e left Kampot heading southwest for the seaside town of Sihanoukville riding on the NH3 - we were there just passing by on our way to the Thai / Cambodia border at Koh Kong.  Sihanoukville was like Pattaya 30 years ago, with flights arriving soon from Siem Reab it is sure to develop in the coming years.  We spent the afternoon swimming in the ocean, a nice break after all the riding we had done crisscrossing around Cambodia.

The next morning we continued west on the NH4 and NH48 to the Thai border at Hat Lek.  The southern highways has been great, nothing like what we encountered in central and northern Cambodia.  There were 3 ferries crossing on this route; however, bridges were currently being built (finance by the Thai government) and should reduce the journey by at least 1.5 hours once completed.

We got to the border around 3 pm and waited in the lobby of the massive Kok Kong International Resort Club while our guide was working on the paperwork.  Other than a border town, the only reason anyone would come to Kok Kong is for its casinos and gambling.  I felt out of place sitting in the lobby but had to admit the air con and comfy couches was a pleasant change to our usual roughing it out daily routine.

Once crossing border at Hat Lek we continued west for Pattaya. The ride from Hat Lek to Trat on HW 318 was actually quite nice, curvy roads going through the mountains with the ocean on one side – I actually wouldn’t mind coming back here to ride just for fun.  The crew stopped in Trat for a bite to eat, however, Hui and I rode straight to Pattaya on HW 3, wanting to get there before sundown.

My family has own hotels in Pattaya since the early seventies and I’ve been coming here for the past 35 years, ever since it was just a small fishing town.  We were here for the night and tomorrow some biker friends were riding down to accompany us on a mini caravan back into Bangkok, a sort of homecoming.

The night before heading back into Bangkok I was full of mixed emotions.  A part of me misses home while another just wanted to continue riding.  I always tell people if it wasn’t for my son, Dino, I would most likely be on the road all year round. One of my belief is you could do whatever you want as long as you live up to your responsibilities.  Having him is good for me; he is my pillar in life and forces me to stay focus and be responsible.

The final day of our journey was very hectic.  We had to be at Suan Lum Night Bazaar at 4:00 pm for a live press con and everything had to go exactly according to schedule.  I told the bikers to be in Pattaya by 12 noon and we would leave for Bangkok no latter than 1:30 pm.  I spent the morning doing interviews with the local press and by late morning was packing up the bikes for our final ride home.  We got a few highway police to lead the caravan so we won’t be stuck in traffic once on the outskirt of Bangkok. We left Pattaya at 1:40 and manage to get to the Night Bazaar on time.

Once at the press con I did the usual interview on stage followed by “meet and greet” with the various press.  I made sure to thank all of our sponsors, endorsers and staff.  It was also important to me to show gratitude to the fans that came out to show their support. I was so busy running around making sure everything went smoothly such that it didn’t hit me this was the end of our journey. Actually it didn’t hit me until the following morning when I awoke in my bed at my flat in Bangkok.

2 months later.

Two months has passed since driving back from Pattaya that day.  It usually takes me about a month or so to adjust back to life in Bangkok.  On the road you are constantly on the move and it’s quite awkward to readjust back to a normal routine.

Last week we were having a family dinner and I told everyone I had to leave early to go to work. I had to go to the editing room to approve some final shot for our TV show Dreamchaser, before sending the tape off to censor the following day. As I was getting up to leave my niece, Natalie, asked me “Uncle Sukie, you work too?” I was surprised by her comment and told her “ Of course I work – what are you talking about!” In which her reply was “I thought you just ride motorcycles.” All I could do was laugh at her innocent remark; however, in a way, she was right – I do ride motorcycles for a living and I feel extremely fortunate to be able to.

I left the music industry 3 years ago having no idea where I was heading next.  After 6 months of searching and stressing myself along the way, I decided to just let go and go with the flow.  For the first time in my life I had free time with nothing to do and so I decided why not have some fun.  I bought a motorcycle with the intention of riding around Thailand.  One thing lead to another resulting in Dreamchaser Season I, now Season II and possibly a Season III next year – hoping to make it to Russia this time.

For me, riding and traveling is extremely therapeutic – it is how I self-medicate myself and I’m sure it can also work wonders for others. As Ted Simon, the author of “Jupiter’s Travels” and one of the first people to circumvent the world on a motorcycle, once said, “when you stay home nothing happens.”

What makes me the happiest is when people come up and tell me they had seen our show and it inspired them to follow their dreams.  Likewise, I hope this travel log would inspire readers to go out and follow their dreams and aspirations.  It has been fun for me writing it and I very much hope it has been enjoyable for everyone to read.

Lastly, I would like to thank the people at Horizon for supporting me and giving me the opportunity in publishing this Dreamchaser travel series.

Life is too short so start making time for your dreams.

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