Stories Collected While Living in France

French la Vie

Riding Around Koh Samui in a Pink Helmet

 

We rented a small motorcycle, (filled it up twice) and a pair of helmets. 12 dollars.

We rode around the island of Koh Samui where we arrived the day before yesterday after taking two planes, two buses, and an hour and a half boat ride.

 

Koh samui

 

I felt risky, daring and guilty because I rode in a dress without gloves, or proper shoes. The combination of feelings made me feel dangerously free. Crazy but true. (P.S. I promise I won't do it again!)

We rode for several hours around the island. Got lost, found our way (because after all it is an island.) It rained part of the way, and still we were royally sunburned.

 

The cliff Koh samui

 

We stopped at a beautiful restaurant called: The Cliff… we walked in soaked, sunburned, matted hair with goofy looking smiles. The view of the ocean kept the focus away from us.

After a few glasses of wine (French Husband did not drink as he as driving.) I dared to ride home side saddle, like I have seen the Thai women do.

Balancing on a beam between two twenty story bulidings would have been easier. After ten minutes I begged French Husband to stop the bike.

 Have you ever been side saddle on a motorbike? Or sat on the handles of a bicycle? Can you ride with no hands?

 

Comments

33 responses to “Riding Around Koh Samui in a Pink Helmet”

  1. Zosia

    I only rode in a side basket of a 1950s Russian motorcycle called “Dniepr”. I am yet to experience riding behind the driver on a more modern motorcycle. I am cautious by nature, so I am a bit scared.

    Reply
  2. Paula

    When I was a kid I rode my bike without holding on and also rode on the handle bars, but never as an adult. Sound like you are having a really great time Corey, am so happy for you.

    Reply
  3. Karen at Pas Grand-Chose

    What an adventure you’re having! Can’t wait to see more pictures of this beautiful island.

    Reply
  4. Merisi, Vienna

    You must have been quite a sight, ridding NOT side saddle in that wet little black dress of yours! ;-9
    You don’t want to know the things I did on my bike when I was a kid (not for nothing did Sacha’s adventures fascinate me to no end). ! I still bare the marks of flying over the handle bar onto gravel roads. 😉
    Safe exploring,
    hugs,
    Merisi
    P.S.:
    I successfully presented my youknowwhat exposé on Saturday.
    Now I am scared of the actual work. 😉

    Reply
  5. Jenna

    The discussing being lost makes me feel as if I am a part of your vacation! I have, balancing a melon and a package of crabs on my lap. No one wears protection on bikes in Asia, don’t feel bad.

    Reply
  6. Jeanne

    I am loving sharing all your adventures with you
    Love and hugs and smiles across the miles.
    I love everything you share.
    Love Jeanne

    Reply
  7. jackie

    You guys are having a blast…and I’m having a blast watching it all:) thanks for the fun!
    jackie

    Reply
  8. Irina

    listening to Charles Aznavour (on youtube) singing in Russian and reading about side saddle riding – I’m thrown back in my youth.
    you look and sound happy, Corey!

    Reply
  9. Marilyn

    What a ride and an adventure. Now I need to look at the map to see where you are. We will go to an island or two, but think it will be across the gulf. Riding on the motorcycle wounds like a lot of fun. I have thought maybe we would rent mopeds somewhere along the way.

    Reply
  10. Hotel in Brugge

    Wow Nice style of Bikers ….Good Job and your pics very nice display in mirror

    Reply
  11. Sheala

    Gorgeous!!!!
    I’ve never done the side saddle thing, but I’ve sat on the handle bars and ridden with no hands many times!
    Your trip looks amazing.

    Reply
  12. Brenda L from TN

    Oy Vey….I got dizzy just watching…looks as if you are having a great time…love the pink helment…what is avg. yearly temp there? It looks hot…or at least very warm.
    Thanks for sharing your adventures!! Keep safe!

    Reply
  13. martina

    I always wanted to ride a Vespa sidesaddle in Rome, like Audrey Hepburn. Alas, the only experiences have been on a Gold Wing-not sidesaddle, in my home town.

