We only had one night at the ‘Rai Pah Suk’ campsite due to the lack of food and power (we’d assumed there would be something going on at this otherwise popular spot) and drove down to visit the Sao Din Na Noi paleolithic rock formations the next morning.
After a night near Wiang Sa at a resort in the rice paddies, we headed into Nan town. Nan has a very Chinese feel and is much more touristy than Uttaradit or Phrae, hence there were more places actually open. It also has more temples than I’ve ever seen in a Thai town, one on pretty much every corner, and some were very impressive.
Nan also has a good night market and walking street with live music at the weekends but this Friday night it was raining so we grabbed some food and headed back to the hotel (which was in a soi full of screeching roosters).
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To follow: Sapun
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
I wish I'd videoed the constant cacophony in that soi in Nan, the hotel didn't get a very good review. Moreover, there was only one campsite without them on the entire trip. I can hear them now as I sit in a condo in Hua Hin typing this! I must just be unlucky to hit the pockets of high-density roosterage while traveling if I'm the only one that notices them as appears to be the case.
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Today involved a shopping trip to stock up on camping supplies before we headed back to the walking street and night market to chow down on unhealthy food (deep fried or full sugar), which 90% of it was!
This was when the trip started to get interesting with a drive on the now famous 1081 mountain road to Sapun, a quaint mountain town also growing in popularity after featuring on Thai TV and social media.
The road, which was pristine and would have been awesome on a motorcycle, had several designated areas for selfie-snapping Thais and we took our time driving it taking in the scenery.
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To follow: Sapun waterfall
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
buksida wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:07 pmThis was when the trip started to get interesting with a drive on the now famous 1081 mountain road to Sapun, a quaint mountain town also growing in popularity after featuring on Thai TV and social media.
I've done that road on the Ninja. One of my favourite roads in Thailand . That and the road West of Doi Inthanon...
Great photos!
buksida wrote: ↑Sat Feb 10, 2024 2:07 pmThis was when the trip started to get interesting with a drive on the now famous 1081 mountain road to Sapun, a quaint mountain town also growing in popularity after featuring on Thai TV and social media.
We were up that way July 2023, and definitely one of the best drives in Thailand. Overnighted a couple place from Nan-Bo Kluea-Pua-Nan, that little loop. Didn't hit Sapun.
This tiny town gets rammed at the long weekends but by Sunday evening, the warriors had cleared out and we had the campsite to ourselves again. There was a lot of construction going on and some very expensive accommodation (nothing under 2,000 baht) aimed at the Thai hi-sos.
The picturesque valley formed the border with Laos at the ridge of the 2,000-meter-high mountain range and we enjoyed the view and hoped it wouldn’t rain.
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To follow: Sapun to Pua Nam Sai
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Waterfalls are done with an ND8 filter and long exposure ... standard procedure. The things in 1507 are extremely expensive glamping tents for the hi-so weekend warriors, around 2,500 THB per night ... we had our own for 200 THB per night.
A cacophony of screeching roosters from the valley below shattered the peace at 5am which meant an early start, so we broke camp after a coffee and headed across the mountain range to the next campsite. The even twistier 1256 mountain road crested at the 1715 meter Phu Kha viewpoint but it was shrouded by low clouds so not much of a view.
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To follow: Pua Nam Sai
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
It was all epically over-priced accommodation for the socialites that flood the place at the weekends. Sapun is essentially a tiny farming village in a valley on the Laos border but some hi-so "dara" had been there and put it on Farcebook so now the sheeple descend in droves every weekend for a selfie-fest. It reminded me a bit of Phu Tubberk in Phetchabun: viewtopic.php?p=496633#p496633
I'm glad we got there on Sunday afternoon!
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
buksida wrote: ↑Wed Feb 14, 2024 10:07 am
It was all epically over-priced accommodation for the socialites that flood the place at the weekends. Sapun is essentially a tiny farming village in a valley on the Laos border but some hi-so "dara" had been there and put it on Farcebook so now the sheeple descend in droves every weekend for a selfie-fest. It reminded me a bit of Phu Tubberk in Phetchabun: viewtopic.php?p=496633#p496633
I'm glad we got there on Sunday afternoon!
Is there anytime when these places are neither deserted or full of people?
To be honest, I would prefer a situation between, where there is something going on but not too busy.
. That and the road West of Doi Inthanon...
The things in 1507 are extremely expensive glamping tents for the hi-so weekend warriors, around 2,500 THB per night ... we had our own for 200 THB per night. 
