Samui bike week 6-7 May, 2011

Samui bike week 6-7 May, 2011

For all big bike lovers, the Samui bike week 3 will be held on 6 and 7 May this year.

After having visited a couple of Thai Red Cross charity motorcycle rides, it's time again for another version of the Bike week.

AT CHAWENG LAKE, KOH SAMUI, THAILAND

"Samui - The Green Island and The Blue Ocean"

Samui Rider Club welcomes all bikers who love riding to come to International Samui Bike Week 2011 festival. In this festival, there are many bikers' clubs, all big bike brand and including The Haley-Davidson coming to the show. We would like to invite both Thais and Foreigners who are interested in the two wheels.

There were more than a thousand riders participated last year. For this year, we try harder to provide for more participants enjoying their time during the week. There are varieties of concert bands, many shops, selected famous local food stands and a cowboy's show. On top of these, you will be able to join bikers 'activities and amaze with various fabulous motorbikes' brand presenting.

Moreover, this festival is a part of social responsible project, which is "The Riding for Peace and Environment". The aim is to gathering loving riders to show their power, spirit and unity. This is for riding together peacefully among different people and different nation. Then after the festival, we will donate some parts of the income to The Green Island Project for sustainable conveniences and promoting the greening our Koh Samui, greening our world.

Last but not least, Samui Riders' Club would like to thank our sponsors and supporters including Koh Samui Municipality, Tourism Association of Koh Samui, and Koh Samui - Tourism Authority of Thailand very much for all.

It's going to be a fun and noisy weekend!

Camille

Cebu Transportation, PI style

Cebu Transportation, PI style

Having lived in Thailand now for 12 years and having visited almost all neighboring countries (Myanmar is still on my 'to visit' list), the Philippines is a first for me.

It's very Asian but also very different compared to Thailand, which I call my home. One of the things that struck as being very different is the means of transportation. The jeepneys are most likely the most famous sample and best known, however, on my trip by taxi from Cebu airport to the North of Cebu island, where I had to take a ferry over to Malapascua, I did notice two different means of transportation, the tricycle and the pedicab!

The tricycle is a motorbike with a rather big sidecar mounted to it in which up to 6 or 7 people can sit, plus their luggage. This is how one looks like from the back of, in the picture above.

This is a tricycle in action! Besides the driver, two people are sitting on the outside next to the driver, a couple of people are sitting inside the covered side mountain and seemingly at least person is hanging outside of the tricycle. Truly an amazing way of getting around for medium sized distances of in my estimate a couple of kilometers max. For longer distances the jeepneys will be a more convenient option, I assume.

A couple of parked tricycles, waiting for business

Than there's the option for even shorter distances, the pedicab, a push bike with a side mountain that holds two passengers There are two seats) and luggage. Amazing PI!

On Malapascua, the island where I'm conducting a PADI IDC, there's hardly any form of transportation besides your feet and an occasional motorbike.

Camille

Samui style car parking!

Samui style car parking!

Driving around the island this week, I noticed some strange parking style habits amongst my fellow islanders.

The first one that got my attention was this car whose driver managed to wrap his car around an electricity pole 10 meters after a sharp, 90 degree angled curve in Plai Laem, not too far away from where I live. Now in itself that is not so hard to do, but to manage this within 10 meters of said curve is a rather astonishing feat.

This picture shows the angle of the wrap around.

This picture gives you an idea about the power that the pole had to deal with.

An overall idea how the car is positioned. It's pretty interesting to try to figure out how this happened. If this is your car, don't be shy, you can post anonymous and let us know how you managed to accomplish this!

A couple of days later, to be more accurately, today, I'm driving around Samui and I see this car parked in-between the Maenam post office wall and an electricity pole. What is it with electricity pole's this week?

As you can see in the picture, he missed a big, red letter post box and a telephone booth and he skidded across the road to park his car against traffic direction. Pretty astonishing!

It was a bit of a tight fir as this picture shows. Amazing talent out here on the road, but don't have yourself fooled, safety is not always an issue here!

The first car pictured here was moved away after a couple of days, this second car was moved later in the day, when I passed by again, I just know that the car wasn't there yesterday!

Safe travels.

Camille

Pictures of speedboat after Full Moon Party collision

Pictures of speedboat after Full Moon Party collision

After my post with an update about the collision of two speedboats during the transfer of passengers between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan during the Full Moon Party, a couple of days ago, I now got hold of pictures of one of the boats involved in the collision.

These are pictures of the Phummipat 59, owner by Petcharat and this is the boat that has full insurance.

Looking at the size of the hole in this boat, it's a wonder that all passengers survived. Apparently everybody was ordered to wear life jackets during the trip from Samui to Koh Phangan.

Let's hope that accidents like this won't happen again!

With thanks to Steve for the pictures and to Stephan and Adam who both commented on this post and claim to have been on this boat during the accident.

