Chiang Mai - Phu Chi Fa - Chiang Mai - 5 Singaporians

[KTMphil]

Chiang Mai - Phu Chi Fa - Chiang Mai - 5 Singaporians


Headed up to Chiang Khong via Phu Chi Fa to meet the Singapore guys. Rainy season - great photo opportunities!!


Loop distance - 670km










You normally have to make a sacrifice to the rain gods to get these photo's as the they show the moisture lifting after a heavy rain squall (I did get wet but it was worth it)





It really is worth getting wet for, the moody clouds between the squalls are beautiful

 

[KTMphil]

Left 0900am after the rain had headed NW, R 118 was just starting to dry out




Got to the Phayao VP on R 120 only hit one big rain squall so far, great views after the back side of the squall has sucked all the moisture from the air

 

[KTMphil]

The rice was loving the rain - now florescent green (its not the vivid cranked on my camera this time)

 

[KTMphil]

Just after my first big soaking, the moisture lifting from the hot earth










The northwards towards the waterfall in the Phu Sang National Park on R 4029, which I think has been re-named R 1093





Waterfall Co-Ords are:



























Cool bridge next to the waterfall

 

[KTMphil]

Next stop the Ban Huak locals border crossing - Here some goods just brought across the border






A happy soldier at the border

 

[Ally]

Good to see you out enoying the roads, weather & bike Phil.

Geee, that guard must be really short!

Ally

 

[KTMphil]

Back down onto R 4029/ R 1093 and northbound




The rain had ended a couple of hours by now, so the viz. was good with the moisture rising pretty high





Looked great with just the top of the mountain poking through





Rainy season has the best views for sure

 

[KTMphil]

Shame i wasn't on a dirt bike, i would have explored this for sure







The sun broke through for a while and lit up the hills in the afternoon





Further north on R 4029/ R 1093 - a great windy road with superb views












The sky was starting get to get angry again further north, maybe another soaking coming

 

[KTMphil]

This is a couple of KM's south of phu Chi Fa on R 4029/ R 1093, the photo doesn't do the curves justice












The rising moisture getting blown all over the place





Here just south of Phu Chi Fa





You can make out the road to the left of the bike that winds around the mountain





Took a quick look up the south side of Phu Chi Fa - the viz was pretty good with some low cloud just above me





That trail going up the other side of the mountain looks fun





Coming down the Phu Chi Fa south road





North side was covered in green moss to the summit, so gave it a miss on the Harley





There were some cute guest houses up there

 

[KTMphil]

North of Phu Chi Fa, teh suns rays were breaking through the clouds onto the mountains










Everything was so green after the rain






This was next, what a great piece of road!






Looking north from that windy road above

 

[KTMphil]

Nice and cool up there, this lady told me she was not hot nor cold





More great views headed north















How about this for vizability?

 

[KTMphil]

Finally stopped taking photo's every 500 meters and got up to Chiang Khong to meet up with the Singapore rider's. This time gave the Ban Pak Pon GH a try, which is down the road towards the main Customs office in Chiang Khon and turn right before customs (heading south parallel to the Mekong River) and its 100 meters down on the left










Pretty wild decor, rooms 500 bht with aircon, 300 bht with fan, all rooms have balconies with river views









Reception area





Balcony views across the river to Huoay Xai, Laos
















Co-ords of the Pak Pon GH in Chiang Khong are:

 

[KTMphil]

There's a great Thai restaurant 20 meters south of the Ban Pak Pon GH

View attachment 5775



Locals, David & Mai joined us for dinner

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Next morning 5 of us went off to Customs to get or foreign bike's temporary imports renewed

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The ladies in the Chiang Khong customs office are delightful


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Then off to the Thai customs office at teh ferry dock to renew the paperwork, there was a bustle of small boat activity across the Mekong


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& ferries too

View attachment 5784

 

[KTMphil]

The Harley was pretty dirty by now, will need a good soapy wash when it gets back home


View attachment 5786

 

[KTMphil]

Breakfast at the Bamboo Mexican house in Chiang Khong - They have fantastic home made whole wheat bread and good eggs.

