Northern Thailand - Bike Paradise in Nan

Last month we took a much needed break from the daily grind, so we joined up with our good friend Frederic and headed up north for 6 marvelous days.

Our trip took us from Bangkok to Petchabun, Nan Noi, Doi Phu Kha National Park, Prae and Nan City, Lam Nam Nan National Park, riding on some of the best roads Thailand has to offer.

The pictures and the video speak for themselves.

https://vimeo.com/250013907

Sirikit Dam

Military Museum

A bulldozer used for mine clearing

hmmm

Touch screen enabled gloves

Crossing the dam

The look of my bike the morning after the coldest night I've ever experienced in Thailand. 6 degrees!!!

Beautiful morning in Prae

A small mountain village famous for its salt production

Temple in Nan

Another temple

and another one

30km of dirt riding through the jungle was a very interesting experience

Checkpoint on top of the mountain

Bike trip to Kanchanaburi and Ayutthaya

Nice trip on the 10-11-12 of September.

bike trip Kanchanaburi Ayutthaya 2016 from Omega Racer on Vimeo.

The Call Of The Big Mountain

I've been longing for a solo bike trip for a long time and today, finally my dream came true.
Even though I had a late start I still managed to ride 370 km of great roads, enjoyed beautiful sceneries, lost 4.5l of gas, got rained on, spoke to a monk, had a smoke on the shore of a lake, rode through the biggest national park in Thailand, saw monkeys and other wild life....and still managed to arrive back home before sunset and in 1 piece.

Chachoengsao - Plaeng Yao - Kabinburi - Wang Nam Khiao - Mu Si - Khao Yai - Pratchinburi - Phanom Sarakam - Chachoengsao




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In the morning I strapped a 4.5l gas canister on the rack of my bike, because I didn't know where I would ride to and I like to have some spare gas when I'm out in the jungle. Obviously the canister wasn't strapped very well, because at the first real stop I had, I noticed it wasn't there anymore! Oh well, someone will enjoy some free gas....

at the holy stones I realized the canister had vanished

The trip was also a good opportunity to test my new riding gear. The Alpinestars tank bag did well, apart from the very weak magnets that should hold the bag down. They do, but only if you ride below 60km/h. Thankfully, I used the straps that came with the bag....problem solved.

The side bag was a lucky find. I've been trying to find online a saddlebag suitable for my bike but wasn't very happy with my findings. Either too big, too small, too much Harley D. or just too expensive. Until last week, when I found a nice and versatile promotional bag from Panasonic at the local market for 11$! It's perfect...or better, it would be if it were water proof...but hey, 11$!! :-)

pity for the unsightly rubbish...

 No, I didn't teleport myself to Italy. This is in Khao Yai, Thailand...a reproduction of a Tuscan village...pretty cool, eh?! Actually, the whole Khao Yai (means "Big Mountain") is in love with Mediterranean culture. Not far from the Tuscan village is the Chateau De Khao Yai, a massive villa fit for an Italian mafia boss or Belusconi...same difference anyway.

Farangs feeding monkeys