Thailand – a driving and coastal trip in June 2012

Again, I dont have the dates.  Likely dates are Jun 9, 10 and 11, or 16, 17, 18, all dates inclusive.  Do read on. But, dont buy your tickets yet.  I can only confirm around 28 May.

As usual, all my trips are disorganised, so I dont really know anything until we get into the car. 

June is a hot month, but it can be just as fun.  This time, we are going on a driving holiday; which means participants drive, and i sit on the left side of the car.  Dont worry about the road signs, they usually have English text.  As long as you have a Singaporean licence, can can.

Like May, we shall have a coastal trip, scenic and romantic.  We get to drive along the coastal roads, stop where we like, eat when we feel like it and rest, when it is time.  You must have a Singapore licence.  Dont worry as I will sit next to you, and take over when you are tired.

The journey will cover most of where the May group will travel on.  We will cover places where the van would not want to travel to.  Food wise, simple and local.  Language, we try in whatever thai you know. Bring your camera, as  you are not likely to capture the scenes with any organised tours.  No cockroaches, as most would have die or killed by the may group.

Where we stay, you have to be game.  We see a place, we like it, we stay.  If not, we drive on.  Cost wise, it will be slightly more than travelling via a van, as the car is shared among 4 people, instead of 8 to a van.  At most, we will have two cars.  Likely cost per car is Baht 1,800 per day, fuel excluded.

We should have a mixed participation of 4 men and 4 women; not 2 men and 6 women.

Preference to participate will always be given to those who register before 20 May 2012.

Terence Seah 

 

Registration:

 

  1. Terence Seah
  2. Jassmine Teo
  3. Caroline Gee
  4. Janie Leong
  5. Sock Cheng
  6. Eileen Ang
  7. Eyvonne Chew
  8. Lydia Chin
  9. Alan Ang

 

Author: Terence Seah

Founder

33 thoughts on “Thailand – a driving and coastal trip in June 2012”

  1. Hi Terence
    May I borrow your post to publicise another proposed trip.
    A trip by self-drive cars is always enjoyable.
    I am contemplating a similar trip in New Zealand sometime in September when the spring weather is very pleasant.
    A convoy of two cars with 4 occupants each would be very comfortable. The journey starts at Auckland and finishes at Christchurch where we catch a plane back to Singapore. It will take about 10 days.
    I wonder what will be the response

  2. Hi Terence

    I might be able to join your June trip if it’s a short one. (not more than 4 days). Abt the driving criterion – i’m confident of driving ONLY when all other drivers cannot drive anymore (for some reasons). LOL! How? Count me in if i’m eligible! :)

  3. Hi Terence

    Sounds good. I would like to register for this trip.
    However, I have a problem with left hand drive.

    Many thanks.

    Carly

  4. Hi Terence,

    This two dates under your consideration does not clash with my Genting trip. If there is space, Annie Tan and me wish to join your Southern Thailand driving coastal trip. I can drive with my eyes close but you have to tell me left, right, stop, go or u-turn.

    I also wish to go Bangkok either 3/4 days before or after your confirm date. Maybe stay at Century Park Hotel and explore city by tuk-tuk.? Shopping at MBK, Pratnum Mall or Chatuchak. Visitt Vitoty Monument, Queen Sirikit
    National Convention Center, Emerald Buddha, Lumpinee Boxing Stadium, Gtrand Palace, Wat Pho, floating market ….Never been there and not sure whether this places a good choice. I would appreciate your suggestion or any fellow members reconmendation.

    It will be more enjoyable if I can get more travelling kakis for this extended trip. Anyone interested?

    Cheers & Stay Healthy! :)

  5. Hi Terence,

    My spelling mistake. Should be “Visit Victory” and “Grand” and #1Robert Ong, I am also interested in your plan driving in NZ. Please email me when you are ready.

    Thank you! :)

  6. Hi Terence,

    I like driving holidays and enjoy the free n easy mode but will only probably can make it on the later dates (16, 17 & 18)….thanks!

    Regards,
    Janie

  7. Hi Terence

    As usual I am keen but I cannot drive lei. Also can only make it on the earlier dates as I will be in Kuching on a Community Service cum home stay from 14 to 17 Jun…..so if trip is on from 9 to 11 and non driver can go then count me in a-sai-bo?

    Sockie

  8. Hi Terence,

    I enjoy free and easy holiday, either date I probably
    can make it, I have singapore driving licence ,
    but have not been driving couple of years since i left
    my ex-company, wonder will u consider ????

    thanks
    Eileen

  9. Guys and gals planning to join the June self-drive coastal trip, along Thailand coastline. Your names noted. This whole trip will likely be a total of 300 km, it’s short, as we will be stopping at every scenic point.

    Terence Seah

  10. Terence #4

    I am quite a skillful and safe driver and have quite a good driving record except that I once drove onto a curb and needed the tow truck, another time i crashed into a tree and car was badly damaged but I came out unscathed and there was one time I…….

    Still need me as a driver?

    Just kidding. I can drive well but have not tried driving with my eyes closed. Tell me when you want to test me and you can be my passenger.

    Cheers
    Carly

  11. Hi Terence #4

    No, i can’t drive with eyes closed. I drive with both eyes wide open. I look right, look left then look right again before driving SLOWLY off and i seldom overtake, so if i drive, be prepared to reach our destination VERY LATE! lol!

  12. Hi Terence

    Like Janie Leong, I like driving holiday/trip. If you are still accepting more ladies, please include me (prefer the earlier June dates). FYI, my friends commented that I drive like a guy.

