Wandering CrankWandering Crank

Biking the World one crank at a time

Journey

Island Hopping – Thailand edition

by Nathan Molyneaux on category , ,

It was time to start some island hopping all the way to Malaysia.  Whilst I would have loved to just get a boat to each island it would’ve been expensive.  It would have to be a charter boat for each leg.  In the end, I had to cycle around the mainland to the nearest harbour and take the ‘ferry’ across.  My first island would be Koh Libong.  It is described as not touristy and not touched by the usual tourism and closer to the original Thailand.

The journey to the harbour was a dull main road, nothing much to look at.  The harbour town, Hat Yao, was basic with a few shops but mainly just a transit point for the island.  For the small islands, people use long boats.  The massive outboard was fixed on top with a long prop shaft due to the shallow waters.   This means you can’t just ride on; it is a lift the bike across onto the boat.  Not easy after a long day’s cycle.  It is the same for the motorbikes some locals bring across.

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Cuts, Falls and National Parks

by Nathan Molyneaux on category , ,

I decided to adjust my plans due to time constraints and to give me time to visit Khao Sok National Park.  This would be a two-day cycle to the park.  I set off with the target of camping at a Wat (Buddhist temple).  The ride started on the main road and was dull, traffic, straight and nothing much to see.  Eventually, I got to turn off and head towards the temple through rubber and coconut plantations.

I’ve also discovered the 7-11s in Thailand.  It’s fantastic for ice for your bottles and cold drinks.  It’s keeping me going in the hot weather.  When I arrived at the Wat it was not clear who I should speak to but after a little wandering someone approached me.  He was happy for me to put my tent up in one of the many covered areas they have for celebrations.  He also offered food, which I turned down and later learnt I shouldn’t have.  It is part of their custom to give.

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Floating markets and temples. The Thai journey starts

by Nathan Molyneaux on category , ,

My first destination was Wat Sam Phran.  It is a Buddhist temple but with a difference.  They had designed it as a column with a dragon circling it.  What I didn’t fully realise is they had placed other animals throughout the complex as well.  A giant turtle, a peacock, a bunny and they are building a giant elephant.  Of course, there was also a giant Buddha.  It came across a bit like a giant theme park for Buddhists.

However, each animal has significance in Buddhism.  The peacock symbolises people’s ability to take the ‘poisons’ of life and the turtle can signify longevity.  Another oddity I found was they need donations for repairs but they still seemed to be building more animals.  It seems priorities are a bit mixed.  After, I had a short cycle to my wild camp spot for the night.  It was secluded but near ponds which house otters (first time seeing one) and LOTS of mosquitoes.  To retain some blood I jumped into my tent.

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Kolkata, Repairs and Bangkok

by Nathan Molyneaux on category , , , ,

I would spend Christmas in Kolkata and New Year in Bangkok.  At the same time, I would need to get some bike maintenance done.  The first and it goes back to the same issue I had in Tajikistan with my Rohloff and the screws snapping off.  It cost me a lot of money last time so I am going to risk finding someone in Kolkata who can help.

This task took me over two hours to find the right person; being sent from one metal worker to a motorcycle company and onwards to eventually the ‘lathe shop.’  It was more of an engineering workshop than just a lathe shop.  But on inspecting the broken screws, he picks up a pair of tweezers and coaxes the snapped-off parts out.  A pair of tweezers!  You learn something new each day.

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Continuing the tour de Bangladesh

by Nathan Molyneaux on category , ,

Back to the early starts, it’s colder in the morning and nicer for cycling.  It should’ve taken me just over 2 hours to get to Arla’s site. However, there are whole patches of roads and areas we are not allowed to cycle and are not marked on any map.  Three hours later I eventually arrived and had to follow the main road, known to be dangerous.

It was nice to be around my old company and see how far the Bangladesh team had come from when we took over the site.  Arla had brought in European food standards along with health and safety standards and made the site one of the safest in the country.

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