A couple of weeks ago, a poster in Thai for the First World Tai Lue Festival and Conference popped up in my Facebook news feed.
My interest was immediately piqued, as the Tai Lue are my favourite ethnic group, plus the location was Pua city, home of the Seeds Pub and just off R1148.
R1148 has been a favourite top ride of all bikers for decades, and Seeds Pub is one of the friendliest, cosiest, and happiest music pubs you can go to in the North.
Any excuse for a ride, you might say.
The Tai Lue originate from Sipsongpanna in SW Yunnan in China and first started moving to Thailand, either fleeing wars in China as captured slaves
and moved to Thailand.
Getting info in English on exactly what was going on with this World Tai Lue festival was a challenge, but I thought it was "too good to be true not to go."
It was the First World Tai Lue Festival!
I've been to a couple of local Tai Lue festivals in Chiang Kham and Doi Saket but never heard of a World Tai Lue Festival.
(Chiang Kham - A Tai Lue Festival - 2017)
Organised out of Pua in Nan, I imagined it would be something like the Iu Mien festivals that I have been to there.
(Nan - the 2022 Iu Mien / Yao Festival)
(The 1st Mien / Yao Festival At Chiang Khong For Songkran 2018)
Getaway time from Chiang Khong was midday.
40 km out of Chiang Mai, a stop was necessary to put on the rain gear.
There was torrential rain on either side of Thoeng city, but at least I got to use the newly completed bypass to save a bit of time lumbering through Thoeng city and the traffic buildup.
The last couple of trips, Chiang Kham city has been my nemesis city with heaps of rain, but today I lucked out, and it cleared up entering Chiang Kham city.
The Carrot in Chiang Kham is a GTR favourite point to stop for a break in the air conditioning. Good cheap eats, coffee, and service, plus parking right outside the door.
Feeling hungry, two plates of food were quickly devoured.
A Kai Kataa is a quick 'n easy Viet-style breakfast.
Not satisfied, a spaghetti carbonara followed.
Turning onto the adrenalin ride 1148, the weather gods were smiling.
How good was that & how good is the Magic Mountain 1148 Cafe on a nice day.
Enjoying the views along 1148, arrival time in Pua, to be welcomed by a large World Tai Lue Festival banner.
At least I knew I was in the right town and on the right dates.
The MN is the favourite GTR happy hour spot in Pua.
It is a small local mini-mart/liquor shop that also sells mala/BBQ sticks.
They have an interesting range of beverages on sale that you don't normally get in other small towns.
They also have some wonderful, happy local customers who are always super friendly, and the old GTR fellow has struck up many interesting chats with the locals sitting outside chewing on a few BBQ sticks and having an ice-cold beer.
However, asking about the World Tai Lue Festival was another issue - no idea, the young customers said!
Tomorrow is another day...to be continued.
My interest was immediately piqued, as the Tai Lue are my favourite ethnic group, plus the location was Pua city, home of the Seeds Pub and just off R1148.
R1148 has been a favourite top ride of all bikers for decades, and Seeds Pub is one of the friendliest, cosiest, and happiest music pubs you can go to in the North.
Any excuse for a ride, you might say.
The Tai Lue originate from Sipsongpanna in SW Yunnan in China and first started moving to Thailand, either fleeing wars in China as captured slaves
and moved to Thailand.
Getting info in English on exactly what was going on with this World Tai Lue festival was a challenge, but I thought it was "too good to be true not to go."
It was the First World Tai Lue Festival!
I've been to a couple of local Tai Lue festivals in Chiang Kham and Doi Saket but never heard of a World Tai Lue Festival.
(Chiang Kham - A Tai Lue Festival - 2017)
Organised out of Pua in Nan, I imagined it would be something like the Iu Mien festivals that I have been to there.
(Nan - the 2022 Iu Mien / Yao Festival)
(The 1st Mien / Yao Festival At Chiang Khong For Songkran 2018)
Getaway time from Chiang Khong was midday.
40 km out of Chiang Mai, a stop was necessary to put on the rain gear.
There was torrential rain on either side of Thoeng city, but at least I got to use the newly completed bypass to save a bit of time lumbering through Thoeng city and the traffic buildup.
The last couple of trips, Chiang Kham city has been my nemesis city with heaps of rain, but today I lucked out, and it cleared up entering Chiang Kham city.
The Carrot in Chiang Kham is a GTR favourite point to stop for a break in the air conditioning. Good cheap eats, coffee, and service, plus parking right outside the door.
Feeling hungry, two plates of food were quickly devoured.
A Kai Kataa is a quick 'n easy Viet-style breakfast.
Not satisfied, a spaghetti carbonara followed.
Turning onto the adrenalin ride 1148, the weather gods were smiling.
How good was that & how good is the Magic Mountain 1148 Cafe on a nice day.
Enjoying the views along 1148, arrival time in Pua, to be welcomed by a large World Tai Lue Festival banner.
At least I knew I was in the right town and on the right dates.
The MN is the favourite GTR happy hour spot in Pua.
It is a small local mini-mart/liquor shop that also sells mala/BBQ sticks.
They have an interesting range of beverages on sale that you don't normally get in other small towns.
They also have some wonderful, happy local customers who are always super friendly, and the old GTR fellow has struck up many interesting chats with the locals sitting outside chewing on a few BBQ sticks and having an ice-cold beer.
However, asking about the World Tai Lue Festival was another issue - no idea, the young customers said!
Tomorrow is another day...to be continued.