'2nd Ride' to Mae Hong Son, Golden Triangle & Myanmar... Part 3

Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai

Heyya,

Alright.. i'm back to continue posting ride report of my second ride of Mae Hong Son.. We left Mae Hong Son for Chiang Mai as early as 6.30 am local time after we had breakfast at the hotel.. My GS Adventure still had another 300 km of fuel in tank so I didn’t need to refuel at Mae Hong Son.. As we left Baiyoke Hotel, the morning was still dawn and visible was very misty and cold..

On the way to Chiang Mai on Route 1095, I have already planned to have a break for coffee and desserts in Pai.. The distance from Mae Hong Son to Pai takes only 160 km.. Yes, it is a short ride and I always love the road from Mae Hong Son to Pai… it has blind corners, sharp steep hilly corners, where u even need to pull the clutch lever on 1^st gear when taking the sharp steep corners… I always make a stop at one of the hilly corners for a photo session… the photo below shows how steep the corners can be..

As we left early in the morning, the road was still empty on Route 1095.. it was hardly to meet any road users at this time.. hence we had great time enjoying the corners.. there were many areas in mist and visibility was only 50 meters especially on top of mountains... The ride on the mountains was great as we were riding higher than clouds..

Pai

Pai is a small town in Northern Thailand's Mae Hong Son Province, near Myanmar border and it lies on Pai River.. it is well known among backpackers for its relaxed atmosphere, the town is full of cheap guesthouses, souvenir shops and restaurants.. In the proximity of the town are spas and elephant camps..

We had couple of desserts and cafe latte at one of the resorts in Pai, facing padi fields and mountains... i told my mate Laurence to have desserts as they would provide us energy for Pai - Chiang Mai ride.. We shall arrive in Chiang Mai by noon...

After the break, we continued our ride to Chiang Mai.. The ride to Chiang Mai from Pai (on Route 1095 and Route 107) would take only 2 hours and half for merely 130 km and very challenging... there were more sharp corners and there were many road users especially tourist buses, lorries and trucks...

Finally we reached Chiang Mai and i went to Royal Lanna Hotel, along Night Bazaar to get a room while Laurence sent his Versys for service.. I always love to stay Royal Lanna Hotel because the staff were still remember me and she would give me a special rate for double Deluxe room, facing the Night Bazaar..

As usual in the evening, i've called my Chiang Mai girl friends for drinks and dinner at Hua Lamphong.. I really love the bars along the JJ Market because they are hang out bars for the locals, where they serve cheap Leo & Singha with great Thai food and each bar has its live-band performance.. but unfortunately, Chompoo could not join us that night.. she was celebrating her birthday at different place...

 

Retreat? Hell, we just got here! 

HooRahh!!

I'm Back.... for blogging!

Heyya... 

Sorry for being away from my blog and thanks for waiting for my next ride reports..

Basically,  i have few rides that need to be written... they are:

- Second Ride to Mae Hong Son 1864 Corners, Chiang Mai, Golden Triangle & Mae Sai Myanmar Ride (click here for photos)

- Christmas at Koh Samui

- Solo ride to Laos People's Democratic Republic & China Border

Stay tuned...

HooRahh!!

'2nd Ride' to Mae Hong Son, Golden Triangle & Myanmar... Part 2

Heyya...

On the 3rd day, we left Mae Sod at 7.00 o'clock in the morning for Mae Hong Son's 1864 Corners, the day was still dark as we left the town.. as we were entering Route 105, which leads to Mae Sariang, the road was slippery and condition was foggy.. i had no problems with my vision as i was wearing my trustworthy Scott Goggles that helps to keep the mist off my glasses...

The Mae Sod - Mae Sariang route is also known for Border Route as you'll be riding along the river which separates Myanmar and Thailand... Myanmar will always be in your sight when you ride along this route...

The distance between Mae Sod and Mae Sariang is only 230 km on Route 105.. it is just a short ride but it was an easy ride as it was hardly to meet any incoming vehicles... the road was empty for most of the time...

Upon reaching Mae Sariang, we stopped for breakfast at restaurant which sells great Khao Mun Gai and Iced Cafe Latte... Mae Sariang is a small town that located in between Mae Hong Son and Chiang Mai.. hence the road condition on Route 108 to Mae Hong Son from Mae Sariang is better and wider than the previous road (Mae Sod to Mae Sariang route)..

Starting from Mae Saring to Mae Hong Son, the cornering types were medium and long corners... and there were lots of chicanes.. beautiful chicanes especially when riding the GS Adventure.. really enjoyed riding on Route 108 until i reached Mae Hong Son.. the ride was so amazing and i even thought of making another run to Mae Sariang and back to Mae Hong Son again... heheee...

We reached Mae Hong Son at 1.00 pm and checked-in at my favourite hotel, Baiyoke Chalet... it is clean, decent hotel and located in the middle of Mae Hong Son town...

