Cycling in SEAsia

Cycling in SEAsia

Only recently did I get into cycling in SEAsia. It took me so long because I have a friend who goes by bicycle in Bangkok. Absolutely not for me (but works for him, always the same routes and not in main traffic; whereas I would be in a different area every trip, and 10-20 km to get there). I have two friends who used to drive a bicycle in Phnom Penh. Absolutely not for me. I pondered registering for Pun Pun Bike Share in Bangkok (http://www.punpunbikeshare.com/ Thai only, for English see e.g. here https://bicyclethailand.com/pun-pun-bicycle-share-program-in-bangkok-thailand/), but just at night when it would be useful to me (no sun, less traffic), they don't allow to rent bikes after 8pm, and if you return a bike the next day, fee is 500 THB. Three reasons not even to consider going somewhere by bike.
   
There was a free bicycle rental in Bangkok that I used in 2010:  
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?12770-Bangkok-Smile-Bike

But then in Kanchanaburi, quote from:
https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2022/03/cycling-near-kanchanaburi.html
Then I haven an epiphany: rent a bicyle! I don’t know why I didn’t get that idea earlier, but probably because I have two friends who get around Bangkok and Phnom Penh by bicycle, which I consider too dangerous and there are better alternatives. But Kanchanaburi, with tree lined local roads with wide side strips is perfect for cycling.

An attempted repeat in Nakon Sawan failed for lack of bicycle rental. I searched online and asked several bike stores in Nakon Sawan, no bicycle rental. There is one in the park, I could see their bikes locked, but nobody there on two occasions I went. Anyway, I assume their bike rental is for use to drive around the park, and not to the countryside as I had in mind. No bicycle rental in Saraburi either. Several more provincial capitals where a bicycle would be useful to get around. 

Renting a bicycle in Siem Reap worked great, many shops and flat countryside. Kampot all fine as well.

In Sihanoukville  poor choice, by coincidence the place I was staying at (Don Bosco Guesthouse) had bicycles for rent. Sihanoukville is on hills, you need a gearshift, and at least once chain jumped off cogwheel but I could put it back by hand. 
   
Update 3nov2025: កង់ភ្នំ (Mountain bike) at 10.6301, 103.5193 (about 10 m misplaced on google maps, submit correction). No sign, I couldn't find it, ask someone, turns out they are the bicycle rental. Mountain bike (broad tires, gears work well, disk breaks, but no basket, no stand) for 5 USD/day. They have been open 3 or 4 years, but I learnt of them only now. The only bicycle rental in Sihanoukville as far as I know.

In Hua Hin ample choice of bike rental, 100 THB/day for a city bike and mountain bikes available for more. I did a good daytrip by bicycle. A dedicated bicycle store in Hua Hin (elsewhere often only a side business of motorbike rental):

In Pai ample choice. They had city bikes with gearshift, but it seems the gearshift was made for flat land and not for hills. Even in lowest gear I had to get off the bike and push it up the hill; pedaling would have put a high stress on the bike and my legs. Here the chain jumped off cogwheel twice, first I could put it back by hand, second it got stuck between cogwheel and spikes and all I could do is lock the bike and hitchhike back and tell rental agency. They refunded the rental fee and picked up the bike, next day I could continue with same bike.

From memory, other occasions where I had bikes with gearshift, there were some issues as well (rattling noise when changing gears, you can't get into all gears, have to get used to every individual change of gears). There are more bike rental agencies in SEAsia than there are mechanics who can service a bike gearshift!

Next trip to Pattaya, I will get a bike for rent and do some sightseeing out of town. Same for Ayutthaya.

All cases above, rental of city bike with or without gears was about 100 THB or 3 USD/day. I wouldn't want to drive a motorbike. I don't have license and I don't want to. With bicycle you can park more easily (and I do a lot of stops along the way) and you can easily push or carry it when there is a short distance to cover that you can't drive.

With cycling I can fill that gap between walking (up to 5 km) and public transport or renting a car with driver (from 20 km), provided there is a bicycle rental.

