Rainy season - best time of year

ianyonok

0
Subscribed
Dec 9, 2008
1,082
862
113
I do love the rainy season, the countryside looks so beautiful.

2015-07-14%2008.06.45.jpg


Off for a few days ride around to enjoy. But first, back to the favourite Hom Pan Din coffee shop, for breakfast..

2015-07-14%2009.26.37.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.11.19.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.14.06.jpg


and it's vineyard

2015-07-14%2009.10.25.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.10.13.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.09.33.jpg


and garden views

2015-07-14%2009.08.50.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.08.20.jpg


several varieties of grape

2015-07-14%2009.07.42.jpg


2015-07-14%2009.05.22.jpg


and a wonderful all natural "fuk" walkway

2015-07-14%2009.05.49.jpg


Had a little go at a Lam Nam Kok NP trail

2015-07-14%2007.41.18.jpg


But discretion won over valour

2015-07-14%2007.36.26.jpg


after slithering around on the sticky Chiang Rai red mud and getting nowhere...

Trails like this don't look good..

2015-07-14%2007.55.54.jpg


Couldn't manage this one either, just too slippery at this time of year

2015-07-14%2008.39.12.jpg


This is how you know you are on a good biking road.....

2015-07-14%2010.48.45.jpg


I'd often wondered about this section of road on the 107

2015-07-14%2011.10.13.jpg


so went to investigate..

It's the limestone karst area in Chiang Dao. A small river, ravine and karsts block the direct route of the road.

A path leads to a climb to the top of one karst.

2015-07-14%2011.11.34.jpg


2015-07-14%2011.17.36.jpg


Not being energetic enough to climb all the way up, I rode on..

2015-07-14%2011.55.42.jpg


This little road goes from just south of the Chiang Dao Hill Resort across to the 1178 (Chiang Dao - Arunothai)

2015-07-14%2012.05.23.jpg


Nice to get away from the traffic

2015-07-14%2012.06.34.jpg


great scenery

2015-07-14%2012.07.51.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.13.41.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.19.46.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.19.54.jpg


almost no-one around

2015-07-14%2012.24.16.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.25.12.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.28.02.jpg


A small side road led to

2015-07-14%2012.44.03.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.42.09.jpg


I could see the water coming out of the ground

2015-07-14%2012.45.50.jpg


2015-07-14%2012.50.21.jpg


and ride on

2015-07-14%2012.55.50.jpg


The fantastic skyline view up near Arunothai

2015-07-14%2013.46.51.jpg


on to the 1178 across to Piang Luang

2015-07-14%2014.06.39.jpg


...... still almost no-one around... fantastic.. new tarmac

2015-07-14%2014.15.52.jpg


2015-07-14%2014.21.46.jpg


2015-07-14%2014.32.35.jpg


2015-07-14%2014.43.17.jpg


2015-07-14%2014.51.29.jpg


2015-07-14%2015.12.42.jpg


the last section is not paved but easy stuff

2015-07-14%2015.21.21.jpg


2015-07-14%2015.31.06.jpg


2015-07-14%2015.32.10.jpg


Looking down into the Wiang Haeng - Piang Luang valley and the Maenam Taeng

2015-07-14%2015.35.19.jpg


Thought I'd stay at the ChomView Resort. 500 Baht and fantastic views but the bed didn't look too clean.. so moved on.

2015-07-14%2015.58.08.jpg


Went to check the Lak Taeng border crossing..... no change....

2015-07-14%2016.13.04.jpg


Up to the wat at the top

2015-07-14%2016.20.02.jpg


with it's puzzling gatepost sign in English

2015-07-14%2016.20.51.jpg


2015-07-14%2016.18.07.jpg


A clear depiction of the famous elephant battle between King Naresuan and Mingyi Swa, who was leading the Burmese invasion in 1592. Not hard to see who is who.....

2015-07-14%2016.18.31.jpg


Also of interest and more recent history, were a lot of photos of Sao Gorn Jerng, the

famous Shan freedom fighter and ally of Khun Sa

2015-07-14%2016.25.13.jpg


An interesting photo, in that they are shaking hands. I assume waiing is for Thais.

2015-07-14%2016.25.21.jpg


With Khun Sa, clearly good friends.

2015-07-14%2016.25.31.jpg


From 1959, as a young man.

2015-07-14%2016.25.42.jpg


2015-07-14%2016.25.50.jpg


Another view down into the border crossing pass.

2015-07-14%2016.29.05.jpg


You have to take this photo really

2015-07-14%2016.29.18.jpg


Then back to have a look at the extensive chinese style cemetary on the ridge just east of Piang Luang

2015-07-14%2017.02.21.jpg


From modest to less so.

2015-07-14%2017.03.20.jpg


2015-07-14%2017.04.11.jpg


I spent the night here. A new place in the town, run by a nice lady from Bangkok. Very comfortable, 1000 Baht with simple breakfast.

2015-07-14%2017.23.02.jpg


more to come...
 

rcm273

0
Nov 3, 2013
168
9
18
Hat Yai, TH
What are you saying about the elephant relief ? .. It looks like Narasuawan is the attacker, when in all probability, he got his ass whipped by the Burmese.

