Weekend motorcycle journey to Bangkok
I am preparing to venture on to the Thai capital this Saturday evening. This will be my second such Bangkok-Samut Songkhram round trip venture on my recently purchased Kawasaki ZX 130 motor-bike. The last was on Friday the 13th of July from ss to bkk and Sunday the 15th bkk to ss. Read about first motorcycle venture. I shall stay overnight in Bangkok tonight and perhaps midday to evening time tomorrow, will commute back.
Previously, I had made longer trips from Phetchburi back in 2003 on my then, Susuki 110 cc Akira motorbike. As should be, I’m slightly nervous preparing to follow through with the plan I’ve been contemplating the last few hours.
Today I woke up close to 10 am and immediately go to working on some content writing, of which I finished around 3pm. Chatting to my friend, Jermy, I started considering a Bangkok trip to burn off some steam, working all week.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Did you find this post interesting? You may also enjoy these posts:
- Bangkok’s New Southern Bus Terminal (Chimpli / Chimplee) : สถานีขนส่งสายใต้ใหม่ (ฉิมพลี)
- Central Thailand Motorbike drive photos: Samut Songkhram – Bangkok shortcut
- Chaising Rainbows…reflections of a teacher and parent
- Cable Ski-Wake Board park in Ratchaburi
- Samut Songkhram to Nakorn Ratchasima (Korat) roundtrip via motorbike: Enduring 1000 kilometers of central-northeastern Thailand
August 26th, 2007 at 10:42 am
Upadate: August 26, 2007
So last night, roughly 20.30, I arrived at my destination on Sukhumwit 62 safely–albeit soaked and wet. The first spill came only 15 minutes after departing, just after filling up my tank at a Shell petrol station outside of Samut Songkhram along the Rama II expressway.
As soon as the rains suddenly came pouring out of nowhere, I had to find shelter quick, as it was coming down hard and fast. The only liable option was to park my bike under a pedestrian crossing which provided semi-shelter and an opportunity to put on my rain coat and store my mobile phone away in a plastic bag underneath my bike seat. After 10 minutes of waiting, seeing that the rains weren’t letting up, I made the decision to slowly continue as I didn’t want to burn too much daylight. It was a lose-lose situation. Stay in that spot, gradually getting soaked while the sunlight expired, or continue on in the monsoon fury in dangerous conditions. I made the latter decision and it was one of the scariest and stupidest things I done in a long time.
At that particular section of the expressway, massive road maintenance and construction had been going on as the left lane (slow lane in Thailand) was complete red mud and dirt washing and draining about every which way blurring up things. I didn’t know what I was driving on, I appeared that the road was flooding, and the worst part was all the huge 10 wheeler trucks and busses and other such cars tailing right behind me. Even though I was only going 30 to 40 kilometers per hour during those moments, I was only thinking about my life and how I must survive at all costs.
After about 10 minutes, what seemed like hours, the rains let up and I was able to coast on what seemed to be completely dry roads (This is Thailand) at 70 to 80 kph for most rest of the way. After crossing the Tah Jeen river at Mahachai in Samut Sakorn (halfway between Bangkok and Samut Songkhram) the sky suddenly became dark and street lights came on. Not exactly good news considering I still had atleast 20 to 30 kilometers of Bangkok driving to go before I was safe.
For the most part, I stuck to my plan which was mapped out in my mind looking at google earth and another Bangkok road map I’ve had for 5 years. So basically, I took Rama II past Bang Kae and Bang Khun Thian towards Dao Kanong, where Rama II comes to an end at Suk Sawat road, where I turned right and followed it down towards Pra pra Daeng’s administrative and commercial center just south of the unnamed Mega bridge. There I boarded a 10 baht vehicle ferry crossing, which was slightly delayed as we had to wait out a massive freighter heading upstream pass by. On docking on Bangkok side of the Jao Phraya river at the beginning of Poo-Jao-Saming-Prai road, it was almost home free from there– just about 10 kilometers through one of Bangkok’s prime industrial arteries–stretching from Klong Toey port through Samrong neighborhood towards Bak Nam (Samut Prakarn or the mouth of the Water-River)–reaping the black puff end of industrial trucks’ exhaust fumes on a narrow industrial road too dangerous to make speedy passes.
Once I finally reached Sukhumwit 62, decided to fill up on some food. I sure was hungry as I hadn’t eat anything all day. The central Thai made-to-order joint was busy and I ended up waiting 30 minutes before my order of Pud Gra Pao Neua (Basil, Chilli, Garlic stirfry with beef) was ready. Before my food was ready, a monsoon shower came back in full fury. By the time they finished cooking the 3 orders (two for me and one for my friend J) I had no choice but to continue the other 50 meters to my friend’s apartment in the pouring rain. 3 minutes later, soaked and wet, I realized that I was without my rain coat which I had put over my bike at the re
staurant. Either it blew off and I didn’t realize it or someone took it. Have to get a new one soon.Bangkok driving, particularly on a motorcycle requires 101 percent concentration, awareness, and consciousness. Though congested Bangkok traffic is a common scene for ‘accidents’, I’m more referring to the fast lane expressways and motorways where a motorcyclist shares the road with semi trucks, buses, and other rushing-speeding motorists. A majority of the Bangkokian motorcyclists tend to up their momentum on 100, 115, and 125 cc bikes to keep up with the traffic, easily averaging 100 kph +. I’m a pussy, however, and would rather take my chances in the far left at 70 to 80 kph.
Every motorcycle death I’ve been aware of, had been in high speed conditions, and no matter how annoying a semi bus or truck tailing you is, I’m not gonna speed up just for that–let the fud nucker go around and make a legal pass! That said, it’s easy to get irratated and distracted on the roads, and one other necessity of driving in Thailand is to let small things go and keep absolute concentration.
August 26th, 2007 at 10:19 pm
Back in Samut Songkhram now, safe and sound. Left my friend’s pad of sukhumwit 62 roughly 18.00. Made it in to S. Songkhram roughly 19.45, was lucky, didn’t rain and didn’t have to detour the way back as I firmly stood to the pre plan. Majority of the trip back was after the sun set, roughly 18.30-18.45 and was ever conscious the entire way, firmly in control. This time I used my blinker often to signal speeding motorists to pass me as I only ever went 50 to 80 kph max. Filled the tank 70 baht worth of ‘Green Plus’ 91 Petrol at 27+ baht a liter for 70 baht, which showed me that since my fill up yesterday, I drove 150 kilometers on nearly 3 liters of petrol. That puts my average at about 50 kilometers per liter. Total round trip distance, about 190 kilometers. Uppon arrival, went to lotus, got some clothes and KFC, and headed back home for shower and relaxation now.
March 26th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Hi, I found your blog via Google while searching for Akira Lane and your post regarding motorcycle journey to Bangkok looks very interesting for me.
April 4th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
Kawasaki ZX130 is the best!!!