Yes ladies and gentleman, after the virginal ride crossing 3 borders to reach Hatyai on my TA150, snowparang once again embark on a gruelling 3000 km round trip to Phuket! Besides the challenging ride, what calls for the occasion is that the period is also the  New Year for the Thailand known as Songkran. What's Songkran? Find out more at http://sunsite.au.ac.th/thailand/special_event/songkran/index.html.

For the impatient, photos all at http://www.pbase.com/snowparang/phuket2006

Names of places courtey of Pauche. Check out his forum entry at http://www.singaporebikes.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=99714&st=240

Prologue

Just prior to the trip, a sense on uneasiness was on me, no thanks to my stupid bike, the Honda CB400 aka Super 4 I've bought to replace my trusty phantom. I though it was famed to be a reliable and bullet proof bike. However, just owning it for 3 months and riding it for 2 months, I have already did a few repairs (leaking radiator, leaking water pump, distorted front rim...) and even just prior to the trip, it was leaking fuel at the fuel cock *which stopped mysteriously) and leaking a little wee bit of engine oil at the leftmost cylinder gasket.... And the fact that it was an electrical start and known for sudden electrical failure did not increase my confidence at all. Still, I gambled and went on the trip irregardless, keeping my fingers crossed and hoping for the best...

Day 1

Organised by the same person that led me to Hatyai, the trip starts at 0000 hr on 11 Apr 06. Now that we're all on bigger bike (mine, and a 200 cc scooter are the slowest), we made it to the border (known as Sadao) in about 10 hrs.

De riguer photo to take at the border

The plan is to stop over 1 night in Hatyai. After the SOP massage, we went for dinner at this BBQ/steamboat place. The highlight during the dinner though, was a piece of tissue with the following written, passed to one of the more yan dao riders at the ice cream booth:

"Hi, can I be your friend? What is your telephone number?"

The buffet spread	Weird style BBQ/steamboat. According to my well informed friends, the 'essence' from the sizzling meat will flow into the soup, making it very tasty....

Day 2

Next morning, after breakfast, we set off to Phuket (around 400+ km). The roads were a little less friendly for high speed cruising, as some of the roads have many exits by the side, with cows grazing and children playing. What's worse, some of the roads were 2 way, and we bikers have to deal with incoming traffic on the other lane. What's worst is that the vehicles in Thailand generally expect bikes to travel under 70 km/h, and keep onto the road shoulder.... But still, we reach there safely in around 6 hr.

Group photo at the Sarasin bridge to Phuket	"Cool" welcome by Phuket bikers, with free cool towels, mineral water and Phuket tourist map, to promote the Phuket Bike week which also happen during Songkran.

We proceed to Patong beach to check into our hotel, Hotel Bayshore. And even though tomorrow is the actual Songkran, there were already LIC (Low Intensity Conflict) breaking out around....

Our hotel. Not bad, highly recommended!	LRRP?
Logistics Support. Buy it now before price inflate tomorrow! (we didn't...)	Caught in the line of fire.

But before imminent war tomorrow, we decided to visit Phuket FantaSea after hearing good reviews and quote like "if you didn't go to Phuket FantaSea, you haven't been to Phuket!", we parted with 1450 THB to enter this themepark, with transport and a buffet dinner provided.

Don't play play, best attraction award leh!	Common hand washing area: good idea Common cloth to dry hands: who needs avian flu?
Elaborate, no expense spared structure of the Grand Elephant Palace, the theatre which the acclaimed show will commence.	They really like their elephants..

But before the much anticipated show, buffet dinner at one of the better decorated restaurants I've been!

Golden arches	Maidens light the way for hungry visitors...."look at the light, not my breasts..."
Seriously, do we really need such 'granduer'? There's 4 of them	The fine sculpture of the theatre.

After a somewhat disappointing dinner, we proceed onto the show. This is my rating:

• Ambience: 9 stars
• Effort: 10 stars
• Facilities, deco, ushering: 9 stars
• Storyline and entertainment value: 2 stars

Okay, so it means it's a disappointing show, despite the pyrotechnics, the 8 acrobats hanging off the ceiling, the wonderful use of wayang kulit, the elephants, the comical Chang and Eng doing magic tricks...I fell asleep after 30+ minutes.

