We set off on a run to the Burmese border but as we approach the border region and the first check point we are stopped and allowed no further, a sign of tensions, anyway our Thai border guard suddenly decides to become a tour guide and leads us off into the hills to visit some caves.
It was a bit of a climb, half an hour climbing up ladders and platforms made from vines and sticks tied precariously to the cliff face but eventually we reached the cave system and in the mouth of the cave are a number of 1500 year old coffins. just sitting there, they are set high up on stilts.

puncture repair

Trail riding in North Thailand

i get a puncture, its pretty hot, and i'm miles from the nearest village,
ive got my GPS so know where i am, ive got enough water, to keep me going, but lack the the tools to make the repair in the trail - well you cant carry everything, im already loaded down with loads of tools and first gear -
so its a slow crawl out to civilization,

After a chat with the locals everyone in the workshop just sits around looking at the big bike and the farang probably trying to work out why on earth anyone would want to drive a big heavy bike so fast on the dusty trails, so i get stuck in and remove the back wheel myself, before you know someone take over and fixes the puncture - makes a real good job. and im off again.

fishing

We came upon These 2 old ladies fishing the wee loch, it was in the middle of no where, they would quietly walk up and down trawling their net catching little fish for their mans dinner.

chinese paper lanterns

releasing the Chinese paper lanterns

The idea is to gather up all your bad luck and let it go - with the lantern when you release it.

Bosang Umbrella village

A trip to Bosang, known as the umbrella village.

Here they make the traditional bamboo and paper umbrellas, based on a process copied and documented by a traveling monk as seen on his travels in Burma

The whole process is done by hand and can be seen in the exhibition where we say them making the paper from sa - bamboo, the frames and decoration

hand painted then dried in the sun

The monkey on the motorbike

Its amazing the things you see from a motorbike and on a botorbike in Thailand.

We were driving along and realised that the passenger on the back of this honda was a big monkey.

The guy kindly stopped so we could take pictures

http://www.motorcycletoursthailand.com

Reflections

Reflections at the end of the day

http://www.motorcycletoursthailand.com/