Sunday, 11 January 2026

Uphills and downhills, keeping moving

 After a few days off in Mae Hong song it was time to move on, stopped at a bamboo bridge over rice fields for some photos and then at the fish cave by which time it was very hot, we left and twisted and turned through several hairpins, busy as hell and as always the driving got crazier as it got hotter. We think its people returning home after the holidays, I certainly hope so, didn't enjoy much of the ride today, very jealous of the bigger bikes. Eventually arrived at our jungle lodge cabin, cool place both aesthetically and temperature wise .

Nice cabin in Pang Marpha in the town but in a jungle setting. Landlady was super nice, she was a good cook as well, it got cold as soon as the sun went down and we retired back to our room which was very cold. There seemed to be a rave going on in the town which sounded like it was next door, sadly watched a netflix movie on Fi's phone to escape the noise. Very cold at night .

After a wonderful breakfast we set off towards Pai , up mountains and down mountains, sometimes 10mph uphill but better than than the crazy cyclists doing the "loop"
Our digs was another cabin which was excellent and it was hot! We tried to book another night but they were fully booked. After a walk at night down the walking street full of tourists ( actually felt more like Ibiza) I was glad to move on.
Heading towards Chiang Mai its still bend after bend ,uphill and downhill, we stopped just a few miles from our digs at a roadside burger joint which was cool as they rehabilitate disabled people.

We got to our wee hut in the jungle, very rustic and mozzie hell, i tried sitting outside but they got us again and again so we had to admit defeat. The very nice guy couldn't do enough for us and cooked us a dinner, lit a small fire which kept the mozzies away, a nice evening all in all.
We mentioned breakfast and at 8 am the guy delivered it to our patio. Big problem was it was a full Thai breakfast and i cant eat early in the morning. The biggest problem was when we got the bill, over 1500 baht which was twice what we expected, it pissed us off a bit, rustic setting but paying very dearly for the experience. So lesson to selfs , ask for the cost before because after you cant complain. (In the grand scheme of things its not a lot of money its just the feeling of being taken for a ride that pisses me off )

We ended up in quite a cool place but unfortunately with a big family of Thais next door, they were very noisy and sound proofing isn't a thing here!
We decided to book in for another couple of days after we have been to a Homestay in Wiang haeng on the Maynamar  Border,  a difficult ride on the 125s with much going uphill at 10mph and the same down as you can't trust the brakes . All good though and definitely an adventure. 

Another home stay another morning figuring out how much we will get charged,  always dearer than hotels but we live and learn ( do we ), It was a very nice place rustic, there was a dummy fire in our sitting room, we were freezing and wished it had worked! As always the bill was much bigger than we thought, we never learn, nice place though with stunning views,

The ride back to our hotel was actually quite good, following the same road and a stop at the top of the mountain  at the same cafe. we got chatting to a girl who was with some monks, one of them was a mad Liverpool fan and he was actually there in 25 for a game, very strange!

Just dawdling now until we get back to Chiang Mai, we leave Thailand next Saturday for another part of the adventure!
Now about an hour from Chiang Mai, we return bikes on Tuesday so we will just chill until then.

The photos are a wee bit out of sequence but the internet has been crap so frustration got the better of me


Another Wat, wat was that?
From our room veranda 
With our hosts Frank and Jasmine
I met her 12 years ago, hasn't changed, a member of the long neck tribes or Karen
Busy, last time we were here it was only us
Mae Hong Song from the Wat
Night again
Wee posing photo ( no I didn't ride the bike really dressed like that)
riverside
ma and my new bird, she's very quiet though
scary spice
Guzzi model, very strange
Me looking blurry
I didn't but we didn't see the elephant
German on tour, jealous of his bike
Nice park
Nice view
Petrol stop, old style
Fiona posing
Waterfall posing
Man made adventure park but quite nice and relaxing
Hairpins every few yards, not so relaxing
My bike at a very long drop
Hills and nature
Bamboo bridge, wasn't sure it would take my weight
Looking at mair hills
Thumbs up
Nice landlady, braw cook and not a rip off

In pai, tourist hell
Jungle, mozzies and quite expensive 
Fiona taking advantage of the facilities

Cauld
No cauld
Very cool burger stop, helping rehabilitate people with disabilities (and me who had a lack of meat disability)
No real
Strange flowers
mair waterfalls
relaxing
water park again
nice gardens
Nice digs but dear and cold!