So be warned: "when you go Phuket, must visit Phuket FantaSea!"

Well, it was so bored we decide to numb ourselves...hehe...

Vodka with tangerine....hic...

Day 3

Ahh! The damn vodka, with the fatigue of riding, caused me to overslept till 12 noon. Missed the breakfast, and missed the water melee with the rest. No matter, I set out on my own and decided to brave Songkran with camera in hand, passport and wallet in ziplock. All I can say it's impossible to be dry, though the hot sun actually made the water a welcome treat. But then the sensation of ice cold water splashed onto you is still..brr.....

No mercy!

That ba poh was flashing cars and farangs with her silicone enhanced things...sorry guys, somehow didn't manage to get a clear shot....

It gets worst in Bang La street, one of the most 'happening' street in Phuket. non-outstanding tourist toting expensive looking camera i.e. me are not spared at all...

Fire engine joins in the fun! No fair...	The temptation to get one of these to get even after being doused like 99 times, is very very great. Heck, the shop keeper will splash you if you don't buy!
I will protect thee...	Dancing to the banghra beat!
One of my fav shot. Luckily her bucket is empty when she turned around..	One of the most happening street. Definitely.

At the end of Bang La street, one will be greeted by the famous beach of Patong...

Peace and tranquility, just next to the 'bloodshed'	You can suntan...
...jet ski (1000 THB/30 min)...	...para-sail (700 THB)...
...distract the waiter...	..or just simply 'hang loose'!'

At the end of the day, everyone is wet and happy!

After that tiring walk around Patong and getting myself wet a few times over, I finally met up with the group and we had dinner at a nearby roadside ze cha stall. We had tom yam goong, deep fried fish, BBQ prawns, mussels and some vege. Quite ok, but not really cheap as it cost 220 THB per person.

And what's Phuket without getting a taste of the nightlife? We went to the Dragon Agogo bar/disco which charge one heinekken at a cheap 65 THB. With this one beer in hand, you can watch the girls do pole dance right in front of you. Some guest will show appreciation by slipping notes into their bikini straps. Nudity is not allowed, hence they wore a thong and paste 2 silver star stickers to pass off as legalised sexy dance. And things got hotter when 3 of them began to dish out soap water and began soaping one another in very suggestive position.... Then the guys went to the happening Banana Disco (happening here aptly defined by Paul as 'very easy to make friends'). But then I didn't go cos really quite tired....and not really into making 'friends'... And also, tomorrow I'm definitely not going to miss breakfast!

Sorry guys, no photo allowed! This is all I have:

Day 4

Yup, manage to wake up at 8 for breakfast, and most of us went riding around the island at 9 am. Phuket has several hills and hence nice winding roads which lead to nice scenic view of the sea.

View at Kata view point. You can see Patong beach (further), Karon beach and Kata beach.	Fuck you daylight robbers! Eat my 6x optical zoom!
Like a proud father... Taken at Rawai beach.	Still wanna swim in the waters?
Phuket town from Khao Rang viewpoint	Safe parking at Chalong bay?
Wat Chalong. No visit to Thailand is complete without going to one of the wat. This tower houses the 'sari', the gem like remains after cremation of holy monks. After they die of course....	"You could gain enlightenment and listen to the music of the Buddha...or you could get really lucky and have a pretty lady giving herself to you..."
The 'saris'	Pasting gold leaves

Then we ventured into Phuket Abalone Farm, whereby the natural high salinity and temperature of the Andaman sea makes it very suitable for rearing abalone. Priced at 60 THB for each small size (1-1.5 years old) abalone, we had them in 2 different flavor as well as boiled in a rich seafood soup. They even wash the abalone shells for our keepsake.

Made to impress. They even have a free video show recounting the trials and tribulations of an abalone, from birth to become a satisfying meal for us.	Before: still alive and kicking
After: doing its bid in improving the Thai economy, and satisfying hungry tourists.	I particularly like the soup, though the abalone in the soup still taste of the sea.

