![I decided to take my rental motorbike on a drive through the countryside of Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031653.fDwB0zJ9.ThailandMar07614.jpg) I decided to take my rental motorbike on a drive through the countryside of Chiang Mai Province |
![Initially north to Mae Rim on route 107](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031654.PnHt8j07.ThailandMar07615.jpg) Initially north to Mae Rim on route 107 |
![I then turned west on road 1096 through the Mae Sa valley](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031655.WvvwyCGF.ThailandMar07616.jpg) I then turned west on road 1096 through the Mae Sa valley |
![Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031658.G1eYLWrR.ThailandMar07623.jpg) Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai |
![I didn't visit the touristy elephant camp, but you can see quite a bit from the road](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031656.buDlGBKM.ThailandMar07619.jpg) I didn't visit the touristy elephant camp, but you can see quite a bit from the road |
![Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031657.rEmY4hpo.ThailandMar07620.jpg) Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai |
![Mahout leading elephant to the river, Maesa](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031659.o4guuasV.ThailandMar07625.jpg) Mahout leading elephant to the river, Maesa |
![Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031660.cahaW4w4.ThailandMar07626.jpg) Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai |
![Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031661.lEXsEKlu.ThailandMar07633.jpg) Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province |
![Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031662.S7mACaw9.ThailandMar07635.jpg) Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province |
![Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031663.CWrmWZaJ.ThailandMar07639.jpg) Elephant bathing time, Maesa Elephant Camp, Chiang Mai Province |
![Mae Sa Valley, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031664.SH9cG6Wh.ThailandMar07640.jpg) Mae Sa Valley, Chiang Mai Province, Thailand |
![Milestone, route 1096, Chiang Mai](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031665.OSx1ylAR.ThailandMar07643.jpg) Milestone, route 1096, Chiang Mai |
![Caution - Forest Fires - it was very dry at the beginning of the hot season](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031666.Zuqa0H55.ThailandMar07644.jpg) Caution - Forest Fires - it was very dry at the beginning of the hot season |
![Brush fire, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031667.HCTvuw3a.ThailandMar07645.jpg) Brush fire, Chiang Mai Province |
![Brush fire, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031668.VDQezM94.ThailandMar07646.jpg) Brush fire, Chiang Mai Province |
![Welcome to Samoeng](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031675.lva0vC2V.ThailandMar07653.jpg) Welcome to Samoeng |
![Samoeng, a small town about 2 hours from Chiang Mai by motorbike](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031669.vLXLh5gQ.ThailandMar07647.jpg) Samoeng, a small town about 2 hours from Chiang Mai by motorbike |
![Roadside restaurant, Samoeng](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031670.pXVM2bqV.ThailandMar07648.jpg) Roadside restaurant, Samoeng |
![White elephant statue, Samoeng, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031671.xIYn7caC.ThailandMar07649.jpg) White elephant statue, Samoeng, Chiang Mai Province |
![A temple in Samoeng, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031674.XyKfo1Jt.ThailandMar07652.jpg) A temple in Samoeng, Chiang Mai Province |
![Lion statue, Samoeng](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031672.f3ESS3b7.ThailandMar07650.jpg) Lion statue, Samoeng |
![...looks a bit Burmese](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031673.Q9hX6U0E.ThailandMar07651.jpg) ...looks a bit Burmese |
![From Samoeng, you can return to Chiang Mai by a different route, completing a loop around Doi Suthep](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031676.SGmLj6MW.ThailandMar07654.jpg) From Samoeng, you can return to Chiang Mai by a different route, completing a loop around Doi Suthep |
![Waterbuffalo statue made of fabric over a metal frame, Ban Mae Khanin Nua, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031677.EicjlYfQ.ThailandMar07656.jpg) Waterbuffalo statue made of fabric over a metal frame, Ban Mae Khanin Nua, Chiang Mai Province |
![Rural temple, Chiang Mai Province, hot season](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031678.GJX4LnRv.ThailandMar07657.jpg) Rural temple, Chiang Mai Province, hot season |
![The beginning of the hot season, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031679.gxQbM1YE.ThailandMar07658.jpg) The beginning of the hot season, Chiang Mai Province |
![Elephant riding, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031680.xgxnNZH2.ThailandMar07659.jpg) Elephant riding, Chiang Mai Province |
![Ban Kao Dua, village south of Doi Suthep on the Samoeng to Chiang Mai loop](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031681.dkF64qll.ThailandMar07660.jpg) Ban Kao Dua, village south of Doi Suthep on the Samoeng to Chiang Mai loop |
![Use Low Gear roadsign, Thailand](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031682.K1okDGHD.ThailandMar07663.jpg) Use Low Gear roadsign, Thailand |
![Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031683.hVwBYlRP.ThailandMar07664.jpg) Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province |
![Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031684.hL91EcRC.ThailandMar07665.jpg) Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province |
![Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031685.Yqqu0UAl.ThailandMar07666.jpg) Ban Klang Doi Hotel & Resort, Chiang Mai Province |
![Detour off the main road to a Mhong Thai hilltribe village](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031686.ANKVxdRd.ThailandMar07669.jpg) Detour off the main road to a Mhong Thai hilltribe village |
![Dirt road to the Mhong Thai hilltribe village](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031687.oP9zRAOY.ThailandMar07670.jpg) Dirt road to the Mhong Thai hilltribe village |
![Vegetable field, Chiang Mai hill country](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031688.QGICSq8I.ThailandMar07672.jpg) Vegetable field, Chiang Mai hill country |
![Mhong Thai hilltribe village, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031689.uyHJVP5i.ThailandMar07674.jpg) Mhong Thai hilltribe village, Chiang Mai Province |
![Mission church under construction in the village](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031692.3rCLLg7C.ThailandMar07675.jpg) Mission church under construction in the village |
![Mhong Thai hilltribe village, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031694.8m1LDN4z.ThailandMar07676.jpg) Mhong Thai hilltribe village, Chiang Mai Province |
![ThailandMar07 677.jpg](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031698.9gNmE94S.ThailandMar07677.jpg) ThailandMar07 677.jpg |
![Back on the main road to Chiang Mai](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031700.k3TAccs6.ThailandMar07680.jpg) Back on the main road to Chiang Mai |
![Thai highway 121 roadsign](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031702.OAOmCl3z.ThailandMar07681.jpg) Thai highway 121 roadsign |
![Thai billboard, Chiang Mai Province](https://a4.pbase.com/o6/93/329493/1/84031705.dTGtTd0I.ThailandMar07682.jpg) Thai billboard, Chiang Mai Province |