KOH SAMUI (Day1), 7 Aug 2013

Price of petrol on 7 Aug, 2013

Despite arriving late last night from our night ride into Hatyai, we had to wake up early for our long ride from Hatyai to Koh Samui. The ride is approx 390km and a 1.5hours ferry ride (one way) to Koh Samui. We left Chuchada Place at approximately 8am Malaysian time or 7am Thai time.

We had to ride slow as Francis's Kawasaki Versys chain was emitting some noise. Upon further checking, it was about to give way and a replacement is pertinent. So, Ryan, the lead biker searched for big bike shops along the way with his GPS. And away we gooooo...Vrooooom, vroooom...5 bikes and 7 bikers (2 pillions).

After about 2 hours of riding, we stopped for refueling and a morning break. We enjoyed the cozy cafe that served good coffee but so-so sandwiches and pastries.

After some search, we managed to trace a Kawasaki shop midway. But couldn't replace the chain as it was only a showroom with no after sales service provided. Following some translation, we found that the nearest repair/service shop was some 100kms off our track in Surat Thani. So, we decided to stay on track, ride slow and pray that Francis's bike's chain could hold until we reach Koh Samui. 

We stopped at a quaint shack for a quick lunch. And then, we were off to Don Sak pier to catch the ferry ride to Koh Samui. It costs 250baht for biker and bike while pillions are charged 150baht. There is an hourly ferry, so if you missed the first one, you will have to wait another hour to catch the next one. We were about 20mins early and were one of the first few to arrive, so we parked right at the frontline like priority customers :)

 

Don Sak Pier...no ferry in sight, yet.

Happy folks, first trip to Koh Samui

Inside the air-conditioned ferry...before the crowd started flowing in

There are two types of ferry. One with a small closed air-conditioned section and another with totally no air-condition section at all. We were fortunate or unfortunate to experience both, the latter on our return journey. Fret not if you are hungry or thirsty, both types of ferry have minimarts selling essential items for your short ferry ride including hot coffee and instant noodles in a cup. For Asian readers, the ferry is similar to that found in Penang, Malaysia and Hong Kong to Macau except perhaps the condition of the ferry and the pier.

Koh Samui is relatively a small island. We did a pit stop at the big bike repair shop in Koh Samui. We got the quotation and tomorrow morning at 9.30am, Francis will send his bike for repair. Great! Now that the problem is somewhat solved, we headed to our hotel. Rooms were arranged by Ryan & his partner Shirley. Thank you Ryan & Shirley for the entire 5D/4N Hatyai>Koh Samui>Songkhla arrangement, efforts much appreciated. We stayed at the Marina Beach Resort, Lamai. Decent air-conditioned room with hot shower, TV & the basic complimentary 2 small bottles of mineral water. Booked online with Agoda for RM128.00 per night per room. The hotel's frontage is along the main road into Lamai beach area but the back portion faces the sea.

Lobby area.

Nice & clean sandy beach...just at our backdoor...errrr hotel's backdoor

We rested for an hour or so before heading out for dinner. Then, off we went to.....to???....to rent a bike, of course!! Huh? Errr...don't you already have a bike? Errr...yes we do! But the roads are small and crowded plus it would be difficult to ride around in a big bike under such conditions. So, we went on a tuk-tuk (Thai's version of an open taxi - which is actually a pick-up truck), 400baht for 7 pax. After about half an hour's ride from the hotel, we landed here : Yui's Spider-Net...

A Cyber cafe? Nope... a place to rent your bikes ranging from 200baht - 450baht a day depending on make and cubic capacity. You may rent any number of bikes but 1 person would have to hand over their passport as security deposit. Although helmets are compulsory but vaguely followed by the Thais, we each chose our own complementary helmets. The helmets are basically for show and has no protection whatsoever!!! CAUTION :- best to wear a balaclava, pirate cap, bandanna or scarf before donning the helmets! Both Rocker57 and I felt our head itching after a short ride. Needless to say, we were smarter the next morning :)

I liked this very much....but...(see comments below)

My baby...the one I shall ride for the next 24 hours.

Did you read correctly? Yes, you did. I rode this baby with Rocker57 as pillion! The Honda bike that I really liked....well, I couldn't ride it...my legs can't touch the ground!!!....Awwww..... :(

This baby was the only thing that I could at least tip toe and having Rocker57 at the rear for support in the event I should falter. Haven't ride in any motorised two wheeler in over 3 decades...it was pure excitement for me. Lucky is was an automatic. After a few minutes of jittery....Vrroooom vroooom...I was riding at 40-50kph around Koh Samui. YAY!!!! I finally did it!!!! Awesome feeling, man!

The feeling was exhilarating...so much so, this forgetful blogger forgot to take pictures of our dinner except for 1 miserable picture. Hot topic for the night? How confident and poise I was riding the bike with my hubby in tow and of course other stuffs. The former could be a bit exaggerated but who cares!!! I rode! I rode!!!

Ahem, ahem.......do you know?....I fetched Rocker57 as my pillion for the first time in our married life!!! So awesome feeling, man! Psst...don't know if he had a few minor heart attacks when I couldn't brake properly or swayed the bike too much. ....I can still feel the adrenaline drive as I write this....splendid feeling...almost Euphoric.

Anyway, we had a good meal, authentic Thai food. And the solo picture I finally remembered to take is this :

Mango and sticky rice for dessert. Yuuuummy!!! Basically, the sticky rice is cooked glutinous rice (slightly sweetened) served with lightly salted coconut milk or what we locally call santan. The mango was sweet. Eaten together.....you get this umami feeling or what we call the fifth taste after salty, sweet, bitter and sour....Umami a loanword from the Japanese. "Umai" meaning delicious and "mi" being taste.

With that, we called it a night? Huh? That's it?

Of course not! We adjourned to a place for a nightcap and also to catch up on the day's ride. To know where we went....check out my next blog....

Until next time....'RIDE TO LIVE, LIVE TO RIDE"