sympathy? hug? you're just doing this to get attention from the girls, right? That's just a bit of makeup on your face and some gauze from your first aid kit.

Just kidding. Glad to know you're all right. Now you've got a great story to tell! And you'll get a real hug in a few weeks. See you in Chiang Mai!

ouch, man... that didn't look pleasant. hope you feel better.

i rented one in budapest. absolutely terrible idea. a semi nearly hit me. but my god the adrenaline...

It was funny when the hotel that only cared about the well being of the bike asked me if I wanted a ride into town on the back of a motorbike after it happened to go see the doctor again.


It sucks because for the 20 minutes I was riding it before I fell, I was having the time of my life. It was so much fun. I won't say I will never ride one again but it will haev to be in a place I have been for a few days so I know the terrain and I only if they provide helmets and the ground is flat.

And even then it will be a long time because I don't wanna ride scared. Maybe a course would help.

Sucks that bikes are so fun.

YUO = GA

(Sorry, wrong forum.) I just about drove a motorbike off a cliff on Flores, Indonesia. I spent the rest of the day morbidly imagining how long it would've taken for someone to find me (Flores is waaaaaaaaaaaay out beyond the sticks in Indo), and how long it would've taken to evacaute me to a hospital. I would've been deadified.

Hey Joey - get well quick!!

I guess I am one of the luckier ones - I did the scooter / motorbike hire thing without helmet in Corfu. I sometimes think back on how stupid that was. On the first day I had a scooter and one of our group had a tumble half way through the day - she had to go to hospital. Because the tour was interrupted the tour person offered to take us all out again the next day. As we were short one scooter I ended up riding the motorbike because I'd had experience (on dirtbikes when I was a kid).

It was great fun but the heart sure flutters when you have a near miss. To this day I can picture with utmost clarity the vision I had on a hairpin turn, when a mercedes came up the other direction and crossed over into my lane on the inside of the hairpin. I saw myself sliding down on one side and in under the merc. Somehow this did not happen - I am eternally grateful for the tyres on that bike not giving way on that angle. However - I will always use a lid now!!

Always rent the motorbike. Even if you are inexperienced.

But it's probably best to do it in a place without hills, potholes, or traffic.

Bummer about your accident man, and too bad you can't go swimming with all those scrapes.

You poor thing. I'd like to take you home and cook you a roast dinner followed by apple sponge and custard. Followed by a nice hot cuppa tea.

Hope you feel better soon.

Seeing your photos made me glad I didn't rent a scooter when I was in WA last year. When I asked them was it safe , their answer was if you can drive a car you can ride a scooter. About the only thing that made me reconsider was that I wear glasses. I kept thinking "what if it rains? I won't be able to see".

Hugs and kisses XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX



Have a nice day, Whistler.


If you can keep a sense of humour and see the funny side of life, you will never be old. SMC.

Ouch! Joey, I sooo feel your pain! Something similar happened to me 2 years ago in New Zealand. Long story short, my friend & I rented some bikes, enjoyed about 30 minutes of smooth roads & awesome scenery, & then as I turned into a parking lot of a rest area, my bike encountered some rocks, and I became one with the gravel. Part of my jeans were scraped off - actually I think they were embedded in my leg because I couldn't find them on the road, and my arm still has a nice little scar.

But man, I think you had the mother of all spills! I'm glad you'll be ok though. Feel better soon

Jen

p.s. that roughed-up look looks good on you!

was it a scooter?

**~Abrazo~**

I have to say the carnage from motorbike accidents in Thailand is staggering. Maps and brochures of Phuket actually recommend against renting - it's that bad. I am a member of the elite few who rented for a solid month in Phuket -accident capital of Thailand- and survived without a scratch or accident to speak of. I cannot say the same for the 15 other people I met while there who ate it, but fortunately their injuries were not life-threatening. And I will be honest and mention I haven't ever been on a scooter or motorbike beforehand. I learned in a parking lot two hours before I got the nerve to rent it; I had an excellent teacher who actually thought I wouldn't make it through the month. Ye of little faith. I was ridiculously cautious, wore the helmet, and bought cheap clear glasses at Tesco to wear at night to protect my eyes against the dust.

Since the above makes me look like a total jacka** bragging about how I didn't get maimed on the road, I will go ahead and tell you that while doing the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain, I fell down a mountain and landed on my face [on a rock]. I hope that balances out the annoyance of the above story and gives you a good laugh. I'm still laughing about it.

thos scrapes aren't bad my friend had a crash on the same road when we were there, he was scraped up alot worse, were were also pretty screwed up from the full moon party and in no condition to drive, his toe was broken and half his body was had road burn on it,and the other half of his face had neon paint on it, also a bad concussion almost beats when i climbed a church in madrid and sprang both my ankles.