Army bases around the Thoed Thai border

KTMphil

KTMphil

Senior member
Joined
Jan 11, 2011
Location
Chiang Mai, Thailand
Bikes
2007 KTM 990 Adventure Suzuki DRZ 400
A couple of days free in our calenders & hoping for no big rain storms (squalls this time of year are inevitable), Bob & I headed up to the Thoed Thai border region.



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Around the back of the Stupa, looking for an alternate way up and we find a steep trail

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Too steep for me to help, the bike is sliding backwards, the workers go give Bob a hand


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The work camp


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Stupa - Phra Borommathat Chedi Sinagarindra Sathit Mahasanti Khiri in Doi Mae salong



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It's worth going up to the Stupa for the views over Doi Mae Salong


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Time to go looking for some Army camps, the Myanmar border isn't far to the west of Doi Mae Salong, so we'll have a look over there

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The graded border roads are all pretty easy as the Army keeps them in good shape for border patrol access


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We hit the border on the GPS and our first Thai Army border post appears ahead


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Beautiful views along the border trail


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Mr Kelly saw I had a camera and stood up


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Without a magazine


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Bob trying the Lao Khow


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Views over Myanmar


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The Army "prep" kitchen


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The trail carried on and looped back SW. Too far south for us, so we went the same way back to Doi Mae Salong, another army base on the way back down


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It's a real picturesque area to ride, with laos-like scenery



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Views of the Mae Chan Plateau

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Back into DMS & the chinese cabbage is out to dry in the sun


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After the demolition a year ago, new buildings appearing on the DMS ridgeline

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Late lunch at the Sweet Mae Salong in DMS, try spot it heading eastwards, miss it every time


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Then off north towards Thoed Thai


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Once north of Doi Mae Salong, the topography is very Vietnam-like in places, with the conical, green mounds


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Outlying villages south of Thoed Thai


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Into the Chinese graveyard for a look around


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There must be 100's of gravestones here


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The ceremonial cremation area, the gap just big enough for a coffin


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Quite a big grave yard


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A lot of it overgrown so much that you can't get to the grave stones set back


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It looks like a trail will go through from the grave yard, but then heads in the wrong direction, Bob off surveying



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Found the best place to stay in Thoed Thai -The Phu Saeng Ta Wan Resort



http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/accommodation/5743-thoed-thai-accommodation.html#post44064


500 Bht with ice cold air in the center of town, perfect location.


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The single track and ruts up to the sing-song gave us a few problems, but nothing we couldn't deal with



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Next day off north of Thoed Thai for a look around


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Who isnt a sucker for trails like this?

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Up to Ban Mae Mo near the Myanmar border, the Saeng Tham Church in the distance


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Off to the west and the concentration of tea terraces increases


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NW to Ban Payaprai Laojo


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Army base on the Myanmar border just to the west


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From the Thai Army look-out post, looking north at the Myanmar village


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Rice terraces at the border


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The Myanmar Army checkpoint through the trees


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More to come..................
 
It was quite surprising how much was concreted way out there, some big money in this tea business


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The Chinese ancestry is everwhere




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The Army base on the border to the west, all pretty quiet around this one


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Looking into Myanmar


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Tea drying in the sun


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Headed south we've still got time for some exploring, so over to the Army base to the east


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This was a much bigger setup than the others. It felt like we caught them off guard, they scrambled around for the M16's and came rushing out looking all serious


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The tarmac back down is quite beautiful too


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I was going to put some of my pictures up, but i think you've got it covered....:LOL
 
Next day, Bob had something he had to take care of, so southbound we are



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We take the trail that follows the Kok river back towards Chiang Rai



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Only the northern half of the Kok river trail is now dirt, lower half is graded-concrete-tarmac


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Considering this is so close to Chiang Rai, it feels like you're really remote]


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Kok river


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Close to Chiang Rai on the Kok, I thought this was a restaurant, Bob informed me it's a school!


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That's all...... it was a great couple of days
 
Was indeed a great couple of day's riding, the weather was kind and the scenery was mind blowing, i had not been up into this area for some time and have to say some of the trails are among the best you will find in the north of Thailand. One of the biggest surprises was how friendly the people are, i imagine not too many riders think to go in this region and many of the locals spoke perfect English.

As you would expect when you get two people together lot's of pictures taken many of which are duplicates as inevitably you both see the same shot riding along the trail from slightly different angles. So here are some of my meagre offerings.

Handy map given by the owner of the Little House Coffee shop DMS
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Breakfast spot next to the bridge in Tha Ton

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leaving a mark.

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DMS from the Stupa viewpoint.

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Happy go lucky border army camp, would have been a blast to stay the night, plus more people to share Phil's rum!

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Great views.

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Most of the trails are nice and dry and not too much trouble.

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More exploring required around the town of Thoed Thai, we found many dead end's.

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So many smaller villages, the locals looked surprised to see us, but very friendly.

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Stunning greenery

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Tea is the main crop in this area, here they are drying the tea tip's

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Another Thai Army base, these guy's although polite made it clear we needed to turn around but not before signing the visitors book.

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Unwilling to have her picture, but just caught this shot.

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Phil rode by without noticing this Cobra, since it was preoccupied with it's lunch i had time to grab a few pictures from my bike.

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Amazing colours.

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In need of repair i think.

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Phil enjoying the Kok river trail.

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Some more views on the way back to Chiang Rai.

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Last edited:
Superb; and it's all 'just up the road' from CM/CR.
Some excellent pics there gentlemen. :DD

And what's your early impressions of the CRF Bob?
 
2wheels said:
Superb; and it's all 'just up the road' from CM/CR.
Some excellent pics there gentlemen. :DD

And what's your early impressions of the CRF Bob?
Click to expand...
The bike was faultless the whole trip unlike it's rider who was suffering from a rum overdose ! I was thinking of changing the rear shock for the newly available Ohlins, but so far the stock is adequate for light trail work, so a big thumbs up from me for now.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Forum Runner
 
Great to see you 2 enjoying riding ;)

Wonderful photos, thanks for taking us along with you.

Ally
 
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