Amazing Race (23 - 25 December 2023), Day 2 : Dannok to Thung Kha via Khao Nam Khang National Park

Khao Nam Khang National Park

Oh noooo....It was raining when we got up and it was still raining when we were about to go out for breakfast. Waiting out the rain, we decided to snack on the hotel's complimentary coffee and biscuit spread.

The rain teetered off to a drizzle at about 7 am, enough time for us to walk out to Route 4 for hot food @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/5rP89okjJYm1ku4E7

Pork kueh tiau soup

Khao tum was excellent

It was still raining after we finished breakfast. The only difference was how heavy the rain was. Sometimes it was a light drizzle, sometimes it was raining hard. The saving grace was there was no thunder and lightnings. Thus at 9 am, we decided to set out from our hotel. Photographed here at 9.30 am is a rural road halfway to Wat Huai Khu temple @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/CYoESqJtU3YE525T8

Within the same minute the earlier gravel section was photographed, we hit concrete again! Overall gravel and dirt spanned less than 1km. Most of the rural road are in concrete @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/nUzdGqcR5m7EEhSN9

Compact gravel @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/GuwwmzapHXDgixtv8

Probably the worst section of the rural road @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/iuJUJ5cHSjbxazCK6

Buddhist temple @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/d9zPtTnzEq666d8Q8. There was no caretaker here when we arrived so we searched and found a dilapidated toilet which served us well enough

The temple featured a monk...

...and snakes

At the junction to rural Road 3023, back view of the road we had just travelled in @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/uKnbDNo8MjrzTxr8A

Looking at Rural Road 3023 @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/rm8NzLRTJBigTzYM8

Turned off from Rural Road 3023, heading towards Wat Huai Khu @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/xEXsRJNcNVfSCAta8 

 Wat Huay Khu @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/N2ED64jzEnb72nvs6

At 10.20 pm, we found our first eatery! Delicious Thai Fried Koay Tiau

The Chef

The Eatery

The Location @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/tGZD6cQFGPEPdQaLA

Can you spot the missing bicycle? @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/4wzisokPQPiNS8m9A

Route 4243

Some government building which is not manned. This marks the start of the climb

The climb to the peak spanned 1.5 km with a grade hill of 11%

The start of the climb @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/jsCt9Xs7pJF2qGBs9 

It's hard to climb with a 50t chainring

We were so far apart!

Mists blowing in

Almost at the peak @ 287 m

The less popular Piyamit Tunnels at Khao Nam Khai National Park. The one in Betong is more popular with visitors. We had to give this a miss as it involves an overall 4.4 km detour. Moreover, we have been in the rain since the start of the ride, the only difference being how heavy or light!

Ton Lad Waterfall @ 12 pm

Route 4243 cuts through the National Park

We had a tea break here

We did not trek in to see the waterfalls but the river by the picnic area was majestic enough

Back on the road heading to Thung Kha

Rear view

Delicious lunch at 12.50 pm, near Wat Na Prang Pracharam @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/brxeCvVzHJKzRomH6. We also bought pisang goreng from a nearby stall

We finally reached Mee Sa Neh Resort at 2 pm

The owner's house in green. On the right is an event hall where the owner's family had their dinner and watched TV. The entrance opens up to the road which leads to Route 4113 @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/vqDwr1yWRGYiriRs6. There's a stall just opposite the entrance where we ordered our dinner to be delivered to the resort

We preferred to dine here by the dining table than in our room. There's sachets of tea and coffee which we could help ourselves to

From the entrance, we passed the owner's unit and hall, turned right at this concrete road to get to our unit

Actually, our unit is right next to the "dining area" separated by the partition visible in this photo! Shortcut!

The unit next to us, separated by the concrete road

The units opposite us. Turn right at the end to reach the entrance

Typical Thai bed on concrete slab

They even have a sofa

Junior's corner

Amazing Race (23 - 25 December 2023), Day 1 - Taiping to Dannok via Bukit Kayu Hitam

 

Just out of Sadao CIQ. Do not be mistaken with the "Welcome to Songkhla" Gateway. This border town is Dannok, in the district of Sadao, in the province of Songkhla. The capital of Songkhla district carries the same name ie Songkhla, which is a favourite tourist destination.   

I am now hooked to this wantan mee at Casual Market

Thank goodness they were opened by 6 am 

All smiles and waiting for our 7.12 am train for Butterworth

It was a crazy logistic feat to get here on time. After a hurried breakfast, Rygel and Claudine were dropped off at KTM Taiping. They were tasked secure the train tickets and to move 3 bikes and panniers to Platform 2 which is across the tracks. Meanwhile, VT and May returned home to park the big car. They then drove May's Perodua Kancil to the station so that VT can be dropped off as May was too frightened to drive the big car! Luckily, all was well and VT managed to join the duo with ample time to spare.

