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| Group photo with Pupay and her team at Am samui |
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| On the ferry sailing towards Donsak |
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| First sight of Donsak |
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| Getting closer to the pier |
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| This time, we were the first to get off board |
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| Luxury van for our journey from Donsak to Thale Noi |
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| Hi neighbour!!! |
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| Checked into our rooms |
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| View from our balconies |
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| The resort is surrounded by the lake with floating water hyacinths |
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| Henry riding back to his room |
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| Tommy in straw hat and sarong |
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| Sri Pakpra Resort |
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| Setting out at 6 pm for an evening ride before dinner |
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| On Route 4007's Lam Pan bridge which spanned across Pakpra River |
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| Following the internal route which passes Bang Charm Restaurant |
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| Back to Lam Pan bridge to catch the sunset |
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| Thale Luang (Upper Songkhla Lake in the background) |
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| Chinese fishing nets |
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| This net is submerged in the water |
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| Different stages of sunset |
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| Different stages of sunset |
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| Different stages of sunset |
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| Different stages of sunset |
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| Different stages of sunset |
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| Dinner at Bang Charm Restaurant. The place is packed as today is Mother's Day in Thailand |
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| Traditional screw pine roof @ Bang Charm Restaurant |
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| The mode of transport |
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| Night scenes of Sri Pakpra Resort viewed from Lam Pan bridge |
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| Chinese Fishing Nets viewed from Sri Pakpra's open deck, next to the restaurant |
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| Walkway to the rooms |
"The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men often go awry," quote by Robert Burns
This morning, despite all the micro planning, we missed our ferry! Yes, we literally saw it sailing away right before our eyes and we could not do anything about it!!!
Even from the very first day of our arrival in Koh Samui, we have been planning and planning for our departure from the island. Armed with a 9 am ferry ticket, catching our vessel on time becomes a near impossibility when the resort insists their breakfast hour starts at 8.30 am as their cook only comes to work at 8 am.
So after days of lobbying, we finally came to a compromise. They will feed us at 8 am provided we all agree to the same set meal, like it or not.
We were also constantly reminded on the morning agenda on departure day. Return motorcycle at 7 am, fully checked out by 7.50 am, breakfast at 8 am, roll out to ferry terminal at 8.15 am
Going about her morning routine this morning, Claudine faced a water problem. There was hardly any water in the taps last night and now, again! The water came in very small trickles and she was worried VT will have no water to brush his teeth by the time she was finished!
Thus, as soon as she was ready, she went out to find a solution. Dawn was breaking and the reception was completely dark. Luckily, she found Pupay, the manager pottering away in the kitchen.
The water problem was easily solved by turning on the pump in the pump room. Seems like the area has very low water pressure and requires a pump to boost the air pressure which then pushes the water through the pipes. In order to save energy, the pump is shut off at night which explains the trickle of water in the taps, last night and this morning.
Everything seems to be working well for us this morning. Pupay and her team managed to serve breakfast earlier than the arranged time. As such, we were all ready to roll before 8 am and even had time to take some group photos.
Bidding our Thai friends goodbye, we left the resort in a happy mood. Rolling out, there was a good 400 m from the resort's reception to the gate. We were all riding slowly and ringing our bike's bells as a show of gratitude to the hotel staff for a good stay.
Once out of the gates, we turned left and again climbed up the steep slope we had came by only 2 days ago. Again, we passed Inter-Continental Hotel.
Once we scaled the hill, we rolled down the other side happily. In no time at all, we saw the signboard to Raja Ferry Port and made the left turn leaving VT at the junction to wait out for the last riders.
At the Raja Ferry office, we went through the same procedure. We showed the staff our online bookings in exchange for a valid ticket.
Claudine was the first in the queue. Once her transaction was completed, she stepped outside smiling but her smiles soon turned into a frown.
Everyone were asking where is Mr Lim. VT had been waiting at the junction for the longest time but did not see him.
