Time started to move for me once I tendered my letter of resignation in May 2023. I was alive again, the clock was moving and however much busy I was during work, I was even more busier now ... dreaming. Plans always starts by dreaming.
By end May after serving work notice period I was out of Singapore ... totally done and sorted out all the nessesities. This time I have experience under the belt and decoupling of routine life was faster and more efficient. I could not set off immediately thou, I still had one key date to wait which was the China Visa application. I got back my passport with the China Visa on Friday 19 May 2023 and the inner kid in me was grining non stop. Pick up some last minute stuff and then it was Saturday a free and easy day shopping at Pavilion Bukit Jalid with mom, dad and my Thai Cuz that was down visiting for a holiday.
Sunday morning and everyone is headed out. Me all packed and starting the trip up north while mom and dad with cuz would head down to JB, pit stopping at my place before crossing the causeway on the following day to SG staying with brother for a week.
The trip up north this time was no nonsense. Direct up with no detours and barely any stops. First day warmup was an easy one clocking nearly 300km to Taiping for the night. Food was basic and bland and the next morning push off again stright for Hat Yai.
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| At Malaysia Border Town Changlun to buy Thailand Motorbike Insurance & Customs Form |
I had a short break in Hat Yai for two nights just spending time with Uncle Seng and Ah Kim. Nothing fancy really .. lunch TV then dinner and repeat for the next day. One day pass at the time which was the feeling of retirement I got from uncle. I guess my parents generation is at that stage now ... passing time and not spending too much.
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| Hat Yai - Left = Betong Noodles , Right = Thai Bak Kut Teh |
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| Hat Yai - Old Town Back Road Family Restaurant |
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| Hat Yai - Family Restaurant Meal |
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| Hat Yai - Family Restaurant, Deep Fried Dish drowning in fried garlic |
I did manage quick shopping to buy a new set of rain gear for THB 1100 which was pretty good deal but Ah Kim was a bit exasperasted that she was not given the chance to bargain it down for I just said ok and paid within 2 minutes.
On the way back from the shopping I ripped my jeans at the knee in the car while pulling and trying to adjust, as it was sliding down. I ripped three things in three days I immediately thought. Push off day I ripped the battered old rain cover for the duffle bag. The next day I ripped the rain pants and today the jeans. I felt it was a bad omen ... just have to be extra careful riding and travelling the next few days I thought.
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Along the Way from Hat Yat to Chumphon
Could not resist a Stop when I saw the cat .... - Its a bakery Cafe |
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| Hut for the Night - Chumphon |
Push off from Hat Yai and made the longest ride I have done in a single day. Stright to Chumphon nearly 600km. Early next morning I got a wake up call from brother informing me that Mom got a stroke and he was on the way to the hospital with her.
Feeling helpless .... I could only wait for the update and hold off the urge to call least I become a nuisance.
Traveled on: May 2023
