Isaan By Motorbike
Travel Journal of Spider March 2008 - Day 4
DAY 4 Thursday
I woke up naturally and went for a
tour around the town. I used one of the maps that the
TAT ladies had given me. It had a cycle route around
the town which would take in all of the famous temples
and buildings in the town. I was very surprised to once
again find a couple of Christian churches here. They
looked very out of place to me.
There are so many beautiful little
temples and colonial buildings there, days would not
have been enough time.
The ferry port and the
style of the ferry reminded me where I actually was.
I was in the middle of hillbilly no-where jungle territories
looking at the developing country of Laos across the
river. The ferry would not pass any safety tests at
all. It was a wonder it floated at all. Then when it
docked in at the "pier" I was amazed the drivers of
the trucks would actually drive across the dilapidated
metal frame that stopped them from taking a dive into
the river.
I cruised around for a while then the time just ran
away from me. I had to make a move to the next place
of temporary residence.
Just before I got on my way to Bueang Kan I stopped
for some petrol. The owner of the petrol station was
also the very proud owner of a 1200 CC BMW touring bike.
It looked more like a lounge chair on wheels. Really
really big, maybe 350 kg and over 100 BHP. Second hand
it cost more than my girlfriend's new car. Around 800,000
baht. I tried to make a trade of mike bike for the owners,
for some reason he declined my offer.
The bike is so big it has a reverse gear
for parking. The new model also has a mechanised stand.
Mental, it really is a beast.
I've put a couple of pictures of one of
the many fish farms that I saw along the way. Not like
anything I had seen before. Well I thought they were
interesting. ;)
On On. Then stopping again, I saw a small
temple and pulled in. I was minding my own business
taking photos of the Cheddi, when the local nut job
walks up. He wants to take a photo with my camera, no
problem. He eventually clicks the button and proves
that he is no David Baily. Then he asked me to take
a photo of him. I accepted.
He returned to his bicycle and lit his
one and only cigarette, the one he saves for special
occasions. Posing after drawing his immense shorts up
under his armpits - it became apparent that this is
his side of the camera. After the photo shoot he cracked
my knuckles then gave me some sort of massage. To my
shock he then held out his hand for his wages. I looked
through the pocket with the least amount of change and
give him 20 baht. He looked disappointed but took the
cash anyway. Soon after he scurried away when he noticed
the local police were watching his actions. Little bugger.
Click here for Day
Four Part Two
Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day One | Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day Two | Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day Three | Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day Four | Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day Five | Motorbike
Travels in Thailand Day Six
