants, the temples and old town already. I hired a little motorbike for a couple…

Back on the mainland now, having left Koh Tao behind. I find it depressing, even a little distressing this mask wearing business. I would say that at least 90% of Thai’s wear a mask constantly. Whether they are inside, outside in wide open spaces, on the beach or riding a motorbike. Even little children are…