Oct 18-19 2022 |
Here is where this were anticipated to get more exciting, as I was setting off for the Thai border at Sadoa. Departing Penang was not as seamless as expected as Google Maps was directing me off of freeways, something I realised after about 50km. At one point I was driving on a country road in parallel to a freeway, but there was no on-ramp to be found. Eventually I got on the freeway, heading full-speed to the border.
It was on this stage of the journey I made a mistake, and one that I can advise any fellow Thailand-bound Singapore riders on. I had it in my mind that I would buy
Thailand moto insurance after passing the border, as I had read of others doing so, example sgbikerboy. As I neared the Thai border in Malaysia, I saw a billboard sign advertising Thailand insurance, but I kept trucking, thinking it would be easy to sort out after the border.
More about insurance below, but first the Thai border crossing details. Overall, the crossing was fast and easy, took me about 45 mins to depart Malaysia and enter Thailand. I thought there was another stage I needed to do, but when I asked the immigration officer where to next, he waved me off and stated "go Thailand". Ok, cya, krap.
Back to insurance. So I expected that there would be insurance sales right after the border, and there were. But there were no people at the kiosks. So I thought, ok, will keep driving and expect to see more kiosks. But there were no more kiosks. Next I decided I will be able to get insurance in Had Yai. But no one could assist there.
Luckily, I connected with AA Insurance (as recommended by MadorNomad), who worked out a policy, two months. More expensive than I expected, but better safe than sorry (and/or illegal). I also got an 30 day unlimited data SIM card, B250(ish) from DTAC. Recommended.
Had Yai was a decent initial staging point. A famous border town. But I was keen to keep moving north, especially with the grim weather forecast of non-stop rain in coming days in S. Thailand.
Km: 215 / Duration: 3.5 hrs
Stay: Red Planet booked on Agoda, $12.50, motorcycle parking
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