*MOTO EVENT* - REAL CUSTOM BIKER SHOW 2014

Another fab Real Custom Biker Show event. Lots of bikes, lots of people, lots of "pretties" ( shame we girls don't get anything for us!), and lots of smiling faces. I had a great one this year and enjoyed seeing many kinds of bikes.

Bumped into various friends at the event also.

The host venue was the the 700 Year Stadium, and this year they had a great layout, with a large stage and seating area surrounded by food and drink vendors, for those looking to spend time at the event.

The easiest thing to do is just let you watch the video and see for yourself.

 

 Looking forward to next years show!

*MOTO TRIP* *DAY RIDE* - Pai Sandwich : Chiang Mai > Pai < Chiang Mai

 Pai sandwich.
Riding 150km for a sandwich, eating it, then riding 150km back again. ^^^

*MOTO TRIP* *DAY RIDE* (scooter): Mae Ngat Dam area (not the dam itself)

Took a quick daytrip to the Mae Ngat Dam area via a back road. Unfortunately this trip was taken well before i had any notion about blogging about my trip, so the exact details are ..well...lost really. If I retrace my trip at some point, i will post an update.

Anyway, when people think of the dam, they usually think of the famous house boats. These are houseboats on the dam that you can rent for x period of time and stay on. Citylife Magazine (Chiang Mai's staple English language magazine), has a good article on the houseboats here.

Instead of heading to the most well-known zones I took a look at an off-the-beaten-track route that went through a zone that was overgrown and had pretty much zero vehicles. On this route there was even a rural hilltribe local lady who was gathering something from the ground excitedly. Stopped to chat to her, but her Thai was quite broken (obviously not her native tongue). Turned out she was gathering some ant eggs. She had laid down bate and had been waiting for the larvae. She was looking 

forward to cooking them up that evening. She told me they are very delicious and even invited me to join her! This is something i love about people here; the generosity and kindness of spirit. This lady looked like she had so very little in the way of material anything, yet was willing to share her prize with me. I was so humbled...even though i declined politely saying i had no time.  

This route was very enjoyable and eventually came out at a more established road and I progressed  towards Mae Ngat Dam. A little before the dam there was a wonderful scene of people getting wet and playing in canal-ways. Obviously connected to the dam. There were food vendors and the water was nice and flowing. Decided to stop there to eat and enjoy the water, rather than head on to the dam area. Lots of bbq dishes around including some kind of larvae/pupae. Not really my style if im honest, haha.

Ordered some typical bbq food and a cool drink at sat by the water. Ended up being entertained by some (slightly inebriated) local Thai guys. Chilled for a while and then headed back home.
Excellent day!

I did actually visit the dam again some time later and it was completely bone dry!
No people around and no bbq.
That was around late November.

If i visit again, i will document the location as well as my findings.

*MOTO TRIP* *DAY RIDE* (scooter): Mon Chaem, Mae Rim.

Mon Cham (often spelled as Jam) is a scenic day trip from Chiang Mai city center. You can always stay there if you prefer, but i usually just make it a day trip. 


Located on Mong Nong Hoi village, Mon Cham is part of the Royal Project, growing herbs, fruits and vegetables. Due to it's cooler temperatures, a great deal of products are grown which are not often available elsewhere. Strawberries are particularly sought after from this area (you can also do your own strawberry picking). The flowers are really quite stunning and attract a great deal of butterflies, some of which are very unusual looking.

Viewpoint, Restaurant & Camping

The main destination at Mon Cham is the mountain viewpoint which has a Royal Project restaurant, serving fresh dishes made from local ingredients.  You can also camp just down from the restaurant area, which I'm sure must be quite beautiful, especially early mornings and sunset/dusk periods, but i haven't experienced that, so cannot comment (if i recall the prices are between the 700 - 2000 baht range)

Restaurant Opening Hours:

9:00 - 19:00 (August - September)

9:00 - 21:00 (October - February)

The photos are from March period (when it is less scenic than other periods, yet still a lovely trip). March in Chiang Mai region has burning/pollution issues, which often restrict views. It is also the hot season, so quite parched. The good thing about this period though is that there are less tourists around. Peak periods during the cool season (Nov - Feb) attracts visitors to the viewpoint, sometimes excessively. If you visit during the peak cool season period, i recommend you go on a weekday rather than at the weekend.