Day 3: Trang & Pak Meng

It's rest day. We planned for an escape to indulgence. Sort of. The plan was to visit Pak Meng Beach and Pier. A nice secluded stretch of beach and also a gateway to many islands through its pier. Earlier plan was shelved to ride that 30 km route to Pak Meng and back. However, we just need something of a laid back stuff after yesterday's effort. Couldn't agree more.

Escape

We chartered a coaster, a huge 12 seater Toyota Hiace, most popular in Thailand for it's high top roof and super comfortable ride. The hotel have made arrangement with it's travel agent. 30 Thai Baht per pax, nothing to ask more.

The driver's nickname was Heck. I hope I spell it right, but it sounded like that. He's not too good with English but it was good enough for us to communicate without having to engage into war. He's friendly and willing to explain when asked. The best part was listening to his Thai songs, the best tracks picked for our trip. The perspective from inside a vehicle through Thailand's road was different from behind the bike handlebar. I witnessed a lot more characters of Thailand's motorist. 

Heck seemed to love honking. Especially when he's overtaking another vehicle and approaching a junction. It may sound irritating but the kind of his honking shows the friendly kind. Not the offensive or anger driven kind that we find from Malaysian motorists. It's a little more pleasant. The purpose is to communicate with the other road users of his existence and he's coming through. The other party will part away to let him pass without a glimpse of grouchy look. It is a driving culture in Thailand. I've been experiencing it for the last two days while we cycled along the road shoulder. 

The most respectable character that I find is the patience Thai motorist endure. If they find that the road is too narrow to overtake us slower cyclists or other slower road users, they will wait until it is clear for them to pass through. And they don't honk or accelerate in anger. And this is the most lacking in Malaysia when we don't find the respect for each other. I have encountered a few miss death occasions when passing arrogant drivers drove inches from me.

Leaving Trang into the suburb was similar to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Bagan Lalang via the interstates. More plantations and smaller towns in between. Quieter areas and lesser traffic. 

Pak Meng beach was beautiful. We may have came on a weekday when the beach was empty and had it to ourselves. The beach was clean. White sand belt covers the 2 km coast with awesome views of those small islands in close proximity. The local restaurants provided beach chairs and tables with umbrellas for visitors. We just need to order our drinks and special Kerabu menu. The fried seafood sold from mobile hawkers were so cheap. Fried squids, crabs, prawns and fish at only 150 Thai Baht per item. And they give free sauce in a cute disposable small bowl. And the feast in the gorgeous seaside escape was indescribable. 

We took a short dip. Water was great. It rained for a while but we don't mind. 

The bigger plan was to go back to Trang and venture the town, hoping to find a good bike shop. A cyclist 's oath whenever reaching a new place is to search for a local bike shop. It is mandatory. Arriving back in Trang, we had a short meeting trying to locate the local bike shops. Trang have two. I have visited one near to the train station earlier but nothing was cool. Not the kind for enthusiast cyclists. The other was better. More bikes and more bike stuff. And we were also welcome by a cyclist whom was spinning on her bike trainer in front of the shop.

We spent the remaining daylight clobbering the bike shop for bike maintenance and bike stuff. The bike shop was super friendly to assist us with our demeanour. Until it was time for dinner, we had to say goodbye and in search for a nice good diner. The best choice was back to the train station where a night market awaits.

Trang is a nice town for a night stay or two. Easy Muslim food, nice streets to have a stroll. Good hotel. It may come in handy as a transit town for those travelling further up towards Krabi or Phuket.  

And did I tell you, 80% of Trang residence don't wear helmets while they wheeze through the traffic on their motorbike?  

Typical geological & geographical sceneries of Thailand's west coast

Mesmerised

Lazy

Clean streets. I am in awe

Too much to handle the lucrativeness