Camille

Update on the speed boat collision between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui

Update on the speed boat collision between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui

An update from the Bangkok Post today by Supapong Chaolan, interesting is that one of the boats was exactly the same boat that flipped over in January 2005 when they tempered with the steering cords;

SURAT THANI : At least 40 people have been injured in a head-on collision between two speedboats carrying tourists taking part in a full-moon party on Koh Phangan.
The collision happened about 12.30am yesterday in waters between Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.

The force of the impact severely damaged the two speedboats and threw passengers into the water.

They were left stranded in the sea before being rescued by marine police and passing speedboats. There was heavy rain and strong winds when the accident happened.

Twenty-nine injured passengers were sent to Bangkok Samui Hospital, six were admitted to Ban Don International Hospital on Koh Samui and five to Thai International Hospital Koh Samui.

Ten foreigners _ three Britons, five Australians, one Ukrainian and one Singaporean _ were among the injured.

One speedboat, Phummipat 59, was carrying 23 tourists who were returning from a full-moon party on Koh Phangan to Koh Samui.

It collided with another speedboat, Sawasdi Chalermchoke Nawa5, which was taking 39 passengers from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan. The Sawasdi Chalerm choke Nawa5 is owned by Sea Beach Tour and Transport Co.

Preecha Chorsuwannachart, a passenger on board the Sawasdi Chalermchoke Nawa 5, said the boat travelled at high speed and did not have its signal lights switched on.

Mr Preecha, who is a member of the Nonthaburi provincial administration organisation, said the boat collided with the other boat, throwing passengers into the sea.

Weeraphan Phetchara, who was driving the Phummipat 59, said he did not see the signal lights of the other boat before the collision.

Thuenjai Phetcharat, who runs Phetcharat Marina Co which owns the Phummipat 59, said the company has accident insurance to cover passengers. They will each receive 100,000 baht.

She said she is willing to bring the driver of the Phummipat 59 to police for questioning.

Police said the licence for the Sawasdi Chalermchoke Nawa 5 has expired and not been renewed and it also has no insurance documents.

The Sawasdi Chalermchoke Nawa 5 capsized on Jan 25, 2005, while taking tourists from a full-moon party on Koh Pha-ngan. Fifteen passengers drowned in the accident. Police said the boat sank because it was overloaded.

Driving in Thailand

Driving in Thailand

It can be a real challenge, especially if you're not used to Thai rules and more importantly, the unofficial rules that you just need to pick up on. A lot of these unofficial rules can come in very handy and there's a website where I found a lot of good info, so sit down and kick back and have a good read with sometimes a possible smile on your face but keep in mind, this is how it is out there;



Rules & Regulations

• Drive on the left side of the road
• The legal age for driving cars is 18
• The legal age for riding a motorcycle up to 110cc is 15; 18 is the legal age for riding a motorcycle over 110cc
• It is compulsory for a driver to have their driving licence and a copy of the vehicle registration document (Blue Book, Lem Tabian)
• Valid Thai or International Driving Licences are accepted
• Every vehicle must have a tax sticker, which has to be renewed annually at the local Department of Land Transport Office(DLT)
• Every vehicle must have at least third party compulsory motor insurance, which has to be renewed annually at the local Department of Land Transport Office (DLT)
• It is compulsory to wear a seat belt in the front seats of a car. Fines for not wearing a seatbelt can be paid at the local police station
• Blood-alcohol limit is 0.5 mg
• Speeding fines must be paid at the local police station
• Vehicles with red registration plates are not permitted to drive at night
• From 7 May 2008 a driver may only use a mobile cellular telephone with a handsfree system

Other things to take into account when driving in Thailand:

• Flashing of headlights by other vehicles is a warning signal meaning "get out of my way" and does not indicate "you may make your manoeuvre", as it does in some Western countries
• Drivers of larger vehicles may assume that smaller vehicles will give way
• Always check for motorbikes when opening car doors on the side of the road as they frequently travel up the inside space between the road and the pavement
• It is not obligatory for children's car seats to be used
• Anyone wishing to change the colour of their car must inform the DLT who will change the details in the registration book
• A frequently used method of warning road users of a breakdown in the road ahead is to cover the road with tree branches

Traffic signs

Traffic signs - warning and regulatory - are in Thai. They may have English translations below the Thai names.

Types of Road

Roads in Thailand range from multi-lane freeways around Bangkok to tiny lanes (soi's). Frequently-used roads in the provinces are often four lanes. 

There is continual investment in upgrading or building new roads throughout Thailand making road works commonplace although frequent heavy rains means they can deteriorate quickly. Road works are not always clearly marked or lit at night. Some road markings can be worn badly and care has to be taken.

Road signs may have English translations below the Thai names.

