Facts and figures - Malaysia / Thailand / Laos

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Trip Start Sep 20, 2007 Previous
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  Bangkok, Thailand
Saturday, October 13, 2007

Itinary : Bangkok.
Dates : 11th October to 15th October 2007
Mileage so far : Still 5500 km! I don't count motorcycle taxi and tutuk rides...

Like I mentionned in one of my entries, I record almost everything of the trip... I just can't help myself from writing down all those info and figures! So Eaten up by boredom here, I took a couple of hours today writing them down on this travelpod...Helge saw my logbook and asked me if I had German blood...Nevertheless, I think some of you can find it interesting...For the lasy ones that don't have the courage to read it, I simplified and summarized the info in an excel sheet...

My high in the last 24 hours was last night when I rushed in a building while walking by myself on Khao Sarn road because it started pouring outside

Living data chart

. I waited a couple of minutes for the rain to stop and I could hear nice music coming from the open air roof top bar of the building. So I climbed up the 3 storeys to reach what seemed to be the "roots people" headquarter. There was a fantastic 2-person live band, sitting on high chairs playing "Mr jones" type of music (Matchar would have loved it), with their accoustic guitares...I really enjoyed that moment...There I was in this orange color open air roof top bar, with those 30 bearded hyppies, all squashed and sitting together elbow to elbow, drinking our singha beers and almost in a synchronized manner whipping the rest of it off our moustache with the back of our hands, singing all together the "hey Jude" lyrics (feww...only song which I know more than 5% of the lyrics) along with the 2 genius long-haired thais playing their accoustic guitares on their "ready-to-break" high chairs. I must say that I started to feel comfortable and I'm thinking of maybe converting to Hyppism...Hmmm quite cool to be a hyppie actually...No shower, no shaving (including the women), no money and good music! I'm joking Steph...You know that I love my Ralph Lauren shirt too much...So after a couple of beers I stopped to look around me and immortalise the moment. Loved it!

More seriously now, I would like to dedicate this first part of the South East Asia trip and the first part of the travelpod to my friend Antoine

Riding data chart

. He loved the riding, the people he met during his numerous riding trips in this part of the world and I know he would have been one of my biggest fan during this trip. Actually he would have been capable of quiting his job to do this trip together!

We are confirmed to leave on the 15th October for Kathmandu and the bikes on the 17th, so that's good news...I dont think I will update my travelpod before Nepal so wish me luck!
And I will need it as I just learnt that we are flying with Bhutan air from Bangkok to Calcutta, and then air India from Calcutta to Kathmandu...They probably can take off, but the landing is still a concern, I'm not sure yet...I will let you know soon...


TOTAL - 23rd September to 15th October 2007

Itinary : Singapore - Malaysia - Thailand - Laos - Thailand

Total days since I left : 23 days.

Riding data chart 2

Mileage done : 5500 km
Total riding time excluding the stops : 70 hours.
Number of riding days : 12 days.
Average mileage per day when riding : 460 km.
Average mileage per day (inclusive of the no riding days) : 240 km.
Highest altitude : 1400 meters - Thailand
Highest Temperature : 34 - Malaysia
Lowest Temperature : 20 - Thailand
Highest Mileage : Singapore - Pinang, 730 km.


MALAYSIA - 23rd September to 24th September 2007

Itinary : Singapore - Pinang
 
Road : Only highway in the countryside, paved and in good condition.
Petrol : Maybe every 60 km and open 24 hours - 0,58 usd/liter.
Food : No problem, food stalls at petrol stops - 1,80 usd/meal.
Accommodation : In main cities, every 200 km in average - 42 usd/night for a decent hotel.
Weather : Sunny and hot, temperature from 26 at night to 34 during the day.
Currency : Ringgit, 1 usd = 3,40 Rgt.
 
My high : Riding the 3-lane highway north of Ipoh.
My low : Getting lost in Pinang at 2 am to find an hotel.

