Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > West and South Asia
West and South Asia From Turkey to Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Ladakh and Bangladesh
Photo by Daniel Rintz, Himba children, Namibia

The only impossible journey
is the one
you never begin

Photo by Daniel Rintz,
Himba children, Namibia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22 Apr 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Nottinghamshire, England
Posts: 18
Thailand in august advice

I apologise now folks I am dyslexic so spelling/grammar isnt good.

Hi folks,
Right just give a bit of background I have gone back to being a student (25yo) so I want to make the most of having most of the summer off. So I was thinking bike trip, due to other commitments I am looking at going for all of august. Being a student funds are limited im looking at about 2000 gbp. Im from uk by the way.

I was thinking fly to Bangkok, train to chai mai (cant remember how its spelt), then hire small bike and ride around the north on my own for a few weeks.

I have done a bit of research and it appears August is the rainy season, I would like to know if any one has done this before? How bad is "rainy season" ? Would it be safe and more enjoyable to find somewhere else to go?

Thank you so much gor your help.

Ben
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22 Apr 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Mackay, Australia
Posts: 9
Hi,
I lived there for quite a while, but it's been 6 or so years since I was there, so this is from memory...

It's a tropical climate, so it will rain any time. But August is not particularly rainy, IIRC. Certainly not like monsoon season [Oct - Feb]

The train from BKK to Chiang Mai is excellent.
Get a sleeper [it's not that expensive], it makes a big difference.
The second time I did it I took a different train to Nakhon Ratchisima and then rode a little 110CC Honda Dream the rest of the way. Some really excellent roads, and endless little roadside stores selling everything/anything you need. If you get a flat or the chain jumps off and gets wedged tight [don't ask...] help is usually just around the corner. Watch out for trucks and buses, they are sometimes piloted by madmen on yaabaa [meth] and they stop for nothing. But at least you can hear them coming, and get out of the way...

If you have your own personal long-haired dictionary [girlfriend] with you, it will help A LOT. You can avoid the busy highways and stick to the slower roads. And save a lot of money too.


Up around Chiang Mai, August is the cool[er] time of year. Still hot in the daytime, but a bit cooler at night. But not Europe-cold, if you know what I mean. If you see anything under 10deg(c) I'd be surprised.

Chiang Rai is worth a look too, I'm told. I never got there, myself.


oh, btw:
always wear a helmet, even if none of the locals are wearing theirs.
The BIB [Boys In Brown] - the local cops will see a foreign face and tap you for "tea money" - usually 500 baht. While you are standing there trying to talk your way out of it, hundreds of locals will ride past with no helmet, "no pomplem" - LOL
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 22 Apr 2014
Snakeboy's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,470
I dont want to be impolite to Mr Merlin, but most advices he gives is quite off...

August if definetively the rainy season - or moonson season if you like in Thailand. In Chiang Mai province the month of August have in average 18 days with rainfall and thus is the second "wettest" month just after September that has 20 days of rainfall in average. Scroll down the side in this link and you can see weather statistics for Chiang Mai province

Chiang Mai Province - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mr Merlin writes that october to to february is the the moonson season - very strange as this in fact is the dry season or cold season as they more normally call it.

You can read a little more about the climate in northern-Thailand in this link:

Weather and the best time to visit Thailand

"In northern Thailand the seasons are clearly defined. Between November and May the weather is mostly dry, however this is broken up into the periods November to February and March to May. The later of these two periods has the higher relative temperatures as although the northeast monsoon does not directly affect the northern area of Thailand, it does cause cooling breezes from November to February.

The other northern season is from May to November and is dominated by the southwest monsoon, during which time rainfall in the north is at its heaviest."

And the tempratures do not differ very much from south to north during the rainy season. The cold season do differ quite much whern it comes to tempratures from south to north.

Anyhow - the weather is not the same from year to year and one year during rainy season - could be quite liveable and the roads driveable, another rainy season can be very extremely wet and road conditions very bad.

Do not take any "long haired dictionary/girlfriend" with you for reasons quite obvious...

If I was you I would consider another place to go motorbiking in the month of August. August can be quite enjoyable in Thailand if you dont mind a shower now and then. But weather and road conditions are quite uncertain at that time of year....
__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 23 Apr 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Mackay, Australia
Posts: 9
hi,

oh no! Did I get the seasons wrong?
Maybe my memory is worse than I thought!!! LOL

I do remember it was teeming down on Christmas day one year, we were forced to stay in the bar we happened to be at for hours and hours...

anyway, thanks Snakeboy for being impeccably polite about it!!!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 5 May 2014
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: UK
Posts: 16
Hi Ben,

I live in Thailand & regularly ride up north. For sure you will get wet in August (Xmas holidays would be a dryer & cooler option if possible). Having said that it rarely rains all day long and its warm rain - so the rain in itself is no big deal if you are prepared to be a little flexible.

What you do need to watch out for is safety, so as has been said definately wear a helmet (& preferably other protective gear too) - regardless of what you see others doing. The accident rate in Thailand is staggering & you dont want to ruin your holiday.

Thailand is a great place to visit any time of year & I am sure you will have a blast if you decide to come.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
THAILAND - Travel advice (safety) kentfallen West and South Asia 1 30 Jan 2014 02:44
Mongolia Bike Advice Please petelaf16 Which Bike? 8 10 Nov 2013 04:30
Iceland August 2013. Trip information and advice for those going. BaldBaBoon Iceland 13 2 Oct 2013 21:26
Riding Australia on a Work+Holiday Visa... tips and advice. alxtek Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else 17 11 Sep 2013 11:46
Nth India , Nepal route advice please thevenerabledrwu Route Planning 5 29 Jun 2013 14:38

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

HU Event and other updates on the HUBB Forum "Traveller's Advisories" thread.
ALL Dates subject to change.

2024:

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

HUBBUK: info

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 20:40.