- Left – 10.00am
- 27th March 2015
- Miles rode – 70 (112km)
Having staying at Rambuttri House in central Bangkok 5 times over 5 months I finally left and I will not return (I think?). It’s been like home, I know so many people here, the people who work in the hotel, shop, restaurant and bar owners nearby, the taxi & Tuk Tuk guys, even the street sellers. I’ll miss the people but it’s time to move on.
It’s all about the people.
I rode 43km across Bangkok to spend the day with Heiko, en route I was stopped by a policeman, he asked for my license and started writing a ticket out! I asked what I had done and he told me that motorbikes weren’t allowed in the outside lane! I asked him how I was to know this as there wasn’t a sign? He told me to pay him 500 baht (£10) fine, I told him I wouldn’t, he then said ok 400 baht, I said no way. After a few minutes he gave me my license back and said ‘GO’. 1km further on when I was in the outside lane I was stopped again… This time he wanted 1,000 baht! I wanted to tell him the other policeman only wanted 500 but obviously I couldn’t. I refused to pay and again I rode off with my wallet full of baht!
Corruption!
It was good to be back on the road again.
I returned to central Bangkok in the evening to stay with my friend Cem who had looked after my bike whilst I travelled over previous months, good food, drink and company. I’ll see you in either Istanbul or London Cem.