Updates:
'Just as the computer, the bicycle is a tool that amplifies our inherent abilities to spectacular magnitudes' — Steve Jobs

PunPun Bike Share in Bangkok is still there, but some stations have no bikes at all, other stations most bikes flat tires (from standing long time without use). I guess it failed and will some day disappear.

There was Bangkok Smile Bike which I used in 2010:
https://sawatdeenetwork.com/v4/showthread.php?12770-Bangkok-Smile-Bike, discontinued in 2015 according to: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1NfLcqZAOyPRdbRQjCVPLY1Vvq8k
A blog in Thai: https://notenote0.wordpress.com/category/rv-bangkok-smile-bike/

In Prachuap Khiri Khan, rent from the place I was staying at (around 2018, I think Soi 10 near airforce base, permanently closed)

Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Rental Cycle 15.22867, 104.8626 all fine Nov2023. Repeat 2-4jul2025 all fine.

Korat "Korat Wandee โคราชวันดี จักรยาน และ รถไฟฟ้า ( ถนนเข้า บขส เก่า ) Bike & E-Bike" responsive on facebook https://web.facebook.com/koratwandee/, speaks English, city bike 150 THB/day on 6jul2025 all fine. You could call that expensive, considering I passed a shop that rents mocy for 300/day. 

There is another in Korat "อาณาจักร จักรยาน Bike land Korat" https://web.facebook.com/phr.thipha.w.rwi.ri.ya.praserith but didn't read my message and further away from my hotel. 

Pattaya Cadence Cycle Pattaya in Jomtien Second Road corner to Soi 8. I had messaged them on facebook and they confirmed that they have bicycles for rent (city bike 100 THB/day). But when I came in person on 29nov2023, no city bikes available, only mountain bikes at 450 THB/day, minimum rental time 3 days, deposit 3000 THB. Furthermore, closing time not 6 pm as posted, but 5 pm. Too early, I would have to come back the next morning to return the bike. I have rented bikes in many places, but I don't like the conditions here. Fuck you. No, thank you. I went by grab, walking, public transport along Sukhumvit instead.

Quest for bicycle rental in Pattaya continues, rather for 2, one in the north and one in the south to save trip through Pattaya by bike. What I found on internet does not look promising. I put this question on Aseanow, no replies. https://aseannow.com/topic/1366741-looking-for-bicycle-rental-in-pattaya/#comment-19944656

Update 30aug2025, there is now a bicycle rental in Pattaya https://www.facebook.com/Bicycle.Rent.Pattaya.Pratamnak albeit quite expensive (city bike 250/day, 600 for 3 days; elsewhere usually 100/day).

There might be several in Chiang Mai, e.g. ChiangMai Tour&Bike Rental เชียงใหม่ทัวร์แอนด์มอเตอร์ไซค์,จักรยานให้เช่า https://web.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61571786346366 

More updates:
Chiang Mai 25-28jul2025 google maps "Thai Charoen Motorbike, Bicycle, Laundry, and Tours" (closest to my hotel) City bike one day 80 or three days 200, basket, no gears. Fine for getting around town, which is all flat. Mountain bike 150 per day, gears. Deposit 1000. 
 
Phrae 29jul2025 rent city bike (without basket, two gears in hub does not work) for 100 from Maeyom Palace hotel (service for customers only). There is "บี ไบค์ Car & Bike For Rent Phrae" https://www.facebook.com/Phraebebike/posts/1241576981303832 as well. 
 
Anywheel daily and longer https://www.anywheel.co.th/rates/ No map on internet, ask them on facebook messenger: only in Chiang Mai and Bangkok (Thammasat Rangsit would be of use to me). 
PunPun seems to operate only in Bangkok, map here (6aug2015): https://www.facebook.com/PunPunBangkokBicycleShare/ 

Update Phnom Penh Nov2025: Siem Reaper Travel - Phnom Penh Bike Tours & Food Tours offers only tours by bicycle, but no bicycle rental. They refer me to M Bicycle (street 19 behind palace). But my hotel Nawin has one bicycle that they rent out to customers. 

