chrissables

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

thanks for the trip report. can you talk a little about the process at the border getting the bike in Cambodia? paperwork. whatever.

Easy, but a bit disorganised.

Need to show the green book, they write some paperwork.

You give the paperwork to another kiosk across the road.

You get your passport stamped out. (make sure you have a re-entry if required).

At the Cambodia side they asked nothing about the bike at all.

Just fill in the entry card (same as a tm card) Or they fill it in for a fee and through.

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

do you mind if I ask how old you are? I am curious because I am 63 and ride a Kawasaki Versys 650 and did a 30 day 3500 kilometer trip in November in Thailand that pushed me to the limit physically. All these dirt roads must have been a lot of work for you.       

Hi, I'm 57.

I also have a Versys 650. It is a heavier bike, so depending on your confidence levels could make you tense when riding, that will wear you out.

My friend borrowed it for a trip to Koh Chang, and i am sure he would have enjoyed it on a scooter more.

Now the Rally has decent shock and is lower, it would be a dream to ride there again. Off to the north soon.

2 hours ago, thaiguzzi said:

 

1. Looking fwd to the full trip report as usual Chris.

2. Cambo drivers are the nuttiest in SE Asia.

3. Once home, bin those hard panniers.

Pain in the arse as you are finding out.

Sell them on here or B&S.

I have always preferred soft panniers and luggage on any type of motorcycle.

Can't stand those big hard boxes.

Makes you look either like a policeman or a dreaded GS owner.

Edit -

Look at the width!

Forgot how ridiculously wide hard boxes make the bike and how much more difficult filtering in traffic is.

Since the Cambodia trip i went to Koh Chang, just a top box and new suspension, far better!

Day 30. 1st Feb. Koh Kong to Pattaya 380km

I left early and the entry back to Thailand was easy.

Once back in Pattaya I stopped at my local shop to enjoy a cold beer. Some idiot reversed into my bike and knocked it over.

A great trip even allowing for the accidents.

Total distance 6,201km

Part of the old road to the top of Bokor mountain!

Day 28. 30th Jan. Bokor mountain. 102km

I decided to ride up Bokor Mountain again today, really good fun.

A nice sunset after a terrible ride.

Day 27. 29th Jan. Phnom Penh to Kampot 163km?

The road to Kampot is straight forward, road 3 all the way. But a terrible ride!

100 km of hell, 40km of ok followed up by 26km of hell again. If wet it would be so dangerous.

Once the roadwork’s are complete it will be ok, but at the moment, not!

The good thing about Kampot is all the restaurants and bars and of course the sunsets.

Fishing the dirty waters!

Day 26 28th Jan. Phnom Penh

My plan today was to walk around the Palace, but every tuk tuk driver was telling me it was shut. The problem was I was not asking them. It seemed like the tuk tuk drivers at the palace in Bangkok, saying the Palace is shut so they can take you somewhere.

There were unbearable, just would not stop trying to get you riding with them. Eventually I told them I was going where there was quiet and no tuk tuk drivers to annoy me! At least some listened!

As it happened the palace was closed, but only for another hour, but I decided to walk along the river edge to get some peace.

Day 23.25th Jan. Siem Reap to Stung Treng via Bang Mealea Temple. 326km

Today’s route was a return trip of my ride from Ban Lung to Siem Reap.

I had tried to find this temple complex before, but my phone had died.

This time it was easy to find, but after parking and starting to walk in I was told to buy a ticket…. A few km away. Just such a strange set up!

This was a great place to walk around, but there many groups of Japanese tourists there also. And it was very difficult to take photos as they would all take it in turns to take selfies, then stay there while sending them to wherever. They were totally oblivious to what was going on around them.

When I arrived at Stung Treng it seemed all the hotels were booked up, eventually I found a big room with 2 double beds in a nice purple colour! And a jogging machine!

Day 22. 24th Jan. Walking around Siem Reap.

Today was a nice relaxing day, walking for a couple of hours in Pub street area and the old market