HE’S BETTER KNOWN for his prowess on stage than on two wheels, but Atiwara “Toon” Kongmalai, the frontman of rock band Bodyslam, is all set to lead fellow cyclists to Japan this summer, where they will ride first around Lake Kawaguchi World Heritage spiritual sites near Mount Fuji and along Shimanami Kaido, a route that boasts seven bridges crossing six islands.
The event, dubbed “Pan Lad Fah Kod Fuji” meaning “ride across the sky, embrace Mount Fuji”, is scheduled for July.
“You can enjoy the amazing 360-degree views of these two destinations, which are much |more stunning in real life than in the 100 Plus commercial,” the influential rocker told the crowd during the launch of the trip at Suan Rotfai.
Toon, who is the new presenter of the isotonic sports drink 100 Plus, was in Japan to film the commercial in February, the second coldest month in the Land of Rising Sun, and says he had to pretend it was the summer.
“It was very cold. The temperature was well below zero degrees Celsius while we were filming and I was just wearing a jersey and trying to look warm. It was torture but fun too. I was blown away by the world’s longest suspension bridge at Shimanami Kaido, which has separate routes for bikes and cars. At Lake Kawaguchi, we were very lucky to see a natural phenomenon called ‘Diamond Fuji’. It’s a rare sight,” he says. Both recreational and professional cyclists of all ages can join Toon on the five-day trip. They’ll first cycle around Lake Kawaguchi, the second largest of the Fuji Five Lakes and the most popular in terms of tourists. In 2013 the lake was added to the World Heritage List as part of the Fujisan Cultural Site.
The second part of the trip will take them along Shimanami Kaido, a 70-kilomtre route crossing a series of suspension bridges that features breathtakingly beautiful views of the entire cluster of islands. There’ll also be a visit to a Japanese onsen to soothe |aching muscles.
“Thai tourists usually go to Fuji by train and stay out there. This route is really beautiful and rarely seen. You don’t even need to bring your own bike as 100 Plus will provide bicycles for everybody. The Shimanami Kaido route is truly amazing and takes riders over one of the world’s longest cable-stayed bridges,” says Nitipath “Pingpong” Suksuay, managing director of Day Poets.
“The 29 km ride around Lake Kawaguchi is like a warm up for the 70 km main event. You can take a break at some nice coffee shops or restaurants along the way and of course stop simply to admire the view and take photographs.”
“In line with our “Life Still Goes On” slogan, we wanted to come up with an activity that would be an inspiration for everyone,” explains Jesadakorn “Pam” Ghosh, vice president of Thai Drink’s marketing. “From our survey, we found that people with an active lifestyle love to work out, and the trendiest workout is bicycling. And Japan is Thai people’s favourite country.”
The activity will also take participants to visit tourist attractions and for dining and shopping.
“It’s very interesting,” says actress Ratchawin “Koy” Wongviriya.
“This trip isn’t just only about a workout but also about shopping and dining in places that we wouldn’t necessarily discover by ourselves.”
Fellow actress Natthaweeranuch “Ja” Thongmee agrees. “I regularly ride at Wachirabenchathat Park (Suan Rotfai), either bringing my own bike or renting one. It will be fun riding in another country.”
“I want to join this trip so I can upload my pictures on IG. I love Japan and this tour will offer me a wealth of new experiences,” adds Virithipa “Woonsen” Pakdeeprasong.
Pedal Power
– To become one of the 40 lucky cyclists who will travel to Japan, check underneath the cap of 100 Plus for the 10-digi code.
– Then press *754* on your smartphone and enter the 10-digi code followed by # and press call.
– You can also visit www.100PlusThailand.com or send your name, address and phone number together with the cap to PO Box 12, Lat Phrao, Bangkok 10310.
– The more entries you send in, the more chances you have to win. The promotion runs from today until May 31.
This source first appeared on The Nation Life.