Total days in country : 1 day.
Mileage done : 730 km
Total riding time : 7,5 hours.
Number of riding days : 1 day.
Average riding time per day : 7,5 hours.
Average time on the road per day : 9,5 hours.
Average riding speed (excluding the stops) : 100 km/h.
Average riding speed including the stops : 77 km/h.
Average mileage per day when riding : 730 km.
Average mileage per day (inclusive of the no riding days) : 730 km.
Highest altitude : 300 meters.
Highest Temperature : 34.
Lowest Temperature : 26.
Highest Mileage : Singapore - Pinang, 730 km. 


THAILAND - 24th September to 2nd October, 6th October to 15th October 2007

Itinary : Phuket - Ranong - Bangkok - Ayutthaya - Chiang Mai - Mae Hong Son - Chiang Rai - Luang Nam Tha - Luang Prabang - Vientiane - Bangkok.
 
Budget per day (F&B, petrol, accommodation, internet) : 70 usd/day.
 
Road : Highway and main road, paved and in good condition, 108 road in the mountains in the north is a must do!
 
Petrol : No problem - 0,95 usd/liter.
 
Food : No problem, food stalls on the road and restaurants in town -
1,60 usd/meal on the road - 4,80 usd/meal in town.

Accommodation : In main cities, Hotels or guest houses - 25 usd/night for a decent hotel.
 
Weather : Mostly sunny and hot with temperature ranging from 26 at night to 34 during the day. Cool temperature in the mountains which can go as low as 20. A lot of raining in the south at this time of the year so bring your rain suit.

Currency : Baht, 1 usd = 35 baht.

My high : Riding the 108 road in the mountains.
My low : Stuck a week in Bangkok to send the bikes.
 
Total days in country : 18,5 days.
Mileage done : 3880 km
Total riding time : 47 hours.
Number of riding days : 8,5 days.
Average riding time per day : 5,5 hours.
Average time on the road per day : 9,5 hours.
Average riding speed (excluding the stops) : 80 km/h.
Average riding speed including the stops : 50 km/h.
Average mileage per day when riding : 450 km.
Average mileage per day (inclusive of the no riding days) : 200 km.
Highest altitude : 1400 meters.
Highest Temperature : 34.
Lowest Temperature : 20.
Highest Mileage : Ayutthaya - Chiang Mai, 620 km.  
 

LAOS - 2nd October to 6th October 2007

Itinary : Chiang Rai - Luang Nam Tha - Luang Prabang - Vientiane - Bangkok.
 
Budget per day (F&B, petrol, accommodation, internet) :  70 usd/day.
 
Road : Main roads, mostly paved but can be quite bumpy with holes, very slippery when raining. Super nice and new road between Huay Xai border and Luang Nam Tha in the north. Did mostly mountain roads in my itinary.
 
Petrol : Only in main cities, maybe every 120 km - 1 usd/liter.
 
Food : Only in main cities, maybe every 120 km on average - 1,20 usd/meal in a stall along the road - 4 usd/meal in a restaurant in town.
 
Accommodation : In main cities, every 120 km in average - 25 usd/night in a decent guest house or hotel. We slept in a nice brand new guest house in Luang Nam Tha for 6 usd/night. If you're high maintenance, you can also sleep in an overpriced guest house along the Mekong river in Luang Prabang for 60 usd/night.

Weather : Mostly sunny and hot, temperature from 26 at night to 34 during the day. Cool temperature in the mountains which can go as low as 20. A lot of raining this part of the year so bring your rain suit.

Currency = Kip, 1 usd = 10 000 Kip.

My high : The excitment of the kids when crossing small towns.
My low : The night ride on the first day to Luang Nam Tha. Missed a lot I think.

Total days in country : 3,5 days.
Mileage done : 900 km
Total riding time : 15 hours.
Number of riding days : 2,5 days.
Average riding time per day : 6 hours.
Average time on the road per day : 9,5 hours.
Average riding speed (excluding the stops) : 60 km/h.
Average riding speed including the stops : 38 km/h.
Average mileage per day when riding : 360 km.
Average mileage per day (inclusive of the no riding days) : 260 km.
Highest altitude : 1400 meters.
Highest Temperature : 34.
Lowest Temperature : 20.
Highest Mileage : Luang Prabang - Vientiane, 380 km. 

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