Everyone says, you must ride the road from Pai to CM. They talk about its beautiful vistas and sweeping curves through the mountainous region. I’d been told this as far back as Ha Long Bay in Vietnam. They weren’t wrong, but as you’ll know I’ve done some pretty epic roads on this journey and this was, almost, run of the mill by now.
The first stop was at the Pong Duet Geyser. The water is 98° and stinks of sulphur but is very impressive. The walk to it was just 1km with the promise of wildlife. I saw nothing.
Further along, with the sun doing its usual thing, I stopped at the Mok Fa Waterfall. Again it was a short walk but it was so worth it.
Dripping wet I got back on Red, knowing full well I would be dry in 20 minutes. Once dry I was ready for coffee. There was a junction ahead and that usually means a coffee shop. This junction was no different, only it was!
The Air Diamond Cafe and hotel were quite incredible, what a shame I had already booked a hotel for the night. The aircraft is an Airbus A300, formerly of Thai Airways. It was taken out of service in 2014 after it ran off the runway whilst turning ready to depart (last pic). It was repaired and flown to Bangkok but that was its last flight and it was purchased to be a posh coffee shop in a car park. It is raised up just enough that coaches can go under the wings and the whole aircraft creates a shaded parking area for cars and bikes.
I may have wasted a lot of the afternoon in that car park. However, from there, it was just a short ride to Chiang Mai.
Earth, Wind and Tyres 