Issanman

I sent a telephone by EMS up to the NE and it was delivered yesterday, Sunday.

According to BP, the main road is open for motorcycles now.

Suzuki Raider J Crossover 56,900฿ at Suzuki BigBike Phuket downtown Phuket. It's a new model for Thailand and it is the most fun I have had on 2 wheels in quite a long time. I bought the first one of this model sold in Phuket. It's 112.8cc but they call it a 115i engine. It's enough power for my current riding style at 69 years old. I also have an NMax but the Suzuki is way more fun. I changed the wheels, tires, shocks, and added the luggage rack and box. They really need these bikes for the farm country up where I stayed before in NE Thailand, but there are so few Suzuki shops up there that it probably won't even be seen by most of the people who could really use a bike like this. When I stayed up there, our closest Suzuki shops were about 100km away from our village. I am waiting for the drier weather so I can take my Suzuki out there and explore more of the secret roads that cover this island. Some of the roads are barely passable without a vehicle like this. But I don't like it when they are slippery in addition to being very steep. This is not a motocross bike. ???? But seriously, I think I am probably having more fun than anyone else on the road, while I am riding my new Suzuki.

I went into Napoli which is just a few steps into Soi Post Office, across the road from Patong beach. The pizza I ordered was certainly the best tasting pizza that I have ever eaten in Thailand. I have had some good pizzas in Phuket and elsewhere in Thailand, but this was the best. The friendliness of the staff is also remarkable. Napoli has a large menu of Italian food choices which I need to try next time I get back to Patong from my place in Rawai. Soon. They also have a very nice smoking lounge upstairs that you may want to check out from which you can order your Napoli food and they will bring the food up to the smoking lounge. A very pleasant experience for smokers of the evil weed. My recommendation is to go upstairs and pay a visit to the smoking lounge before ordering your food. Once you have developed a serious case of the munchies, ask the friendly attendant for a Napoli menu. Awesome and relatively new experience in Thailand. Surreal even.

It appears that the authorities are attempting to renovate another way over the mountain. It would go from Chalong to Patong. I believe that road will connect to the southern portion of Hasippi Rd. I am thinking this is the same road that my daughter and I attempted to navigate on our scooters a couple of years ago. But we were advised by the locals that the only safe way to traverse that particular road is by walking. They said it was not passable by scooters. I have been meaning to go back there and try again since I got my new bike, but I just haven't gotten around to it. https://thephuketexpress.com/2022/10/24/local-road-from-chalong-to-patong-to-be-renovated/

A Patong-Kathu shortcut does exist, but you would definitely need a high-clearance 4WD vehicle or a small and light motorbike that your can maintain control of while sliding around on the steep and muddy hills that you must traverse along the way. Once it dries out, it will be a lot easier. I talked to a woman on the Kathu side that walked the road and she verified that it was possible but said that I should not try it unless I had better shoes. I was wearing flip-flops. So I rode my bike around the one hour detour through Kata/Karon to Patong and up to the top of the mountain. There I met 2 separate persons that had ridden small, automatic motor scooters up from Kathu and they asked me if they could get to Patong if they followed the road that I had just come up on. I happily told them yes and they each took off down the road smiling. Going from Patong to Kathu, here is a picture of the first slippery and steep hill: The steepness never seems to actually show in the picture. But be aware there is a surprise ditch in the road just as you come to the top of the hill, just big enough to upset the progress of the bikes with the smaller wheels. Shortly after that, you will come to a fork in the road. Google says to go left at that fork. But knowing I already had one steep and slippery ass hill that I had to go back down, I turned around at that point. If I would have had actual shoes on, I would have traveled further. Picture of the fork: Lucky my bike has semi-dirt tires on it, so I made it safely back down the hill. I have always enjoyed climbing hills on my bikes, but always hated going back down the particularly hairy ones. The route is plainly marked on Google maps if you look for it. It runs between the Wat Doi Thep Nimit Monastery above Patong and the เคียงเขา Forest & Cafe at the bottom of the hill on the Kathu side. Me, I will wait for things to dry out a bit and then I will put on my boots and go for it. You guys go ahead and report back.

https://goo.gl/maps/YoKcwnXAn9eM3JEX7

The stock HD pipes are quiet enough, but most all of them are swapped out for the noisy pipes at some point.

For 2022 Yamaha has 7 different models in the 150~155cc range:

As long as he is keeping up with the traffic, I don't see a problem.

Thanks. I think I found the place. They have good reviews. https://goo.gl/maps/xU6FdJvFYTWYkBGg7

I am looking for a shop to replace a shattered side window on my 4 door pickup. Are there any specialty automotive glass replacement shops in Phuket? Rawai or south Phuket is my preferred area, if possible.

https://goo.gl/maps/c7Uq6qYi7y4GVfcZ9

This place is a good value. https://www.yanuiresort.com/ https://goo.gl/maps/cbLyiJceUZzddn5h9 In a quiet neighborhood but only a 10 minute walk to downtown Rawai beach with plenty of restaurants. Only about 5 minute walk to some Thai food stands and the Yanui Family Mart. Fifteen minute walk to Yanui Beach. They even have some 2 bedroom units available for around 2500฿.

The Thai sticks I bought around Udon Thani in the mid 70s were not dipped in opium.

Phuket keeps your passport overnight for 1 year retirement extensions.