Dedicated to a wonderful Mother Jean Noble 31/5/1929 - 20/8/2007 - may we never take our mothers for granted. - Goodbye Mum

THAILAND PAGE 2 JUNE 2008

Sunday June 29^th 2008 Hua Sai – Rest day.
Approx. k's Average Speed kph Cycling time Hr(s) Min. Max speed. kph Max temp we recorded °C
Terrain: Road Conditions:. Overnight Accommodation: $11.00
We start the new week with a rest day, we have the use of a washing machine and dryer – so it's off to do all the washing. A few little jobs on the bikes, tweaking mainly, will be done today. Tomorrow we plan to cycle about 65k's to Nakhon Si Thammarat. Just to show how valuable Lee's command of language really is:- Many hotel, guest house, motel, etc.. signs are in the Thai Language, further, there “seems” to be an infinite number of ways to advertise accommodation, hence I cannot “learn” to recognise one or a couple of Thai words....

The above sign reads “Guest House”.... “Open 24 hours” - Don't be fooled – it can be written many other ways... Many travellers that do not read Thai, may miss out on some accommodation bargains. Lee's “radar” does not miss much :-)

Monday June 30^th 2008 Hua Sai – Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
Approx. 63.75k's Average Speed 15.70kph Cycling time 4Hr(s) 04Min. Max speed. 45kph Max temp we recorded 44°C
Terrain: Flat with one smallish hill Road Conditions: Excellent Overnight Accommodation: $9.50

The ride today was superb, beautiful countryside and reasonably quiet roads. The amount of waves and smiles was astounding... Thailand is called “The Land of Smiles” - it should be “The Land of a Thousand Smiles”.. We are treated daily, to some amazing hospitality, we were stopped by the Police, instantly I thought “Oh No!! Morocco again....

I was Sooooo wrong. The policeman stopped us to buy a cool drink and food. He was very interested in our travels and very helpful with his offerings, which included (If we wanted to stay in his town) accommodation, in his home for the night. Our sincere thank you, Officer Satern Poonthep (Phonetic Translation). (ด. ต. เสทื้อน พูลเทพ จราจร สภ. เชียรใหญ่ ) The text in the preceding brackets will only display on “Thai Language” enabled computers – Most “None Thai” enabled systems will only show a series of question marks. We are using Thai for our Thai readers :-)

Stopped for a lunch of BBQ'd Chicken and “Sticky Rice”.... Nice - “Isaan Style (North-east Thailand style).....

We cycled the last 20 or so k's amidst hundreds of waves, as we neared the town...

Lee spotted a “resort” with a sign only in the Thai Language... So off we went, I am the first “European” guest :) since it opened in 1995 The owner (Left) gave us a VERY nice room for less than $10.00,

However, the power to the room failed and we were offered a nice room as an alternative... We were given 20% discount for the room change..

Both rooms are slightly cheaper than last night and better....

Well that's about it for now.......... Oh!! I thought I would show you a typical Thai meal... This one is called “Canum-chin... (Phonetic)

Basically it consists of :- Rice noodles, and a variety of sauces - of choice... After you are served you load your plate with “salad” - NOT European salad, but local Thai regional salad vegetables.. On the table is –

Small bowl's Banana flower and cabbage in coconut milk, Morning Glory stems, Chopped mango in sauce, Pickled cucumber, Pickled Cabbage.

Medium sized dish:- (to the right of the small bowls – the medium sized dish in the front is Lee's noodles) Bean sprouts

Two trays – one has raw pealed cucumber and the other a variety of local plants, leaves, beans and seeds...

It really is nice food, you can eat as much as you want and it costs only $0.50c (Fifty Cents) per dish,,,,,,,, Water and Ice is included...... Off to dinner Catchya Later...

That's it for June 2008, never to be seen again............

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