Besides offering Thai-bred fresh abalone, the farm, which is just next to the Andaman sea, is good for scenic group photos too!

Some other interesting places we visited was the Sea Gypsies village near Sirey beach. Singing and dancing and drinking beer in the afternoon, while some others are diligently digging shellfishes out of their shell (for sale, I presume). There's also Prom Thep Cape, which sells cheaper t-shirts and boast a good sunset view....which we did not stay for...

Look at the trail of empty shells!

It was too early for sunset, and impatient bikers wait for no one!

For the evening, we adjourned to Phuket Bike Week. Although sadly the focus is on choppers and simliar 'American' bikes and comes with the stereotypical bikers in leather, tattoos and beer belly. Still, it's an eye opener...

Nice artwork on a very stylised chopper.	Way before V Rod, somebody already came up with the concept of a sporty cruiser. Inverted forks, low profile design, chopper styling. Yes I'm refering to Cloud Strife's bike in FF VII.
Power: not impressive. Handling: worst than a wheelchair. Comfort: like horse riding on a ceramic toilet. Getting the attention you seek: Hell YA!	Bikers - rock music - long hair middle age band in leather - Metallica's Nothing Else Matters...
Like in a bad 80s movie...	Dunk the ba poh! Truly a game for bikers...

Dinner? It's FOC provided for bikers at the Phuket Bike Week... hehe...

Day 5

Nothing much on the first half of the day, which mainly involves the ride back to Hatyai. Reach Lee Garden Hotel around 1500, and almost immediately called for Thai massage! Btw I didn't did any massage in Phuket because the price was like 3 times more in Hatyai.

Evening we went to the Asean Trade Weekend Market aka night market lah. Keeping up with the tradition of fabulous Thai night markets, this one did not disappoint too. Pretty huge, and arrange in a similiar fashion as Chatuchak albeit much more walking space and in the cool of the night. Although the initial part of the market was filled with woman's fashion and reminded me of this certain 'Wu Fen Pu' in Taiwan, where certainly the men don't get it.... But back to the night market, I'm wasn't really in the mood for clothes, hence just settled my dinner there.

Fried anything and satay stick anything, all available!	Soup based animal parts. But leaving the soup uncovered does let the mind wander what can fall inside...
Unripe mangoes and crunchy guava. My fav in Korat, don't they look so nice in that lustrous green?	No scorpions though.

Day 6

The weekend market also marks the end of the memorable trip. The next day, we had a quick breakfast and made our way back home pretty uneventfully except or the freaking heavy rain near KL as well as Kulai. But it did clean off the mud on our bikes pretty well!

Epilogue

The fuel leak reappearred on the day of departure from Singapore. It was a small leak, which became a consistent 1 drop per 3 second thingy when I reach Hatyai. But I got it fixed thankfully. Another unknown 'problem' which crept up during this trip is the fact that although the CB400 Ver S is known to be fuel economical, consumption was terrible when I travelled at a consistent 130 km/h, making me ever so wary of the fuel level and distance to the nearest petrol kiosk.

Still, the bike did get me to and fro safely and without much fuss, although now it developed a weird electrical symptom of brakelight becoming hazard light and that the turn signal is different between the front and rear signal lights... So very tempted to sell the bike now... but I think I will further abuse it to Melaka and Genting before I transfer this pile of shit to the next unsuspecting buyer!

Some figures of this trip!

• 2594 km travelled
• about S$180 on petrol (wah, can take budget airline!)
• about 190 litre of petrol consumed
• More than 25 road kills sighted
• Countless bugs killed on my helmet visor
• 4 pairs of naked tits
• 3 incident of getting lost
• 1 bike breakdown
• 0 accident!

And here are some of the things to do, which I didn't:

• Jet ski, para sail, splurge money on the beach!
• Go kart and ATV!
• Bungee jump!
• Banana Disco!
• Waterfall

That's all folks. Where to next, I wonder? Bangkok? Chiang mai?