Northern Exposure

Mae Sot

If Route 1095 was challenging, then 105 from Mae Hong Son to Mae Sot is frustrating. 350km of rutted roads, buffalos and wooden bridges. But at least there wasn't much hill climbing, as we were already 'up there'.

Our night stop in Mae Sot. Nice and cheap 650THB.

Another Thai-Myanmar border post.

Come to think of it, this trip took us to the Northernmost, highest, westernmost and soon the most southerly points of Thailand. Should have a shirt, cert and sticker for that.

That's Myanmar across the rails. For once it's greener on this side. See the guy at the top of the stairs? Burmese touting cheap cigarettes.

Gem miners colony. There are literally hundreds of huts in this settlement which is fenced and locked.

Top of Mae Hong Son

Geyser and expensive resort within.

Temple complex (built in 1860AD) on a hill on MHS. You can get a 360-degree view of the little city, including the short runway of the airfield.

Thampla (Fish Cave)

Mae Hong Son

To get to Mae Hong Son from Chiang Mai, you have to take Route 1095. It's a 300+km mountain pass with hardly a single straight. It's narrow, and certain hairpin bends are incredibly sharp. Pai sits almost in the middle of 1095.

1095 is such a challenging route that when you finally get to Mae Hong Son, you can go to the MHS Chamber of Commerce to buy a Certificate of Achievement and car decal for crossing the 1864 curves of 1095. Not surprisingly, the 1864 curves are also on souvenir t-shirts.

One of the few police road checks we encountered along 1095 and later on 105. Drivers' IDs were taken down (in case you ferried illegal Burmese or someone contested your claim of crossing all 1864 curves.) Police looked intimidating but were absolutely friendly.