freedomfriday - Adventures on a Bike Friday: January 2007

Sunday, January 21, 2007

Thailand-Kanchanaburi Province Jan 2007

My last rides were to be in Thailand.
The journey involved a local bus 30 to the Sthn bus station, 5 minute transfer to bus to Kanchanaburi, 2 hrs arrive and assemble Friday and ride to Jolly Frog Guesthouse.
From here it was riding up to Sangkhlaburi (137km) & 3 Pagoda Pass (51km return)
Bus back to Kanch-Erawan Park, ride part-way (24km return 0f the 45km total) to HuayMaeKhamin before organising a taxi (it was just too hard in the time I had in the day and didnt know the road).
Ride from MaeKhamin to Erawan via ferries across dam. (Three beers/cheers for a fold up bike for ease of assisted bus transfer).
Thanks to Adam and Jason from Grasshopper Adventures for helping design the ride and tee up national parks accomodation and convince me to ride such big hills (because they haven't ridden it yet!).

Kanchanaburi Region

Bridge on the River "Kwai"

JollyFrog Guesthouse (80 - 200bht/night)

Kanch railway station at 5.45am en route to NamTok

Hellfire Gorge area

Hellfire Gorge

Thong Pla Phum to Sangkhlaburi

73km, a big road with some very large hills but the rare downs were fun.

Friday impersonating the reclining Buddah after 6hrs 20 mins climbing up the road at an average overall of 12 km/hr

Khao Laem

Rd to Sangk ,early morning

Thong Pla Phum

Sangkhlaburi region

Khao Laem Dam

enroute to Elephant trek and bamboo rafting

Kids off the wooden bridge

from P Guesthouse Sangkhlaburi
3 Pagodas Pass Burma border

two cyclists on an elephant (Gerhard & Von)

Jungle

Erawan National Park

Stage/tier of Erawan Falls

View from Park Cottage balcony-yep its a hard life with a great view, a book and a beer!

National parks cottage

(800bht/night:aircon, Fridge/MVave, twin, hot water, immaculate)

Erawan National Park - Si Nakharin National Park

I turned back after 12km uphill, mostly on dirt road to negotiate a truck/taxi to Si Nakharin National Park, I was so determined to get there and knew that 45km was going to either finish me or FreedomFriday I was prepared to pay for a lift!

Erawan National Park

Wishing it was only uphill for buses?

12km - up

View obstructed by smoke

Huay MaeKharmin Waterfall (Si Nakharin National Park)

View of Si Nakharin Dam from National Park cottage

Sunrise

Huay MaeKharmin Waterfall to Erawan National Parl via ferry to Si Sawatt

approx 60km with the last 5 km in the back of a ute as I could not resist the offer of a lift up one last big hill

Si Nakharin Dam after ferry ferry ride bamboo forest

The last 5km without pedalling!

Touring solo on a bicycle... Vietnam & Cambodia '06 & Thailand 07

"Touring solo on a bicycle, I discover, is an act of stupidity or an act of divine belief. It is intense stretches of isolation punctuated with flashes of pure terror and indelible moments of friendship. Mostly, it is dirty work particularly suitable for the stubborn masochist. I was suckered into the adventure, the elegant simplicity of its execution, and, yes, even the glory of its agony". Andrew Pham Catfish & Mandala. Flamingo, 2001 p33.

First solo ride in Vietnam LaoCai - Sapa (35km uphill)

halfway - possibly act of stupidity at this stage

solo means celebrating the ride on your own and taking your own photo! Hoi An (Cua Dai beach)

Bike friday at a rest stop

Yep, hot, tired, pre-beer, pre-shower - I was suckered into the adventure, the elegant simplicity of its execution, and, yes, even the glory of its agony

Saturday, January 20, 2007

Chong Kneas floating Village

Sotheara - Tuktuk driver and English language student

drinks shop mid lake

floating home and workplace

floating school

Via tuk tuk from Siem Reap, hire a boat and driver- facinating lifestyle depending on water level. A break from the temples and I expect a good chance for the credit card tourists flying between sites to see something of the countryside.