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Location Date Singapore 1489708800 Vietnam 1489276800 South Korea 1484697600 Hong Kong 1462143600 China 1461798000 Taiwan 1461711600 United Arab Emirates 1441407600 Cambodia 1432162800 Mongolia 1370559600 Thailand 
1367276400 -
Location Date Bangkok 1367276400 Chiang Mai 1367190000 Pai
1367103600 Mae Hong Son 1367017200 Mae Sariang 1366930800 Hat Yai 1366671600
Day 8
Sun April 28, 2013
Mae Hong Son to Pai
Loading up the bike got me excited this morning as I was eager to get going. I didn't bother with breakfast my main concern was to get fuel and start the road with 1864 turns. The road from Mae Hong Son climbs as soon as you leave town and reaches a height of 1400 meters. I do have to say that as far as my surrounding are concerned that I am slightly disappointed though. I have written earlier in life about what I call "the Ohh factor" It would apply for example if you wanted to start to learn to dive. If you start on the Barrier Reef or The Maldives and spent years diving in the tropics then diving in say the North Sea would be a disappointment and possibly seen as a waste of time. If you have seen very high mountains, then medium and low mountains just do not impress anymore. In today’s case I expected riding through green jungle-clad mountain roads. Well , to the next traveler I would recommend to do this ride just after the wet season as at present the country is rather dry and just about every where the vegetation along the edges of the roads had been burned down. There is still a lot of smoke around so the viewpoints are a bit of a waste of time too.
Anyway as far as the ride itself is concerned, it was one of the best. At times very steep needing second gear approaches. '’1864 Turns’’ It said on roadside signs. Well I had done half of them and the rest tomorrow. I stopped in a town half way up a mountain to find some food and drink at the local market. People leave you alone which was great. However as soon as you approach them they were very friendly and helpful.
I rode into Pai around 3 pm and found the hostel I booked at the slope of a hill overlooking the valley around the town. The ramshackle building consists of teak walls, teak floors and everything else for that matter built in teak including the rustic heavy furniture. In the evening it was still 30 degrees. The town was very friendly and full of little eateries. The nicest place thus far. I met a Dutchman running a real-estate office and got a good explanation of how things work relating to buying and selling property. The guy is 52 and has been living here for 15 years.
Could I live here? Easy- yes I could.
Sun April 28, 2013
Mae Hong Son to Pai
Loading up the bike got me excited this morning as I was eager to get going. I didn't bother with breakfast my main concern was to get fuel and start the road with 1864 turns. The road from Mae Hong Son climbs as soon as you leave town and reaches a height of 1400 meters. I do have to say that as far as my surrounding are concerned that I am slightly disappointed though. I have written earlier in life about what I call "the Ohh factor" It would apply for example if you wanted to start to learn to dive. If you start on the Barrier Reef or The Maldives and spent years diving in the tropics then diving in say the North Sea would be a disappointment and possibly seen as a waste of time. If you have seen very high mountains, then medium and low mountains just do not impress anymore. In today’s case I expected riding through green jungle-clad mountain roads. Well , to the next traveler I would recommend to do this ride just after the wet season as at present the country is rather dry and just about every where the vegetation along the edges of the roads had been burned down. There is still a lot of smoke around so the viewpoints are a bit of a waste of time too.
Anyway as far as the ride itself is concerned, it was one of the best. At times very steep needing second gear approaches. '’1864 Turns’’ It said on roadside signs. Well I had done half of them and the rest tomorrow. I stopped in a town half way up a mountain to find some food and drink at the local market. People leave you alone which was great. However as soon as you approach them they were very friendly and helpful.
I rode into Pai around 3 pm and found the hostel I booked at the slope of a hill overlooking the valley around the town. The ramshackle building consists of teak walls, teak floors and everything else for that matter built in teak including the rustic heavy furniture. In the evening it was still 30 degrees. The town was very friendly and full of little eateries. The nicest place thus far. I met a Dutchman running a real-estate office and got a good explanation of how things work relating to buying and selling property. The guy is 52 and has been living here for 15 years.
Could I live here? Easy- yes I could.
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