Red bikes on Road no.2089

Muak Lek by bicycle : Tree Tunnel

Rapid train arrived on time.  We hopped off the train, got our bikes down, and looked around to get acquainted to Muak Lek town downhill.  From now is the real beginning...

Arrived in Muak Lek

We observed the town and made a pause at 7-11 shop to get some food, drinks, and chill air from air-conditioner.  In this shop you can find travel maps of road system in Thailand on book racks.  There's a trick I've noticed many times when I traveled, just opened to the most crumpled page and you'll find a map of the place you are.  To double check, I asked cashier the way to Pasak Dam and also a place for lunch where locals go.  We're suggested to go for "ก๋วยเตี๋ยวเรือผักไห่", Pak Hai Boat Noodle.

Another style of Boat Noodle or Nam Tok, originated in Central Thailand 

Road no.2089 to Pasak Dam might be a piece of cake for bikers but it's a tough project for us who've never done something like this before, this is the first time. The slope is zero at beginning, nothing special, but it begins to climb up and up and up.  With the tiredness plus sunny day, we came out like this.

Almost faint in sunny day

After almost 10 kms in the sun, we stopped at the top of the hill.  Along both sides of road are covered with trees that provided shade for us.  Some cars also stopped by and took photos of this area, "Tree Tunnel".  We took about 20 mins to recharge power, tried not to drink water too much to save it until we found a shop.  Ahead of us seemed to be a comfortably downhill way.

In the middle of Tree Tunnel

Inside Thai Train

Muak Lek by bicycle : In the train, on the track

Atmosphere of second-class fan bogies

Our bikes were separated from their owners.  They're parked in parcel bogie at the head of the train and we walked to find our seats which later found at the last bogie.  Blue seats are big and long enough to lay comfortably.  There are luggage racks above the seats both sides.  I think in such case we don't actually need fans because we can enjoy natural ventilation.  You can lean out the train's windows to take fresh air but just beware tree branches too.

Take fresh breeze air along the way when train began to run through forest

After a while, the scene of countryside villages changed in to bushes.  Train went up small hills into forest.  There are many cement factories located in the forest.  This area is called Saraburi where the biggest amount of cement are produced and distributed throughout Thailand.  Besides enjoying forest atmosphere along the way we could enjoy spending little money.  We tried local food and dessert that vendors brought on the train.  Ice, a friend, got a hammock with negotiable price, 20 Baht only!

Morning train from Chiang Rak

Muak Lek by bicycle : (and train)

Cycling trend has become famous in Thammasat University since October 2012. Bike lanes have been extended to cover major areas and 3 bike rental kiosks were set up along the main travel routes in Rangsit campus. 

My friends and I have been discussing buying bicycles and use them to travel on weekend. We came up with another idea not to buy the bikes but rent them from university for only 5 THB a day. Actually we are not allowed to rent bikes overnight but we decided to pay 100 THB fine for each bike instead. From my calculation, 110 THB for 2 days is worth a lot.

Train to Muak Lek would depart at 7.57 am on the next day so we negotiated with lady at kiosk to take bikes in that evening for free. Then we rode to Chiang Rak railway station to pick up tickets and back to pack rucksacks for next 2 days.

Thai railways' one way ticket to Muaklek cost 85 Baht

Woke up in the morning and gathered in front of Chiang Rak gate to buy "Gai Wow", the most delicious breakfast for healthy man who wake up early in the morning or else overnighter. After that we quickly headed to train station.

We arrived 5 mins before train schedule. The train was delayed like usual so we had some times to take photos. Our bike group was mentioned in the typical Thai railway's retro announcement to hurry up taking bikes to the platform. The train was coming... Poon Poon!!!

Opening Ceremony