Motorcycles

There are more motorcycles than any other vehicle type on Thai roads. Only a very basic test is required before a motorbike licence is issued and there are many accidents involving motorbikes; the figures for motorcycle deaths in Thailand are extremely high.

• Motorcycles are required to have a tax sticker and 3rd party insurance
• It is compulsory for the rider to wear a helmet and have a motorbike licence

Car drivers in Thailand should be prepared for some or all of the following to occur when driving near motorbikes.

• Riding on the wrong side of the road
• Ignoring stop signs
• Riding with many passengers
• Cutting across the front of a car without looking
• Not indicating direction of turning
• Quickly riding across the front of oncoming traffic at lights

Drink Driving (DWI/DUI)

The legal blood-alcohol limit in Thailand is 0.5 grams of alcohol per litre of blood. However, for drivers that have held their licence for less than five years the limit is 0.2 grams per litre of blood. Drivers caught over the legal limit are heavily fined and may be imprisoned or required to do community service. The government is trying to reduce drink driving and breath testing stops are becoming more common.

On average 7.5 people are killed for every 10,000 vehicles on Thailand's roads, amounting to around 14,000 deaths annually in a typical year. National holidays are when drink driving is at its highest, with as many as 600 deaths during the three-day "Songkran" festival. Drivers should take extra care at these times.

Hope this was some useful information, be careful out there!

Camille

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Bangkok

It's Bangkok's new international airport, also known as (New) Bangkok International Airport and is located in Racha Thewa in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan Province, about 25 km east of downtown Bangkok. The name Suvarnabhumi was chosen by King Bhumibol Adulyadej and refers to the golden kingdom hypothesised to have been located somewhere in Southeast Asia.

It's an abstract looking building with lots of glass and to me it looks fine. I loved the old airport, Don Muang, since leaving the planes there always meant arriving in Bangkok coming from the Netherlands. The intense heat accompanying you to the gate was a feeling I won't ever forget, it always felt like coming home. With Suvarnabhumi it's different, I only used this airport for domestic flights and now Samui airport feels like coming home since the last 11 years.

Right now there's a new rail link between the city and the airport, which apparently is open now for test runs but should officially open around April 2010 which in real live most likely will see an opening somewhere mid to late 2010. TIT or This is Thailand.

The inside of the airport is rather efficient, in my opinion. At the departure car lanes it's very well indicated where your flight carrier has it's check in rows and from leaving the car to entering the check in row can be a matter of just minutes if you get out at the right gate.

So far I enjoyed using Suvarnabhumi airport, despite the big controversy which surrounded the opening but I guess problems arise which each newly opened airport, see Charles de Gaulle in Paris and the extension of Heathrow in London.

If you're there, you may want to check out this location, at the passport control, where Paris' clock is conveniently located in Africa.

Safe travels.

Camille

Renew or obtain a Thai drivers license, an experience

Renew or obtain a Thai drivers license, an experience

Besides an adventure, it's also a lesson in keeping a smile on your face and remain patient, regardless of what they tell you or sometimes not tell you.

In all the years that I've been visiting the Transport office Surat Thani, Branch Koh Samui area supervisor, which dates back as early as 2002 when I obtained my drivers license, I went back a couple of times to renew my drivers license, two times for a year and now the second time to renew for 5 years.

As in each country, public service offices tend to like red tape but the Thais seem to take the strudel, the first time still has to be seen when everything goes smoothly and I didn't 'forget' anything, whether it's not sufficient copies of this or that, bringing a motorbike or bringing pictures, there's always something.

The office itself is in Lipa Noi, a bit further down the road from Nikki Beach, coming from Nathon, pass the crossing where Samui immigration is located and take a right at the next red light. It's the crossing that leads to the old and still functioning Raja ferry pier. The sign on the previous picture hasn't been up for too long, so it's not too difficult to miss nowadays but if you didn't know where it was before that sign was put up, it may have taken you a while to find it, since the building, as pictured above, is completely hidden from the road.

One of the things you need is a letter from Immigration, stating that you behaved well and hence can apply for a drivers license. Cost; 500,-THB. If you don't know anybody at immigration, this will take a couple of hours to get sorted, renewing your license is something for the next day.

Since I'm applying for two different licenses, one for driving cars and one for driving motorbikes, I needed a copy of that letter made by immigration. All other paperwork and copies were fine! Not too bad, in my early years at this office I had to drive back to Nathon on my motorbike to get more copies sorted which was rather time consuming. At last, somebody had the bright idea to start a copy, oops sorry, a coppy shop in the middle of nowhere but with a steady supply of people in urgent need for copies; each copy 5,-THB, so one copy wasn't too bad but that shop is a copy gold mine. The shop also acts as an insurance broker for cars and motorbikes.

Inside nothing had changed much, since my last visit 5 years ago, except the new purple signs with English translations, a nice touch and helpful.

