Koh Samui >> Songkhla, 9 Aug 2013

We checked out about 8am Malaysian time from our hotel; Marina Beach Resort, Lamai; Koh Samui for Songkhla. It is about 300km ride from Dong Sak, Mainland Thailand to Songkhla. Click here for more info on Day 1 in Koh Samui and Day 2 Koh Samui. From Koh Samui pier to Dong Sak on mainland Thailand, ferry ride is 1.5hours. Ferry fee is 250 baht for biker and bike and 150baht for pillion or equivalent to about RM40 per couple. This time we weren't so lucky, we got a non air-conditioned unit, unlike the day we arrived on Day 1 in Koh Samui  

Pier at Koh Samui. Hourly departure.

Waiting in Q for departure. 5 bikers and 2 pillion riders

Benches anyone?

Bikes gets priority parking in the ferry

Passage way in Ferry

Aerial view from the upper deck

View from the ferry. Long wait for departure.

The steam engine ferry was smoking us the entire journey!! What seemed like a long cruise, we were glad when it finally landed on shore. We refueled just a few kilometers from Dong Sak. And then, off we went on our way to Songkhla. 

We rode some 200 over kilometers before we stopped for lunch. I had for the first time, the best Thai meal I've eaten on this 4D/3N stay thus far. It is called BaristaTerrace; Patthalung.

Live bands at night. But dead quiet for lunch.

Seafood tom yum soup and mixed vegy - Superb TomYum!

Spicy minced beef, tender and juicy - very tasty

Green curry(L) and pineapple fried rice.

Each dish was well marinated and well cooked. No, not because we were hungry but because it was really delectable. We requested for additional Tom Yum soup and our request was gladly honoured. Barista Terrace is easy to find...just below a ramp along the Patthalung highway. After lunch, we can easily get back to the trunk road. This meal was truly taste bud and tummy satisfying for everyone.

From Patthalung, about 125km ride to Songkhla. By the time we reach Songkhla, it was almost 3pm. We refueled and took sometime to search for our hotels. We were split into two. I don't remember where the 3 'bachelors' stayed but the two couples stayed at :

Sun City Mansion
165/8 Talay Luang Road
T. Bo. Yang
Muenag
Songkhla
Tel : 6674313888

Largest 'mini' bar fridge I've ever seen!!! LOL!!

Strange. Reception at the carpark! the one with 4 windows fr right

Beggars can't be chosers. Thanks to Ryan and his partner Shirley for leading and arranging all accommodations for our entire 5D/4N trip Hatyai, Koh Samui, Songkhla trip. 

FYI, (pix above) the middle door is where breakfast was served the next morning. And where did we eat our breakfast? Yup...at the parking lot as there were only 2 or 3 tables available indoors!!! The first for Rocker57 and I had ever experience eating at a hotel carpark! Due to peak season, we can only count our blessings that we have room to stay for the night. Having said that, I had trouble sleeping until 1am Malaysian time, midnight Thai time as there were some ritual prayers happening right under our hotel room!!! HAIZ....

After a good hot shower and a short nap, we were ready to meet up again for dinner. Then, panic mode set in. None of us had sufficient Thai baht for food!! Between the two groups, we had a total of 500 Baht each group. Banks were closed and no money changer in sight after walking very far around the hotel vicinity. The bachelor group faced similar issue.

We had more than enough Ringgit Malaysia but short of Thai Baht. Do note that Songkhla doesn't have many FOREX money changers so do bring enough baht.  Ryan had to ride to another hotel where he stayed before (couldn't make reservations at that hotel as rooms were fully booked) to change RM1,000 to Thai Baht. Only then did we stop to look for food and a huge sigh of relief not having have to count the cost of food and the amount of money we had like the bachelors did.

We settled for a cozy and family ran restaurant just few steps away from our hotel entrance. Aptly named Coffee Shop. The son spoke smattering of English while both parents spoke only Thai.

They had an assortment of western, Thai, fusion, dessert, etc. All home cooked and quite tasty. Ryan, Shirley, Rocker57 and I ate here while we waited for Sam and Alex to join us after their dinner. Francis, the other biker opted to stay back at the hotel they were staying in some 5 minutes ride away. Poor guys had to walk almost half an hour to meet up with us due to wrong direction given. All is good in the end.

We had a few drinks and chatted till almost midnight Thai time before Sam and Alex bade us goodnight and had to walk back to their hotel some 20 mins away. The next day, Francis, Alex and Sam rode to our hotel for breakfast and then we headed straight back to Malaysia.

All in all, it was almost a 2,000km return ride. 5 bikes, 7 bikers, 5 days and 4 nights of awesome riding, good company, ok-ok food and great experience. 

So glad to be home the next day to my awesome bed! Ahhhhh....ZZZzzzz