Here comes our train

Passing by Bukit Merah Lake at 7.27 am. Note the old abandoned railway tracks

Village homes by the lake which is also the access to the abandoned railway line. Click link for access road https://maps.app.goo.gl/5ufRtYq7zwz1iJU87 

Photo from the past, Oct 23, 2021. Click blog link for more visuals on how to get to this old railway track https://amoithekampunggirl.blogspot.com/2021/11/4321up-up-and-away-day-1-taiping-to.html

Alor Pongsu's green paddy fields

Idyllic 

When bored, take photos!

...and more!!!

As the train approaches Bukit Mertajam, Claudine realizes they have an option to hop down at this station which buys them some toilet time. The train will then continue its journey to Butterworth.

The train for Padang Besar will depart Butterworth (1st station) and trundle down the same tracks to Bukit Mertajam before proceeding up north

Above photo is a goods train passing by Bukit Mertajam station

No seats if you board from Bukit Mertajam station as it gets filled up, coming from Butterworth. Toilet vs Seat decisions....

This man boarded the lady's coach with his wife but took 1.5 seats. Even as the train picks up more and more passengers, he refused to make way for others to sit. When this little boy came on the train, Claudine pointed out the half empty seat to his family, telling them he should have priority to sit. Little boy was then told to sit next to the man but the man still refused to budge and give him more space. After a 5 minute squeeze, the little boy felt uncomfortable and stood up instead.

Kodiang station @ 10 am

10.30 am, all ready for our ride. It was raining when we disembarked but by the time we suit up, the sky had dried up.

On K102's Jalan Kodiang - Sanglang, overlooking Kodiang's railway station

Just like Ipoh, Kodiang is also host to many karst hills and limestone caves.

A line of factories to the left produces rice grains for the nearby paddy fields

Irrigation canals run parallel to Route K102

Bukit Kodiang and its surrounding paddy fields. 

The epicenter of Kodiang

Great brunch at Hao Seh Kopitiam @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/PXxLwMP35xgqELkj7

Will come here for curry mee again!

Bukit Mulong, famous for its Gua Kerbau, an ancient sea cave where one can easily spot fossils. This entire area was once under the sea!

Off Route K102 @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/jXiTePCScUJwLvFy6

Single track, kampung road

This place is very near the borders between Kedah and Perlis @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/pURWomhS2NWJpzmp7

Still in Kedah...

...suddenly we are in Perlis!

Oops! Perlis don't welcome us

The tree must have fell recently as the leaves are still green

Smile first...

...then dive in!

Obstacle course

It's a success!

Small inconveniences just to get here, Route R 173

On Route 194's Changlun - Kuala Perlis Highway. On our left is Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMap) 

Here we are leaving Perlis, a bit too quickly!

In a matter of seconds, we have re-entered Kedah. Here we are in Kubang Pasu

Follow the signboard

In case you change your mind or forgot your passport, use the bridge!

Approaching the last junction before Thailand

The last set of traffic lights before Thailand

At the last set of traffic lights

Entering Bukit Kayu Hitam CIQ

Bicycles follow the motorcycle lane

Passport Controls

The car queue starts from Malaysian CIQ all the way to Thai CIQ

Bumper to bumper jam

The flat roof structure ahead is Thailand. Trucks go straight ahead

But all buses, cars and 2 wheelers had to turn left to get their passports stamped @ Sadao CIQ

Initially, we were dismayed by the long queue here. But thankfully, Thai police noticed we were on two wheelers and directed us to follow the motorcycle lane. Motorcycle lane is Door No 4 @ 1.15 pm (Malaysian time)

Looks like the kid in the red car needs to go to the toilet!

Big bike vs small bike

Streets awashed @ 2 pm (Thai time)

Dannok side streets

Asian Highway 2 or Route 4, facing Sadao CIQ

The lorry queue is shockingly long

Look at the long queue! It stretches beyond Lotus which is at least 1 km or more

Checking the menu here and deciding it was not our cup of tea as it was fusion restaurant

Decided on Dannok Food Court which serves food similar to Malaysia and at Malaysian coffee shop prices. @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/MiWatyEzguaxUGpJ8

The waitress could speak fluent Thai and would be the one suggesting our dinner and breakfast menu

Shopping at Lotus Go Fresh

Checking out the prices

Fresh meat

Hand made noodles recommended by our Thai waitress. It was indeed very simple but good @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/mo2h26U9NUxgZ5qS6

The stall is on the streets where the night market is located. You can order the fish baked in salt from neighbouring stalls but we did not. 

There's a small seating arrangement by the side of the shoplots

The noodle is served with soup and cabbage salad

Kedai Makan Patimoh @ https://maps.app.goo.gl/M2fYvdaSH4cVmKAp8

Very good mango sticky rice

Christmas Tree Deco at Sadao CIQ