2017 Q6 4NR Day 17: Pai - Ban Rak Thai

"To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon the verdant green hills is the most perfect refreshment..." - Jane Austin

(A beautiful day to appreciate the view)

Day 17: 09 Dec 2017 (Saturday)
Route: Pai - Ban Rak Thai - Pai
Distance: 260 km
Hotel: Ban Suan Rim Pai

Today we rode the winding road towards Mae Hong Son to visit Ban Rak Thai. On the way we stopped at a few viewpoints.

(A little misty in the morning)

(One of the viewpoint on the mountain)

(Awan Nano over the valley)

(A refreshing break after a long ride)

Pang Ma Pha View Point is a half-way point from Pai to Soppong. A two kilometre hiking up the mountain will be Pang Ma Pha Highest Mountain at 4,300 ft above sea level. There are stalls selling local handicrafts and produces, grilled corn and sweet potatoes.

(The highest point of the mountain range)

(Mountain View coffee shop)

Mae Lana Cave is about 56 km from Pai. It is one of the longest navigable cave in Thailand, about 12 km long with under-ground river. The stream inside the cave is habitat to eyeless and colourless fish that live in dark environment. The view of the surrounding mountains full of limestone caves is magnificent.

(The longest cave in Asia)

(Souvenir stalls near the cave area)

(Bikers having breakfast, overlooking the valley)

(A panoramic view of the mountain range)

Pha Sua Waterfall, about 36 km from Mae Hong Son is about 15 meters high and 30 meters wide. In the rainy season the cliff is overflowed with rain water and looks like a mat, thus the waterfall is named ‘Mat Cliff’.

(The entrance of the waterfalls)

(Beware of cyclists on the road)

(Uphill and downhill twisties to the cave)

Ban Rak Thai is about 45 km from Mae Hong Son. The Yunnan Village is literally known as ‘the Thai-loving Village’. It is a settlement of former Kuo Min Tang Nationalist fighters from Yunnan Province, China after the Communist takeover China. The Yunnan village is famous for its tea and drug trade that used to dominate the economy here.

(The entrance of the Yunnan Village)

(A beautiful resort village by the lake)

(Many chalets and hotels by the lake)

(The KeTaM resting by the lake)

(Chinese restaurants and souvenir shops)

(Attractions in the village)

(Chinese products displayed in the shops)

(Varieties of tea to choose from)

(A  typical Chinese houses and shops)

(A tea shop by the lake)

(A beautiful view of the lake)

(Having complementary Chinese tea)

  

On the way back to Pai we stopped at our favourite 1864 Coffee Shop for a tall glass of iced lemon tea before we rode the never ending curves of the mountainous road gain. Today we completed double thousand corners, riding from Pai to Mae Hong Son and back to Pai.

(The famous 1864 signage of Thousand Corners)

(Paddy fields in the background)

Tonight we sent our dirty laundry to clean at Baht30/kg. While we were having our foot massage, Mat Wan and Akbar of the Truecolour Bikerz were looking for us. They had split from the group and rode direct from Luang Namtha to Pai. As it was a peak season, most of the hotels were full but they were lucky to get a room for tonight. Tomorrow they need to look for rooms for the rest of the gang.

 2017 Q6 4NR: 18 Santichon Village, Thailand👉

👈2017 Q6 4NR: 16 Pai, Thailand