Grabbed lunch and not to forget, the Mae Hong Son's 1864 Corners Certificate at the Mae Hong Son Council Municipal which is located right next to Baiyoke Chalet... I was so proud to receive my Second certificate since this was my second ride to Mae Hong Son's 1864 Corners i've done in 3 months of time... what a great self-achievement!!!

After lunch we went to Long Neck Karen Village, located in Ban Noi Soi which is only 20 km from Mae Hong Son town... It is perhaps most well-known for the refugee camp found there and for having the largest Karenni settlement of the three villages.. Thai authorities view Ban Mai Nai Soi as a self-staining refugee camp...

Also, did a haircut at my regular salon in Mae Hong Son...

Total distance from Mae Sod to Mae Hong Son is 320 km..





HooRahh!!

'2nd Ride' to Mae Hong Son, Golden Triangle & Myanmar... Part 1

Heyya...

On 27th November 2010, me and my friend, Laurence (Kawasaki Versys), decided to ride to Mae Hong Son's 1864 Corners, Golden Triangle (GT) of North Thailand and Mae Sai in Myanmar..

It was my Second Ride to Mae Hong Son and Golden Triangle within 3 months.. the first Mae Hong Son ride can be found here, which i rode Solo in monsoon season...

Anyway, we left R&R Rawang at 4.30 am and reached Thai Border Control at 7.00 am... it was on Saturday and the queue at Thai Immigration was very long.. lots of Malaysians were spending weekend holiday at Hatyai and because of the long queue, we managed to clear the immigration and customs declaration at 9.30 am... by this time the road traffic between Dannok to Hatyai had been congested.. For the first day we were riding to the central of Thailand on Route 4 starting from Hatyai..

We reached Chumphon at 1.00 pm and stopped for my first fuel stop (~600 km) since my last refueling at Bukit Kayu Hitam..  had a simple luncheon of Khao Pad Gung and Khai Tiao opposite of the petrol station and decided it was impossible to reach Kanchanaburi on the same day.. so we had to ditch our visit to Kanchanaburi's Bridge over River Kwai.. anyway, i have been to the bridge during my first Mae Hong Son trip...

Then we continued riding at 2.00 pm and reached Hua Hin at 5.30 pm.. We decided to end our ride in Hua Hin for the day and went straight to my regular guest house in Hua Hin, along the Night Market street... the mileage of day 1 journey was only 1,300 km from Kuala Lumpur..





The Next Morning, we left Hua Hin and headed to Mae Sod.. we were still riding on Route 4 via Petchaburi, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom before switching to Route 321 towards Suphanburi...

We then rode on Route 340 to Chainat and joined Route 1 to Uthai Thani... Once we were on Route 1, we were on our course to the North of Thailand...

We stopped for refueling after Nakhon Sawan By-Pass and had lunch there before headed to Tak and turned to Mae Sod on Route 105...

Checked-in at D.K. Hotel (Duang Kamon Hotel) as it is known to be the best hotel in Mae Sod...

Mae Sod


Mae Sod is a town in most western of thailand, which shares a border with Myawaddy, Myanmar... Mae Sod is located in Tak Province and the main trading materials at Mae Sod are gems and teak..

Dinning-in KFC.. something which you don't get in Malaysia.. they come, take orders and serve you KFC meals at your table...

Unfortunately there were conflicts in Myawaddy, Myanmar... hence we were not allowed to enter Myawaddy and cross the Friendship Bridge... so we could only view Myawaddy from Mae Sod.. i should have done it in August when i travelled solo to Mae Sod..

At that time, people could travel and enter Myawaddy and Mae Sod was such a busy trading town...

On the second day, we rode almost 750 km from Hua Hin to Mae Sod... it was a short ride and we also managed to check out the Mae Sod town..




HooRahh!!

Alpinestars Ridge Waterproof Boots

Heyya...


Earlier today, I've received a parcel from Budak Singapore as i've purchased the Alpinestars Ridge waterproof boots for RM900 including P&P from Singapore..

Previously, i never had a thought for having a waterproof boots as i am always comfortable with my Gaerne Cypher Motocross boots and my trustworthy Ever Last shoes..

After all, if i travel to Koh Samui, Krabi or any Southern Thailand region, i need a pair of boots which are waterproof, which match with my Clover waterproof riding pants and i feel comfortable to walk with..

Somehow, i need a pair of three quarter waterproof boots which look great with a pair of jeans, i.e. people will not notice it is a pair of motorcycle boots...  so i can wear them to functions, events and also meeting my clients with a pair of jeans..

The Ridge boots are very comfortable... they are 3 1/4 medium-cut boots and they give good enough of protection on ankles and both feet.. so far, i've seen the Ridge boots have been reviewed brilliantly on the internet and youtube videos..

Don't ya think they look great?

And they look like normal boots and you cannot even notice they are riding boots, can ya?

HooRahh!!