Copyright 2023-2025 ChristianPFC

Renting a car with driver

Renting a car with driver

I lead a lifestyle without owning or even driving a car. Most of my sightseeing is by walking or public transport, with a bit of cycling and hitchhiking as well (but only for return, once I got somewhere by public transport and getting out along the way, and bus for return would take too long and might not stop). But for some places, you need a car with driver, below details and and how to estimate price based on distance and waiting time (for the driver while I do sightseeing).

I try to get in contact with the driver directly (by asking at bus station) to get an impression of him and his car and to get lower prices than with an intermediary (hotel or travel agency). All those drives were on time and there were no problems.

Fuel makes a significant difference in price. Diesel or gasoline/petrol at 40 THB/liter, usage 10 L/100km, costs 400 THB/100km, whereas NGV costs only 100 THB/100km (a full tank costs 200 THB and lasts 200 km, that means for longer trips you have to plan where to fill up). Here and following calculations all rounded to nearest 10 or 100. At time of writing 1 EUR = 38 THB, 1 USD = 34 THB, 1 GBP = 44 THB. My abbreviation 1k2=1200 THB.

I recently learnt that LPG and NGV are not exchangeable, for details read here:
https://www.endesa.com/en/blogs/endesa-s-blog/air-conditioning/what-do-glp-gnv-gnc-gnl
LPG is propane and butane liquefied at about 10 atm pressure, NGV is pressurised (200 atm) methane and ethane.

Current Bangkok taxi rates (feb 2023 increase) from https://thaiest.com/thailand/bangkok/taxi
1 to 10 km at 6.50 THB/km
10 to 20 km at 7.00 THB/km
20 to 30 km at 8.00 THB/km
60 to 80 km at 9.00 THB/km
3 THB per minute (when going less than 6 km/h).
Bangkok taxi rate increase with distance, probably based on the assumption that you are going out of town and it will be difficult to find a passenger for return trip.

For Bangkok taxi see here as well: https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2015/06/taxi-myths-debunked.html

Those prices are for empty return, and 3 THB/min for standing with running engine. For my following list of trips I calculate price for taxi at 6.50 THB/km and waiting time (total time minus driving time estimated at 50 km/h) at 180 THB/h. There is a good agreement between I what paid and what it would have cost based on above formula, split into distance (driving) and time (driver waiting for me).

Chronological list of trips by rented car with driver (date, place, distance, duration, price, taxi). All round trips. I was not aware what a difference gasoline/petrol vs. NGV makes, so I did not takes  notes what fuel the car uses. But I assume those in the countryside all used gasoline/petrol. Trips to Kanchanaburi, Pattaya, Ayutthaya used NGV. In all cases, a reasonable price was quoted, no need to haggle.

26dec20214 Phichit 123 km, 5 h, 1k2 (taxi 800+540=1340).

24jan2018 Lang Suan 100 km, 7 h, 1k5 (taxi 650+900=1550).

2018-2022 various trips with a friend by his car, for which he charges me 2 THB/km before Covid, 2.50 THB/km after Covid as half of fuel cost.

9jan2020 Sakaew 164 km, 8 h, 1k7 (taxi 1073+900=1973) Update incomplete. https://maps.app.goo.gl/GfakQmgSiNyXTzy18
18jan2022 U-Thong half day trip not covered here.

20nov2022 Nakon Phanom 250 km, 10 h, 2k5 (taxi 1625+900=2525).

10jan2023 around Pattaya 75 km, 8 h, 2k (taxi 500+1080=1580).
Pattaya is more expensive than the countryside, a Thai friend with a car who does driving as a side business even wanted 3k for this trip.

3-5feb2023 Bangkok-Kanchanaburi-Bangkok 600 km, 3d2n, 7k.
In nov2022, I met a taxi driver who was chatty (in Thai, limited English) and interesting subjects, and safe driving, and car well maintained as far as I can judge, so I asked for his contact details and price for daytrips. He quoted 1800 per day plus fuel (NGV one tank 200 THB for 200 km) plus hotel. For a trip to Kanchanaburi 3d2n that became 7k (3 x 1800 + 600 fuel + 2 x 500 per night). A reasonable amount, I would do it again here or elsewhere. 

