Further motorbike travels in Thailand, Malaysia and Laos

[chrissables]

Day 41. Dec 11. Mae Sariang, Omkoi, Mae Sariang.

Leaving Mae Sariang towards Chiang Mai on road 108 I had the bearing in the rear wheel fail just before the turning 1099 to Omkoi. This was strange as last year when riding to Omkoi I had a puncture at the top of Doi Inthanon. As luck would have it at the junction there was a motorbike repair shop. He directed me another shop one km away, and within an hour I was back on the road.

Continuing towards Omkoi I spotted a temple on a small hill, There was one monk living there and he invited me to sit with and we chatted for about 20 minutes.

He recommended another temple to see in Omkoi, which happened to be at the end of a sand track up another hill! From there back to Mae Sariang.

234 km

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Mae Sariang to Mae Chaem

Again leaving on road 108 I then took 1270 North which quite quickly started to deteriorate. I thought of back tracking many times but being a tad stubborn carried.

Every time I stopped and asked if it would possible to get to Mae Chaem, I always got a yes. But with answers of 20 km 2 hrs, followed by 40 km and 1 hr, I was not overly confident. Eventually after 8 hrs riding, 6 hrs on sandy potholed roads I was treated to some nice views of Doi Inthanon.

At the hotel that night I was asked by a couple of Thai guys to join them taking blankets etc to a Hill Tribe Village the following morning. But they had left when I woke up, which was a shame.

181 km

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This was the good part of the bad road. As you can by how the bike is leaning, the sand is still soft!

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Doi Inthanon looking from the West

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Mae Chaem, Mae Sa, Mae Hong Son.

Riding North from Mae Chaem, I continued to Mae Sa along more sandy and potholed roads. Then I back tracked and turned West on the 1263 and a North towards Doi Mae Uko, where the fields of sunflowers are found.

They were virtually all gone, but I decide to carry on with the intention of joining 108 into Mae Hong Son. But eventually the road was so bad, became wet and very slippery, so I decided to backtrack to Khun Yuam then Mae Hong Son.

The photo’s have Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand in the background.

256 km.

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Day 44. Dec 14. Around Mae Hong Son.

A morning ride to Ban Microwave was great. I tried to find the way back to the sunflower fields but again gave up after coming across road construction.

I arrived back in town for lunch, but two “proper” restaurants would serve no beer with lunch! Great idea to keep the tourists coming! Eventually I found one, and had a relaxing day.

108 km

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Day 45. Dec 15. Mae Hong Sons to Pai.

The weather was starting to get colder now so I decided to ditch my sandals and shorts sports bike wear and was into boots and long trousers, which felt quite strange.

Quite a hazy day today, but still some good views in the mountains.

165 km

Day 46. Dec 16. Around Pai.

A nice day out along road 1265 to Wat Chan today, virtually a deserted road. I continued into the small mountain roads and nearly managed to get to a Karen Hill Tribe Village, but the road was so bad and steep I changed my mind. The road signs were in Thai, Burmese and English here, although we were quite far from Burma. Also the translation from Thai to English was wrong on one town name.

On the way back there was a geyser where you could stop and boil eggs. They even told you the cooking times depending on what eggs.

Pai is another city which thinks tourists should not drink in the day also.

147 km

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Day 47. Dec 17. Pai to Mae Rim.

Continuing along road 1095 towards Chiang Mai was quiet dirty and sandy due to resurfacing work. But it will make to road better when completed.

I took a small road as a short cut, road 3010 which comes out at Mae Rim. The I saw a big bike shop and decided it was time for a oil and filter change.

A nice guy, he had just started up his new business and included a free bike wash in the service, which my bike was really in need of.

154 km

Day 48. Dec 18. Around Mae Rim.

I rode up Doi Suthep and onto Doi Pui, which due to fog was impossible to enjoy the views.

Returning to Chiang Mai I stopped at a view point and found a wallet. I ended up in the police station for a long time making statements and have my photo taken. This time no numbers at the bottom of the photo!

I continued the Samoeng loop which had some nice views.

135 km

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Day 49. Dec 19. Mae Rim to Fang.

I rode the 108 South to Hot and onto Doi Tao where the virtually dry reservoir is. Then looped back North through Lampang and up 1035, a really fun road.. At Wang Nuea West, then North on the 118. At Mae Suai the 109 to fang.

This was a really good days riding.

544 km

Day 50. Dec 20. Doi Ang Khang.

I rode to the top of Doi Ang Khang hoping to see the sea of fog this morning, but it was up to the top of the mountain top and cold there too.

I continued riding and trying to find a good view, but was eventually turned back by the army.

88 km

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Day 51. Dec 21. A loop from Fang.

South on the 107, then 1346 to Prao. Then Mae Suai and Fang.

A really nice ride through mainly quiet mountainous roads. Well worth a day trip.

230 km

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Day 52. Dec 22. Fang to Chiang Saen

First call this morning was to see if the “sea of fog” was visible at Doi Ang Khang. There were better views, but not really what I was looking for.

I back tracked to Fang and along road 1089 to Doi Mae Salong. I also stopped off at Mae Fa Luang to see the gardens there. A great place, clean and well run.

From there I took the small back road towards Mae Sai which forms the Thai / Burmese border, great views along the mountain ridge. After Mae Sai it was a short ride to Chiang Saen.

241 km

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At the Thai / Burma view point on the way to Mae Sai

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On the way down to Mae Sai, it's a pity about the haze because great views there.

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Day 53. Dec 23. Chiang Saen to Chiang Rai.