    LS

  13. Having driven in Indonesia for many years i think i can tackle Thailand roads if there is seat belt! The journey sound fun so i chop first. Can only confirm on 28th

  14. Haha!!

    There are already six girls but only two guys! So how?? Are some of the girls half-girls??

    Please bear in mind that driving in Thailand is different from driving in safe Singapore. And with the current driving experience I read about on this post… better double your insurance coverage!

    As usual, I only mean to highlight some considerations for the trip injected with a bit of humour. I am sure that safety and security are on top of Terence’s list.

  15. Hi Kenneth #15, for the June trip,

    We are driving by cars. I haven’t got a date yet, but we should have one motorcycle or scooter trip, likely to Phuket or Vietnam sometime.

    Sometime next year, likely end Jan or early Feb, we will be having another scenic and romantic trip to North Thailand (between Nong Khai (the former US retreat) and Vietianne. I am kind of keen to tie up with your regular trip during the cool months. The target will be 40 pax. Got to wait until next year. More details later.

    Terence Seah

  16. Hi Terence,

    Some years back Tian Soo and I made a trip to Nong Khai in Oct for the festival of the end of the Buddhist Lent. That festival also coincided with the River festival where supposed spontaneous eruptions of gas from the river would occur. The festival is a yearly affair and many Thais celebrate it, as do the Laotians but on the opposite side of the river. So hotel and transportation is a problem. But we stayed in Udon Thani, not very far away.

    After the festival, we crossed to Laos, Vientiane. But we stayed only 1 night as there were a lot of kok bars etc. Next day we flew to Luang Prabang. Now that is a town that I can recommend. Very slow-moving, laid back, very good for photo buffs, very much a heritage town. Then we took a boat for 2 days along the Mekong arriving in Huay Sai, crossed the river border into Thailand and took a bus to Chiang Mai where we stayed some nights before flying back.

    The boat trip may be boring for some but quite revealing, as you see the interior of Lao, their villages, the obscurity, remoteness, poverty, lack of infrastucture etc. No worries about hotels as we stayed overnight, at the midpoint, in a town called PakBeng. They had a very good northern Indian restaurant there. Of course no shopping, so the shopping ladies can write this off.

    I would be interested in this trip, even if it is in Jan/Feb. Maybe we can even travel to Loei and cut across to Chiang Mai again.

  17. Hi Terence,

    Please include me. Please let us know the places we’ll be visiting, dates, etc.. Happy to fit into majority’s plans.

    Thanks!
    Lydia Chin.

  18. Hi Johnny and Charles

    The last time I have heard from you about your trips in Thailand and Vietnam, it got me excited. This is the type of trips I always look out for. Too bad, June 15-18 cannot join in.

  19. Hi Julian,

    Alright if you cannot make it for this trip. There will be others, like Terence says.

    Just keep in touch with the cyclists, something will come out.

    I will be in Tibet till Jun 4th, after which I need to go for a shoulder operation. I dunno when I will be out of action, but will take more than a few weeks for recuperation. I have already sounded out your interests to some of the travelling kakis here and will keep you informed after my op.

    Stay safe till then.

  20. This coastal driving trip is confirmed. This is a 3 day 2 night trip.

    * Start – Sat June 16, 0900hrs. Advise to come on Friday.
    ** End – Mon Jun 18, 1500 hrs at airport. You may leave anytime after 1700 hrs.

    Estimate car rental for 4, around 1800 baht per day, excluding petrol. Saves on driver and tips.

    Max 4 persons or 8 persons on this trip. Please check the registrationlist before you book your air tickets.

    Terence Seah

  21. Hi Jassmine, Caroline, Janie, Eileen, Eyvonne, Lydia and Alan,

    Please indicate if you are still game for the driving trip. No worries, if you schedule does not permit, but do let me know.

    Sock Cheng #24, you are always on holidays, so another time then.

    Terence Seah

  22. Hi Terence

    My apologies. Thanks for the reminder. I cannot make it for that weekend.

    I have decided that I may go to Lombok the following weekend. Enjoy!

    Cheers
    Caroline

  23. Hi, Terence #25

    My apologies. I have to withdraw from this trip. Looking out for your next trip. you folks enjoy and have a safe trip.

    Eyvonne

  24. Alamak, you guys!!

    Quick quick register, then quick quick withdraw!

    Imagine if I had to plan this trip…

    Next time I will take a deposit before you can put down your name…

    Haha, I think Terence will have to rethink his monthly ventures.

  25. Hi guys and gals,

    No problems, if you cannot make this Thai trip. There will always be other days. I will adjust my plans accordingly.

    I am in Delhi this week, and next week, I shall be off to Shanghai for a week. My plan is to go to Bangkok after China, if not, I shall settle for somewhere else. Kenneth, after having been with SilverHairs for some years, I have learnt to make contingency plans.

    Terence Seah

  26. Kenneth @29

    This is bo bian. I would love to go but the date boh ngam mah! 16 June is choc o bloc for me.

    Terence @30
    Thanks for being so understanding. If it was the 23rd weekend, I would go on the Thai trip. I am giving myself a birthday treat to Lombok cos I bought this villa accommodation package. Hope the operator did not cabot :)

    Cheers
    Carly

  27. Hi Terence, I heard so much about your wonderful Thai holidays, and am seriously keen to join you. But I just started a new job, and am unable to take leave. Please do keep me informed on your next trip, and will surely try to fit in.

    Cheers, LydiaChin.

  28. Officially, let’s treat the driving trip along the Thai coast as off. However, if you wish to come, please email me directly.

    Terence Seah

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