In 2014, I travelled Thailand after losing many important things in my life all together. It looks so funny thinking about that now but it was all gloomy at that time.
I had hit a bottom and as they say one should travel Thailand to come out of gloom.
My driving Map
I booked the cheapest available return flight for Bangkok from Delhi with IndiGo airlines (No free food inside the flight) and if one have to buy something inside the flight, they have to pay in dollars ($) at that time. I started flying with kingfisher in 2007 and then it stopped for about 5 years and now everything changed in aviation sector (so much chindi chori has started, are we developing or degrading in terms of life comforts?).
For Indians visiting Thailand, Visa on arrival was available. Just check for your nationality whether the same is available like for most of the nationals.
I reached on "Visa on arrival" counter. Just needed to fill a form. This form and return ticket printout, 1000 baht (Thai currency) & passport are required to get the Visa. This form is also required to be filled in for your staying details in Thailand. While I was totally without plan and had not booked any hotel in advance, I had to search Bangkok hotel name from the “Bangkok tour guide“ app installed in my phone and filled it.
Catch: Stay in the main counter queue only as there is another counter with short queue but high charges. I got my visa in 20 minutes.
My mobile service provider in my home country (Airtel) connection comes in roaming automatically at the airport and I received two advertisement SMSs and 200 INR deducted from my balance. I immediately disabled the airtel SIM. I should have done that earlier.
After coming out of visa counter with VISA for 15 days and immigration form stapled on my Passport (they require this form when we are going out of Thailand.), the very 1st thing I did was to go on AIS counter (Mobile service provider), showed my Passport and buy a new mobile connection and a 9GB data pack in 850 Baht.
How did I know that I can get a mobile connection in Thailand when I didn’t plan anything? The answer is that what I called my golden rule –“if you don’t know anything much or in a new place just follow the mob” and I followed the people leaving the Visa counter and curiously followed them and figured out.
Now I had an internet connection so I started searching for cheap Hotel through the app and it took me to booking.com.
Hotel booking via mobile was always cheaper than Hotel counter price. I book Siam star hotel in Partunaam (downtown) area for 700 baht.
As usual I never inquire the places to visit or so called tourist attraction till I reach that city. So I searched on google when I reached the hotel and later roamed around the city and went to the famous Nana plaza, availed all the so called famous services available.
For two three days I roamed here and there without any Plan but this roaming didn't help me much and suddenly like an insight I recalled my passion, i.e. Motorcycle Driving.
The view of Bangkok streets
I discussed with my friends for finding motorcycle, searched on the internet for motorcycle and found Bangkok bike rental services.
I chose the cheapest bike (Honda Scooty) for 3000 baht for 10 days, by depositing 15000 baht and my Passport. I told the guy that I am going to another City so I needed my Passport with me all the time. Other people might have depositing the passport with him for renting because they drive in the same city but that's not the case with me. The guy understood and I deposited my old-passport.
My bike tour started on from Bangkok to Pattaya.
First Day I travelled around 150 km. Roads were good and driving was pleasant.
I looked for the Wi-Fi symbol, as this was the only thing that could have make me identify the hotels amongst the Thai language sign boards. I night-stayed in a small hotel before Pattaya and next day looked for a cottage, beach facing. I found a few nearby the town, but all were out of my budget. So I decided to take one in the city.
I searched for various hotels on booking.com. I collected the hotel addresses, checked the rooms. Booking through website is always cheaper. I finally selected Tune hotel. Tune hotel reception price was 800 baht while it’s showing 700 baht on through site booking.com. The receptionist said please book on booking.com. I immediately book through my mobile and got 100 baht discount.
But I would never recommend this hotel to anybody. Its location is good, hotel lobby was like 5 star but it’s a Motel basically. No intercom, no water, no room service. They even switch-off the lights on check out time. No hospitality. May be its American culture to keep the prices low and still serve on prime location.
And like all Thai hotels, this was also a "No Smoking” one, but this hotel has smoke sensor installed in the room and if caught, the fine was 2000 bhat.
After spending two days in Pattya, I started my journey toward unheard destinations in Thailand. During this drive to unknown, I really enjoyed the countryside and my driving.
One day I reached a small town in Kabinburi district. Here I found a room in countryside. There was heavy rain for two days, which I enjoyed in my countryside cottage with Red Label.
Next five days I travelled to various places on my journey back to Bangkok. I visited forest reserve, museum, zoo, parks whatever came my way (identified by red sign boards for "touristic places"). I encountered many interesting situations because of zero language interaction and google map "accuracy".
Finally I reached Bangkok. I could have extended my visa for another fifteen days, but I was rejuvenated and now wanted to return home.
Here are the few views I clicked during my driving through the highways of Thailand.
I am writing this blog to pass on the information to fellow riders because I myself could make this tour possible just with the information I gathered from blogs of other riders on internet. But again the information may not be valid or imply for your condition e.g. I read that driving in Thailand is quite dangerous and left-hand side drive. It's true that driving is left hand side which was a comfort for me but it was nothing dangerous compare to INDIA. Later I realized that blog might be written by a Westener for whom driving here may be 'Dangerous'.
And in the last here is the Bit'kannee : -The smallest two wheeler available for the rental.
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