    Reply
  14. Amy Kortuem

    You wild thing, Corey! I don’t like motorcycles (after being terrorized beyond repair by my uncle on one when I was 5)…so no, I’ve never ridden side saddle.
    But for some reason, I’m fascinated by Vespas…

    Reply
  15. LaurieSF

    Paradise..

    Reply
  16. Kimberly

    I grew up riding dirt bikes from a very young age. When I was about 2 my dad used to put me on the handlebars. Never been side saddle though. Sounds like it would be difficult so I think I will stay with the normal position. 🙂 Blessings, Kimberly

    Reply
  17. everton terrace

    Oh you’ve taken me back to my youth. I remember riding on handlbars and riding with no hands all the time, such fun. I wouldn’t do either one now, well maybe just for a bit 🙂

    Reply
  18. Patt

    When I was young I used to ride on handlebars, and with no hands. Now I would probably knock my teeth out. But the though makes me want to try it. I will let you know…..

    Reply
  19. Kathie B

    The last time — for obvious reasons! — I ever rode on the back of a motorcycle (not side-saddle, but astride) was at the height of the mini-skirt fad in the late ’60s.
    Unfortunately, as I dismounted I started losing my balance, so to keep from falling — and dropping and breaking thousands of dollars of then-state-of-the-art video equipment I’d been holding, inevitably breaking it all — I wound up pressing the middle of my bare calf against the blazing-hot exhaust pipe, inflicting a 3″x5″ second-degree burn (a mass of blisters) on the muscle. I managed to hang on to all that video equipment, but to this day a shadow of the burn scar is still visible.

    Reply
  20. Joanne Tuchman

    It is a joy to share your adventures. I especially loved the video and found myself holding onto my chair for dear life a couple of times (like when FH almost passed the van on the left just before it’s left blinker went on). Again…thank you for including us in your life.

    Reply
  21. Juliette

    Yann taught me how to ride a bicycle, something like a little more than 30 years ago.
    I remember I wanted to learn how to ride with only one hand as I had see him to do…
    He sat me on the bick, put a cookie in one of my hands and said -“Ride sweety”.
    Ever since, I can eat a cookie riding and thus, riding with one hand only 😉
    xoxo

    Reply
  22. janet

    you are an incredibly good sport.

    Reply
  23. Alena

    My grandfather used to give me a ride to school on handle bars of a bike.
    Sidebar all the time with my friends.
    Wow I used to be fun!?

    Reply
  24. cynthia Wolff

    oh Corey, you and your husband have such a beautiful marriage and your togetherness is so touching. I love the way you continue to grow and do things together like newlyweds. what a wonderful familly you have.

    Reply
  25. jend’isère

    Love how you share your love with us almost as much as the shared love between yourselves. Even shared that pink bubble helmet.

    Reply
  26. tongue in cheek

    Yes, we shared. Yann in Pink it is his color!

    Reply
  27. Maura

    No, No and NO! I’m too chicken to ride a motorcycle period LOL! What an adventurous couple you are Corey..loved the video by the way. I hope the rest of your holiday is just as wonderful. Take care.
    Maura 🙂

    Reply
  28. katiebell

    Corey! What a sexy pair you are. 😉 xx
    take care

    Reply
  29. Brenda

    No, sorry to say, riding on back of bike, the most exciting thing I can say is I got a bug in my mouth! Phhtthhh!

    Reply
  30. Marie

    Why is Uncle Yoyo wearing the pink helmet, and you are wearing the black one? 🙂

    Reply
  31. Alan

    Why is it women will admit to being lost long before any man will. It’s probably the way Columbus actually found the Americas, “No, Mrs. Columbus, we are not lost. India is just over the horizon.”

    Reply
  32. Restaurants Brugge

    Thanks for the share your personal story I really love this post and i think you are great.

    Reply
  33. Travel Links

    I am very happy to after read this post. I really like and I hope you will continue with nice and attractive post. Thanks for the sharing.

    Reply

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