Big Bike Tours first run pre-Covid19.
5 days in reverse
An article series by: Tom Stenshavn
The 5 day tour, Fantastic Lanna Kingdom, in oposite direction.
Article 4: Day 4 and 5 – 27 and 28.08.20
Thursday 27.08.20 – Are we going straight now…? Well.. yes, straight South, but still curves and more curves!
I want to firstly direct a great big THANK YOU to David Uncovich and the GT Rider blog for yet a great arrangement and a great dinner last night. These dinners are always a combination of meeting great people that like to ride, and supporting the local restaurants, bars and hotels that now are struggling a lo due to the Covid19 pandemic and closed borders. Its really an honor and pleasure to be invited to these events.
Today is also a short ride, and i guess about 170km total, nearly the same as yesterday. I woke early and tried to make a video again… I really need to practice this more.. 🙂
The first stop is already at the viewpoint in Mae Hong Son, a temple called Wat Prathat Doi Khonmu and is located just 2 km from the city centre and up on the Doi Mu mountain. A Burmese style temple founded in 1860. The temple comprises of several structures including two chedis and two viharns. The atmosphere on top of the hill is of tranquility and serenity. The top of Doi Kong Mu hill provides 360 degree views of Chong Kham Lake, Mae Hong Son city, the Pai valley and the small airfield to one side and the forested hills of Burma to the other side.
The oldest structures of the temple are two large whitewashed stupas or chedis. The largest was built in 1860. Its lower section comprises of several octagonal shaped tiers of receding size. Around the base are niches enshrining images of the Buddha. The stupa is topped with a golden spire. It enshrines the ashes of Phra Moggallana, one of the chief disciples of the Buddha.
Then we head out against Mae Sariang and the road is a dream-road to ride. Hard to explain by words and also with photos and videos, but i hope most of you that read this gets the chance to come here to try it for yourself. I`m always ready to go with you.
After about only 20 km up in the mountains, we come to our first stop that is a coffee shop with a stunning view called Viewpoint Pha Bong.
Its not a long ride up here, but we feel obligated to make a quick stop to see the scenery at this beautiful place.
Then it was all about the riding… on stunning mountain roads with turns up and down the mountains, we just rode all the way to the Khun Yuam War museum.
The Khun Yuam World War II Japanese War Museum opened on November 9, 1996, in Khun Yuam District, Mae Hong Son Privince in northern Thailand.
This museum collects Japanese army artifacts in the Burma War and their theme is to clear the truth of the last war, different from the museum in Kanchanaburi which shows cruelty of Japanese troops.
In this area, it’s said that local people took good care of tens of thousands of soldiers who retreated from their disastrous defeat at the Battle of Imphal. The relationship between the local people and Japanese soldiers were very good.
The founder is Chiedchai Chomthawat, deputy police superintendent at the Khun Yuam police station. When he became the deputy police superintendent in 1955, he went around to say hello to the residents in the area and found that each house held mementos of Japanese soldiers as their treasures. He then got to know Japanese soldiers had lived in Khun Yuam for four or five years and felt sorry that the facts of Japanese soldiers were getting lost in the minds of old persons. This lead to the construction of the museum later.
From here, it was all about the riding again, leading to a small noodle shop in the mointains with yet a stunning view. We just had to stop for lunch here.
This was our last stop for today, before arriving at the Riverside Guest House in Mae Sariang.
Please read more about our last day of riding under the Map of Today.
Friday 28.08.20 – Are we going home already??
We woke up early on our last day of riding back to Chiang Mai. But we still had one more headlight of the tour and that is of course Thailands highest peak, Doi Inthanon.
The road from Mae Sariang is mostly a semi-fun motorway going at a higher speed than in the mountains before, and its a great ride all together. When we reach the start of the Doi Inthanon National Park, the roads are truly beutiful for motorbike riding again. Curvy and not so steep, even we are goint up to a point of 2565 meter above sea level.
Doi Inthanon is one of the most popular national parks in Thailand. It is famous for its waterfalls, remote villages, picturesque montane farms, viewpoints, sunrise/sunset watching, birdwatching and the all year round cold weather on higher elevations. The main park entrance is about 70 km southwest from Chiang Mai city center.
Also known as “The Roof of Thailand”, Doi Inthanon National Park covers an area of 482 km² in Chiang Mai province north of Thailand. The park is part of the Himalayan mountain range with elevations ranging between 800 and 2,565 meters asl. The highest peak at Doi Inthanon Mountain which is the highest mountain in Thailand. The park has high humidity and cold weather all year round.
The park is named in honour of the king Inthawichayanon, one of the last kings of Chiang Mai, who was concerned about the forests in the north of Thailand and wanted to preserve it. After his death his remains were placed in the park as he ordered and the forest was renamed to Doi Inthanon.
One of the most impressive waterfalls in the park, the most popular one due to its location and easy access. As with most other waterfalls, the size of this waterfall is very exaggerated by park staff or guides, but still, with around 40 meters height and the impressive wide look, it is no doubt one of the best falls in the park.
Afterlunch and visit to the waterfall, it was time to face the reality of riding home. But we wil soon be on the road again with new stories to tell.
Tom Stenshavn
stenshavn@gmail.com
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