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| Picture of cool bike during Koh Samui Bike Week Photo Courtesy Thailandcooler.com |
Every May, the resort
island of Koh Samui in Thailand comes alive with another offering besides its
perennial attractions of sun, sea, sand, and surf. The highlights of Koh Samui
activities during this month turn to motorcycles as aficionados of these
two-wheeled road denizens seek bragging rights in annual showcase and foster mutual
camaraderie in parallel festivities.
Organized by the
island’s motorcycle riders club and sponsored by the Tourism Authority of
Thailand, the Samui Bike Week is more than an exhibition of some of the finest
motorbikes from various continents. The revving engines of Harleys, Ducatis,
Hondas, and Yamahas, provide interesting counterpoints to band concerts, native
delicacies at local food stalls, and a Western, cowboy-inspired extravaganza.
Environmental advocacy
Held annually for
several years now, the Samui Bike Week has also taken up an advocacy. Part of
the income generated during this event, which is likewise billed as Riding for
Peace and Environment, is allocated for the Green Island Project, an endeavour
geared towards the sustainable development of tourism in Samui. This pursuit is
aligned with private and government sectors’ efforts to preserve the island’s
pristine beaches, verdant woodlands, lush greeneries, and crystal clear waters,
features that can best be appreciated in one local facility, the ShaSa Resort,
at the southern tip of Samui.
The holding of a bike
week in the island comes as second nature with Samui being home to several
motorcycle clubs whose roots trace back to the early 2000s. Locals and a rich
mix of expatriates compose these groups, which besides the organizing Samui
Riders MC, include Samui Pirates MC, Dark Knights MC, and the Bandidos MC which
also has roots in Phuket and Pattaya. Seven other MCs call Samui their home
base as registered with the American Motorcyclists Association.
Living sculptures on the road
The lead stars of the
event are, of course, the motorbikes, which have certainly made their presence,
felt in Samui, particularly the big machines of the iconic Harley Davidson.
Notably, one bike shop in Chaweng has several Harleys which are for rent. The
shop, Ohms Cycles Samui, is owned by the Dark Nights’ president, Khun Ohm.
The Samui Bike Week,
nonetheless, offers a lot more besides these so-called “hogs” of the road. The Thai motorcycle enthusiasts are well
known for their bike customisation such that the Steeds, Viragos, or Honda
Classics to be seen (and heard) during the bike week can be rightfully
considered as works of arts, more like mobile sculptures with a life truly
their own.