Checking with the team, nobody had any idea where he was as everyone had assumed we had left the resort together. Moreover, it was only one straight road to the ferry terminal which spanned a short 3.3 km distance.
How could we have lost him? Despite calling him by whatsapp and IDD, his phone went unanswered.
Still calm, Henry and VT decided to return to the slope in search of Mr Lim. Meanwhile Jac, Tommy and Claudine waited at the junction as the rest of the team remained at the terminal.
At the junction, Jac and Claudine waved down passers-by in both directions. A missing person profile was shared hoping for some leads to his disappearance. Tommy sent our current location in the chatgroup hoping for it to be picked up by him.
Back at the terminal, Raymond became very resourceful. He borrowed a local's motorcycle and went in the opposite direction of Am Samui, thinking Mr Lim could have overshot the turning to the terminal. He returned dejected.
Some time lapsed and the search party duo of Henry and VT soon returned empty handed. Out of desperation, we called the resort and spoke to Pupay. She confirmed there was nobody left at the resort!
Leaving Jac to continue guarding the junction, we regrouped at the terminal again. This time everyone were hauled up for the second search party. The team was split into 2 and asked to ride on both sides of the road. The order is to look down at the ravine and check in between the bushes. In the meantime, Henry and VT will return to the resort and search deeper into the side lanes while Tommy and Claudine continued to stand guard at the junction.
By 8.45 am, we knew we will definitely miss our ferry. As a backup, Claudine went into the office to check if we can take a later departure and was given the thumbs up. True enough, 15 minutes later, the captain blasted the horns from the bridge as the ferry began to set sail.
As the clock ticks away, our worries intensified. Dark thoughts clouded our mind. The search team was not sure if spotting Mr Lim down the ravine is considered good news or not.
At 9.20 am, an hour after his disappearance, THE MAN appeared at the junction! Claudine could not believe her eyes when she saw him riding from the opposite end of Am Samui Resort.
His first words were, " You all left without me ".
Seeing him, Claudine immediately burst into tears of joy. The good news was shared with the groupchat and everyone were ordered to return to base.
Long story, short, Mr. Lim realized he had left his helmet at the resort just as we were riding out. After retrieving his helmet, he could not see anyone and turned right instead of left at the gates. This led him to Route 4170 and 4169. At Nathon Pier he found his bearings and rode to Lipa Noi Pier!!!
The moral of the story? Always make sure you tell someone where you are going!
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| Pastor Cheah's van at PTT station, Donsak |
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| Pastor Cheah's van was jammed packed. Note the seat allocated for Joyce at the second row, behind the monkey |
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| Another view of the van. Mindy was made ambassador, seated in front next to Pastor Cheah |
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| Wa's van. He came from Sadao. |
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| Most tourist vans in Thailand are heavily decorated |
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| Comes with TV console and karaoke system too |
We were in a happy mood when we boarded our ferry but poor Pastor Cheah and Wa who will be taking us by vans to Thale Noi had to wait an extra hour at Donsak Pier. To make up for the loss of time, we packed our lunch at the nearest 7-Eleven and had it on board.
The van journey to Sri Pakpra Resort was close to 4 hours including toilet breaks. We arrived at the resort when it was blazing hot and immediately began unloading at the carpark. Everyone helped out irrespective of their luggage. But "someone" who had been fuming the whole van journey needed to stretch her legs first. The saving grace was she picked up her own luggage as soon as it was out of the van.
As Claudine had a partner to attend to the unpacking of the bikes, she was the first to roll into the Sri Pakpra's reception area. "Someone" followed behind her closely. There was actually no need to rush as the reception was attended by 2 persons.
As in all international check ins, a copy of the passport is required but "someone's" partner was still tidying up in the carpark. Frustrated, "someone" ordered for this to be delivered at the top of her voice. Meanwhile, she had requested for 2 separate beds and was unhappy this was not assigned to her.
