Meeting my Sister in Bangkok | Day 8 – Day 14

Day 8 – Day 14 | 27th May – 2nd June 2016

I was on the way to Bangkok from Kanchanaburi (after the tiger temple visit) so I am pretty near the Myanmar/ Thailand border (Ban Phu Nam Ron). I also wanted to see how the border checkpoint looks like.

Maybe if I can do a Visa Run (Though I know that I require an E Visa upon entering Myanmar) it would be a bonus. I know I cant enter Myanmar, but I might be able to get a chop to reset my Visa. I tried talking to a few officers at the border but unfortunately they still want to see the E Visa before they can chop my passport. I even told them that I just want to chop and make a U- Turn. Well, still cannot, its ok. I still have ample of days in Thailand. Its just a bonus if I can reset it. Just trying my luck.

*Overland border crossing into Thailand only gives us Malaysia Passport holders 15 days Visa. Flight into Thailand gives us a 30 day Visa! This is effective in 2016.

I stayed in Sanookdee resort for 2 nights prior to my sister arrival at Don Mueang Airport.
Oh My Gosh.  In the beginning of my trip all I knew was pay, pay and pay for hotels/ rooms. My budget drops really fast and I will start to feel the burn soon. Now that I look back, it was pretty stupid of me to keep on paying for rooms…geeeez..

I learnt that by using Air BnB (As of July 2016 knowledge).. you pay more for a room/ hotel/ house. Most of them are private home owners and they are renting out their house. If you want to pay at a way cheaper price, use AGODA app! Its free for download and as easy to use!

I rode to Don Mueang International Airport 2 days later just in time to catch my sister and relative touch down. They are here for a short vacation, so why not a meet up.

Upon reaching the airport, I was unsure if they have already reached the airport, on the way to the Air BnB apartment (Which we initially planned to meet there). I went to check all of their last seen on facebook and I noticed that their last seen hours back. My sister also told me that she would get a sim card the moment they land (though i anticipated it would cost more in an airport for a Data Sim Card.
What are the chances that they have left the airport? I waited for a while and soon enough I got a whatsapp call from my sister. Hooray! Reunited! Been pretty long I did not see my sister.

We do not really need to buy overseas Phone Call plan nowadays with these apps making online calls available. Technology is improving everyday and glad we are living in this generation!

I went with them to the Air BnB apartment, they took a cab while I tailed them on the motorcycle. Darn, keeping up has never been so much easier! In fact the car feel so damn slow. I used to struggle to keep up with my past school lecturer’s 1.6L car with my previous 140cc bike.

We threw our bags into the Air BnB apartment and immediately we went to Tony Romas in Terminal 21 as per my sister’s recommendation.

We left Bangkok and le sister wanted to see something different outside Bangkok, she decided to go Hua Hin (She makes the decision and her relatives always rely on her as a decision maker). I respect my sister for that. She would get stressed for that at times!

Initially I wanted to sit the same car with them to Hua Hin (South of Bangkok 190km). I thought that I might have to leave earlier as my VISA in Bangkok was expiring in a few days, and high chance they will also stay for a longer period in Hua Hin.

 

I went on my motorcycle tailing the car to be on the safe side (Gosh the car is slowwwww). So if I have to leave, I can leave anytime. I never know when they might extend. Hiring a car back for myself is just too expensive, nor would I want them to cut short their vacation in Hua Hin because of me!

 

I left le famalia in the wee hours of 2nd June to enter Laos. Everyone was sleeping in the Airb&b apartment still at around 630am. Woke them up to bid farewell to her and she sleepily reacted. Not sure if she remembers actually. Went to the basement carpark, loaded all my stuff onto the vehicle.

I totally forgot that I left the vehicle in Gear 1 when I parked it previously. Also maybe I was still feeling dazed from my early awakening (I hate waking up early), I did not see the “Neutral Indicator” being lighted up. I clutched in and cranked the vehicle. Started as per normal. Till I just let go off the clutch. CRAP! That woke the hell out of me! The bike flew forward. The side stand closed. As the vehicle was parked beside a wall, it jolted forward and it leaned/ crashed against the side of the wall. Unfortunately it wasnt the box nor the front crashbar that got the hit. It was the top header of the vehicle that crashed against the wall.
Damn it. The vehicle was left to dangle in the air about 35 degrees, supported by just the left side of the windshield. I had totally no space to go in between the wall and the vehicle at all. No way could I try to pull/ lift up the vehicle from the right side. I took my important stuffs with me and I called 2 security guards of the condo to help me pull up the darn clunk of metal. 3 of us pulling up the vehicle from just from the right side still proved difficult.
Petrol was leaking all over the floor and the area stinks so bad.

I went ahead to Laos still (planning to stop by a big bike shop in the north area) with the bent windshield and the plastic fairing slightly out of shape. Forced back the plastic fairing and it clicked back into place. Strangely my Trip A Odometer was reset. What could have caused the reset? Usually the cause of it would be a blown/ loose fuse in the mid section body of the bike. But it was the front head of the bike that slammed on the wall. Hmm. Nothing out of the ordinary happened after that though.

Travelled 260km + to this big bike shop to bend the parts back. Coincidentally I saw the Suzuki big bike shop (with the huge ass hayabusa photo on facade).
I was more than happy to see a superbike photo (which tells me they service big bikes).

The mending was done in 1 hour, and I asked for a quote. It could be done by one on the road, if you have the time and basic tools. But for this, I am just paying for the mending and additional checking of the wiring under the fairing.

Guess what, the humble mechanics and staff actually rejected my offer to pay them! I insisted on paying them for a good few mins but they genuinely rejected it. I really count my lucky stars again. Maybe I should put it that Thailand is a place with very humble people, or did I just meet the right people?

I bought 4 Litres of spare Engine Oil (Motul) from them as
1) It is a token of appreciation for not charging me on the repair cost.
2) I need to change the oil later anyway.
3) It is priced reasonably too and it is much cheaper here.
4) Bumping into the next Motul Engine Oil could be in god knows when, which is too far for an early, safe oil change already)