Ghana 60 Lock Down Day 19

Left out yesterday  Day 18.  Only so many repeats are possible.

Today we hit 641 confirmed cases and yesterday it was 636.  Numbers are receding. Everyone getting to see if lock down gets extended this weekend. Sunday night as things stand it gets lifted. Two schools of thought. First lot, being sure it will be lifted, but this is only naive optimism by a few..... most believe the lock down will continue and be extended week by week. If they announce a 4 week extended lock down at one time there would be huge public outcry and anti social reactions so best they drip feed,  seems the way to go. Me, I reckon the latter as well.

Anyway far more importantly I went shopping yesterday for some bits and pieces. As one does. And outside the supermarket I did a double take.  A Yamaha Bolt.  Just like mine. Made my day. As they say its the little things that count. God I miss the open roads and ......................

Boats and Bikes

I was sorting out a few old photos on my phone and its amazing how you take pictures and forget about them all. Brings back some memories of recent trips etc. I found a couple of snaps of a fishing boat.  Looking at it coming in to port the other day I was glad I had not been on it.

Sailing yachts is one thing, but to be stuck on a Thai fishing boat for days/weeks/months at a time would be a night mare.  They do not look comfortable bouncing around, also look dirty and unkempt. Certainly lack any TLC !!

As an aside they seem to produce enough fumes to keep CO2 levels high for a long time into the future.

I can't speak with 1st hand knowledge on these boats having only observed from afar. So shut me up of you want !  Well I've been near enough!  I suspect the living quarters are also cramped.  I remember years ago going on a long liner in Seychelles I think it was an old Korean boat.  The bunks were about 5 foot 6 inches long so as a Westerner your could not stretch out in full.  Everything seems a little small !

But the contrast here on land.  Having dismissed the fishing boats as a non preferred mode of transport, I spotted a few choppers parked up on the main beach road. Some guys out for a ride.  All seemed to be old modified 4 cylinder Honda engines strapped onto home made frames. Now they looked like fun for a ride ! But like the fishing boats not for days/weeks/months.  Get a very sore backside after only a few hours !

Bike Cleaning

Took the bike for a wash the other day. It got brushed down, washed, wiped, tyre walls sprayed, air cleaned and

polished. All in all about 30 minutes work for a team of 3 persons. Cost 100 Baht. Call it 2 British Pounds.  Just got to love Thailand....,

Rayong to Koh Chang

Had a good Valentines weekend with a road trip to Koh Chang. Its about 200 kilometers east of Rayong.  Getting there is quite easy. Good dual carriageway most of the way and excellent coffee stops.  One had a beautiful pond full of Koi fish. I did think it would not last long in UK. All those beautiful fish would very quickly find their way into someones fish tank...

Anyway off we went early Saturday morning. Stopping several times for breakfast, coffee and well... just to stop. Then there is the ferry across to Koh Chang.

Takes about 30 minutes but add in the waiting before it arrives etc a good hour passes while you sit around mainly "people" watching. Which I do enjoy.
This was a good weekend for it as well. Plenty of other motor bikes. One group of about 20 were down for the weekend. They had with them a combi type van fully decked out with all the bits and pieces required for a long road trip.

Apart from that I would say Koh Chang was noticeably short on visitors. Big surprise as when booking a room on the internet  I kept being told all full up. However on arrival a very different story. We ended up in a reasonable place. In fact it was the first hotel we stopped at to ask about rooms. Big double room with on suite bathroom etc. Easy parking and safe. All for 1,000 Baht. That's about 20 GBP. No complaints on that front.  It did have one strange aspect. A resident pig. Yes a sort of wild boar without teeth which just slept around minding its own business. I had to take a double look first time.

Took some photos and of course it did the honours and had a wee while we watched. 

We staying only on the west side of Koh Chang. The side with the beaches and hotels/restaurants etc. But as I said nearly all seemed deserted. It could have something to do with the weather as well. We had journeyed down passing through several rain showers so this might have put people off walking around. But we enjoyed it. Got down as far as Bang Bao, what was a small fishing village. Now a tourist honey pot with lots of diving shops, coffee and restaurants and souvenirs.

Spotted a few monkeys at on of the view points.  Seemed very used to people around and total uninhibited when it came to running round us. 

Stopped off in Chantaburi on the way back. Looked at the town and also the min feature which is a status of Taskin the first King of the current Chakri Dynasty.

Hua Hin Rayong return

Hua Hin and back                  

We (that’s, Rene, O, Wanna and myself) had been planning a trip to Hua Hin for some time. Really we have been planning a bike trip but every trip needs and purpose. Going to Hua Hin at this time had a good purpose as it was to visit Ryan, a chap who had recently set up an aquaponics system. He had recently decided to set up an aquaponics system on a small commercial scale with lots of room for expansion. While doing tis he has made some very informative videos on the subject all posted on Utube. It was through the utube that I got in contact in the first place. Small world as he also knew some mutual acquaintances/growers in Thailand so some synergy there as well. Ponic Wars

Anyway suffice to say we had good reason to head off to Hua Hin. Hua Hin is famous in Thailand as being where the King has a Palace. It is a beach city with all the amenities to be expected. So off we went. It’s about 350 kilometers from Rayong. Rayong Hua Hin rtn

Route takes you up into Bangkok then across the main Chao Phraya River and down the west side of the gulf of Thailand. Being on motorbikes we are not allowed to use the toll roads which in this case did not make so much difference. The frontage and main dual carriageways are more than adequate for us. And a beautiful bridge over the river. All in all a good trip. Stopping off for coffee breaks and giving our backsides a break !!!! Long ride on a hard seat and I did find most of the potholes.

