Arrived 9/4/11:
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| Batman's cave with shrine. (masses of bats inside) |
So some deep and meaningful thoughts about Thailand. It is such a contrasting country. One moment you bike past very basic homes (built from all local materials within 100m of the house) the next there is a modern house – big, flash and shiny decorative tiling everywhere. Every place I have gone through so far has masses of lush rainforest surrounding yet the towns themselves are very industrial and I expect it will be like that all the way to Bangkok. Then Bangkok will be a megacity.
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| The sign! |
Kraburi I thought I was going to be out of luck with accommodation until I randomly saw a sign and followed some signs into the middle of nowhere and turned out to be what has been the nicest accommodation so far and pretty cheap for what I’m getting. Struggled with communicating but the guy has been great to me. Cooked and served me dinner at a grand outdoor table, all smiles and very friendly. Breakfast (instant coffee and crackers) served to my door and then he helped me gear up my bike and wished me good luck. Awesome.
Then there is the other side. Everywhere has a strong smell of something not quite right, rubbish littered all along the road side, very brown rivers and the occasional tout (con-artiest). I had my first experience (I think) of a form of tout today. Wanted to show me around and take me to his bar and bungalow and then just followed me around while I rode around. I played nice and just said no to everything and he finally left me. It gave me a funny feeling of mistrust and unease which so far has not been the case in Thailand everyone is happy, smiles at you and says HELLO!
I suppose it is all just the way of a developing country.
Climbed my steepest hill today. Granny gear. Great descent though. I’m sure there is going to be bigger.
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| Dinner at the grand table. Love plastic plates. |
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| Finally |
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| Some awesome seat carvings |
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| Sweet! |
Kraburi I thought I was going to be out of luck with accommodation until I randomly saw a sign and followed some signs into the middle of nowhere and turned out to be what has been the nicest accommodation so far and pretty cheap for what I’m getting. Struggled with communicating but the guy has been great to me. Cooked and served me dinner at a grand outdoor table, all smiles and very friendly. Breakfast (instant coffee and crackers) served to my door and then he helped me gear up my bike and wished me good luck. Awesome.
Then there is the other side. Everywhere has a strong smell of something not quite right, rubbish littered all along the road side, very brown rivers and the occasional tout (con-artiest). I had my first experience (I think) of a form of tout today. Wanted to show me around and take me to his bar and bungalow and then just followed me around while I rode around. I played nice and just said no to everything and he finally left me. It gave me a funny feeling of mistrust and unease which so far has not been the case in Thailand everyone is happy, smiles at you and says HELLO!
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