Tuesday, 16th October 2007
Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Hill climb near northern Thailand
The kids forgotten that they were there to begToday was an eventful run of 443 kilometers from Siem Reap to Nakhon Ratchasima in Northern Thailand. Our total distance traveled is now 3,400 kilometers (after allowing for a correction to yesterdays run which was 320 km, not 220 km).
Two things stand out about the run. The first is the terrible road conditions experienced for 150 kilometers from Siem Reap to the Cambodian/Thai border at Poipet which took us 3 ½ hours to complete. In a word, the roads were terrible.
The second ‘stand out’ was the 3 hours it took for the convoy to clear Thai Customs and Immigration. Poor preparation by our Thai guides has been blamed for the delays. Leslie and Poh Heng took responsibility for getting our cars through while the rest of the team cooled its heels waiting. Leslie warned us that this type of delay was almost inevitable so we were not surprised but it is still frustrating.
The terrain all the way to about 100 kilometers short of our destination was flat but picturesque. Northern Thailand is characterised by a more interesting mountainous terrain and the scenery as we approached Nakhon Ratchasima was beautiful. We have not been able to look at the town yet.
Bingo has been a source of entertainment for all of us on this trip. He has a great sense of humour and his card and other tricks have attracted a lot of attention. Today was rather special. While waiting for our vehicles to be cleared at the border, Bingo started doing some card tricks in a barn-like waiting shed. Before we knew it, he had an audience of about 30 people, including a custom officer and some child beggars who totally forgot what they were there for. The next thing we knew, the Rally press, still and video, were there capturing the scene. The crowning touch was Bingo being interviewed for China National Television by a top current affairs reporter (and one of the cutest female journalists in the Rally). The rest of us are pea green with envy.
Our accommodation tonight is at the Sima Thani Hotel, perhaps the best hotel we have enjoyed to date. Dinner was in the hotel and was up to the standard we have come to expect from our hosts.
Tomorrow is Wednesday, so it must be Laos!!
“Team Singapore, Motorsports (TSM) completed Highway No. 6, from Siem Reap to Poipet, one hour ahead of schedule. The low-lying sections of the infamous route have mostly been raised. Thus, our earlier worries about the impending floods were unfound. However, the run wasn’t trouble free. The suspension of our vehicles was clearly unable to sustain prolonged pounding of the rough terrain. Even the comparatively rugged Terracan suffered rear end bottoming. At times, the bone-shaking jolts from the ruts and holes shook the wiper stalk resulting in the occasional ‘automatic’ wipes on the windscreen. We had the opportunity to engage the 4WD Lock on the Santa Fe to keep the wheel spins and body twists in control on a muddy section. However, it would be fair to say that it was business as usual on Thai’s excellent highways. Both cars are now in need of the spa treatment that only the ladies in Cambodia can provide.”
Leslie Chang, Chief d’ Mission, TSM.
