Brits do the Mae Sariang trails

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If you haven't spent any time in Mae Sariang you're really missing out, early evening by the river is very special

 

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George had noticed some dripping coolant, closer inspection showed a pinhole in the hose. We taped it up and headed off. Today was going to be the Sop Moei refugee village area, one of my favorites.

 

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15km off of R 105 and the dirt starts

One of the first big Karen tribe villages

 

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George's bike is leaking coolant again, some tape and it seems to stop

 

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The Karen locals try figure out what we're up to

 

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Fascinating people

Note the tribal tattoos on her legs

Red lips from chewing the beetle nut

 

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All the Karen villages had fuel, we were paying 55-65 Bht a liter

 

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Traditional Karen tribe school uniform

Lots of concrete around in the villages now, dirt linking them

 

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The Karen tribe villages are stunning

As we get in deeper, further west it gets better and better

Billy had just come back from Cambodia and was really enjoying this, george was worried he was going to end up on a squat toilet

Looks like a movie set

 

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Curious Karen children watching the chain adjusting

Cigarette break

 

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Looks like you'll stay fit living here

The village to the SW is the main "immigration" checkpoint for the Karen tribe people. They are allowed east of here only during the day and have to return by 1800

 

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Traditional leaf roofs that last for 2 years

Locals in this village weren't shy at all

The cats looked well cared for and happy

 

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Leaving the big checkpoint village (Ban Maremu) , across the bridge, you're then in the heart of the Karen people, people with no ID, no passport, no way out.

The river is pretty deep here even in the dry season, the bridge is easier

 

[KTMphil]

Really bright day, no rain, which means lots of dust

 

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Lots of the Karen villages (camps/ settlements) get aid from the Malteser International, info about this organization below:



Portrait - Malteser International


Article - Malteser International

 

[KTMphil]

Some of the steeper sections had been concreted, a blessing in rainy season for sure

 

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1,000's live in the large camps along the Nam Mae Yuam river, its expanse is breath taking

Imagine those mud stairs in rainy season

 

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After making a wrong turn we stumble on a Karen traditional festival, a stroke of luck

 

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We follow the Mae Nam Yuam which will eventually feed into the Mae Nam Moei River, which in turn ends up in the Salaween River

The Mae Yuam river

 

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Finally we get to the confluence of the Mae Yuam & Mae Moei rivers, a beautiful spot

 

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With it being a boat traffic area (& near the Myanmar border), there's a decent sized, Thai Army lookout

 

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North of the Army lookout and river confluence, there's some beautiful single track for about for about 25km all the way north along the Mae Nam Moei to Ban Sop Moei - Kho Puai

Gorgeous single track with river views

 

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Ban Sop Moei - Kho Puai is a convenient place to top up with fuel 55 bht a liter co-ords:



N17.82792


E97.69597

 

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Northeast of Ban Sop Moei - Kho Puai, the track goes double track again quite steep in places, in fact one place was the steepest gradient we encountered on the whole trip

Views of the confluence of the Mae Nam Salaween & Mae Nam Moei rivers

 

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George enjoying the day riding

Billy

 

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Even with the haze we had some great scenery

 

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Always feels good to see a lot of the trail ahead of you

Then some cut ledge stuff

 

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New intriguing hill formations I hadnt seen before

& then a nice surprise of some locals on their way home from tending to the gardens

About 8km south of Mae Sam Laep the road is now paved all the way to Mae Sam Laep. Looks like they have a plan to continue paving south.

 

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George had been overheating with his jacket on, he was so happy to be back on the tarmac, it had been a very long day off road

 

[KTMphil]

With the bike getting so hot, it had melted the tape repair...more tape and we were off again

 

[KTMphil]

Back to Mae Sariang, sticking with the try new GH's theme, found my new favorite GH in Mae Sariang "Good View". For 4 rooms we talked her down to 500 bht, amazing value for money.

 

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Well thats about it apart from the salon at the fuel station.


A great trip, fantastic weather, good company, good riding and everyone got back safe - the way it should be.

 

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[Captain_Slash]

Finally we get to the confluence of the Mae Yuam & Mae Moei rivers, a beautiful spot

The Moei looks deep there Phil, fantastic photos and it looked like a good fun trip