When things change quickly in your life you have to adapt quickly. So much for the saying ‘always expect the unexpected’ Ummmmmm well never mind, just get on with life.
As most of you are aware 'No Plan Survives First Contact’. So a complete change of plan for the time being, out the window goes the Euro Russia trip and the Sth America trip. I need a quick fix, so SE Asia here I come. I will be spending a week in BKK with my daughter then taking the train to CM to pick up my hire bike. Which they say I can take across the border, time will tell.
The plan is to tour Northern Thailand then cross at some point in to Laos and tour Laos. If I get time I may go across in to Cambodia before going back to CM.

Sorting out the trip was not much of a problem.
I booked the bike through Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant - Chiang Mai Bikers Hotel Thailand they are on email riders.corner.cnx@gmail.com. All detail on the site
Flights were booked direct with Emirates
My train from BKK to CM was booked through Royal Exclusive Travel - Thailand Travel, Hotel Bangkok, Cambodia Travel and have an email address if anyone wants it. I found them really helpfull and my ticket was waiting for me at my hotel in BKK today
The only accommodation I have booked is my first week with my daughter in BKK, and I will be booking my first night in CM till I get myself sorted out.
I have also registered on https://www.couchsurfing.org, so as well as staying in Hotels and hostel I may give it ago.

The bike I have booked is a CRF250 L with a rack on the back. I intend on using straps/bungies to fasten my bergan to the back. I brought all my own riding gear with me as I know I can get on with it. I also brought my own tools as there are non provided. But only taking the basics.

For photographing and videoing the trip I will be using my Nokia Lumia and my donated Apple 4s ( so I can use locals sim cards as well as keep my UK one going) (thanks Malc). I have also got the GoPro Hero 4 with I have used before on many occasions (quality I find to be good) but now I have the Apple I can remote operate it also, tried it and it was good.

I have got the Thailand maps downloaded on my Nokia but can’t get any for Laos. I do have paper maps of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (in case I go) and I will be taking my Silva compass so there will be a bit of old school navigation.
Also got myself a Garmin Montana, using it with Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap which I have found to be great detail, time will tell when I am on the road.

WP_20141103_001 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

WP_20141103_002 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I will update the RR when I can but no doubt there will be places where I get no internet.
Apart from my trip to Hamburg which I put on here this will be my first longer RR so please bare with me

7 days to go till I pick up the bike, more time relaxing in BKK with my daughter, with , oh well, someone has to do it. No more and , well...at least till the end of Jan

The hotel in BKK is good but they had not put in the extra bed in for my daughter, got it now, I know I love her but still need my own space

Hotel BKK by Wayne 66, on Flickr


Hotel BKK 2 by Wayne 66, on Flickr


Hotel BKK 3 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
My daughters bed did eventually come and is next to the window, I got the Kingsize (well I did pay )


Wayne

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Yes....I know I am not on the bike yet but only 7 days till I get it, just thought I would share some pics with you all

IMG_0047 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Wat Arun, a very old Temple in BKK, the stairs are very steep when climbing up but what a good view of the city you got

IMG_0060 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_0050 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
My daughter on the top Wat Arun with the city of BKK in the back ground

IMG_0055 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Looking down on a Temple from Wat Arun

IMG_0030 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
A favourite place of mine in BKK, Soi 4, Sukhumvit

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Ayuthaya is where I'm now. Also really nice! And not far from Bangkok.

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

Blommetje
Good news, hope your having fun? I go up to CM on the overnight train on the 11th
If you get to BKK let me know

Wayne


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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You can visit Rotweiler GPS maps and check the Lao and Cambodia one. I used it 2 years ago and worked pretty good on my Zumo

North Thailand is a wonderfull motorbike country

Safe travel
Metita

Had a good relaxed day, and then went to Soi Cowboy for food, drink and a good old fashioned look
IMG_0072 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_0071 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Snoopy invasion for Christmas at Central World, Siam

IMG_0080 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_0081 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_0098 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_0092 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Some off the delights of Soi Cowboy

and finally..just in case Bones667 has looked at this... maybe I might get the sore left wrist back

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About time you got on with this Wayne

Pick up a GT Riders map when you get to Chiang Mai & while your there, can you grab me a panang curry down at the night market would ya
Tour Maps, Forum & Trip Reports S.E. Asia | GT-Rider Maps

ENJOY Thailand and its wonderful people

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Haha, yeah its been a long time coming, and I have already done Panang Curry in BKK but will have another just for you in CM
Thanks for the info on the maps

Wayne

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and finally..just in case Bones667 has looked at this... maybe I might get the sore left wrist back [/QUOTE]

Ha Ha - Good on you Wayne.. I cant see the pics as work internet blocks it!!! I'll have a look at home later ( Did I mention the word 'WORK' agggrr)

Glad ur having a good time and look forward to the blog and pics of the riding experience over there.. (on and off the bike )

Cheers
Bones

Ha Ha thought you would like it mate, and less of the blasphemy on this RR please
go steady
Wayne

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Haha thx for the info, yeah deffo loose plans, only place I have booked is first night in CM

Ummmm extras on the train, I'll bare that in mind



Cheers

Wayne

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Hey! I just arrived in Mao son as well! And had a in crossroads I rode from Chiang Mai on a scooter!

