The Doi Ang Khang Loop

[DavidFL]

Another over nighter with a stay in Doi Ang Khang.
9-10.4.2015

This time with my niece from downunder - her first time in Chiang Mai & she wanted a night away somewhere different.

So Doi Ang Khang it was.

A mid afternoon departure so as not to arrive in Doi Ang Khang too early.

R107 & a Chiang Dao mountain view from the Chiang Dao bypass

After Chiang Dao its left onto R1178 the road to Arunothai.

There's a cute coffee shop just before Rim Doi Resort

the niece didn't quite see the fascination for a silly photo with an ornamental windmill, but I did like a Thai.

In Muang Ngai King Naresuan's memorial chedi is worth a quick look for the newbie

Arunothai was hot for a late lunch,

& after getting knocked back at the border trying to take a photo at the old gate & market place. Most definitely YOU CANNOT GO! GO BACK! Oh well. It's al a bit odd I reckon, you only want to go another 100 metres to take a photo of a fence & some barbed wire; all in sight more or less.

Here's how the border gate looked in 2003.

Onto that magic tight twisting steep undulating border road R1340 & a couple of touristy stops for the niece.

A Pha Daeng view

A proud happy grandma with her new grandchild

whilst grandma was happy to pose & take photos her son suddenly appeared & heatedly remonstrated with me for taking photos of his son & demanded I delete my photos of his son from my camera. Which I did, but kept the phone photos. Even grandma seemed perplexed by his very hostile action. After he left we all shrugged shoulders, smiled & carried on. My pen rai.

Another R1340 viewpoint.

more to come.

 

[DavidFL]

First night in DAK, apart from a night in 1982.

Here's how it was in 82

in 2015 the accommodation was the Lao Ting

with a delightful old Chinese lady owner

More on the Lao Ting here
Doi Angkhang places to stay

more to come

 

[DavidFL]

As luck would have it that night we wined & dined at the #1 restaurant at Doi Ang Khang & hooked up with some staff from the Royal Project.

It was a big night

The guy in the middle was a character - the restaurant security guard - a mute!
He fell in love with the niece.
They got on well. Very hilarious.

We had to laugh a mute security guard.
What happens if he finds trouble - does he call out?
No his job was to watch the security cameras & send a text message if there was trouble.
A Shan guy he was adopted by Lahu at Doi Ang Khang at an early age & considers himself Lahu now.
All the info came via sign language from K Montri, the guy on the right & Doi Ang Khang Royal project staffer for 25 years.
Two amazing characters & beautiful people.

We pulled up stumps after midnight & the niece couldn't resist a happy dog photo.

 

[DavidFL]

Up "bright an early" the next day it was rime to hit the Royal Project & beautiful Bonsai Garden.

At the entrance there is a nice coffeeshop

Into the superb gardens & some Palong ladies

were very happy for some photos with fat old farang uncle

& his blonde niece

Also, out & about in the gardens were some Shan monks from Mong Hsat in Myanmar.

They had come down the Kok River for a trip, visiting Doi Ang Khang & then over nighting at Wat Mae Ai before going back to Myanmar up the Kok River from Tha Ton. Cool guys with their escorts. It was fun watching them play tourist, just as we were.

 

[DavidFL]

The Doi Ang Khang royal project started by the King of Thailand to ween the hill tribes off opium growing.
The agricultural research centre grows temperate fruits

In season this is what you get

1.Month : March – May
Production : Peaches, English Roses, Artichoke, Green Tea, & Fireflies visit

2.Month : June – September
Production : Persimmon, Rhubarb, Dalia, Blueberry

3.Month : October - February
Production : Strawberry, Kiwifruit, Brussels sprouts

There is also a delightful bonsai garden & a cactus garden that are well worth a look, even if you're a biker I think.
or at least both I & the niece were impressed.

Here is the photo collection

The bonsai garden entrance

Cacti

Plus a few flowers

Apologies for the big collection of garden photos, but the idea was to encourage more people - riders & their GFs to stop & take a look inside.
It is worth it & Doi Ang Khang is a magic getaway spot with no polution, noise or traffic + fresh mountain air.

Enjoy I certainly did.

You can check out some GTR Golden Oldies for Doi Ang Khang here

Doi Ang Khang

and here

The Palong

 

[brian_bkk]

Lovely place and Photos.

Cheers
Brian

 

[angkor1]

This is the most dangerous curve in Norththailand I ever seen. There are many spare parts in the gras. When you come down a little bit to fast - no chance. I found some pictures from a trip 9 years ago. I warn the guys before but no one believe me.

 

[DavidFL]

Just in from a pink cherry tree run up to Fang via Doi Ang Khang & back....

And the trees are a blooming folks.

It was a late get away (what a surprise) & quick blast R107

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In Chai Prakarn it was a ledft turn then west to the old KMT village of Mai Nong Bua, then up over the mountains to Sinchai & north along R1340 to Doi Ang Khang.
All of these roads are on the GT Rider Golden Triangle guide map, if you don't know the towns or roads.

The Mai Nong Bua - Sinchai road & view

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a view

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The Sinchai army checkpoint

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Then onto R1340 north to Doi Ang Khang & where all the pink action is

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Pink is the sensational colour to go

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Pha Daeng

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Ban Luang

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Want to know about the tree:

Wild Himalayan Cherry - Prunus Cerasoi

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It should be in bloom right now in many places around North Thailand
Chang Kian on Doi Suthep from Chiang Mai is arguably the best & easiest place to go right now.
Other good places to go, where yo get to do a real ride are
1. Doi Inthanon / Khun Wang
2. Doi Mae Salong
3. Doi Ang Khang, my guess is this will better in the coming week or two.

maybe Doi Phukha in Nan is ok, but I've not seen any photos from there..

Go for a ride & enjoy. The Doi Ang Khang loop with an over night in Fang is my # 1 recommended 1 night 2 day ride.
Check out this Fang info
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Fang Accommodation

Fang is a town many people over look, but there's definitely no need to. It is close to Cnx & brilliant for a late start & over nighter.

I believe the cherry trees are blooming now all over the North
Doi Ang Khang
Pha Tang
Khun Wang - Doi Inthanon
Chang Khian
Doi Mae Salong
if anyone wants to go for a nice ride & get some photos.

An image from Pha Tang