18th-19th August 2026 parts of Pua district, north of Nan, got hit by a rain bomb.
Phana Sawan School
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Ban Pang Yang School
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Rong Ngae
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Khon Kaen 2 Resevoir
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Lamnam Khwang
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The flood damage was horrific & more like a mud tsunami that roared through Pua, from east to west, where the Nam Pua collected all the water off the west side of Doi Phukha to flow into the Nan river.
It was a late getaway from Chiang Khong & the first stop was the Carrot at Chiang Kham, 100 kms down the road. The time was 3pm. A bit late, but the weather was superb, & no rain around.
My preferred route to Nan was via R1091, which drops you right down in the city.
Arrival time in Nan was 5.30pm after a gentle meander over R1091.
A power nap for the old fellow followed by a noche up at the Om Dao 2, a favourite GTR restaurant in Nan, with arguably the best Thai food in town.
Sadly tonight, though, the service was only ordinary, & my favourite glamour PG was nowhere to be seen.
I was back at my hotel, the Grand Mansion, & in bed by 9.30pm. A record for me!
Hot Bread was the go the next morning; however, they had already evacuated their premises as a precaution against flooding.
In 2025 they took a hit & were flooded several times.
But not this year, 2026, if they could.
What this allowed for was a 4-hour chat away from the premises.
My Hot Bread connection goes back well over a decade (Hot Bread has been going for 22 years), but each visit is only a quick breakfast stop & a brief natter between customers for Nan the owner.
Today was the day, and we had a surreal warm chat about life, ageing, politics and Nan : 9.30am-1.45pm!
The convenient brekky venue was the Cha Na Agape. a cool little health food establishment, not far from Hot Bread.
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A couple of tidbits from our 4-hour chat.
1. Gin's Restaurant will soon be reopening at Erabica Coffee in the evening. Erabica will run the brekky & coffee biz until 5pm, then Gin's will staff & run their restaurant biz in the evening.
2. Hot Bread may well not survive another flood should they get caught out again.
3. The new breed of Instagram / TikTok tourists are not interested in culture, ethnics or history. Just box tickers; been there, done that. And when your town and establishments get overrun with these sensitive, ignorant people, the enjoyment catering to them fades fast. Hot Bread appreciates customers who show interest in the history and culture of Nan. Farang are more interested than the Bkk TikTok mob!
4. The issue of annual floods & flooding in Nan seems to represent government lethargy & incompetence.
5. Ageing, good health and medical insurance are becoming a challenge. Prolonging life just to lie in bed. Or a hospital may not be the best way to go. Power on right to the end and enjoy every day as much as you can. Ride & travel while you can!
A lazy arvo in Nan City followed. A few Wat pics.
Wat Hua Khuan.
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Wat Ming Muang
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Wat Sri Pan Ton.
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Wat Suan Tan.
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The joy of that night then was discovering Brooklyn Cafe.
Searching for somewhere new for happy hour - a wine/cocktail bar with some music – The Brooklyn popped up on Google Maps.
There was no live music – only Friday / Saturday nights, but they had a superb sound system, a charming ambience and some interesting food dishes – I was hooked and spent my night there.
(Nan Restaurants)
A steak fried rice.
The night was a total winner for me.
Pua - Wiang Sa - Phrae -next.
Phana Sawan School
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
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Ban Pang Yang School
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Rong Ngae
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Khon Kaen 2 Resevoir
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Lamnam Khwang
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
The flood damage was horrific & more like a mud tsunami that roared through Pua, from east to west, where the Nam Pua collected all the water off the west side of Doi Phukha to flow into the Nan river.
It was a late getaway from Chiang Khong & the first stop was the Carrot at Chiang Kham, 100 kms down the road. The time was 3pm. A bit late, but the weather was superb, & no rain around.
My preferred route to Nan was via R1091, which drops you right down in the city.
Arrival time in Nan was 5.30pm after a gentle meander over R1091.
A power nap for the old fellow followed by a noche up at the Om Dao 2, a favourite GTR restaurant in Nan, with arguably the best Thai food in town.
Sadly tonight, though, the service was only ordinary, & my favourite glamour PG was nowhere to be seen.
I was back at my hotel, the Grand Mansion, & in bed by 9.30pm. A record for me!
Hot Bread was the go the next morning; however, they had already evacuated their premises as a precaution against flooding.
In 2025 they took a hit & were flooded several times.
But not this year, 2026, if they could.
What this allowed for was a 4-hour chat away from the premises.
My Hot Bread connection goes back well over a decade (Hot Bread has been going for 22 years), but each visit is only a quick breakfast stop & a brief natter between customers for Nan the owner.
Today was the day, and we had a surreal warm chat about life, ageing, politics and Nan : 9.30am-1.45pm!
The convenient brekky venue was the Cha Na Agape. a cool little health food establishment, not far from Hot Bread.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
A couple of tidbits from our 4-hour chat.
1. Gin's Restaurant will soon be reopening at Erabica Coffee in the evening. Erabica will run the brekky & coffee biz until 5pm, then Gin's will staff & run their restaurant biz in the evening.
2. Hot Bread may well not survive another flood should they get caught out again.
3. The new breed of Instagram / TikTok tourists are not interested in culture, ethnics or history. Just box tickers; been there, done that. And when your town and establishments get overrun with these sensitive, ignorant people, the enjoyment catering to them fades fast. Hot Bread appreciates customers who show interest in the history and culture of Nan. Farang are more interested than the Bkk TikTok mob!
4. The issue of annual floods & flooding in Nan seems to represent government lethargy & incompetence.
5. Ageing, good health and medical insurance are becoming a challenge. Prolonging life just to lie in bed. Or a hospital may not be the best way to go. Power on right to the end and enjoy every day as much as you can. Ride & travel while you can!
A lazy arvo in Nan City followed. A few Wat pics.
Wat Hua Khuan.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Wat Ming Muang
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Wat Sri Pan Ton.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
Wat Suan Tan.
Google Maps
Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.
maps.app.goo.gl
The joy of that night then was discovering Brooklyn Cafe.
Searching for somewhere new for happy hour - a wine/cocktail bar with some music – The Brooklyn popped up on Google Maps.
There was no live music – only Friday / Saturday nights, but they had a superb sound system, a charming ambience and some interesting food dishes – I was hooked and spent my night there.
(Nan Restaurants)
A steak fried rice.
The night was a total winner for me.
Pua - Wiang Sa - Phrae -next.
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