The Golden Triangle Rider

[Dr. G]

Slithering between watering holes, the three founding members of the North Thailand Tea Drinking Society have been pouring out gratis information on riding in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Burma to unsuspecting travelers. Known as Tea Drinkers, the society founding members drink not much tea. Based in Chiang Mai for varying intervals, these reputable and seldom nebbish motorcycle adventurers are known to haunt Joe’s Bike Team (during daylight hours), Rudi’s Jazz Sax Pub, the Bier Stube, and the Kafe. All four locations are within crawling distance of each other and Chiang Mai’s Thapae Gate.
The society, according to its Constitution, is dedicated to the promotion of “The Three Eagle B’s: bikes, booze and b’s number three and four.” Members share a secret handshake, constantly changing passwords, and monikers like “The High Thai Rider” (Don Duval), “The GT Rider” (David Unkovich), and “Sun Chaser.” The password for the month of February 2003, was “Glen Turner,” until a sealed, watered down bottle was mistakenly consumed on the banks of the Mekong in Laung Pra Bang. The password was immediately changed to “JB Scotch chased by Beer Lao.”
All three founding members were deep into Laos during February, jungle running and reconnoitering for map work, a new book and ways to sneak into Vietnam with a large motorcycle. If you are looking for unpublished flakes of insider’s tips to riding in their part of Asia, hunt one of the Tea Drinkers down from High Tea to closing time any day of the week. There is no charge for their information and associate membership in the North Thailand Tea Drinking Society can be acquired through bribes from dedicated swillers. (March 3, '03) (www.horizonsunlimited.com/gregfrazier)