Fortune and Glory, kid. Fortune and Glory.

Sent you a PM

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Hi Craig



Yes mate I am wearing full motocross gear, I brought it across with me. Light weight motocross trousers and top, body armour is one of those mesh ones with the arm, breast and back protectors built in, I have also got some knee armour and of course motocross boots. The boots are great for riding but not very good for walking about in. Brought this rather than my RST touring stuff as it allows the air to blow through. I have been cold on a morning up north but nothing too bad, you have to take the rough with the smooth temperature wise.

If there's owt else let me know



Wayne

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Up and out early this morning so I could get to the border sooner rather than later the ride from Thung Chang to to the Thailand/Laos border crossing certainly woke me up, it was really cold and covered in mist in the hills, route 101 which took me straight in to the crossing was a nice road with lots of ups and downs with the usual bends and twists.

Day 15 Thung Chang to Sayaboury, Laos by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 15 Thung Chang to Sayaboury, Laos1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Once I got to the border it was already very busy, there was a market there also and a lots of people buying and selling goods.

IMG_1028 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1029 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1030 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
The Customs Building Thailand

I went straight to the departures window at the passport control and gave then my passport, arrivals card and the copies of the paperwork given to me by the rental people. In return he gave me some paperwork to fill out which was something to do with me being allowed back in with me taking one of there bikes out of the country. One of the guys behind the desk was f\very helpful and came outside to fill it in for me (sorted). Once that was done they stamped me out of the country and then sent me to customs with the other half of the paperwork I had with me. Again they were very helpful in the office and there was no messing about. I was given my customs paperwork, he pointed out that I have to be back in Thailand no later than the 25 Jan 15 or face a fine, and then told have a good trip.
So armed with my passport, Information of Conveyance letter from Immigration and my Customs form I went down the hill to leave Thailand.
No problems, I was waved through once they had seen all my paperwork.
Got to the Laos Border, the guy there looked at all my paperwork and pointed out that they had put the 26 Dec on the Information of Conveyance letter and the correct date in my passport, the 27th
So I was sent back to the Thai border to get it sorted.
Back at the Laos Border post, I was this time let through.
Went to the arrivals office where I had to get a visa on arrival, so after filling in an arrivals card and paying $35 I was given my Laos Visa for 30 days. Next up was customs, Gave them my passport and the Customs paperwork and Information of Conveyance letter from Thailand and in a few minutes I was given a green TIPV and parted with 200 Bht.

IMG_1032 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Laos Customs in the wooden hut

IMG_1033 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
The Visa Office, Laos

That was it all done, off I went to the last Laos Border control point where they checked my paperwork and I was them allowed through. I left a parting gesture of a unopened packet of Oreo biscuits which he was quite happy with

they drive on the other side of the road to Thailand.

IMG_1035 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
The first photo inside Laos

First stop was to find somewhere for breakfast and sort out where I was going to end up this evening. Found a nice little place on the right just down the road, had some good food and sorted myself out for the ride to Sayaboury along the 4A

IMG_1036 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1037 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Breakfast

The 4A was quite a good ride, it stared off quite a big, wide road then as it progressed just after the big Power Station it went on to a narrow road all the way to Sayaboury. It was very enjoyable with some stunning scenery.
They do however like putting the stone chippings on the corners as I found out, it gave me a bit of a ar*e twitch the first time I came found the bend on to it. I was quite regular and you just got used to it. The villages I passed through high in the hills were great, kids and adults waving as you went through.

IMG_1038 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Early 4A

IMG_1039 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1043 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1044 by Wayne 66, on Flickr
Later on the 4A

IMG_1045 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1046 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1047 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1048 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1051 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Got to Sayaboury at about 1430hrs, went to the bank to change some money, sat and had a cold with some spicy squid and rice while try to find some place to sleep.
I went for a ride round and after trying a couple of places I eventually picked the Makee Guest House N 19.16078 E101.42769, the bike is parked round the side of the building out of the way.

IMG_1053 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1056 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

IMG_1052 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Wayne

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