TH – Trip to Malaysia Ep 1

Rain had been our unwanted travel buddy for weeks. Thailand was pretending it was still monsoon season — rain every bloody day, sometimes coming down like the sky had a grudge. Normally by November, you’d expect dry days, blue skies, and that nice soft 25°C air that makes you feel alive again. But nope, this year the weather gods clearly hadn’t checked their calendars.

Still, luck was on our side — at least for a bit. The road out of Rasisalai was dry. The kind of dry that makes you want to hum a little tune under your helmet and think life’s not too bad. We rolled through endless flat roads with rice paddies stretching out on both sides. The kind of scene that screams “Isaan!” — the heartland of Thailand’s jasmine rice empire.

Thing is, when the road’s straight for hours, even your thoughts start to wander off. I swear, at one point I caught myself mentally listing snacks I’d like to eat if I ever got stranded. That’s how exciting the scenery was.

But things perked up once we hit Chaiyaphum province. Finally — some hills! A few corners! Trees taller than your average dog! The land started rolling into gentle mountains, sugar cane replacing rice fields, and the air smelled a bit sweeter.

We stuck mostly to the smaller B-roads — dodging trucks, scooters, and the occasional cow. Thailand’s rural roads have this comforting déjà vu quality: every town’s got a 7-Eleven, a temple with gold paint flaking in the sun, and a couple of friendly dogs watching you go by like they’re silently judging your life choices.

Lunch was quick and easy — something fried, something ricey, and a drink that may or may not have contained actual fruit. Then, of course, the heavens opened.

At first, it was just a few drops on the visor, but soon it was coming down like someone had tipped a bathtub from the clouds. By the time we reached Chum Phae, everything was soaked except our sense of humour. We spotted a resort along Highway 201 — 400 baht a night. You beauty! Clean room, a roof for the bike, and even a half-decent mattress.

Not bad for a wet day’s work. 350 kilometres done, spirits still high, and socks drying over the aircon. Tomorrow would surely be drier… right?

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Woke up in that 400-baht palace feeling like we’d just spent the night at the Hilton. Maybe it was the exhaustion, maybe it was the mattress, or maybe it was just knowing we didn’t have to wring out our jackets again.

The skies were moody but dry — cloudy, mild, and perfect for riding. After fuelling up both the bike and ourselves (thank you, PT gas station coffee and toast), we looked at the map and decided to ditch the original plan.

We were supposed to go through Loei, up in the mountains — but with all the rain lately, it didn’t make sense to go twisty if you can’t see past your visor. Instead, we took the Highway 12 route through Phitsanulok and onward to Kamphaeng Phet.

Now, before you roll your eyes at the word “highway,” hear me out. The stretch of Highway 12 between Chum Phae and Phitsanulok is actually one of Thailand’s prettiest rides.

Long, sweeping curves, soft hills, lush greenery — the sort of place where you just let the bike glide and forget about everything else.

But then came the punishment: a hundred kilometres of mind-numbing, straight-as-a-ruler tarmac. Four lanes of boredom. I swear, if I’d stuck to the speed limit, I’d have nodded off mid-ride. Nothing tests your mental stamina like trying to stay awake on a road that looks copy-pasted from Google Earth.

We rolled into Kamphaeng Phet in the afternoon — early enough to do something touristy. The city’s Historical Park is a proper hidden gem — a UNESCO site full of ancient temples, half-crumbled chedis, and giant Buddha statues watching you melt in the heat.

I’d been there twice before — twenty years apart — and you know what? It hasn’t changed a bit. Same mossy bricks, same peaceful vibe, same rule that lets you ride your own vehicle inside (absolute legend move).

But, oh boy, was it hot. By the time we parked, my riding jacket felt like a portable sauna. We wandered around for a bit, drenched in sweat, trying to look cultural but mostly thinking about shade and cold drinks.

Our hotel that night was fancier than usual — 2,300 baht, but it had a comfy bed, secure parking, and food nearby. Worth every baht.

Then came the mistake.

The pizza wasn’t even good — chewy crust, weird sauce, and a price tag that made me wonder if the cheese was imported from Mars. But hey, they had German beer. Ice cold. The first sip erased all sins.

So the day ended well — full belly, comfy bed, no rain, and a slow buzz from the beer. Sometimes, that’s all a biker really needs.

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We ditched the big highways and instead took the scenic backroads — the real deal. You know, those narrow lanes that twist and turn through little Thai villages, where the air smells like fried banana and wood smoke.

The weather played nice: overcast but dry, though the humidity crept up by noon and turned us into walking salt blocks.