May 2016 Ride from Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon and Mae Sariang

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.

The view of the Yuam river.

It was a wet afternoon.

The guesthouse reception recommended a decent restaurant down the road which I paid a visit a find it to be really nice at a small town like this. 

                                  

You can even find wine here. But I had my usual Singha. 

                                 

I had the whole restaurant all to myself. 

 The dining hall without AC.

The bike parked at the yard.

Beautiful bike.

Part of the menu.

 They even serve steak.

My food arrived and I was pigging out.

 Quiet road at night. This was a quiet pub with no customers.

 Not a car travelling in sight.

I was tired and I went back to bed.

Mae Hong Son Loop - April 2015

Laksala Royal Tea

i'm not english but sometimes it's nice to have a cup of tea in the afternoon in the office. a serumpun friend brought me this from ceylon the Laksala royal tea.

it's nice.

The ride to 1864 - Day 1 - bike rental at Mr Mechanic

It was the 2nd day of the Thai new year a.k.a. Songkran festival and I was excited to get my bike from the shop. Songkran is the day when Thai celebrate the days with splashing water as a sign of washing off the sins and bad luck in the previous year and start off the new year clean and... er... wet? 

Well if you are coming in for Songkran and would like to consider doing the loop you may want to know this, temperature could be as high as 40 degrees and the mountains are literally on fire. When I said literally is because there were many spots on the road which has forest fire. 

Source: wikipedia

Mr Mechanic bike rental

Location of the shop is at Mun Mueang Road, just 270 meters north of the Tha Phae gate, or crossed with the Mun Mueang Lane 5.   

The morning I arrived at Mr Mechanic's shop. It was a quiet morning, considering.  

Looks like someone had some hard night partying last night.

I waited until about 8.05 am, still no sign of any activity for the shop. I continued to wait until finally someone came in Mr Mechanic's uniform. I made some eye contact with a smile, and he told me to wait for him to open his shop.  

One of the Mr Mechanic staffs rode in this beautiful Honda CRF and then after I told him, I want this one.

Later on, I tested the bike and everything seems OK. Remember always to check for brakes, tire threads, and tire pressure before the journey. It is also better to take some pictures of the bike, especially any damages and scratches on the bike to avoid any dispute later on. The shop does let you take the bike together with a helmet but I brought mine so I didn't bother to check them out. Note that it is common practise for them to keep your passport when you rent the bike since they will not charge you for any deposit. Remember to make copies of your passport so that you would have some identification with you when you travel.

You would also need to fill up a very simple form which states your personal details and the time when you pick up the bike. Hence this is where the 24 hours rule comes in, as you must return the bike as and when you collect it (after x days of using it), if not then you would need to pay for penalty of 100 baht per hour (30 baht per hour for scooters). Note that delay return of more than 4 hours will be charged whole day rental.

I got the bike at 800 baht per day, without insurance. You would need to pay another 100 baht per day for insurance.
    

Minutes after, I was happy with the bike and off I went. Another thing to remember is always to fuel up as we should presume that the previous renter would not be leaving lots of gas for you. The nearest gas station is few minutes away, just make a U turn in front of the shop to the other side of the canal, follow the road, after passing Pop Rider (big bike rental shop) on your left, few more blocks down the road then you're there. 

That's me after collected my bike, without my gear on.

Looping the loop - Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai

Intro

Hearing my friends telling me how accomplished it was to complete the loop in Mae Hong Son always made me wonder how fine it would be for me to be able to do that. At a recent meet up with another friend who resides in Singapore, Yam who doesn't ride a bike, told me that he would really want to try it out one day, gave me the head start of ideas about this trip.

So naturally, I did some research on bike rentals in Chiang Mai, planned on my flight schedule, and of course, got the approval from the lady of the house, and then.... hotel booked and bags are packed and off I went!!!

Need to say here that Yam, the friend who gave me the idea to go for this trip, decided not to go for the trip at the end. So, this trip would be solo with a capital S and I am all for it!!!

Preparation

Packing for this trip is slightly different from my previous trip as I am taking a flight from KUL to CNX, I would not able to bring my own tools. I feel a little uneasy as I would not even allowed to pack my pocket knife as I can't go pass air port security. Be prepared to loose your tools, even Allen keys if you packed these tools as hand carry luggages. However, for the trip, I packed my own helmet, jacket, pants and boots for this trip.