Srisaket 5jul2025 2k THB for about 100 km and 6 h (taxi 650+720=1370). 

Richard Barrow reports the same pricing here:
https://www.richardbarrow.com/2023/02/weekend-train-trip-to-phimai-and-ubon-ratchathani/
At Ubon Ratchathani we were picked up by a pre-arranged driver and van. The driver is Tun (Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100005096521117&mibextid=ZbWKwL). The cost is 1,800 baht per day. We have to pay for his hotel room tonight and petrol at the end of the trip.

11feb2023 Daytrip Bangkok to Ayutthaya 200 km, 9 h, 2k2 (taxi 1300+900=2200). You can easily get to Ayutthaya by train, but from railway station it's 4 km to historical park, and places of interest are spread out, too much to get around on foot. One would have to rent a bicycle at railway station (and spend the day in heat and sun) or hire a tuk-tuk at railway station (from internet: at railway station they charge 300 THB/h, a bit further away 200 THB/h). When travelling to Ayutthaya with friends, I go by taxi from Bangkok.

I came to the conclusion that for daytrips renting car with driver is better value for money than renting car and driving (not myself, but when traveling with friends who can drive in Thailand but don't own a car). Car with driver would run on NGV, a rented car would run on petrol with higher fuel costs. And you don't have to look out for traffic, parking, navigation.

Another issue could be time for pick-up and return of rental car. In Cambodia, I paid for a rented car and a friend drove, and during the trip he told me return is 16. Way too early for me. We were out of town and I want to make the most of it, which is sightseeing until sunset 18, and back in town 20, and return the car next day in the morning. In this case, I had to pay for one day more. There might be car rentals that allow 24 hours. I once read about a hotel that has no fixed check-in and check-out times, but allows 24 hours.

Bangkok to Pattaya (Ibis Sathorn to Tuk-Com 140 km, 2 h, 1k2, taxi 910+0). Tolls would be on top of that. Some people take taxi between Bangkok and Pattaya. I only do when I have stops for sightseeing along the way, else I take bus which takes about 4h door-to-door vs. taxi about 2h.

Here some rates Bangkok taxi to various places:

from: https://www.facebook.com/ladydriverthailand/posts/140644991883581 they have male and female drivers.

Here a recent example from Pai (for reference, I didn't use this service), considerable more expensive because it's Pai, Chiang Mai and many curves and mountains.
Pai to Chiang Mai 130 km, 3 h, 2k2 (taxi 845+180=1025, without mountains it would take only 2 h, still twice as expensive as my trips).

In other countries in SEAsia, renting a car with driver was similar or estimated up to 1.5 times more expensive. Myanmar daytrips around Moulmein and Dawei. Cambodia just car rental, friend drives. Car with driver daytrip Siem Reap to Anlong Veng https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2023/01/anlong-veng-attractions.html
Anlong Veng 300 km, 12 h, 100 USD=3k3 (taxi 1950+1080=3030).
And other daytrips (dec2020 stone field; Kulen mountain; Kbal Spean and Banteay Srei) similar prices.

Copyright 2023 ChristianPFC

Dating Thai Boys (97) Popular boy pictures (4)

Dating Thai Boys (97) Popular boy pictures (4)

Continued from https://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2021/11/dating-thai-boys-89-popular-boy.html, see there for introduction.

Pictures in this post are from social media, and appearance in my blog or on gay online dating does not mean that the boy is gay or available. On the contrary, the online dating profile is most probably not the boy in picture and you are best just wasting your time, at worst being scammed by chatting with the profile.

For most boys I know for sure they are fake profiles (e.g. I know the boy is Thai, but his picture appears in online dating in Cambodia) and for the rest I'm pretty sure they are.

source: https://yaoiy.com/karnsc/

Copyright 2023 ChristianPFC except pictures. If you are in a picture and want it removed, please contact me and identify yourself by videochat (shirtless).