When the receptionist tried to reason with her that this request is upon first come first serve basis, "someone" reminded them that she had made this request by email and that she was first at the reception before anyone else's in her group. She even threatened to sue them if she were to find out separate beds had been assigned to her team mates and not her.
Later, when her roommate arrived, she continued her rant. This time it was directed at "That Person" who did not honour her, her chosen seat in the van especially when she was suffering from sciatica pain. She had also complained that "That Person" had refused to move her panniers to the back.
"That Person" she was directing to was Claudine. Even before the tour began she had spoken to Claudine requesting for "front seat with the most leg space". Claudine was not willing to show favouritism but instead advised her to discuss her conditions with her fellow van companions.
Meanwhile, Claudine who had once taken the front seat, next to the driver, knew there wasn't much leg room. The seating position was upright as if one is seated on a dining chair. On other instances, she had sat on the front row, passenger seat and knew that there's a box which makes it impossible to stretch one's leg. She advised "someone" against selecting these seats.
On their maiden van journey from JB to Kuala Perlis, "someone" had taken Claudine's advise and taken the back row seat. As it was quite empty, she had 2 seats to herself. But this wasn't good enough for her as she later complained her seat was right under the wheels and too bumpy. She later changed seats with her roommate.
This van journey from Donsak to Thale Noi, was packed as Team KL and Team Sarawak had come on board. Packing everyone together with their bikes and panniers into the vans become a huge feat. The first priority was to use up the trunk space for the bicycles. Panniers could fit into tiny spaces between bikes, under the seats and even on the lap. As such, the order to everyone was to leave their panniers to the last.
"Someone" had been struggling to put her pannier in the van which delayed her from getting her choice of seat. She found out too late that everyone had marked their seats with their belongings, leaving her no other choice but the front row seat by the door. Claudine's pannier was on the box in front of her seat and when Claudine refused to bounce it to the back for the reasons shared earlier, she became very upset. She went over to Pastor Cheah's van and asked to retrieve her bike and pannier so she could ride the rest of the way. Nobody wanted to entertain her as it will mean repacking all over again.
Frustrated, she returned to the other van to continue her rant. Watching her from afar, Claudine stayed away hoping for her to cool down and find an amicable solution. However, the noise in the van intensified with everyone talking all at once. When Claudine knew there was no possible solution, she returned to the van and demanded to know where she would prefer to sit. She also removed her pannier as initially requested. Meanwhile, Henry decided to appease her by vacating his seat which is by the door with the longest leg space. He moved to the front row seat. With that settled, everyone assumed the 4 hours journey would have put out the fire in her but it did not.
Meanwhile, her rant outside Sri Pakpra's reception area was distracting Claudine who was trying to have a decent conversation with Pastor Cheah about their plans for the rest of the day. Instead Pastor Cheah was more captivated with "someone's" vivid ranting finally interrupting Claudine with the question, "What's wrong with her?"
Claudine was trying to keep her cool but as she pushed her bike past "someone", she totally lost it. She told "someone" to get her act together and to stop spoiling her tours. She had misbehaved at the Cameron Highlands tour, telling everyone off who gets in her way, and now again! In fact, there was also one incident with the late Philip Sim at Betong but everyone had thought Philip was the instigator which was partly true back then.
That evening, most of us met up for a short evening ride around the countryside before dinner at Bang Charm, a restaurant by the riverside. Tommy and Raymond preferred to chill and dine by the resort. "Someone" was later seen joining the duo over a meal.
We had planned to do some star gazing at the resort's open deck but the resort was too brightly lit. We finally called it a night and adjourned to our rooms as the next day calls for a long 125 km ride to Songkhla.
Photo credits:
Mindy
Kelvin
Donsak to Thale Noi
Van transfer - 5000 Baht
Pick up transfer - 3500 Baht (we later cancelled the pick up but passed the money to Pastor Cheah as donations to his children home)
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Sri Pakpra Resort, Phattalung