As at Apr 15, there are 2 daily flights going to CNX from KUL, one departs at 6.55 am morning flight and the other departs 10 mins to 3 in the afternoon. I chose to fly in the afternoon, and start my trip on the next day. The afternoon flight arrives about 4.30 pm in the afternoon, and even if you choose to get the bike on the same day, you might be able to make it as the shop closes at 6 pm local time.

Bike Rentals

There were many bike rental companies in Chiang Mai. I have narrowed them down to
1. Pop Rider - https://www.facebook.com/sompong.chiangmai.5/about
2. Mr Mechanic - http://www.mr-mechanic1994.com/

The biggest bike rental company would be Pop Rider with hundreds of bikes available, big or small. However, I opt for the smaller neighbourhood Mr Mechanic, because they have replied all my email enquiries. If you have a big group coming in i.e. more than 10 of you, you should probably contact them in advance to book the bike. The price ranges from 800 baht a day for a 250 CRF to 1500 baht a day for a Versys 650. If you would like something more exotic like the Yamaha FZ09 (or MT09 in Malaysia) it would cost you up to 2,500 baht a day. The per day calculation if based on 24 hours at Mr Mechanic, between 8.00 am to 6.00 pm daily including Sundays.

More on bike rentals on my next post.

Communication & Navigation

One of the very first thing I spent on in Chiang Mai was the traveller's sim pack. Drop in to any 7 Eleven and ask for an AIS simcard, slip it into your phone and you would get data.

http://www.ais.co.th/roaming/visiting/sim-for-traveller-en.aspx

After some configuration on your phone (follow the user manual which came together with the SIM pack) then it would be a breeze for you to roam the city with Google maps on your phone. More on navigation on my next post.

Something like this.

Accommodation

Chiang Mai is the 2nd biggest city in Thailand, hence it is fairly easy to find hotels or guest houses to stay. Do some research, then you'll know that the airport is about 3 kms from old town city. I stayed in B2 Thipanate hotel, which was about 3 KM from Mr Mechanic. Room rate defers from day to day, book in advance to avoid disappointments.

The room is quite decent for me, with 2 single beds, clean and and my own bathroom with my very own minibar.

Basically, city centre is where the rustic old town with many old temples are, and you will find modern shopping malls outside old town such as Central Festival at the east, Maya Lifestyle shipping centre at the north west and Chiang Mai Airport Plaza situated just next to the airport at the west of old town Chiang Mai.

Staying near to old town would be the easiest for you to get a tuk-tuk or red taxi (Songteaw) to get around. Staying off the grid may be a longer for you to flag down a ride. If you look and act like a tourist the tuk-tuk may charge you around 100 baht to get to any nearby destination. Otherwise, you can pay around 60-80 baht to get around old town.

I would also recommend to stay at guesthouse the gallery 24, the place has plenty of parking, clean room and air conditioning. A friend of mine whom I met on the plane, stayed here 3 nights for 900 baht with breakfast, that's less than $9US per night. But hey, it is a guest house so do not expect a suite with a butler.

After checking in to your hotel, just kick back, relax, and explore the city. My first dinner at the city was at Khai Tim 1 Baht just right in the middle of old town Chiang Mai. Food was decent but no air conditioning.

Singha beer, or locally known as beer sing greeted me at Chiang Mai.

Ride the Mae Hong Son loop by Renting a Bike from Chiang Mai

Mention Mae Hong Son to most of your friends, you would most probably get a puzzled reaction which signals that they have no idea what is it. No it is not anyone's son, and it is not a type of chinese wine with snakes infused in the bottle.

However, mention Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang and Pai to an avid seasoned rider, you can bet your money that he would answer you about the most famous motorcycle touring destination in the region, the 1,864 corners to Mae Hong Son at north Thailand.

Riders from local Thailand, Malaysia and even Singapore would even take this iron butt 5,000 km ride thru and flo from down south to make this trip. Of course, there are options of flying in to Chiang Mai, rent yourself a bike, big or small, and make this unforgettable journey your own.

There are many routes available, below is the recommended loop which I planned and I completed the route in 2 days, which I did.

Stay tuned for further info.