Sorry, I missed the films. I taught Thai history for 6 months in a primary school for an hour a week, it was so polluted, it put me off researching any further than the book I read ( ahem, i mean taught ) from. So I know very little.
 

ianyonok

0
Subscribed
Dec 9, 2008
1,082
862
113
Next day, off on the dirt road to Pai, but at the army checkpoint junction, I managed to persuade the soldier to let me go north up towards the border.

2015-07-15%2008.28.20.jpg


This was an army road and in good condition.

2015-07-15%2008.34.15.jpg


2015-07-15%2008.34.24.jpg


Fantastic.... and no-one around...again..

2015-07-15%2008.43.56.jpg


As I get higher it gets very misty

2015-07-15%2008.52.41.jpg


2015-07-15%2008.53.40.jpg


and almost cold...

2015-07-15%2009.01.44.jpg


Down the other side of the 1800m mountain

2015-07-15%2009.10.24.jpg


I must have been near to Doi Dam. The mountain ridge ahead was clearly the border.

2015-07-15%2009.44.26.jpg


I ended up in a Royal project up here. The road goes all the way up to the border but gets smaller and it was raining and slippery, so, I'll have to revisit another day when it's drier. Need plenty of time too, it's a long way up there to the border from the junction at Hua Pai. Not much traffic goes up there, it's clear to see.

2015-07-15%2009.49.48.jpg


So, back to the junction and on the main road to Pai.

2015-07-15%2010.47.53.jpg


Down into the beautiful little valley of Mueang Noi

2015-07-15%2011.06.17.jpg


2015-07-15%2011.07.14.jpg


and Maenam Pai

2015-07-15%2011.08.22.jpg


this wooden bridge is getting decidely shaky

2015-07-15%2011.08.48.jpg


2015-07-15%2011.09.50.jpg


2015-07-15%2011.14.07.jpg


On the tarmac for a ride around "the top" of the loop and a stop at the Kiu Lom viewpoint. The natural fortress of Doi Chiang Dao clearly visible to the far right.

2015-07-15%2013.51.45.jpg


At Mae Suya, there is a road south to the Susa waterfall. Another lovely area.

2015-07-15%2014.08.17.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.17.31.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.23.16.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.23.27.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.24.00.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.43.29.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.44.42.jpg


2015-07-15%2014.45.54.jpg


I didn't make it to the waterfall, the eight heavies at the NP gate demanding 200 baht put me off.....

2015-07-15%2015.04.15.jpg


I stopped to check out Mai Sang Nahm waterfall on the main road

2015-07-16%2008.09.39.jpg


2015-07-16%2008.09.45.jpg


2015-07-16%2008.13.18.jpg


After a night in MHS, it was round the loop to Khun Yuam and across to Mae NaChon on the 1263,

then east and northeast into the mountains again.

2015-07-16%2012.43.01.jpg


A bit more challenging now..

2015-07-16%2012.47.19.jpg


2015-07-16%2012.53.14.jpg


2015-07-16%2013.02.25.jpg


2015-07-16%2013.10.12.jpg


It was about here I dropped the bike..... down on the right, but the left leg kissed the gear lever and the footrest gave me a heart...

2015-07-17%2014.55.34.jpg


2015-07-16%2013.26.27.jpg


2015-07-16%2014.07.11.jpg


2015-07-16%2014.10.55.jpg


2015-07-16%2014.12.46.jpg


Enough slippery dirt lets get back on the solid stuff, it was raining on and off by now.

Stopped in a small GH in the heavy rain, just outside Samoeng. The corner "sao" of the room with blessing

2015-07-16%2020.30.21.jpg


Next morning, heading back up north.

2015-07-17%2006.55.02.jpg


After the 1001 up to Phrao, on to the lovely 1346 north to Chai Prakarn

2015-07-17%2009.44.06.jpg


The southern National Park section of this road is gorgeous

2015-07-17%2009.51.10.jpg


2015-07-17%2009.53.50.jpg


Light refreshing rain on the way  up the valley.

2015-07-17%2009.57.51.jpg


2015-07-17%2010.07.20.jpg


2015-07-17%2010.15.37.jpg


A lot of new tarmac on this road... fantastic.... and guess what.....?... no traffic...... that's all running up the 107.....

2015-07-17%2010.19.45.jpg


Further north, past Thaton and Saen Suk, up a little dirt road

2015-07-17%2011.56.55.jpg


more wonderful scenery in this valley up to Mae Chan

2015-07-17%2011.57.02.jpg


There is a long neck village here with dirt main road.

2015-07-17%2012.04.30.jpg


More graves on the hilltops, with views back west along the 1089 valley.

2015-07-17%2012.07.43.jpg


one more shot looking east after crossing the checkpoint at Kiu Sataan.

2015-07-17%2012.33.29.jpg
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
Good little write up - good to see someone out there enjoying the wet season too.

Glad you didn't have any serious dropping the bike out thee on your own too - that is always a worry when you ride along in remote areas on remote trails.

Thanks for the reminder on Wat Muang Noi too.

2015-07-15-11.09.50-960x540.jpg
2015-07-15-11.14.07-960x540.jpg


I'd forgotten about that Wat & history out there.