Following the Mekong River first thing in the morning towards Chiang Khong it was very misty, but that soon burnt off and it became a wonderful sunny day.

I continued following the river until the Laos border, then it was South on road 1155 and 1093 to Phu Chi Faa. A steep ride to the top followed by 400 meters walk to the summit. The views here are just spectacular! From the top you can look down into Laos and see the Mekong River in the distance.

From Phu Chi Faa I rode down the mountains to Thoeng and onto Chiang Rai.

277 km.

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A shot from the top of Phu Chi Faa, looking down into Laos

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This is my favourite photo of the holiday, slightly spoiled by the haze though. A spectacular view looking over Laos from the top of Phu Chi Faa

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The summit of Phu Chi Faa

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Day 54. Dec 24. Happy Birthday to me!

Relaxed.

Day 55. Dec 25. Happy Christmas with the Akha Hill tribe.

My plan today was to take it easy and ride into the mountains and look at the views.

Eventually, by accident I ended up at an Akha Hill Tribe Village. They are Christian and the Christmas Day celebrations were already in full swing at 11am.

The village church, made of bamboo is sponsored by a Japanese man, whose son is the pastor of the village. They opened the church for me to give a speech on the pit falls of drinking alcohol, but as they were all pissed and outside drinking I decided to join them.

The village was in real party mode, the local lao khao which was stored in a jar with what looked like a monkey brain pickled in 91 petrol was disgusting! Road kill was being barbequed, or maybe it was a pig. Karaoke and the playing of air guitar was in full swing. It was great!

A strange and wonderful Christmas Day.

90 km

[chrissables]

Day 54. Dec 24. Happy Birthday to me!

Relaxed.

Day 55. Dec 25. Happy Christmas with the Akha Hill tribe.

My plan today was to take it easy and ride into the mountains and look at the views.

Eventually by accident I ended up at an Akha Hill Tribe Village. They are Christian and the Christmas Day celebrations were already in full swing at 11am.

The village church, made of bamboo is sponsored by a Japanese man, whose son is the pastor of the village. They opened the church for me to give a speech on the pit falls of drinking alcohol, but as they were all pissed and outside drinking I decided to join them.

The village was in real party mode, the local lao khao which was stored in a jar with what looked like a monkey brain pickled in 91 petrol was disgusting! Road kill was being barbequed, or maybe it was a pig. Karaoke and the playing of air guitar was in full swing. It was great!

A strange and wonderful Christmas Day.

90 km

Edited January 25, 2016 by chrissables

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Me giving a Christmas sermon, of course nobody is listening!

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Day 56. Dec 26. Chiang Rai to Nan.

Road 1020, 1021 down to Chiang Kham and then the great 1148 and 1080 to Nan today. Good motor biking roads.

247 km

Day 57. Dec 27. A loop around Nan.

From Nan I rode North to Santi Suk and up to Bo Kluea, more great motorbike roads. Continuing North on 1081 the road was not so good, but nice views.

I took a right on 1307 to Nam Chang Pattana where I saw a guy with a huge hunting rifle, it seemed 2 meters long.

The countryside around here has been decimated, cleared for agriculture. I wonder who made all the money from the removed trees!

I completed the loop riding 1080 back to Nan.

314 km.

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Day 58. Dec 28. Nan to Laos.

A straight ride North on 1080 to the Hua Kon border this morning. A bit of a run around, but quite quick and I was in Laos. Once in Laos I stopped to buy insurance, but they had shut up shop! Going to the nearest town was of no help, and the ATM machines would not accept my Thai card.

Eventually I decided to ride without insurance with the intention of buying at Oudom Xai.

A river crossing by boat is still needed at Pak Beng, but the bridge is very nearly completed.

The Pak Beng to Oudom Xai road is still pot holed, but not terrible.

323 km

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Day 59. Dec 29. Oudom Xai, Boten, Oudom Xai

A pleasant ride to the Chinese border at Boten today. I took a few photo’s and returned.

180 km

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Day 60. Dec 30. Oudom Xai to Luang Prabang.

The road South from Oudon Xai to Luang Prabang has improved greatly since my last trip. Chinese companies are working at a very fast rate. When fully finished this will be a super road for motorbikes.

Approx 200 km

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Day 61. Dec 31. Around Luang Prabang.

Today I rode out to the Kuang Si Waterfall today. It is a wonderful place to go, beautiful waterfall and very clean.

Celebrated the New Year with the staff at the hotel I was staying at.

Approx 50 km

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Day 62. Jan 1. Relaxed around town.

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Day 63. Jan 2. Luang Prabang to Phonsavan.

A clear sky today for a great ride to Phonsavan.

I stopped to take some photos of Hill Tribe children. They were so young, and on their way back from work alone.

258 km

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Day 64. Jan 3. Phonsavan to Vang Vieng.

Initially my plan was to try and enter the ex CIA base Longchen. But the hotel owner told me that the locals there had killed some people passing through and it was closed.

My second plan was to ride to the Vietnam border at Nam Kanh, but I woke to pea soup thick fog.

Plan three, visit site 2 of the Plain of Jars and ride to Vang Vieng.

It was a cold start to the day and still misty at the Jars site.

The fog cleared on the way to Vang Vieng and there were some good views along the road.

276 km

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Day 65. Jan 4. Around Vang Vieng.

I crossed the river on the wooden toll bridge heading West on dusty, sandy roads. The problem with this is they have a water truck spraying water. So this wet slurry makes the road like riding on ice! Some nice views here too. Decided to do a little off road riding through some paddy fields for fun too.

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I then returned and headed to Blue Water Reservoir for some more good views.

131 km