A Lion in a Dragon's Den
just my personal travel notes ...
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Thursday, March 12, 2015
Narathiwat : South Thailand Unrest
Its always been a fly and ride for me. Far away exotic places are always greener than home. While my neighbours, like a backyard , familiarty and within reach doesn’t excite me as much.
Maybe it’s time I should give it a second look.
Shamefully the furtherest I’ve taken my TEX to is Cameron Highland.
I will need to take it out for a real ride before it’s first birthday.
Phuket and Hatyai are too touristy, not my cup of mocca.
Narathiwat province it will be, a region plague by violence from separatist insurgency. 6000 have been killed and 10,000 have been injured since 2004.
Is the situation really that bad ?
(Last incident was on the day I left, 9th March, with 9 casualities and previously in Feb with 13 casualities injured by a car-bomb)
I’ve learned to read news with only a pinch of wasabi.
The only way to find out, is to go in and see it for myself.
The two objectives - to overcome my fear of riding solo and to enter the ‘troubled' South Thailand - an unknown to me (well I did enter once with my first bike back in 2011, shamelessly only for an hour, guided by a motorcycle taxi, all because we need to assure my riding partner’s wife’s girlfriend that ‘what are the two man going into Thailand for ?’
That’s just one of the frustrating reason that make me decide to go solo.
Not a big deal for those seasoned riders, so save your ‘so what?’
The only person I need to challenge is the me of yesterday.
This trip was hastily planned. With the next destination decided only on the day of arrival. Due to the uncertainties of the local situations, I could not stay for too long at any spot. Hence I am left with only few photos and mostly lame bikefie.
This region was the former Sultanate of Pattani, until it was conquered by the Siamese in 1785, present Kelantan were spared. Patani Malay are spoken here, which makes me feel so ‘at home’ with my limited Indonesian, since I can’t speak Thai to stop an oil leak.
Comparating with neighbouring Malaysia state of Kelantan. Narathiwat are obviously underdeveloped, however it is calm (among the storm). No doubt one will suspect the intended neglection from the central Thai government.
except for the numerous checkpoint manned by young soldiers and police.
A stranded ship along Narathat beach. |
I have no idea where am I going.. just pick one and go! |
Go with your Curiosity instead and overide your GPS! |
One of the joy of not riding the expressway or highway .. you get to stop as you please! |
You know you have to stop when you see this. |
Go with your Curiosity instead and overide your GPS! |
Found this Rocky Hill .. hmmm.. |
Kilometers of beautiful, quiet and deserted beach. with only a few fisherman dryng their catch at interval. |
"I believe I can fly
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door
I believe I can fly"
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Mother Nature is taking over this under utilised roads. We need to sent more bikes here!
Sure enough, the road is gone!
Swallow up by the Gods of the sea.
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Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia |
Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia |
Bukit Fraser, Pahang, Malaysia |
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