Highlights of Leg 1:
- Cool to Cold ride along PLUS hiway
- New border checkpoint of Durian Burung/Prakop
- sunset @ Great plains of Phatthalung
its going to be a long ride ahead, 500km of it will be on PLUS hiway. will be rolling as early as 0400hrs from R&R Sg Buloh. We should be in Changloon by 0930hrs after 3 stops (Simpang Pulai, Juru & Gurun).
will get insurance at Changloon and head for Durian Burung checkpoint via UUM route. was told the checkpoint is spanking new and very nice. however, thailand side is operating from container office.
after Prakop, we should expect a smooth nice hilly roads towards Sadao with minimal traffic. will travel 170km to Phatthalung, targeting to stay at Lampam Resort. ETA 1400hrs. Will shower and nap. will visit Phatthalung greatest attraction, thale noi lake and the great plains to watch sunset.. dinner at a nearby restaurant on stilts before retiring to recharge for Leg 2.
Leg 2 - Phatthalung/Surat Thani/Chumphon/Hua Hin - 670km
Highlights of Leg 2:
- unusual passengers in local pick-up trucks
- u-turns at every 5km along thai 'hiway'
- passing the narrowest part of thailand bordering Myanmar
- the holiday town of Hua Hin
another long ride ahead, 670km with an estimate of total time of 8 hours. we will leave Phatthalung after breakfast at 0930 and should arrive Hua Hin at 1730hrs to look for a place to put up for the night.
along this route, look out for lots of interesting passengers on local trucks, and will be passing familiar names like Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Thani & Chumphon. will be stopping every 1.5hrs to refresh ourselves... :)
