GT Rider Up Country Dinner # 46 - Rong Kwang city - Phrae - R101.

[DavidFL]

Wednesday 27 August 2025

The last Wednesday of the month in August = Wednesday 27 August.
The Hotel
Prae Phum Buri Hotel
054596235
490 baht
โรงแรมแพรภูมิบุรี
054 596 235

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We had a GTR dinner at Rong Kwang in October 2022.
It was only a small group, but everyone had a great time.
There was a beer garden/restaurant outside the hotel, and as luck would have it, we never got past there.
It was a super enjoyable night.

The report for the previous Rong Kwang dinner

Thread 'GT Rider Up Country Dinner # 43 - Rong Kwang city- Phrae.'

Sep 29, 2022

The last Wednesday of the month in October = Wednesday 26th October.

The proposed destination town = Rong Kwang.
The Hotel & Restaurant TBC, but I think I've nailed this one from home.

• DavidFL
• Replies: 14
• Forum: GT Rider Dinners

• 

The advantage of a RK dinner is the close proximity to Wiang Sa & Nan.
We can swing by Hot Bread and the Chang Art Gallery to cheer them if they have reopened again after the Nan floods.

A reminder about the purpose of these GTR dinners was to get riders to spend a night in a small town that they would probably never spend a night in alone because it could be too quiet, or the rider does not have enough Thai language skills to communicate sufficiently.

There is no organised ride or riding in a pack.
Make your own way to / from the town destination at your own pace.

 

[Franz]

Just looking for somebody to take care house/dog for 2 days, will book room this week. I will be coming. Not like yesterday's Panor, couldn't find someone to guard my doggie.

 

[Franz]

House/dog keeper secured, room at PhumBuri booked. I am attending, time to get riding again.

 

[DavidFL]

I'm booked into the Phumburi on Wednesday 27th
The old building.
Ground floor.

They have 10 rooms left for anyone hesitating to book.

(Rong Kwang Accommodation)

 

[DavidFL]

Participants confirmed attending
1. Franz.
2. David Unk.
3. Sandy
4. Oddvar
5. Mike Rust.
6. Ughetto.

TBC
Michel
Julian
Steve M

 

[DavidFL]

Wednesday 27 August 2025

The last Wednesday of the month in August = Wednesday 27 August.
The Hotel
Prae Phum Buri Hotel
054596235
490 baht
โรงแรมแพรภูมิบุรี
054 596 235

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

We had a GTR dinner at Rong Kwang in October 2022.
It was only a small group, but everyone had a great time.
There was a beer garden/restaurant outside the hotel, and as luck would have it, we never got past there.
It was a super enjoyable night.

The report for the previous Rong Kwang dinner

Thread 'GT Rider Up Country Dinner # 43 - Rong Kwang city- Phrae.'

Sep 29, 2022

The last Wednesday of the month in October = Wednesday 26th October.

The proposed destination town = Rong Kwang.
The Hotel & Restaurant TBC, but I think I've nailed this one from home.

• DavidFL
• Replies: 14
• Forum: GT Rider Dinners

• 

The advantage of a RK dinner is the close proximity to Wiang Sa & Nan.
We can swing by Hot Bread and the Chang Art Gallery to cheer them if they have reopened again after the Nan floods.

A reminder about the purpose of these GTR dinners was to get riders to spend a night in a small town that they would probably never spend a night in alone because it could be too quiet, or the rider does not have enough Thai language skills to communicate sufficiently.

There is no organised ride or riding in a pack.
Make your own way to / from the town destination at your own pace.

Hot Bread say they hope to be open next month now.

 

[Ughetto]

See you there

 

[Alexander Muliar]

Lookin foreward wednesday, room is booked
See you then there
sandy

 

[ADV]

I hope be on the road again and joining my first Up Country Dinner.

I'll give a final confirmation when I've completed my maintenance.

Today I will check/replace the variator/rollers and belt and clutch/bell.

I think I've got all the parts I need.

 

[ADV]

See you there:

7. Julian

 

[Ughetto]

 

[DavidFL]

Thanks for the photos Luca.
It was another fabulous night at the Makao / Phrae Pum Buri in Rong Kwang.
That little pub & restaurant they have there at the hotel, really is a gem.
Thank you, everyone who came, especially the new guy, Patrick, from "Phu Chi Fa."
More later once I settle back in at home.

That's 2 GTR dinners at the Makao, and both have been terrific, enjoyable, relaxing nights.
Dinner #1 was here
(GT Rider Up Country Dinner # 43 - Rong Kwang city- Phrae.)

 

[Alexander Muliar]

Hi all rong kwang dinner buddies
Was great to have met you --a very very enjoyable eve
Anytime,anywhere again
Hope all arrived home save
See you around for a next round # ???

Cheers ,have a relaxed weekend

Sandy



Ps, some pix i pass on to khun David

 

[ADV]

Yes indeed, nice to put a face to new friends. An enjoyable time.
I'm still here, chugging around mountain loop roads between Na Noi and Rong Kwang

 

[Franz]

Thanks to all for coming to Rong Kwang. It was a pleasure to meet you all. I do hope you all returned safely. Meeself just arrived today at 09:30 from Phayao as i didn't want to carry on yesterday as my brain was not fully functional . Looking forward to the September one.

