Thailand Borders 15: Mae Hong Son

"The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart..." - Helen Keller

(Ban Rak Thai, a village bordering Myanmar)

Day 15: Sunday, 24 Nov 2024

Route: Pai - Ban Rak Thai - Mae Hong Son
Distance: 250 km (5:25)
Hotel: Panorama Hotel, Mae Hong Son

We checked out and drove to town to have our favorite breakfast in Pai, a hot bowl of porridge, cakoi and coffee from the halal stall in front of 7-eleven.

(The air of festivities in Pai Walking Street)

(The best chicken porridge in town)

(Chakoi and hot soya drink from another stall) 

(Our favorite breakfast joint in Pai)

(Our breakfast spread from the Morning Congee Cart)

Took highway 1095 towards Mae Hong Son. There were a large group of Singaporean bikers enjoying the Thousand Corners at the same time. Passed Phang Mapha town and watched a colorful procession on the road. The population here is a harmonious blend of diverse communities, with Lisu and Lahu hill tribes coexisting alongside urban Thai residents.

 

(Ready to brave the winding mountain road)

(Motorists exploring the Mae Hong Son Loop)

(Breathtaking landscape of Mae Hong Song valley)

(Interval checkpoints along the route)

(A colorful procession in Phang Mapha)

(A vegetable market in the middle of nowhere)

There are two nice viewpoints along this route. We stopped at one viewpoint for comfort break and bought two bottles of honey, fruits, baked sweet potatoes and sweet corn. We also bought a few hilltribe pants for souvenirs.

(A sea of clouds covering the valley)

(Coffee shops and washrooms)

(Spectacular scenery of the valley)

(Tourist browsing the map of attractions)

(Stalls selling hill tribe products)

(The white-faced lady speaks good Malay)

On the way to Mae Hong Son, we detoured and drove on the rural road 4001 to Ban Rak Thai. It is a charming Yunan village located about 40 km from Mae Hong Son city. This was our third visit here. This stunning beautiful village near to the Thailand/Myanmar border is well known for its tea. There are many tea houses along the lakeside offering a variety of homegrown tea.

(The entrance gate to Ban Rak Thai)

(A beautiful lake surrounded by tea plantation)

(The small road is packed with cars)

(Beautiful decorated rowing boats)

(A leisure stroll around the lake)

(Ban Rak Thai is also known as the New Mae Aw Village)

(The lake, Chinese Tea Shops and mountains)

(The population is mainly Chinese or Thai-born Chinese)

After some photography, we drove out of Ban Rak Thai and stopped for photo at the 1864 Corners Chang Thai Coffee house.

(A small coffee shop with a superb view)

(A place to rest after along journey)

(The milestone - completed 600km and 1864 curves)

(The coffee shop before Ban Rak Thai junction)

(The Chang Thai Coffee Shop popular with the big bikers)

We reached Mae Hong Son way after noon. Mae Hong Son is also known as the city of three mists. The fog from evaporating rain during rain season, the dewy mist in winter and the smoke from field fires in the summer.

(The popular entrance gate of Mae Hong Son)

(The man in the poster looks like a Malay warrior)

As we were overly hungry, went direct to the halal restaurant next to Nuruth Taqwa Mosque of Mae Hong Son. We had nasi briyani, nasi ayam and fried dim sum for our late lunch.

(Parking next to Nuruth Taqwa Mosque)

(The one and only halal restaurant in town)

(Bikers stickers decorating the wall)

(The yellow Chicken Briyani is the restaurant's specialty)

Checked in Panorama Hotel for RM96/night. The hotel is located on the main road in the middle of Mae Hong Son town. The hotel is very close to the traditional market, walking street, and Jong Kham lake/park. 

(The Panorama Hotel of Mae Hong Son)

(The hotel is so antique)

(Displays at the lobby area)

As there is no elevator, we requested for a room on the ground floor and had to wait for more than half an hour for the house-keeping to get our room ready. The room is located in a different building but near the parking area. Although a little small, the room was clean and complete with basic amenities. We were lucky to bring with us insect repellent as there were mosquitoes in the room. We took a nap till it was time for Maghrib/Isya' prayers. We decided not to visit the night market as it was already too late at night.

(Parking next to a hard-core 4x4)

(Our room was on the ground floor in another building)

(A simple room for the night)