Catching Up - Backpacking on 2 Wheels

Finally I have a week break to do some "housekeeping" - realised that I have not updated an account of my Sukothai and Nippon Backpack last year before school re-open.  Really lost track of time at times - Going back to school is quite taxing after all.

I have wanted to go Sukothai for a long long time - it was one of the ancient city in Thai history. Rem I stayed in a backpacker hostel in BKK near the Hua Lampong Station (Chinatown) the night before, then I realised I needed to go to Mo Chit Bus Station instead ;P. Had wanted to take a train but realised that there was no direct train station at Sukothai - need to change bus to reach Sukothai - so decided to take a 9-10 hours bus ride instead. Took a cab there to catch the earliest bus but the bus agent informed me that the earliest time was 1030hrs. For thai bus, it's best to take
better class" seats - it is not expensive and u get meal coupon, drink and cake on board. It isnt my first time on long journey thai bus, so mentally prepared for the "air con" (It gets hot and stuffy in the middle of the journey, and usually they will play thai traditional music.)

Managed to check in to my backpacker hostel in Sukothai after the long long journey. It was evening time and not too bad - no need to walk in the dark. Rem there was an aerobic session right across my hostel (well, i booked an air con room - but no TV - to tahan the hot weather). Quite cozy place and abt 5 min walk to the "tuk tuk station to Old Sukothai City" and another 5 min walk to the night bazaar.  As usual, I went to search for my fav yummy thai noodles - those with char siew the best and it costs only 20B ;). Ate the same store almost every day.

Sukothai Town - most tourists will be staying in the new town while the attractions are abt 50 km from the old town - this means I need to take a transport to old Sukothai city (next time must stay near or the best next to the old sukothai city liao).  Weather was hot and humid - I needed no more than 1/2 day to become tanned. How tanned I am? Locals didnt entertain me or they spoke to me in thai liao. I rented a bicycle to recci the old town - You have to go on wheels as it's a huge complex. Nice place - at times I am the only one at a particular site. As usual - mission-based ME - wanted to catch sunset (sunrise is too early - no transport yet).  The complex bears similar "feel" as those in Ayutthaya.  I stayed at each site for a while, waiting for potential "subjects" to appear. There were school children but no monks.

The time when I was at Sukothai - there were some grand ceremonial activities going on. Rem I wanted to catch the early bus to another old complex and was stopped by the hostel owner. He told me to proceed to the town centre - there was 1000 monks procession (see my album). Okay, it was really an experience - never saw so many monks before. It was very very crowded and students were activated to help out in the whole session.  I went to get good location to take my photos.  Actually I saw many posters when I reached BKK and saw the news about the procession - but didnt expect to see it in Sukothai. 

It was a nice experience - first time backpack cum cycling. It will be great if you can travel with your loved one. We can share the joy of enjoying the roadside street makan, sweating together under the hot sun (of cos with sun block?!), and me showing off some "3-month" Thai language Xp.