Shup up and ride: chiang mai

I have finally made it to the trip and came back in one piece. Total mileage clocked was 5,167 km in 8 days.

Day 1 Summary

Sat - Total distance 995 KM
RV RnR Sg Buloh at NSE at 3.30 am
KL (Refuel KM0/E1) - Gunung Semanggol (Refuel KM264/E1) - Changlun (Refuel KM186) - Hatyai (4) - Thung Song (Refuel KM238/4 & 41) - Chumphon (Refuel KM310/4)

Steven actually made it on day 1 at RV 3.30 am, honestly I didnt expect him to actually turn up for this trip.

After we fueled up at Sg Buloh then off we went. Our first check point was Gunung Semanggol RNR which was about 260 KM away where we would be fueling up. I always remembered this rest stop as the one just opposite Bukit Merah Laketown Resort which is about half an hour from Penang bridge. During the stop I had some cold nescafe coffee in a can and I was good to go again.

The weather was fine that morning and I did not feel that cold riding early that morning as my big ass windshield blocked most of the cold wind off my chest. There were some slight drizzle that I wouldn't call it rain on the way to G. Semanggol. We arrived Changlun soon enough and once we reach the usual coffee shop to have breakfast, it hit me. There were thousands of people in the queue awaiting to cross the border that morning.

I have never seen such a big crowd at the BKH check point before, with the amount of cars, coaches, trucks, bikes that were going through and 100 meter long queues, I did not anticipate this crowd. With the earlier delay at the coffee shop that took more than an hour to prepare our paperwork/insurance we were already 1 hour behind schedule. At the end, we paid a tout (abang ulat) RM 20 per person to cut queue but we still have to get our bike's paperwork done.

By the time we were on Thailand soil, it was already 10.30 am (MY). There was a long way ahead of us to head to Ratchaburi, which was the original plan. I've started to think that it would be a challenge to get there within the day.

It was nice riding in Thailand again, with a familiar feeling. The smell of rotten rubber in the south, the reddish dust, the unexpected u turns by the local pick ups, and the ever familiar taste of Amazon coffee at PTT gas stations. After refueling at Thung Song, we reached Chumphon district at about 6 pm (MY). I made the decision to stop here for the night as it was already a 15 hours day for us. After searching online for a couple of minutes for hotel, we headed for a decent looking one about 20 mins away. It was at Chumpon town which I have never visited and I was excited.

Steven cooling down his ride at Chumphon stop over before we ride in. I'd say this was probably the only naked XJ6 with a wind shield that big I have ever seen.

The view from the hotel room. I sent this picture with my hand sign to my wife as proof of safe arrival.

View of the Chumphon Garden Hotel after we got cleaned up. The hotel has a big open area for parking and we left our bikes just by the main entrance. The room was 800 baht with breakfast if I remembered correctly. The room was not too bad, clean and quiet.

After asking directions from the hotel reception on where to get dinner, we decided to go there by foot.

Some local businesses.

Chumpon is a lonely quiet town. Didn't even see a massage place. This place will definitely grow on me.

We decided to have dinner at this small little restaurant called Mao Hoi by the end of the row, opposite the train station. Funny the name of the restaurant means closed in my dialect.

Walk down the row then you'd see peddlers selling all sorts of stuffs.

Behind the stalls was the train station. Location here.

Street food if you fancy.

Local market selling the latest fashion.

This furry friend was doing some shopping as well.

Seafood by the street.

My regular drink when I am in town, Singha beer, locally known as beersing. Steven only looking at me in awe as I drank 3 of these on my first night. It's always been beersing for me, no Chang, no Leo, no Heineken.

The cute looking waitress walked over and ask to take a picture with me. I wonder whether it is because I finished 3 bottles at one go.

The first day milestone was as per the below. We have a long way ahead of us on the next day if we were to arrive Chiang Mai on the second day. But we gotta remember not to push it too much, safety is still priority.

We went back to the hotel after dinner and get some rest to get ready for tomorrow.

I have slowly came to the realization that the title of this blog is no longer relevant as I have not posted any contents for a long time in regards to Malaysia and even the recent posts was not about life in Malaysia.

Maybe I should consider to change the title of this blog to life in general instead and still concentrate my posting in relation to motorcycling.

I have made another recent trip to Chiang Mai recently and regretfully my next post will be about the trip to Chiang Mai again.

