A Chiang Khong – Lower Esarn Meander July 2024.
The rider: David Unk
The bike: Suzuki Vstrom 650.
26 days 28 June – 23rd July 2024. 3,743 kms, 4000 photos.
This was a nostalgia trip I've been working on & planning for a long time.
Originally, I thought I'd do it in 2022 after Phi Ta Khon festival in Dan Sai, but my crash put an end to that & it's taken a while to get back up to speed & catch up. Fortunately, in 2024 it was all go - just carry on after Dan Sai.
I last rode lower Esarn in 92 with some mates from out of the original GTR Library Service Bookshop.
Since then, some of those bookshop customers are still good mates, have married, had kids & settled down in Esarn. Harri the Finn in Korat & Ducati Shawn in Wichian Buri being two on this trip.
The 2024 ride was a real slow wander then & exactly how I like it, pottering along looking up old mates & checking old Khmer temple ruin attractions.
Nights were spent in
4 nights Chiang Mai
2 nights Lampang
1 night Phrae
3 nights Dan Sai
1 night Loei
1 night Chumpae
1 night Wichian Buri
3 nights Korat
1 night Nang Rong
1 night Buri Ram
3 nights Surin
1 night Lomsak
1 night Chiang Rai
I made it up as I went, choosing to move on or stay another night as I pleased & felt satisfied.
Restaurants, accommodation & other recommendations used on this trip have already been posted.
Some reports on the trip & attractions have been updated already.
I will endeavour to post a summary of the trip in sections. There is too much for one report & it may never get finished. Bit by bit is probably the best way to go.
This is part one, an introduction.
What's been posted & updated so far.
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Trip reports & info updated.
Wat Sang Kaew Photiyan R118 - the massive fire
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Lampang classic attractions unlimited
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Phrae Attractions
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Surin & something very special
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On the road.
Fully loaded for the trip @ Ban Chang in Chiang Rai for an oil & filter change + chain adjustment check, prior to riding off.
www.gt-rider.com
Tarting up the Vstrom for the trip.
The rider: David Unk
The bike: Suzuki Vstrom 650.
26 days 28 June – 23rd July 2024. 3,743 kms, 4000 photos.
This was a nostalgia trip I've been working on & planning for a long time.
Originally, I thought I'd do it in 2022 after Phi Ta Khon festival in Dan Sai, but my crash put an end to that & it's taken a while to get back up to speed & catch up. Fortunately, in 2024 it was all go - just carry on after Dan Sai.
I last rode lower Esarn in 92 with some mates from out of the original GTR Library Service Bookshop.
Since then, some of those bookshop customers are still good mates, have married, had kids & settled down in Esarn. Harri the Finn in Korat & Ducati Shawn in Wichian Buri being two on this trip.
The 2024 ride was a real slow wander then & exactly how I like it, pottering along looking up old mates & checking old Khmer temple ruin attractions.
Nights were spent in
4 nights Chiang Mai
2 nights Lampang
1 night Phrae
3 nights Dan Sai
1 night Loei
1 night Chumpae
1 night Wichian Buri
3 nights Korat
1 night Nang Rong
1 night Buri Ram
3 nights Surin
1 night Lomsak
1 night Chiang Rai
I made it up as I went, choosing to move on or stay another night as I pleased & felt satisfied.
Restaurants, accommodation & other recommendations used on this trip have already been posted.
Some reports on the trip & attractions have been updated already.
I will endeavour to post a summary of the trip in sections. There is too much for one report & it may never get finished. Bit by bit is probably the best way to go.
This is part one, an introduction.
What's been posted & updated so far.
Lampang Restaurants
De Room Suan Dok Road. GPS Waypoint: N18 17.287 E99 29.743 Air conditioned, clean, smart & quiet. Run by the bubbly Miss Bo, ex Saloon Pub in Chiang Mai.
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Phrae Restaurants
From August 2012 https://www.gt-rider.com/se-asia-motorcycling/threads/the-free-thai-seri-thai-museum-phrae.8910/ Phrae arrival time was around 4.15? PM from memory. Time for happy hour somewhere. We imbibed a few ice coldies in the Paradorn Coffee shop, the moved on to chug around town & check...
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Dan Sai Restaurants
Dan Sai - Dinner Krua Im On tel. 042 891 586 route 2013 under the village Thatched roof, garden, friendly service (less choice in the evening, but still enough).
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Loei Restaurants.
Coffee Bar. Great coffee, toasted sandwiches and cakes. Also free wifi. Over looks the lake in the centre of Loei, you cant miss it. GPS N17 29.178 E101 43.693 Moto-Rex
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Chumphae Restaurants
On the way to / from MotoGP, Chumpae is a convenient stop over place. Joe's Cafe / Mama's Kitchen is a easy going expat hang out. Open air, pool table, friendly Kiwi management & a decent pizza for some hungry riders, The Google Maps Location
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Non Khun, Khon San,, Coffee Shop, on Rural Rd 2004
My Wife and I have a Coffee Shop on the 2004 It’s about 13 km from Chum Phae and about 14 km from Khon San on the northern edge of Chaiyaphum Province. So, whether you are passing through or staying local on your tour of Isaan and fancy a ride out in the local area then you are more than welcome...
