Bangkok to Pattaya on a Motorbike

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After a morning of wandering Bangkok’s maze of streets, Missy opted for a recharge nap while I, determined, set out to lock down a bike for our ambitious adventure—a 300-kilometer radius around Bangkok, with Pattaya to the south and Lopburi’s infamous monkey town up north. A bike was essential, as my grand plan revolved around capturing the journey in our vlogs, just as we had in Vietnam, where we rode from Hanoi to Sapa with breathtaking stops along the way. But here in Bangkok? The first two rental places dashed my hopes: “Bike cannot go out of Bangkok, sorry!” they said with unsettling finality.

It was almost like someone had poured ice water over my plans. That is, until the third shop said the magic words: “Yes, you can take it outside Bangkok, but it’s a 300cc bike, not 150cc.” At double the cost of my original budget—about ₹2,000 or $24 per day—it was a splurge, but I reasoned, why not? After all, this wasn’t just any road trip; it was an escapade worth every rupee.

The rental shop was tucked in a working-class part of Chinatown, an area that sharply contrasted with the neon-lanterned hustle of its main streets. Navigating through narrow alleys reminiscent of Mumbai’s chawls, I reached a little enclave with a fleet of motorbikes and locals eyeing me with mild interest. And there it was—the “Forza,” a gleaming, 300cc, orange beast of a bike that looked like it could eat my little 150cc scooter back home for breakfast. I was awestruck and nervous. I’d never handled a bike this powerful before. But thankfully, this one was automatic. There would be no awkward gear-shifting attempts or YouTube tutorials needed here!

Formalities were stricter than in Vietnam; there were forms to fill, fuel levels to note, and a hefty deposit of ₹4,000 or $48, half the cost. But finally, I was handed the keys, along with two helmets, one for Missy and one for myself. My heart pounded as I ignited the bike for the first time—the throaty hum of the engine was a roar compared to my scooter’s purr. And so, with a mix of excitement and trepidation, I set off, the 300cc Forza gliding through Bangkok’s roads with surprising agility.

In the evening, we hit the Khaosan Road market on our new ride, testing its power and getting accustomed to Bangkok’s fast-paced traffic.

By the next morning, we were ready for our journey south to Pattaya. Missy and I hopped onto the bike, fuelled by the remnants of last night’s street food marathon and a thirst for new scenery. But it didn’t take long to realize that Bangkok’s outskirts weren’t what we expected. We had envisioned countryside vistas—open skies, farmlands, maybe a cow or two. Instead, the concrete jungle seemed endless, with towering buildings and labyrinthine highways that stretched as far as we could see.

In Thailand, roads are chaotic in a beautifully organized way. Cars zoom past at dizzying speeds, and switching lanes without signaling is practically unheard of—a stark difference from back home. I, a cautious rider, was clinging to this discipline, constantly checking my mirrors as we wove through the expressways.

And then, there was that moment. We were already cruising at 100 km/h, trying to decide whether to take a looming flyover or not. My mind played a quick back-and-forth: flyover or not? In a split-second decision, I tilted right, only to instantly change my mind and swerve left. Just then, a bus whizzed by, grazing us by mere inches, roaring forward as if we hadn’t even existed in its path. If I had committed to that right turn, that bus would have sent us hurtling off the road.

Survival does funny things to you. For a few moments, we rode in stunned silence, grateful, in awe, and suddenly deeply respectful of Bangkok’s fast-lane traffic. The incident reminded me why they didn’t rent out the smaller bikes for highways here.

We continued, slowly adjusting to Thailand’s need-for-speed roads. Soon, we made our first pit stop at a roadside stand. There, we bought some mysterious, jelly-filled buns and impossibly sweet drinks, each sip more sugary than the last. It was one of those moments when you appreciate the little quirks of a country, like Thailand’s unwavering love for sweetness in everything. Our bill was a modest 150 Baht, but all I had was a 1000 Baht note. With a polite smile, the shop owner took off on her scooter to find change, leaving us alone at the shop for what felt like an eternity. I half-expected her to come back annoyed, but when she finally returned, she handed me the change with a polite smile, all “Khap Kun Khap”—thank you—and zero complaints. Touched by her patience, I tried to give her a tip in spare coins. Only later did I realize I’d handed her 50 Baht, which was practically a 50% tip! She looked at me like I’d given her a small treasure.

Continuing south, we stopped by a river, and then another minor fiasco ensued. We accidentally took the toll road, not realizing bikes aren’t allowed. At the toll booth, the attendant kindly gestured us to exit, laughing as we sheepishly turned around.

We reached Pattaya after a five-hour drive, arriving around 1 or 1:30 in the afternoon. The first task was to find a hotel, so we explored the area a couple of kilometers away from Pattaya Beach. Every building here was huge, and I assumed the hotels would be pricey, as this developed area near the beach seemed to be packed with upscale spots. Eventually, I went into one large hotel, expecting a high rate, but was surprised to find it cost only 500 baht (1250 INR and 15 USD), which was great news.

The room was straightforward, not even a three-star, but still decent—clean, with a TV, furniture, and everything else you’d expect in a standard room. After settling in, Missy and I decided to explore on foot since the beach was just two kilometers away. Walking through Pattaya city was a thrill; the area near the beach was vibrant and gave us a fresh perspective on Thailand beyond Bangkok.

At Pattaya Beach, with the sun shining, Missy got to see the beach for the second time, her first being Juhu Beach in Mumbai. She played in the shallow water, just dipping her feet, dressed in her elephant pants that we’d picked up at Khaosan Market the day before. Meanwhile, I was out in my jeans, feeling slightly overdressed. After a while, we relaxed under some shade, savoring coconut water. It was hands down the sweetest coconut water we've ever had.

As we enjoyed the coconut, I teased Missy about spotting “ladyboys,” which she was curious about thanks to her love of Thai dramas. We also wandered around the bustling markets near the beach, and I picked up an “elephant shirt” for myself, giving me a bit more of that beach vibe. After a brief rest back at the hotel to change into beach clothes, we returned in the evening, this time on our bike.

To make things interesting, I gave Missy a budget of 1,000 baht for a challenge: see how much she could buy and experience at Pattaya Beach. Her first splurge was on a beachside squid snack, followed by a keychain, some food, and even a T-shirt for me—a bright orange one that we both agreed was a bit loud. We took some fun portraits with vendors, including the one who sold us the “ugly” T-shirt.

Moving a bit away from the beach, we visited a bustling market for dinner. Here, we tried juice from a lychee-like fruit, sushi for the first time, and finally, crocodile meat! They even had real crocodile heads on display as decorations, alongside a fully cooked crocodile they were slicing the meat from. Crocodile tastes almost like chicken, but a bit chewier, with white meat similar in texture.

Missy ended up spending around 700 baht in total—pretty impressive for all we did! For the exact number, you’ll have to check out the vlog, as I don’t have the final tally handy while writing this. By 9 pm, we headed back to the hotel, wrapping up our eventful day in Pattaya. Tomorrow, it’s back to Bangkok before we venture north for our next adventure.