Day 5: Kata Beach to Patong Beach (13km / 8 mi)
[Tommy (Chatty Sally finally quit hogging the mic, and it’s my turn to post)]
We had a short mellow day today. After a morning of wrenching on the bikes to get the last of the bugs out, and install my cyclometer, we set out late again for the short jaunt from Kata to Patong. The two beaches were only separated by about 12-13 Km, but with another burley-steep climb which we tackled in the raging heat of the day. By the time we crested the pass, the sun was out in full and we stopped into a roadside café for a cold pineapple juice. The rest of the day was spent lounging on the beach sipping cold beer and munching on some delicious take-out curry from another roadside joint. After all that chillin’ the sun had set and we found ourselves stuck in the unfortunately “farang” beach town of Patong (imagine Margaritaville, Thailand). This town was a serious downer with a McDonalds on every corner of the main strip and more whitey tourist resorts than you can shake a stick at. “Put a shirt on, haole!”
We ran into a cool local dude on a motorbike who lead us away from the chaotic haole club scene to a quiet guesthouse on the edge of town for a cheap room where we could get some sleep away from the bumpin’ techno beats and the 24 hour “massage” parlors. Tomorrow we get the hell outa Margaritaville.
2 years ago