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Wichian Buri Accommodation
Sweet Area Resort. The best digs in town, 3 price levels 60 baht. Aussie owned with good English spoken. Undercover parking. Small, functional clean 600 baht rooms. Damn hot on arrival out in the sun though! Other bungalows An onsite aircon coffeeshop to hit asap, while you...
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Wichian Buri Restaurants
Ton Nam A sizeable open air / air restaurant offering both Thai & farang food. Needless to say I was impressed. Just a bit sweet, but otherwise quite acceptable, something I certainly wasn't expecting in Wichian Buri of all places. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zo3sU5HzVgCm9g8H6
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Phimai Accommodation
Phimai Paradise Hotel. A small smart modern hotel close to the Phimai Historical Park. Under cover parking. Super friendly happy staff & service! Rooms start @ 550 baht. Spotlessly clean, super quiet aircon. Exellent design, furnishings & layout. Powersockets in all the right places...
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Phimai Restaurants
Punp Cafe There are slim pickings for breakfast in Phimai, if you're looking for a farang brekky, & the winner for me was the Punp Cafe. Location, parking & coffee being the winners. A bit of a strange place for me, &it is what it is in a new "basic industrial style", perhaps. A...
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Korat Accommodation
Siri Hotel An old hotel from 40? years ago, but conveniently located, central downtown Korat with undercover parking. Multiple room choices starting at 560 baht, but make sure you get a room with a window & sufficient space, as the bottom of the range room may not have a window, or a lot of...
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Korat Restaurants
Monkey Bar The # 1 & only expat bar in Korat. Aircon, smart, clean, pool table, big TV, happy efficient service. https://maps.app.goo.gl/VKEk5yfCYxwq5zjs5
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Nang Rong R24 Accommodation.
S S Hotel A small new modern hotel, with under cover parking. 590 baht excellent value for money. https://maps.app.goo.gl/J21DmCZH8qNWF4pY8
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Nang Rong Restaurants R24 / R348 Junction.
Ekkanek Pub & Restaurant An big open-air pub & restaurant with good live music. An excellent female singer. Super friendly, happy staff. https://maps.app.goo.gl/7Vbi1yF2GQ3pMGwL9
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Buri Ram Accommodation
Paradise Resort A sprawling old resort / hotel, that have been paradise 30 years ago. Cheap'n ready to go @450 baht. The bottom end of the scale for the old GTR fellah, as it needs some TLC & the rooms could do with a fresh coat of paint now plus better ventilation. However at...
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Surin Accommodation
Martina Hotel Resort A big sprawling resort hotel, with all ground floor rooms & parking right outside your door. Super friendly happy, efficient reception staff. Prices start @ 400 / 450 baht & the rooms are very good value for money. Clean, nice furnished & spacious with good...
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Surin Restaurants
Starbeam A place to go for genuine home cooking brekky. An extensive menu - Western & Thai foods - & fair inexpensive prices. The breakfast burritos were it for a hungry old GTR fellah. And what a sumptious winner they were - excellent! As was the old fashioned mug of coffee...
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Wet season- Undercover parking
Seeing that rainy season is here I know that when I'm on the road now I like to look out for covered parking for my bike when staying somewhere overnight. So why not have a thread for under cover parking when touring... GT Rider has accommodation recommendations listed in each region under trip...
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Trip reports & info updated.
Wat Sang Kaew Photiyan R118 - the massive fire
Wat Sang Kaew Phothiyan
From http://www.gt-rider.com/thailand-motorcycle-forum/threads/32437-Where-s-this-one?p=258247#post258247 I recently popped in to,check up on progress, because this surely going to be a beautiful a stuning temple once completed. Some progress photos and the resident artists...
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Lampang classic attractions unlimited
Lampang - Pottering Around
Lampang Attractions Lampang is just a 100 kms south of Chiang Mai & usually just a quick PTT splash & dash stop on the way home or out of Chiang Mai. But take your time & hang out in old Lampang city & there are a few gems around. Lampang Attractions Lampang was once the centre of the teak...
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Phrae Attractions
Phrae Attractions & History
Phrae Attractions continued. Ganesha Temple 12 kms East of Phrae off R1024 sits a Ganesha temple that I can't quite get the name right for yet. Ganesha (also Ganesa or Ganapati) is one of the most important gods in Hinduism. Ganesha is easily recognized with his elephant head and human...
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Surin & something very special
Surin Elephant Tak Bat Buddhist alms ceremony for Lent.
Holed up in Surin, killing time before I could get a room in Ubon because of the wax candle festival, an employee in the 90s Surin Pub asks me if I'm going to the 6am "tak bat" elephant alms ceremony in town tomorrow morning. No, I know nothing about that. I was going to Ubon for the Wax...
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On the road.
Fully loaded for the trip @ Ban Chang in Chiang Rai for an oil & filter change + chain adjustment check, prior to riding off.
Chiang Rai Tyre Shop - Baan Chang
Motorcycle Tyres in Chiang Rai Chiang Rai - the # 1 motorcycle tyre man Baan Chang A relatively new (one year) motorcycle tyre shop. Clean, well organized & run. Proper equipment & wheel balancing A range of Repsol oils & Oil Filters Run by Mr Tam up from Trang. Central...
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Tarting up the Vstrom for the trip.