I arrived shortly before 9am and after picking up a number and handing over my paperwork and quickly getting one more copy of my immigration letter sorted out, I was told to sit down and wait until 9.30am. Mmmm, that would be an early day than, in and out and rather efficiently.

Well, not to be! At 9.45am, whilst I was reading my Dirk Pitt novel, I was approached by a Thai guy who was apparently sent down by the office staff because he could speak some English and he came to tell me that I needed to go to the 2nd floor. Following him I ended up in a classroom where a lady immediately went into an explanation in Thai about what was going to happen, what I could make out of it was that we all, a group of 27 people, 24 Thai and 3 Westerners, where to take a 'simple' test on some kind of machine, do a test for recognising colours (red, yellow and green, sounds familiar in relation to traffic?) and one that was done take an exam. Hold it, take an exam? I had done mine 7 years ago when I got my first drivers license. What is going on here. During the colour test, I finally got a chance to ask the lady in charge and found out that I just needed to complete the two tests but not the exam. Thanks for explaining straight away.

The colour chart is visible in the background but the machine in front is piece of work! There are three tests in this machine, one that tests field of vision, by looking at a point in front of you, colours appear left and right of you and you need to state the colour codes (red, yellow and green), it also test field of depth, by which you need to line up two white plastic tubes with a remote control and last but not least, it involves a reaction test, push the gas pedal and when green lights start to appear, hit the breaks before they lights turn red.

Do each test twice and you pass. Fail one test, do the test again, fail the test again, come back Monday and try again!
Since I had no probs with all the tests, I was home free but since we Westerners were the last in line, it was near 11am before we finished this.

Now it was off to pay the fees (increase of 100% since 5 years ago) and get my licenses, however, since I lost my motorbike license (needed to give it as deposit on Koh Tao for a bike rental and upon returning the bike the next day, the guy with the deposits had run off, incl my motorbike license), she somehow couldn't find me on the system so I only left with my brand new car drivers license. Price 655,-THB.

The lady who I was dealing with was actually nice and very helpful and she gave me her phone number in order to call her back on Monday so she could do some more research and give me the result since I wasn't listed on the ID # that was on my old drivers license and as it turned out, once I could double check back home, my first set of drivers licenses where issued on a different passport #, a way older passport. Well, most likely time for another run down to Lipa Noi early next week.

Something I didn't want to with hold, the practical part of the Thai drivers license exam. Drive around the building, park on the curb and park backwards. When I did my exam, after passing the written exam, I was asked to do exactly this with my rented car. Back in those days I didn't have my own car yet. However, than they found out that I didn't bring a motorbike and if I wanted to get a motorbike license, I needed to bring a motorbike to complete the practical test. OK, off I went to Nathon to rent a bike and upon returning I was asked to drive twice around the building. That was the practical test.

I wasn't done yet however, since some Thai guys showed up without a car, I was more or less summoned to give them my car for their test.

My explanation that my car could rented if they wanted to use my rented car didn't go down very well but since they had me go all the way to Nathon to rent a bike for just driving around their building, this was the perfect opportunity to cover my combined rental costs of the day.

In typical Thai fashion, the Thais that came to the exam with a car where never asked to hand over their car to the people that showed up without a car.

This is the highly modernised and computerised classroom where the written exams take place. A far cry from the simple wooden table that I had to sit at 7 years ago.

This is the final result, my brand new Thai drivers license, valid for another 5 years. Now I just need to get my hands on a new motorbike license and all is good again for the next 5 years on the license renewal front.

All in all less stressful than expected but a lot more time intensive than I expected with a rather friendly and helpful desk person. If you need your license sorted out, make sure you got time and make sure you know what to bring, makes life a lot easier.

Hope you enjoyed this rather long post.

Camille

Bangkok Subway system or the MRTA

Bangkok Subway system or the MRTA

After my write up of the Bangkok Skytrain system in February this year, it's now time for the MRTA or subway system to receive some exposure on my blog.
During my recent visit to Bangkok, I used the subway system each day and it's a very convenient way of getting around. It's a lot less crowded than the skytrain for starters, it only seems to get really busy during rush hour and the rest of the day you seem to have the stations almost to yourselves!

The skytrain and the subway system meet a few times, one station is Sukhumvit/Asoke and it's a convenient and easy way to get around downtown Bangkok. The only downside is that each transportation system uses its own tokens and if you switch transportation system, you need to buy a new ticket. There seem to be some talks under way though, to combine all various current tickets under one new ticket system for all public transportation modes in Bangkok.

Spacious cars are part of the system and the existing network is only 43.7 Km long but there are plans of extending the network with another 247.3 Km. Can't wait for the extension of both systems, it'll be fantastic and just what the traffic congested road in Bangkok really needs!

As you can see for yourselves, empty platforms during almost all the day and cool on top of that, in contrast to the typical hot day times of Bangkok.

Camille