Greetings from Thailand

**SpankMe** · 16th April 2005, 19:40

First chance I've had to sit down at a net cafe since I've arrived in Udon Thani. I'm staying in Nong Bua Lam Phu which is 50km out of Udon City. I have hired a Honda Phantom which is a 200cc single cruiser. Been doing over a 100km a day going between Nong Bua and Udon City. Went up to Nong Khai the other day which is over 100km away on the Mekong River on the Thai / Loas border.

Things have been pretty crazy here the last few days because of the Thai New Year. Hundreds of pickups (very popular vehicle here) with people and barrels of water on the back having water fights as they pass each other or with people on the side of the road. For the last four days you just can't go anywhere without getting completely soaked. Having a bucket of water thrown in ya face while your doing 100kph stings a bit, but its all good fun. Even worse in the city. Just when I thought I had gotten through the worse of the water fighting I turn a corner to hit a traffic jam of nothing but pickups with people and their barrels of water on both sides of the road. They were at a stand still and their was just enough room for me to lane split up the center line. For 20 minutes I am just getting pummeled with water as I try to get through it. Sorry I don't have any pictures. Camera got wet and now it refuses to power on. You need a water proof camera to take pictures of this lot.

I have to say I am impressed with the Honda Phantom. For a 200cc single she goes pretty well. I've had it upto 130kph on the motorway with any problems. I think a cruiser bike is just the thing for getting around this country.

**Storm** · 16th April 2005, 20:05

Nice to see you are making use of the local state of the art protective riding gear and boots

**thehollowmen** · 16th April 2005, 20:15

Originally Posted by SpankMe

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Things have been pretty crazy here the last few days because of the Thai New Year. Hundreds of pickups (very popular vehicle here) with people and barrels of water on the back having water fights as they pass each other or with people on the side of the road.

OH MY GOD?!?!?!?
I"m missing songkran?!?!!?
wwhhhyyyyyyyyyyy? I love songkran!

*Gets out my supersoaker and heads into town to shoot some firstyears*

**SpankMe** · 18th April 2005, 18:26

The last set of pictures I took before the camera got soaked and decided to stop working. The first two are breakfast in Nong Bua Lam Phu. Went to a similar place for lunch/dinner most nights. Bloody nice and really cheap food.

Thanks to the guys at Udonmap forums, I managed to find what is probably the only motorbike for hire here in Udon Thani. Everything else for hire are scooters. I hired a Honda Phantom off an old drunken German who runs a guesthouse in the back streets of Udon. Theres a photo of it parked next to the pool at the guesthouse. Clocked up about 600K's on it already. I'm really starting to like the cruiser style riding. This is just the country for it. Lots of long straight roads with enough twisty bits to keep it interesting.

Found out I can fit three people on the Phantom yesterday.

Even with the extra weight, the Phantom still pulls away without any trouble. Needed to take Noy (ex girlfriend) and her 19 year old daughter to the local eatery for diner. She could have taken her scooter, but they all wanted to pile on the chooper. Even found a short bit of twisty back country road where I can go for a hoon. It's single lane narrow and a bit bumpy, but little to no traffic. Its around a couple of local temples. Wanted to get a movie of it but the cameras bung.

I would really stand out riding the SV around here. It's all scooters and the occasional 150cc motorbike.

**wari** · 18th April 2005, 18:37

COME baaaack ...

I CArrrnt cope ...

LIke da doggy ... they like bein' in pic-turres eh ...

**SpankMe** · 18th April 2005, 18:46

One more week Wari.

Found a picture at Udonmap that shows pretty well what the Songkraan festival is like here.

**Sniper** · 19th April 2005, 07:14

Thats quite a nice looking cruiser Spank.

Hope you have a great time, look forward to seeing more pictures and hearing more stories when you get back

**Ghost Lemur** · 19th April 2005, 17:26

Good to see your still at it SpankMe.

Olympus should use the Songkraan in their ads for the water proof mu digital camera.

Poor wari, sound like you need one of these

or

**SpankMe** · 19th April 2005, 17:38

Went to get the bike cleaned today. Fuck they did a good job. Looks like new. Frame, wheel rims, everything. Only 60 baht too. Wish I could bring the SV & GB here to get cleaned.

The guy next door to Noy's place keeps fighting cocks, so almost every evening there is cock fighting in our back yard. Also the reason why we stay in a Hotel up the road, becuase with the roosters crowing and the local dogs barking at anything that moves, not to mention all the creatures in the bush making a racket, I don't know how anyone gets any sleep here.

**SpankMe** · 27th April 2005, 12:17

Well finally back in Country. Good to get out of that heat, but had a bloody good time. Most of the good time I had was due to the fact I was with a local. Wouldn't have seen or done as much without her.

Got back on Monday, but only now had a chance to login to the site from work as I found my phone/net cut-off when I got back. Guess I should have paid my bill before I left.

Will post some more pictures as soon as I'm connected again.

A bit pissed I missed a couple of great events (Waikato & Taupo) while I was away. Sounds like everyone had a great time.

Will get the shirts sorted soon. Need my net connection to double check orders.

**pyrocam** · 27th April 2005, 12:48

YAY

welcome back Spankme!!

Just in time for the cold

**wari** · 27th April 2005, 14:41

SHitt da boss is back ...

QUick ..hide da beers ...

TOo late ..

**crashe** · 27th April 2005, 19:13

Welcome back SpankMe.....

**SpankMe** · 29th April 2005, 09:54

Some more pictures of Pattaya. The last three are of the temple/lookout that the girlfriend wanted to visit. After praying at a couple of Buddhist statues, she had both of us kneeling in front of a Buddhist monk while he preformed some sort of ceremony. I felt like I was getting married.

In the picture of the bay, you can just see the wooden building we visited that I posted pictures of before. It’s on the opposite side of the bay,. It’s the little pointy bit to the right of the two high rises at the end.