 

[Franz]

Special thanks to Luca for providing the delicious italian salami and cheese, never would imagine to enjoy such delicacies in Rong Kwang

 

[Ughetto]

Sometimes happen Franz
Nice to meet you and everybody

 

[DavidFL]

My trip to Rong Kwang & Return.

Due to the terrible weather forecast, Luca decided he would go by his car or minivan.
He invited me to join & suggested we pick up Mike Rust in Phayao on the way.
On the Tuesday before, I popped over to Chiang Rai for the night so as not to put myself "under pressure" for an early morning ride in the rain.
Arrival time in CR was 5.30 pm, and it was time for a Friday Happy Hour bevvy at Okane's before my hotel check-in, I thought.
Dave DKT & Ms Ning were already quietly imbibing at the bar until I disturbed them, but a certain sign and singer's name caught my attention.

Ms Eve, the gal with the golden tonsils.

I raced off to my hotel for a quick check-in & then back to O'Kane's to catch Eve deliver the goodies from 7.30PM.
The delightful, sweet violinist is also a star for me. A professional graduated musician & a fan of Guinness.

After an hour of Eve, Dave DKT & wandered over to the Lao Kharn for an inspection.
The Lao Kharn is one of my favourite cozy bars in Chiang Rai, and is generally non-touristic & popular with locals.

They also have a damn nice beer on tap.

One of the great delights I have had since moving North has been discovering all the nice little bars & music venues popular with the locals.

Books, Lao Kharn, Play, Vinyl & Wine, Sailom Joy, Beer House, 30-Up and Factory are just some.
If you're only hanging out in Ched Yot at the tourist places, you are missing out on some real gems!
(Chiang Rai Restaurants)

More to come.

 

[DavidFL]

The run down from Chiang Rai to Rong Kwang got off to a delayed start, on account of having a big brekky at the Hungry Nest.
Sorry, Luca & Mike.
Our arrival in Phayao to pick up Mike was about an hour behind schedule, but never mind Phayao – Rong Kwang is only 124 kms. Two hours maximum.
R103 was the challenge, as the rumour was the road was a mess from the road works on the old road through the mountains.
However, in reality it was not difficult at all, with zero gravel or dirt to drive on, as they were still preparing the roadside for widening and all the old road was intact.

(R103 Road works)

A 7-11 & Whizz Stop before Rong Kwang saw us meet up with an expat with a Honda CT125 adventure bike.

Patrick was his name & he lives out near Phu Chi Fah somewhere. Exactly where is still unclear, but he's out there.
An interesting character, Patrick is into panning for gold and agriculture.
He knew who we were immediately as GTR off to Rong Kwang & asked where the bikes were.
Damn, we were caught out in the car on account of the (missing) rain and Luca's generous safety-first offer!

Patrick, I thought, had headed off into the mountains looking for a find, but he actually checked into the Phrae Pum Buri hotel later on & joined us for the night.
Welcome to GTR, Patrick. I hope you enjoyed yourself & may come to the next GTR event – a dinner or a Panor brunch.

Rong Kwang city is one of those irrelevant bus-stop towns on the highway between Phrae & Nan.

Not many people stop here; basically there are two hotels & one pub in town, and the Phrae Pum Buri Hotel & associated Makao Pub is an absolute gem of a place.

The Phrae Pum Buri is owned by a lovely Thai couple who ride.

They have both just returned from a ride to Betong in the deep south. Real riders, riding two-up.

The owner's bikes are parked at the entrance to the hotel.

A 480 baht room at the Phrae Pum Buri

(Rong Kwang Accommodation)

 

[DavidFL]

I got sidetracked & never finished off. 55

Thanks Luca for all the dinner photos + cheese + salami + transport to and back. Mike Rust & I were most appreciative.
Thanks, Franz, Oddvar, Luca, Julian, Mike & Patrick for the company.
Patrick You've got some good stories and adventures to tell - been there done that. Love it.
Franz, thanks for the food & intelligent orders.
Julian, thanks for the nightcapbeers that dragged on until closing.

The highlight of the night for me was the Rong Kwang police joining in for a group photo.

The next morning was a leisurely start to the day, meeting up in the Phre Pum Buri coffee shop for a brekky noche up.
I was sufficiently impressed with their kai kataa to have a second serving!

Trundling along R1 on the way north, a stop was required at the Retro Film Museum to introduce Mike & Luca to the place.

(Fossicking Around The Top North)

The retro film museum proprietor - Manit Worachat- with the old GTR fellah.

Manit Worachat is a fascinating figure in Thai film history.

He grew up in a cinema in Bkk that his family owned and for years did the voiceoverfor movies before proper soundtracks.

He also used to drive around the countryside with an outdoor projection setup to provide open air cinema.

That vehicle he used is still parked outside the front of his museum, and the old projector is still inside the vehicle!

The museum has a fabulous collection of old movie posters, projectors and about 50 films for showing still!

There is no entry fee, but his wife has a small shop adjoining the museum, where she sells herbal oils and medicines.

Stop in any time, because the owner and museum really are little gems.

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Ughetto]