Chiang Mai - Tony Big Bikes

We took a night flight from Chennai to Bangkok with plans for VOA and early morning flight to Chiang Mai.

Air Asia flight was as expected right on time, actually 20 minutes before, reasonably comfortable and good.

We were trying Visa on Arrival for any country first time and had prepared my documents accordingly. Basically you require passport valid for six months, return tickets within 15 days, proof of hotel accommodation and proof of funds.

What no one had prepared us was for the crowd. It was full of us Indians and minimum eight group tours from China Mainland. There were serpentine lines for everything with shouting and noise in at least four languages, Hindi, Mandarin, Thai and one I could not pick up.

It took us nearly two hours for visa. You have to fill out a form and put a specific picture(4x6 cms) with white background. It is easier to get it printed out there only costing 100 TBH. Then stand in a line to get your documents checked. Once documents are checked you get a token number for visa window where it's a breeze. Basic time and line is in the document checking window. You also need minimum 1000 TBH, visa fee in Thai currency. There are exchange counters nearby to help everyone out. My document checking guy turned out to be a biker and we chatted for nearly ten minutes much to chagrin of people behind me. Finally after nearly two hours of landing we got our Thai visa and moved to pick up our stuff and check in for the local flight.

We waited for another 40 minutes and finally were on our way to Chiang Mai. The hill capital of North Thailand looked mystical from top and we managed to get a cab for Sabuy Guesthouse the place booked by these guys for us. We were in place by nine thirty in the morning.

This is located in old city quite near to Tony Big Bikes and managed by Tee. The guesthouse is an eleven room nicely managed place which is clean, quaint and lovely. It is amazingly cosy and she allowed us early check in, which was a relief as we had to catch up on our sleep. Decent breakfast followed and we had a visit from Duncan. Met him and followed him to the shop. Tried my allotted Honda CBX 500 with a short spin around the time followed by a spin with Rekha as pillion. Requested Duncan for a back box, tried and chose our jackets and helmets and returned to guesthouse for our much needed shut eye.

Had a frugal lunch with much anticipated Singha beer and crashed out for three hours. Evening was for preparation for next day, early dinner and off to bed. Decided time was eight thirty in the morning. Meanwhile, got to know that there would be only three bikes with a follow on support car in the ride. Basically, our tour leader Jeff, me and another couple from Hong Kong. Met Adam and Rita late in the evening after our dinner.

Dinner was in one of many restaurants with a live band, enjoyed lovely songs, had Thai food and we were off to bed with excitement in our mind, adrenalin in our system and off course beer in our glut. Sleepy time was to no avail as could not get my eyes to shut. Probably the excitement our sleep in the day, by mid night was worried and by two in the morning was desperate. Did not want first day of ride to be sleepy.....finally managed five hours of shit eye....