The 2016 Trip – Page 4 – Ramblings of a Singapore Biker Boy

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 16

6 July 2016. Day 16. I headed to the Lanna Expo at Chiang Mai Convention Centre in the morning. “Lanna” – or Northern Thai, also translates into “Kingdom of a Million Rice Fields”. It is the northern region of Thailand with somewhat different culture compared to the south. Today was also the last day of the Expo, and I thought I shouldn’t give this a miss.

The exhibition was huge! Much larger than I had thought it to be. Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 16”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 14 and 15

While waiting for the engine teardown, I rented a Honda PCX 150 in the meantime as I needed some form of mobility around town. I found a bike rental shop not too far away from my hotel, and now I’m mobile again!

sgBikerBoy is temporarily sgScooterBoy! My new ride around town.

The hotel came with a small pool and I had so wanted to take a dip in it. But my recent right leg injuries are probably not gonna take the chlorinated water too well. Ouch!

And so I spent the day wandering aimlessly around town, exploring the nooks and crannies of the old and newer Chiang Mai. After what’s happened so far, I decided to Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 14 and 15”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 13. Bad news.

So I woke up in the morning and, as usual, went searching for breakfast. The Royal Peninsular was probably the nicest hotel I’ve stayed in Thailand so far. But at 650THB, it didn’t come with breakfast. Without my bike now, it gave me the opportunity to take things a little slower and I walked the morning streets in search for food.

Walking along the old city of Chiang Mai. sgBikerBoy is now sgWalkingBoy.

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 13. Bad news.”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 12. Breakdown in Pai.

The room in Pai didn’t come with breakfast. So I went searching for some food in the morning. Came across a roadside hawker center and tried ordering some “Chinese Roll Noodles Soup”.

Chinese Roll Noodles Soup. Quite good actually! See those brown cubes there? They're pig's blood - made into a tofu-like texture. I used to eat them when I was younger, but you cannot quite find it in Singapore these days. I later found out that "Chinese roll noodles" refers to chee cheong fun - quite commonly available in Singapore and in Hong Kong (where it's known as "cheong fun"). — Chinese Roll Noodles Soup. Quite good actually! See those brown cubes there? They’re pig’s blood – made into a tofu-like texture. I used to eat them when I was younger, but you cannot quite find it in Singapore these days. I later found out that “Chinese roll noodles” refers to chee cheong fun – quite commonly available in Singapore and in Hong Kong (where it’s known as “cheong fun”).

Since I arrived in Pai rather late last evening, and that it was raining the whole of last evening, I didn’t quite get to see Pai. And after breakfast, I decided to stay for another night. And so, I quickly confirmed it with the accommodation reception (who happened to be a Chinese student from Beijing, here in Thailand working for food and accommodation with no pay), and paid for the next night.

I went exploring Pai. Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 12. Breakdown in Pai.”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 9 to 11

The famous Mae Hong Son Loop starts from Chiang Mai and runs through Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Pai and back to Chiang Mai. With more than 1,800 bends, and almost 700km of awesome views, it's a motorcyclist's (and basically any traveller's) paradise! — The famous Mae Hong Son Loop starts from Chiang Mai and runs through Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, Pai and back to Chiang Mai. With more than 1,800 bends, and almost 700km of awesome views, it’s a motorcyclist’s (and basically any traveller’s) paradise!

I was the only guest in the guesthouse, and so had the whole breakfast table to myself. Basic breakfast in a typical Thai guesthouse - bread, jam, coffee, and nothing much else. — I was the only guest in the guesthouse, and so had the whole breakfast table to myself. Basic breakfast in a typical Thai guesthouse – bread, jam, coffee, and nothing much else.

After breakfast, I took a short ride to the nearby Mae Pan Waterfall, or Namtok Mae Pan. Mae Pan Fall is the highest waterfall in Chiangmai and cascades down a cliff more than 100m high. So it must be real awesome, right? But when I arrived, I was the only vehicle on site, and the place looked eerily deserted. Doesn’t look very much visited here, and the sign says it’s a 500m walk to the waterfall. Not too bad, I thought.

Wrong!

It’s a 500m trekking trail. And although the path was rather clearly marked, Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 9 to 11”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 8

Yeah! I plan to commence the Mae Hong Son Loop today, doing it in the clockwise direction. I’ll head towards Doi Inthanon – the highest peak in Thailand, and then just stop along the way at any interesting spots. This is how I normally like to plan an adventure – without too much planning. Pick a destination, and head towards there; stopping along the way as deem fit.

But first, I had to familiarise myself with the area. So I fired up my laptop and did some basic research in the morning.

The Mae Hong Son Loop. Some serious research going on here... — The Mae Hong Son Loop. Some serious research going on here…

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 8”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 7

I stayed in Chiang Mai for another night. Primarily because I found out that the Sunday Market was a must-visit, but also because the hotel had laundry facilities, and it was time to do some laundry. At highway speeds, my riding jacket has been the killing ground for bugs – especially butterflies, and so it’s time to freshen it up.

The hotel doesn’t have a kitchen and didn’t come with breakfast. So I went hunting for some Thai breakfast.

Found a food centre opened. Everything else was still closed at 0730h in the morning.

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 7”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 6

Day 6 - Mae Sot to Chiang Mai. 360km — Day 6 – Mae Sot to Chiang Mai. 360km

Probably due to the bumpy Thai roads, the Bajaj Pulsar 200NS seem to be falling apart here and there. =(

The chain was loose (again!) this morning. With a little bit of effort, I managed to tighten it back up. It could have come loose because at the last adjustment, I was cautious of over-tightening the rear wheel axle nut. This time, I made sure the rear wheel axle nut is tight, really tight. After 2,700km of travelling, anything not tightened up properly is beginning to work its way out. I found 3 out of 4 bolts of the rear passenger grab bar coming loose. One has even worked its way out so much that it could have just dropped out anytime!

Great! As I’ll have to pass Tak again to get to Chiang Mai, so I thought I’m now all set to enjoy that mountainous twisty road I didn’t get to enjoy 2 days ago due to unpreparedness, rain, and low, low fuel. Wrong! Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 6”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 5

After 4 days of rather intense riding, I’ve decided to take things a little slow and confirmed my stay in Mae Sot for another night. With accommodation secured, I left most of the luggage in the hotel room, and travelled light, exploring Mae Sot and its surroundings.

First stop was Tararak Waterfall – an approximately 35min ride from where I stayed. Riding without the luggage was interestingly refreshing. The Pulsar 200NS felt like an agile and nimble bike all over again.

To Tararak. I just love the sound of that name. Tararak. Tararak... — To Tararak. I just love the sound of that name. Tararak. Tararak…

Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 5”

The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 4

Day 4 - Ratchaburi to Mae Sot. 580km on the odometer. — Day 4 – Ratchaburi to Mae Sot. 580km on the odometer.

My accommodation in Ratchaburi was nice and clean, but it didn’t come with breakfast. Thankfully, I had that extra-large biscuit and 2 mangoes from the owner of the place I stayed in the night before. Oh! The mangoes were super sweet!

And so after breakfast, I did some bike maintenance – the chain Continue reading “The sgBikerBoy 2016 Trip – Day 4”