View attachment 5793



View attachment 5795



Gorgeous Mim in the middle who's parents own the Bamboo Mexican house

View attachment 5796

 

[KTMphil]

After a good breakfast off to the Chiang Khong bridge construction area. Davis Bailey had figured out why there were figure of 8 roads just before the Thai customs checkpoint on the bridge - can you figure out why? (go to the end for the answer)

View attachment 5798





The bridge starting to take shape



View attachment 5800




Looking west from the bridge - back towards where the Thai checkpoint will be

View attachment 5802

 

[KTMphil]

Lots of group photo's at the bridge

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We even managed to persuade some Monks into the photo's

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View attachment 5810

 

[KTMphil]

From there I headed the quick way back to Chiang Mai -- the Singapore guys took the border roads to R 1148 and then headed south to Nan.


The answer to the figure of 8's in the road before Thai Customs at the bridge is that they are there to for the traffic onto the opposite side of the roads because in the Laos the traffic drives on the right.

 

[KTMphil]

Was a great few days riding

 

[2wheels]

What a great circuit with some real 'moody' cloud pics.
Like this one in particular Phil ...

 

[KTMphil]

David was telling us that the Chinese now have a 99 year lease from the Laos Government on this island in the middle of the Mekong river at Chaing Khong, will be "interesting" to see what they have in store for it.

 

[KTMphil]

In this artists impression of the new Thai customs checkpoint at the bridge, you can see the figure of 8 lane swapping to force the traffic to the other side of the road.







Photo received from David Bailey

 

[KTMphil]

Beautiful, old, teak house on the main street, owned by the lady who has the Ruan-Thai Sophaphun resort, in Chiang Khong.

 

[KTMphil]

Map of where the Ban Huak locals border crossing is in relation to Phu Chi Fa. There's a once-a-month border market on the Thai side here, Lone Rider did a write up on it, i'll try find it.

 

[Lone Rider]

The post on the visit to the Ban Huak Border Market is here: http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...s/511-ban-huak-border-market-border-laos.html

 

[KTMphil]

Thanks LR

The post on the visit to the Ban Huak Border Market is here: http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-...s/511-ban-huak-border-market-border-laos.html

 

[nikhuzlan]

Phil, thanks a million for this report. I have to do this route from Chiang Khong to Nan. Amazing photos. By the way, which hotel did you stay at Chiang Khong?

 

[KTMphil]

Nick - this time we gave the Baan Pak Pon a try just south of the main customs office in Chiang Khong. 500 bht with aircon, on the river pretty good

Phil, thanks a million for this report. I have to do this route from Chiang Khong to Nan. Amazing photos. By the way, which hotel did you stay at Chiang Khong?

 

[KTMphil]

Phil, thanks a million for this report. I have to do this route from Chiang Khong to Nan. Amazing photos. By the way, which hotel did you stay at Chiang Khong?

You could also try the Namkong Riverside Hotel, 700-900 Bht, they have great rooms, if a little small





















If you want fancy, try the Teal Garden hotel which is on the north end of town, high season you'll pay close to 1,500 Bht a night



















They also have the best food in Chiang Khong - try the fish there.

 

[nikhuzlan]

Phil, Great Info. Thanks for sharing, Can't wait to bring the KL Group to Rider's Corner.

BTW, will post more Malaysian Ride and Road reports soon.

Cheers, Nik.

 

[2wheels]

Can't wait to bring the KL Group to Rider's Corner.

Give us plenty of warning Nik.
It would be nice to meet you and your group.

And 'Wow', that's quite a stable of bikes you have listed!

Best wishes.

 

[KTMphil]

Look forward to reading about the Malaysian riding

Phil, Great Info. Thanks for sharing, Can't wait to bring the KL Group to Rider's Corner.

BTW, will post more Malaysian Ride and Road reports soon.

Cheers, Nik.