Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meetings

Third Annual Thailand Travellers Meeting,
Chiang Mai

January 17, 2009

Information about the area
Local hosts, information

Short History of HU Meetings

Thailand HU Meeting January 17, 2009

Submitted by Sigmund Francis

Veteran and beginning travelers from around the world met in Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the 3rd HU Traveler’s Meeting on January 17, 2009. Nearly 40 attendees from as far away as the United States, France, Germany, Switzerland and Great Britain, as well as several from Thailand and even Laos made for a wild evening of adventure sharing. Some had been on the road for as long as six years, while others were on their first ‘round the world ride. The group was clearly not mere motorcycle riders, but rather dedicated and committed motorcycle travelers.

Some of the 40 attendees pose for a newspaper photo while watching a speaker introduce himself and his adventure.

Dave Peterson, nicknamed "Lil Buckeroo," from Golden, Colorado was in the first stage of his second ride around the world on his BMW F650. He attended to learn more about riding through the Golden Triangle and then from Southeast Asia to India and on to Pakistan. Swiss adventurers Guido Wagner and Ester Buergi, on Kawasaki KLR 650’s, were seeking information about their planned attempt to ride across Myanmar. Veteran Myanmar travelers advised them on possible route options and document requirements.

Listening to tales of traveling with unlimited horizons took up much of the evening.

Leo Taylor, an airline pilot from Nome, Alaska, shared valuable information on travel in the far north with several attendees planning on expeditions or rides to North America’s furthest points west and north. German BMW adventuress Kerstin Hassmann shared information with several interested riders about traveling in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar.

Map studying and trading information on riding in the Golden Triangle of Thailand went on throughout the evening.

Ron Grant, from Australia, who rides a Kawasaki in Thailand but has other motorcycles "resting" around the world, shared experiences from his extensive time in Myanmar. Veteran Southeast Asia riders Rob Hiekel and Joe Haagan helped travelers with their vast range of experiences covering everything from where to find tires to importing or manufacturing special parts for BMWs and Africa Twins.

Three well seasoned travelers: (left) Kerstin Hassmann, Germany, (middle) Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, USA, and (right) Soontharee Sahuttecho, Thailand.

The site for the meeting was the Chiang Mai Saloon #2. The management accommodated numerous requests from attendees that included using their multimedia system to show travel DVDs to offering a 15% discount on all drinks. As one participant said afterwards, "The food was excellent and the service tops. How they managed to deal with 40 different bills and varied meal orders was amazing."

German registered R80 GS motorcycle in parking lot, travelers on the road around the world.

The meeting started with a "Welcome" to the travelers from Grant and Susan Johnson delivered by their local designee. They were then told about the new HU DVD. Next each traveler was asked to introduce themselves, tell where they were from and something about their travels and the motorcycle type they were using. Then part of the group posed for a photo for a local Chiang Mai newspaper while others gathered around tables to swill and chill, trading tales of motorcycle adventure and travel around the world.

Swiss Yamaha XT600Z with USA registration at HU meeting.

As closing time at 1:00AM approached, a large group remained, bent over maps of different countries, outlining planned routes or helping other make plans. The evening was an overwhelming success and several travelers said they were already looking forward to the next HU Meeting in Chiang Mai in 2010.

Rare Africa Twin registered in Thailand, at HU meeting, used throughout Southeast Asia.

See you there next year!

Camping, Accommodation

Top North Hotel
41 Moon Muang Road
8 rooms are reserved under "Horizons Unlimited"
1,050 TB per night, with air con
Tel: 053-279-6235
topn...@hotmail.com, www.topnorthgroup.com

Top North Guest House
approx 600 Thai Baht (Big Room, air con) 500 TB (Small room, A/C), 400 TB (Small, fan)
15 Moon Muang Road, Soi 2
Tel:  053-278-9000
topn...@hotmail.com, www.topnorthgroup.com

Lai-Thai Guest House
No rooms reserved, but vacancies
111/4-5 Kotchasarn Road
750 Thai baht - Double/Twin
Tel: 053-271-725
m...@laithai.com www.laithai.com

Note: All three of the above are short walking distance to Amora Tapae Hotel, Art Café, "Chill and Swill" Oasis's on The Moat, as well as Internet shops, Starbucks, and numerous other restaurants and tourist shops. They are also very popular with motorcycle travelers attending Chiang Mai Bike Week and have off-street motorcycle parking. Chiang Mai is experiencing an extremely high influx of tourists this year because of it's world wide designation as the #1 tourist destination, so make hotel/guesthouse reservations early.

Other Accommodation Possibilities

Other accommodation possibilities are nearby, but do reserve early.

The Meeting Location for 2009

Chiangmai Saloon #2
30 Ratchawithi Rd.,
T. Sriphun
Chiang Mai

(Located in the heart of Chiang Mai, inside the old moat, three minutes walking from Tapae Gate. Easy to find by tuk-tuk from most hotels and guest houses.)

Menu: Western (Voted #1 Burger in Chiang Mai), Thai, Vegetarian and Tex-Mex!

HU Mini Meeting Special: 15% off all drinks for HU Meeting attendees by Nim, the manager!

Free Wifi, free pool, street parking, open late, English spoken and "HU traveller friendly" atmosphere. Motorcycle traveller DVD player with two big screens! Got your special adventure travel DVD? Bring it along, the management will try to play it on the house system.

Getting There - GPS, Maps

If you're heading there, check out the HUBB for the Thailand Meeting thread, who's going etc!

GPS Co-ordinates:

BIER STUBE
N18.78637 E98.99308

ART CAFE
N18.78786 E98.99367

TOP NORTH HOTEL
N18.78696 E98.99218

TOP NORTH GUESTHOUSE
N18.78362 E98.99192

LAI THAI GUESTHOUSE
N18.78194 E98.99330

GOODWILL/JOE'S BIKE TEAM
N18.78898 E98.99602

AMORA TAPAE HOTEL
N18.47.362 E98.59639

Swill and Chill Points:

BIER STUBE (Oasis on the Moat)
N18.78637 E98.99308

Information about the area

Can you supply us with links, and other info on the places to ride, and interesting things to see in the area? Let us know here.

Local Hosts

The Thailand HU Meeting "Official Travel Agency" is:

Boutique Travel Service
E-Mail: serv...@btsthailand.com
Tel: +66 (0) 53 284 042 or +66 (0) 89 433 1505

If you have any questons, please contact Grant or Greg: g...@horizonsunlimited.com

The Horizons Unlimited events couldn't happen without the support of the local organisers and other helpers, and we greatly appreciate their assistance and support - please be sure to thank them too!