A group of us took a leisurely slide around the Samoeng Loop today, almost a Zen motorbike ride, becoming one with the twisties, a serpentine line of us as we rode around the curves. Up top we could see blue ski and little white puffy clouds, had a bit cooler temps and... to really make it a perfect ride... the first LYCHEE of the season.There were several stands set up selling them, 40 baht per kilo, and they were perfect! I brought home three kilo, which should last two of us almost until tomorrow, but I'll be happy to ride up for some more on Tuesday! We had lunch in our favorite restaurant, continued on down back to Chiang Mai, and something cold to drink!

Great ride, great company, great food, and great lychee. Who could ask for more!

Yes it is a nice ride, must admit I haven't done it for a while.... last time was strawberry season.

What restaurant did you have lunch in...if you don't mind my asking.

Yes it is a nice ride, must admit I haven't done it for a while.... last time was strawberry season.

What restaurant did you have lunch in...if you don't mind my asking.

We usually ride it at least once or twice a month. It makes for a nice 3-4 hour outing from Chiang Mai, with a comfortable stop in the middle. I couldn't tell you the 'name' of our favorite lunch place, but I can give you a general location. While there are three or four that we've stopped at, some that looked fancier than others, the group fav is a side-of-the-road 'shed' that overlooks the International School 2/3rds of the way around the loop when starting in Mae Rim. There are two of them within 500m of each other, but the one we prefer is right at the highest part of the road. You can see it perched overlooking the valley as you come up the road. It has both inside (well... covered, anyway...) and outside seating areas with enough room for a small group of friends. The fancier ones both sit above the road, but cost three times as much for half the serving size, and the tastes don't make up the difference. This time of year, it's pretty empty, but during better weather seasons it's always full up by 12:30. The food isn't anything fancy, but tastes good, with good service and low costs.

Shell and take the nuts out of the lychees and put them in the freezer overnight. Almost as good as frozen seedless grapes.

Shell and take the nuts out of the lychees and put them in the freezer overnight. Almost as good as frozen seedless grapes.

I do that. Then I drop them into a glass of Bombay Sapphire...

Put a tin of Rambutan in syrup in the freezer for a great frozen treat.

Mandarins in light syrup if we're talking processed. The syrup means that they don't quite freeze.

In fact, I may just wander over to the freezer and pull out some mandarins. Sugar and all.

Shell and take the nuts out of the lychees and put them in the freezer overnight. Almost as good as frozen seedless grapes.

I do that. Then I drop them into a glass of Bombay Sapphire...

Bombay Sapphire.....nectar or the gods!

Are these perhaps not lychees but longan (lam giai in Thai?) If they have a thin bark-like skin, they are lam giai. They are IMO, more delicious than lychees.

Are these perhaps not lychees but longan (lam giai in Thai?) If they have a thin bark-like skin, they are lam giai. They are IMO, more delicious than lychees.

No... These are Lychee. Little red ping-pong balls, 2-3 times the size of longan. But I do love longon too, although I rate them #3 behind Lychee and Mangosteens. This is what they looked like on the kitchen table before we started on the first kilo... All that were left were branches and stones.

Damn your killing me !!!

They are my favorite fruit, and usually available by this week (I notice as its my Mums B-Day and that week I almost always get my first Lychee load).. This year I havent seen any yet and leave for some travel for a few months tomorrow.. I am feeling quite sorry for myself I wont get this years taste..

Did have a quality durian session to make up for it, but they combine so well.

Damn your killing me !!!

They are my favorite fruit, and usually available by this week (I notice as its my Mums B-Day and that week I almost always get my first Lychee load).. This year I havent seen any yet and leave for some travel for a few months tomorrow.. I am feeling quite sorry for myself I wont get this years taste..

Did have a quality durian session to make up for it, but they combine so well.

Did I mention how good they tasted? Sweet, with just a kiss of tartness..... and sooo juicy!

Safe travels, and know that I'll make up the difference for the ones you don't buy. It's the least I can do.

OK thats it.. your off the xmas card list..

Now I am going to try to score some this afternoon.. Just because I am stubborn.

Natures candies.. In their little wrappers..

Combined with Durian.. Stinky custard..

Don't eat too many of 'em now... Remember, you're traveling tomorrow.

Don't eat too many of 'em now... Remember, you're traveling tomorrow.

Immodium !!

Don't eat too many of 'em now... Remember, you're traveling tomorrow.

Immodium !!

Being an experienced world traveler, I can now ask for Immodium in seven different languages...

Don't eat too many of 'em now... Remember, you're traveling tomorrow.

Immodium !!

Being an experienced world traveler, I can now ask for Immodium in seven different languages...

Imodium is a brand name and surely the same in all languages just like your name remains the same no matter what country your in.

Don't eat too many of 'em now... Remember, you're traveling tomorrow.

Immodium !!

Being an experienced world traveler, I can now ask for Immodium in seven different languages...

Imodium is a brand name and surely the same in all languages just like your name remains the same no matter what country your in.

There are several different agencies in Chiang Mai that are available, some of them at no cost, that can help you recover your lost sense of humor...

I believe the sad state of affairs of my Lychee crop might be affecting other orchards too.

The high temperatures, and possibly combined with the drought, is making my fruit burst before they fully ripen (pic. #1)

This causes then to fall off the tree leaving a tremendously upsetting sight (pic. #2)

The price of Lychee could be high this year as people tend to follow economic principles here when it suits them

T'is a sad sight indeed.... I was surprised that the price was as low as it was on Sunday. Looks as if LivingINLos paid the same for his.... 40 baht per kilo.

I was also surprised at how good they tasted. I, too, would have thought that the crop would suffer the climate this year.

T'is a sad sight indeed.... I was surprised that the price was as low as it was on Sunday. Looks as if LivingINLos paid the same for his.... 40 baht per kilo.

I was also surprised at how good they tasted. I, too, would have thought that the crop would suffer the climate this year.

I'm not in biz, just a grower for personal consumption and a TV speculator.

Hope my speculation is wrong as unfortunately I'll be buying this year too.

The Hmong Hill tribe folks up around Samoeng always have the best prices. I don't mind the extra hour's ride to get them up there. The ride along would make it worth it.

Once the selling begins around the Moat or along Rt.11, the prices tend to skyrocket!

Being an experienced world traveler, I can now ask for Immodium in seven different languages...

I prefer miming the symptoms at the pharmacy.

I did end up (no pun intended) with a nasty looking enema once when they didn't understand my charades. Or maybe they were suggesting something to me...

Topic - Love the Lychees and the Longkon. Great to grab a bucket to take when going visiting friends.

Sounds like I'd better start saving my satang.