2014 4x4 Thai Adventure: 07 Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai

"Never regret. If it's good, it's wonderful. If it's bad, it's experience..."

(Another group photo, cheery in the morning)

Day 7: 11 September 2014 (Tuesday)

Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai

Distance: 237 km

There was no water in the hotel room this morning and every one was shouting and complaining. Those who had not taken their shower had to wait for the pump to be switch on first before we could use the bath room. It was already late when we checked out but we still had time for a group photo in front of the hotel.

(Goodbye Mae Hong Son, we'll come again...)

(The bikers riding out of town)

(Passed through the same road towards Pai)

(A must stop photo opportunity)

(The entrance to the coffee shop)

(The coffee shop was closed)

(A beautiful scenery of paddy fields)

(A wet and cloudy day)

Today the bikers gang decided to ride direct to Chiang Mai via Pai. We drove cautiously as it was raining intermittently. We made one toilet stop at the highest mountain point and a cup of hot brewed coffee from the Pai Fah Cafe before we drove to Pai and met with the rest of the gang at warung nasi ayam. We ordered crispy banana pancakes from the neighboring warung for our dessert.

(A pick-up full of soldiers)

(Driving through the mist)

(A scenic mountain view)

Riding in disciplined formation)

(Beware of obstacles by the road side)

(A little off-roading again)

(Heavy traffic heading into Pai)

(Pick-ups and lorries on the hilly road)

After refueling we drove on towards Chiang Mai and stopped at Coffee 32, the hillside coffee house for coffee and snacks.

(A nice resort with boutique coffee shop)

(Stop for a cup of hot coffee)

(The rented bikes need a rest too)

(A nice quiet resort)

(Complete with a terrace restaurant)

(Opportunity for toilet stop too)

(Signing the guest book)

(This is what I wrote and drew)

(The gang having a good time)

(A nice cozy chalet)

We arrived at Pornping Hotel early. Hubby and Hayami went to Pop Motorbike Rental to return Hayami's rental bike while the ladies stayed in the hotel room to rest. Although Hayami returned the bike a day early, there was no refund but he was lucky that he was not charged for the bad scratch on the handlebar. After, they went to a tyre shop to change all four tyres of our 4x4, costing b4500/each.

(Riding towards Chiang Mai)

(A rider giving a rest to the butt)

(The blackfoot having a bath after a long journey)

(Wearing our newly bought t-shirts)

Tonight we had dinner together with the rest of the gang and met a few other bikers gang who just flown in from KL. They will be riding the 1000 corners and neighbouring terrain in the next few days.

After dinner we went for an hour of foot massage and later walked along the night market and bought t-shirts and pants for our three grand children.

          2014 4x4 Adventure: 08 Suphan Buri, Thailand👉

👈2014 4x4 Adventure: 06 Mae Hong Son, Thailand

2014 4x4 Thai Adventure: 08 Chiang Mai - Suphan Buri

"Our most significant opportunities will be found in times of greatest difficulty..."

(The rented bikes ready to be returned)

Day 8: 12 September 2014 (Friday)

Chiang Mai - Suphan Buri

Distance: 613 km

(Visiting Kawasaki Service Centre)

This morning all of the gang had breakfast early. After we checked out of the hotel, the rest brought down their bags and riding gears and packed the boot of the 4x4. We will be driving back to KL with Hayami and Siti via Suphan Buri, Chumphon and Hatyai. The four of them, Shawal, Shanaz, Rozlan and Hj Din, will be staying another night in Chiang Mai and will be flying back tomorrow afternoon.

The rest of the gang went to Kawasaki Service Centre to purchase spare parts for motorbikes which we will bring back to KL in our 4x4. Later they went to Pop Motorbike Rental to return their rental bikes. After saying goodbye we left them with a few other bikers who just arrived by flight from KL.

(Fresh longans for the road)

(A nice clear weather)

(Passed by elephant sanctuary)

(Looking out for road signages)

The weather was fine for driving. We arrived at Masjid al-Fattah in Tak when the Friday prayer was about to end. After we performed our zohor/asar prayers, the Imam introduced us to the owner of a Muslim Restaurant who showed us the way to his restaurant. We had nasi ayam and iced tea for lunch. The restaurant is situated by the lake side and opens daily from 09:00hrs to 15:00hrs.

(The owner of the Muslim Restaurant)

(A nice view of the lake)

(Ice-blended tea and coffee)

(Dark clouds in the sky)

We drove on towards Suphan Buri taking the main highway and reached Suphan Buri town around 19:30hrs and drove around town to look for a suitable hotel. Tonight we stayed in Khun Suphan Hotel in the centre of town for b700/night.

Tonight we were lucky to meet the owner of Aminah Muslim Restaurant at the hotel lobby. He was delivering some food to a group of Muslim tourists who were staying in the same hotel. We followed him to his restaurant and had nasi and sup ekor dinner there.

(Arriving in Suphan Buri)

(Dinner at Restaurant Aminah)

(A spacious hotel room)

       2014 4x4 Adventure: 09 Chumphon, Thailand👉

👈2014 4x4 Adventure: 07 Chiang Mai, Thailand

2014 4x4 Thai Adventure: 09 Suphan Buri - Chumphon

"The best adventures in life are the ones you don't expect..."

(Masjid Nurul Rahman)

Day 9 : 13 September 2013 (Saturday)

Suphan Buri - Chumphon

Distance: 549 km

(The Clock tower of Suphan Buri)

By 08:00hrs we checked out of the hotel and drove towards Nurul Rahman Mosque to take some pictures and noted down the GPS coordinates for future reference. Later we went to Aminah Restaurant for breakfast.

(Lemang, Thai version)

(Clear blue sky in the morning)

(Scenery along the way)

(Not much traffic on the road)

It was raining heavily on the way to Chumphon. We detoured to Chaam to have nasi goreng and somtam for lunch at Restaurant Mariam and performed our prayers there. At one of the bank by the Chaam beach we changed some foreign currencies to bahts before we proceeded towards Chumphon.

(Clear signages to follow)

(It started to rain heavily)

(Arriving in Chumphon town)

It was already dark when we arrived at Chumphon beach. We checked in a small resort by the beach for b500/night. After we settled down and shower, we went to the night market and walked along the beach where there were many families having a picnic by the water front.

(Driving along the beach)

(Attractions along the beach)

(An island across the beach)

(A small boutique chalet by the beach)

(Sunset at the beach)

As there is no Muslim restaurant around the area, we had seafood tomyam and grilled prawns for dinner at one of the restaurants along the beach.

(Spicy delicious tomyam)

    2014 4x4 Adventure: 10 Hatyai, Thailand👉

👈2014 4x4 Adventure: 08 Suphan Buri, Thailand