Tag Archives: Yamaha part

Day 179 – Chanthaburi

deck on day 1

deck on day 1

We also got to get up in one of the most beautiful places we’ve stayed at so far. The night in the four-post bed under a giant mosquito net had been very relaxing but, in the morning, all our worries came back.

Our lovely host had prepared breakfast. I had been so knackered yesterday that I forgot to tell her I’m vegetarian so I couldn’t eat my rice with shrimps and beef/pork. Feeling very sorry for the waste of food I created, I ate more from my, now cold, noodles from dinner.

Things started to move quickly but also not at all. Our mechanic had already called our host to inform us that the bike could be picked up again. He claimed that he had fixed it and to see if it would be okay for longer distances had ridden it 100km to Trat and back in the night. Flo was overjoyed but still picked up a voltage meter to check if everything was okay. It wasn’t. There was too much current going through the regulator/rectifier which, in the long run, would fry the bike’s other electronic parts. Disappointed, we let the mechanic know who took the bike away again.

Unfortunately, the multi-meter had no good news for us

Unfortunately, the multi-meter had no good news for us

It got later and later and by 11 am, we decided to stay for another night as it didn’t seem likely that we would be able to check out by noon. Around noon, the mechanic returned Rocinante, this time fitted with the reg/rec from his own Yamaha bike. Flo checked it with the voltage meter and it was looking good! To be absolutely certain, we contacted Jonathan again. Jonathan, the electronic’s wizard from Malaysia, had given us a WhatsApp contact so we were able to ask him about this solution. He replied that Rocinante produces too much electricity for the part so that we should try and use as much of it as we can before the reg/rec has to work with it. That means, charging as much as we can on the bike, having the lights on full beam etc. However, Rocinante would ride again!

Hmm, smoothie!

Hmm, smoothie!

Now we still had half an extra day in Chanthaburi for some sight-seeing and lunch, of course. Our host lent us a bicycle with an extra pillion saddle on it so Flo drove me around town on a bicycle. 🙂 We went back to the little alley at the river side which turned out to be lovely for almost the whole length. Tiny wooden houses on each side of the one lane street, most of them having food stalls on the ground level made for a pleasant stroll. For lunch, we already had the strawberry place from yesterday in mind though. Again, it was delicious and Flo got another strawberry slushie as a take-away.

After lunch, I insisted on a visit to the “sweet @ moon” cafe. Every cafe that has a sign for cake before one for coffee is my cup of tea. 🙂 So we had a pleasant afternoon stop there before heading further into town. Chanthaburi is known for its gem trading which only happens on the weekends, including Friday. Through our delay with a broken down bike, it was Friday today so we intended to check out the gem market.

Food stalls and trader tables all crammed together

Food stalls and trader tables all crammed together

It is nothing for the uninitiated. Many stalls, or long rows of tables in shops were filled with traders, many looking at gems through a magnifying glass. Food stalls were scattered in between and the whole street was clogged up with pedestrians. One of the traders waved at us and asked about our whereabouts. Then, he shortly talked about how beautiful NZ is which is the usual reaction that we get.

On the way back, we rode past the cathedral as well which looked pretty in the afternoon sun. The homestay’s deck was a lovely place to hang out but we used the time to check out our financial situation. It looks pretty dire. We’re at the point where we would have to go back to Bangkok right now to fly home to Frankfurt as our funds are just enough for two flight tickets and a crate back home for Rocinante. So we called family and friends to ask for advise and the possibility for loans. We are blessed and privileged to have such family and friends who are willing to give us interest-free credit so that we can, at least, finish the loop through Cambodia and Laos first. We will also set up a gofundme page if anyone would like to help out, even with small amounts.