Hua Hin – Samut Songkhram - 118 km
The stretch between Hua Hin and Samut Songkhram was a most
pleasant ride. The weather was excellent as I followed tranquil
country lanes. The path led along a river and through luminous green
rice paddies, past prominent, brightly coloured temples and one-lane
fishing communities where colourful fishing boats lay four deep and
sleeping dogs scarcely bothered lifting an eye.
It appeared a rarity seeing a foreign woman on a bike, and
welcoming villagers called greetings and kids on bicycles found it fun
to give chase. In contrast, others seemed slightly apprehensive, and
my every move was watched with great interest. I arrived in Samut
Songkhram just as the food stalls were set up.
Hometown Hostel was inexpensive, and although the rooms were
tiny, I was the only one there and had the dorm all to myself. The
streets were jampacked with food vendors, and one could pick and
choose from the numerous dishes on offer.
Samut Songkhram – Bangkok - 98 km
Instead of following the main road, I weaved along village lanes
toward Bangkok. These secondary roads made riding far more
enjoyable. Greetings of “Hello, farang!” and scores of food carts
dotted the way. The fascinating thing was that all drinks automatically
came as a takeaway in a handy plastic bag that could be hooked onto
the handlebar.