Only thing we did not could on was rain. Yes I know every day beautiful sunshine and then entering Bangkok we hit the tail end of a storm. I think we missed most of the rain but drover through plenty of water. Chao Phraya 

So Saturday morning saw us leaving early about 06.30am. First coffee stop.

Beginning of the trip

Rene and O on the move

Reason being we planned to get an early arrival in Hua Hin and then plenty of time with Ryan.  We left on time and met up with Ryan about 1.30pm. Then round to his farm and a spent a good few hours discussing the ins and outs of aquaponics farming. Most of the time was spend on looking at his system and discussing with Ryan his approach. And it was impressive stuff. Early days and he will only get better at it for sure. Rene could not wait to get back home and play with his set up and me, my brain cells were worring around as well. Well I was in my mind already designing my next system… So yes a very useful visit.

We have dinner in Hua Hin. Nothing special. However the most noticeable thing to me about Hua Hin was the number of old retired European tourists around. Loads of them. A sort of Pattaya 40 years older !! If you’ve been to Pattaya you will know exactly what I am talking about. If not forget I mentioned it.

Coming back on the Sunday was easy. Unfortunately it was the same route in reverse, However we did make one small diversion to stop off at Wat Hua Hin a famous local temple. 

Then back home. I could add a lot of photos of us on the road but honestly most dual carriageways look very similar. Next trip will probably be to Koh Chang, or down the bottom eastern most part of Thailand. Why ? Cause it’s there that’s why

Rayong Bike Trip

Had a really great day out on Saturday. We (Rene, O, Wanna and myself), not the Royal we decided to have a bike trip down the coast. Left Rayong around 11am and returned about 5.30pm. Covered 250 kilometers mainly off the main roads and instead followed the new scenic route along most of the way.  Rayong Road Trip 20150117

Stopped off for food. Of course. And then also made a stop at an environmental area where mangrove areas are actively being developed and sustained. Not a great deal to see in a mangrove swamp but interesting to visit once and be able to say “been there, done that…”  We’ll we've been there, done that.”

Some lovely views and a spot where people leave behind padlocks.  Bit like the bridge in Paris. (At least I think its Paris).

Rest of trip was fun but somewhat no eventful. Did catch up with a group of riders going back. About 40 of them all on big bikes.  They came roaring through and we tagged along. Made travelling on the dual carriageway so much easier with all the traffic moving out of the way. Great way to move round Thailand.

We’re planning to go to Hua Hin in a couple of weeks. Is on the west side of the Gulf of Thailand and a bit further to travel so will take a couple of days one to go and one back. This time I’ll try and few movies etc. Comments please.

New Bike and small Harleys....

Having just mentioned my new bike.  I had to have a smile yesterday while passing a motorbike repair shop.  I like the small sticker on the back....Harley Davidson indeed....

Back in Thailand

What a ride.  Since leaving Atyrau we have been to UK, Seychelles and now back in my old job at Map Ta Phut.

I’ll give a brief summary of events in the passing few months. Yes, two months passed since posting.

End of August, actually 25^th saw me depart Kazakhstan. Abet with mixed emotions. It was fun, working 6 weeks on and 2 weeks off gave me plenty of leave and a good salary. Added perk was the free travel. However the chance to come back and work in Thailand and be home in the evenings was a great draw. And it awon.

First stop after Atyrau was London. Called in to see the girls and then up to Thetford to see the olds. I’d hired a car which makes for a very easy life rather than waiting on buses and tubes etc, especially as I was lugging my guitar, a heavy suitcase and odds and ends. It’s not till you start using public transport you realize just how much rubbish you carry around with you on these trips. If I was residing in London that’s a different matter.

So I had a week up and around Norfolk and then off to Seychelles.
Lovely beach as always.

Sarah’s wedding planned for the 20^th September. Big day for her and indeed for me. Although for me easy, I only had to turn up and walk her down the aisle and do a speech. But preparing the speech took some doing. Needed to cover all bases and make sure at the same time I did not make it to long… Bit daunting but it was well received.  All in all the wedding was fantastic.  I gave it 11/10.  We even did a practice run the day before.

Then the real deal.................

Old Man giving his speach

We did while in Seychelles spend 2 weeks on La Digue. I do love it there. Relaxed, bar b q on beach, fly fishing, biking, back to the simple life. Had some quiet evenings and a Bar B Q with friends. Limited internet at the café only, and  no TV…. Wonderful.

And I found time for a lodge meeting. Now I’m back in my old stomping ground of Map Ta Phut. Thinking about it I must have worked here, on and off for a total of about 5 years. Long time but its good looking round and seeing the various project all up and running. I can think, yes I was a part of that. More importantly I’ve met several people whom I worked with during the course of these times. All seem to be doing well and enjoying life.

Let’s hope for this current project it wil continue and I’ll be able to say the same.

Oh yes. Bought myself a new bike so should be adding road trip photos in due course. (Next Blog post). Plan to try and keep a really good record of costs and see what it works out at Baht/kilometer. Interested then check my link to page the bolt.

Enough ramblings, but now you know I’m back….

I've added as "Spread Sheet on Bolt" in another page called Bolt ( I know original 1) in which I intend to keep going the running costs ...meanwhile the wife rides on.....

950cc of Raw power...

The Boss