Hi guys, it's my first time here and thought of sharing my 2-cent.
If possible:
Avoid having the trip during mid-Nov till Dec due to raining season along Southern Thailand. If heaven's unkind, you may encounter wet driving all the way to Phuket and possible floodings at Phatthalung along National Highway 4.
Try to organize and bring along relevant & crucial spare parts like fluids & lubricants, electronics such as relays, fuses & light bulbs, beltings, radiator hoses and etc. You'll never know when you hit the 'lottery'!!
Have all participating cars properly scrut prior to trip to determine roadworthiness. Breakdowns during journey in a foreign country is no fun and real pain in the backside!!
Contingency, identify & establish contact BMW workshops / technical supports along the route (if any & major towns like Hadyai, Trang, Krabi, Phang Nga & Phuket).
Good for all cars to have walkie-talkie. Apart from in-journey cock-and-bull stories to eliminate boredom, most crucial tool for Pace Car, Marshals & Sweeper to manage convoy and pre-warn of any obstacles & avoidance ahead. Extremely vital when entering city limits with traffic lights breaking convoy!!
Thai Tourist Police Escort Services will cost you approx. RM1.5K one-way!! Easy to drive dual-carriage Thai Highways with proper directions & road signages. With Thai Highway map in hand, you'll never go wrong. You'll be surprise it's as easy as balik kampung!!
Try to set-off KL at 3.00am, reach Changlun Border at 7.00am, car insurance procedures & breakfast stop for an hour, Border Crossing Immigration & Customs Clearance another hour, depart Sadao at 9.00am, lunch at Krabi and arrive Phuket at about 4.00pm. (plus re-fuel pitstop & lunch).
Maintain good cruising speed (130 - 150km/h) and refrain from straining engine with hard revs & acceleration. Trick is smooth driving & engine purring!! Pace Car & Sweeper discipline vital.
Usually during going time, all too excited & adrenalin charged and hence, no need overnight stop and only 12 hour drive anyway. However, return leg, might be good to put up a night at Hadyai to break journey (tired mind, body & soul)!
Driving to any destinations in Thailand is a wonderful experience not to be missed by any petrolheads! The beautiful drive through fantastic sceneries, passing small towns, fascinating encounters that's full of adventures with a bunch of 'kakis' are enough for story-telling time the next few months thereafter...!
Driving there is akin to foreplay... Taking a flight to Phuket for holidays and missed out all the fun & adventure?
Cheers!
:love: :top: :rock:
