Lamberg Travel: Bike Ride in Thailand Jan 2016 (first few days)

I intend to add a few notes along with a very few pictures, then modify the blog as the trip moves along. What looks interesting today may not look as worthy to show if something comes along that eclipses the earlier post.

The first thing that people often say is that the travel is too long. They are right. I will probably not come back to the Far East for that reason alone. I clocked 24 hours of air time in addition to 10 hours of ground time between planes. And, I have to repeat that homeward.

This ride has been special in one way from my usual, especially compared to camping. The hotels are luxurious. Here are photos of the first two, since today is the first ride day after leaving the arrival hotel. I could have seen the hotels on-line but I had not so each has been a surprise. Not going to look at the next ones either, just to maintain the suspense.

Of course, the hotels and food are not the main part of a bike ride. The main part is to see a country from a closer viewpoint than a car or bus could offer, and that we are doing. I have ridden part of yesterday with a tour guide whose son lives in Chicago and he has visited the US enough that his English is quite good. He told me that Thailand has universal health care, and that the best students go to the state universities that offer almost free education. Admission is highly competitive and most students get tutoring to pass the rigors of testing. I see a lot of big cars (gas is about the same as the US), and a lot of marginal looking trades people, but have yet to see a homeless person on the street.

On arrival, I called the person who Gary's friend has put me in contact with. He and his driver picked me up, we went to dinner downtown and his driver dropped me off, not simple as the hotel is near the airport, 30 min from downtown. Enjoyed my evening and we are repeating this on my return, followed by a day seeing the sights, again with his driver to make things go smoothly.

The bike group is about 20, most with international biking experience, and 3 AC vans to move us along or pick us up if needed and a large support staff. All well organized: lunch was ready when we arrived (see fish picture below).

I think I have said enough. A few pictures below tells more. I have been keeping an on-line diary, talking to Lynne nearly daily with Skype, and doing fine, although it was 90 in the shade and a blazing sun today. Drinking lots of water and biking strong. If anyone really wants to know more, I can send them a link to the details of the ride. SpiceRoads is the company with some alterations imposed by the organizer.