*MOTO TRIP*: Chiang Mai > NAN > Chiang Mai (road trip with The Grinder Boyz!)

This was a really fun trip, but the boys (who normally ride bikes with much more power ) found the trip a bit of a slog on 250cc bikes. It was great that they did this trip on bikes that matched mine, though. Very grateful for that! As an aside, the guys on the trip became affectionately known as "The Grinder Boyz", mainly because one of them decided to play a trick on another of the guys by uploading his pic on the Grinder app. (Grinder is the equivalent of Tinder, but for those interested in the same sex). Yes, childish I know, but pretty funny all the same.

The guys on this trip are experienced riders, really experienced. So for them the pace was a doddle, and thus the antics that came about were pretty fun. Had a giggle the whole trip.
The 1148 is known as one of the best roads for riding in the province, and although I enjoyed it, I found it not quite as twistie as I normally like. Or maybe my bike just doesn't have enough power for these kinds of sweeping curves. Would be a good one to try on a bike with more power.

We started from our usual meeting point before heading off. I had a small bag, the guys seemed to take kitchen sinks... ^^

The pace was around 120/130km and so we did ok. But of course, that's because we cant go any faster! We kept going till we hit Sabaai Dee Coffee shop for a break and a cool down. A couple of other riders had joined up with us at this point, and would head to Nan with us also.

Fab ride, fab weather (Jan is cool season and is really great for riding at this time), fab company.
 
We hung up our helmets at S.P. Guesthouse in Nan. A nice friendly inexpensive guesthouse. Seems to be a favorite with riders due to the secure parking.
Headed out for a bit to eat and went along to the HUGE night market. Was a bit too overwhelming for a few of us, including me, so half went around the market and the rest of us headed off for a quiet drink at a local biker bar. I pretty much called it a night fairly early and headed off back to the guesthouse with the only other girl on the trip, my good friend Tik. Boys will be boys, as they say, and the guys stayed up late drinking. As I was in bed at a more reasonable hour I was up very early (as planned), and had already packed up. 
The boys were no where in sight. Haha.

I posted this on my facebook that morning "Good morning from S.P.Guesthouse, Nan. I've been up since 7:30 am, bright-eyed and (not so) bushy-tailed (only because it's first thing in morning.). The guys were up late drinking. I suspect when they emerge from the rooms they will be red-eyed and groggy-tailed ^^^ Som nam na ^^" 

But actually, although they were up a little later than planned, they didn't seem worse for wear. I guess they are just used to it! Haha. So, after a little later start than planned we headed off for breakfast, packed and ready. P.S, I find the photo that was taken at the breakfast place pretty funny.. because the tallest man in the group on the right, was standing next to the shortest lady in our group. Haha.
So this time we headed back via a different route (at a later date I will update what this route was), which I was enjoying much more than the more famous 1148 route. It was much more twisty. We hit an area of roadworks with lots of gravel and sticky tarmac, but apart from that section the rest of the route was absolutely stunning with roads in great condition. At one point we were all low on fuel (spitting feathers!) and had a bit of a panic to find a fuel pump. I spied one on a roadside thankfully, and were saved.
 
We made a pit stop in Phayao and ended up meeting a group of friends who were just back from a lengthy tour. Had no idea they would be there, so was a nice coincidence. We had lunch together and shared some stories, and then headed off back to Chiang Mai. We arrived as dusk was setting and was really quite beautiful.

This trip will stick in my mind as one of the most fun I have ever had.

Thanks Grinder Boyz! 

*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.

 

*MOTO EVENT* - REAL CUSTOM BIKER SHOW 2013

Hosted at the 700 Year Stadium the event, the Real Custom Biker Show was a really enjoyable event.
Don't have much to say about this really, so I will leave you with photos instead! (Sorry, there are quite a few photos of me with the bikes, rather than the bikes. At the time I didn't even consider blogging, so they were just meant for personal use. In future I will attend events with writing about them in mind!)