I have visited Mr. Mechanics again planning to get a bigger bike this time around. I contacted Benz and booked a Versys and I was planning on to collect the bike on the eve which I arrive.

Once I arrived I got off the taxi and I saw the white Versys was parked in front of the shop waiting for me. I said hi to Benz and we started working out the usual paperwork. He quoted me 1,700 baht per day for the Versys (I realized the cost he quoted me was higher than what stated on the website but I did not investigate). We started to check the bike once that was done. Once everything was OK I got on the bike and tried to start it. after few failed ignition one of the young mechanics came out from the shop and said something to me in Thai.

Eventually they concluded that there was something wrong with the batteries and they sent another bike which was the Honda CB650F. I got onto it and initially I didn't think that this would be a good bike for the mountains. But I took it anyway because it was already late. I thought that I could still change my mind and drop by the shop in the morning.

Next day morning, I dropped by the Bumrung Buri Market for breakfast at my usual noodle shop and I went back to my hotel at Thippanate, geared up and off I went.

The market was filled with people and bikes at around 8.30 am local time. I would think that it was quiet an hour before.

I had a feeling that my 4 year old boots will not be able to survive this trip and I was right.

Great looking bike. Reminds me a lot about the zed.

The bike was a fast bike around corners and I took no time to rev it up to 6,000 rpn and see what it could do. My first stop today was Doi Inthanon which I read about Vaune Phan recent visit here. I took the 108 from Thippanate and about an hour later I have reached PTT Chom Tong. From there, you could just take the right and you'd be on the 1009 heading to Doi Inthanon.

The fast and nimble bike, Honda makes good bike.

The 1099 looks stunning as ever. Thailand never disappoints.

Moments later I arrived the first check point. I was surprised that I had to pay 300 baht to visit the park.

I continued my journey soon after and found myself riding on beautiful roads of the forest.

Doesn't this look like a magazine cut out.

Following through on the 1009.

Soon I reached the second check point. I relieved myself and also found the second check point, which was also the junction to 1192 which eventually links the 1088.

See location here. It will take you around half hour to get here.

Some other less fun, less comfy mode of transport going up the park.

Beautiful scenery along the road.

Right after this stop, I was greeted with a thick layer of mist.

Decreased visibility and it was getting much cooler.

The final check point for me to reach Nabapolbhumisiri Pagoda.

See location here.

Some vendors selling vegetables and fruits.

Very pretty.

Path to toilet.

I got myself a coke and I wasn't smoking.

It's a mail post box.

Gift shop that sells food. No free wifi here.

The map for the layout of the attraction.

There were 2 pagodas, and there were 2 escalators leading up the pagodas. Well worth the 300 baht?

I took the steps.

Could hardly see anything but I didn't mind. I liked the mist.

Sorry for the misty picture but this was what at saw at that moment.

Pagoda up close.

The stone wall outside the building.

A single bench right at the middle of the garden. I was alone at the garden, felt kind of spooky and I left right after.

Steps leading to the bench.

Small path which leads to the view point.

View point with nothing to view.

I really do not recommend anyone to sit down lean back and relax.

It was a very nice 18 degrees Celsius.

I saw my boot was opening up at the gear shift patch. Well, these pair of Alpinestars drystar boots has served me well. I bought it off season back in 2012, so it should measured at least another year older.

I descended and decided there was no point to get on the other pagoda. I went back to my bike and geared up and see the sky opened up with the view of the pagoda presented to me. I am a tourist after all.

I got back on the road and rode back to the second check point and got on the 1192.

The road was surrounded by trees and hardly see any cars.

Then the 1192 transformed itself into farm roads and soon after I was surrounded by farm roads.

Follow the 1192 and you will see the intersection to 1088 which was easily missed. The 1192 on the left would be the road coming from Doi Inthanon and the road on the right would lead to Hot via the 108. You could always take the other direction on the 108 which leads to Khun Yuam and Mae Hong Son. But I was taking the other directions which my destination was Mae Sariang.

I had lunch and took the 1088 from Mae Cheam to Mar Sariang, it took me about 3 hours to get to Mar Sariang on the 108. I stopped here at the outskirt of Mae Hong Son.

See location here.

Taken just outside the Mae Sariang border coffee shop.

From the coffee shop, it took another half hour to reach the familiar township of Mar Sariang. I settled down at Riverview guesthouse at 500 baht per night with a big bed.