The incredible motorbike routes in Thailand

Thailand is a big appeal on tourism radar in Asia. This destination charms every visitors for its scenic beauty, delectable delights and friendly locals. Yet, the country is also a centric hub for riders with stunning road trips. 

If you are looking for a life time adventure on 2 wheels from Thailand, these 5 motorcycle routes which run through the rural areas giving away an insight on the local traditions and picturesque views to be captured in your travel diaries.

The Mae Hong Son Loop

The Mae Hong Son Loop will take you on a 400-mile adventure through Northern Thailand. The trail generally takes a week to complete and it is best known for its incredible scenery through the lush countryside of Northern Thailand. The loop starts and finishes in the popular tourist hub of Chiang Mai and passes through the Mae Hong province, through the towns of Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son and Pai. Along the way, you will see mountains, farmlands, quaint villages, limestone karst and cascading waterfalls.

The Golden Triangle and Beyond

Chiang Mai’s sister city, Chiang Rai is a popular starting point for tours exploring the Golden Triangle area where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. Highlights of the area include Wat Tha Ton, riding above the cloud line in Doi Mai Salong, following the upper Mekong, and visiting Phu Chi Fha Forest Park for its famous sunrises through a sea of mist.

Though Chiang Rai is a much smaller city than Chiang Mai, there are still outfitters who provide well-equipped tours on bikes up to 800cc ranging from single day excursions to days-long tours taking in the entire province and even crossing into both neighboring countries.

Kanchanaburi

Further south and in a different range of hills, Kanchanaburi province has become a favored weekend getaway for residents of Bangkok seeking a quiet, natural alternative to their hectic metropolis.

Among the weekenders who flock to the riverside resorts and national parks of one of the country’s largest western provinces are bikers yearning for a combination of challenging hill riding and abundant high-end accommodations. By far the most diverse and popular ride is the Nang Prue, Si Sawat loop which covers 300 kilometers on rural roads running through farmland, dense jungle, and old growth forest.

The Nan Loop

Starting in Chiang Mai, the Nan Loop takes riders through some of Thailand’s most stunning mountain scenery all the way to Nan on Highway 1148, said to be one of the top 10 best biking roads in the world. You will pass by the Than Tong Waterfall and the Mae Kachan hot spring before reaching the lakeside town of Phayao, which is worth a day or two to explore its temples, the most impressive of which being Wat Analayo. Phu Lang Kha National Park in the Phayao province is also worth a visit.

The Samoeng or Mae Sa Loop

Just north of Chiang Mai, the Samoeng Loop is the most popular day ride in northern Thailand, taking travelers through the rural Thai countryside, passing by caves, temples, elephant farms and rice fields. The winding road circles the Doi Suthep Mountain, just west of Chiang Mai, which offers quite a collection of trekking paths and off-road motorcycle routes.

See more: The best restaurants in Koh Tao, Thailand

Source Internet

Discover the mystery of Japan's popular sushi

Sushi comes in all different shapes and sizes, and one of the most easily recognizable forms is that of makizushi. Made with vinegared rice and select fillings wrapped in a sheet of nori, makizushi is rolled with a bamboo mat to create a perfectly cylindrical shape that is then cut into bite-size pieces. This rolled style of sushi is so popular in Japan that it can be found everywhere—from high-end sushi shops to convenience store shelves.

Hosomaki (Single-ingredient Roll)

Hosomaki is a category of sushi rolls that comes from the Kanto region of eastern Japan, centered around modern-day Tokyo, and typically features only one ingredient plus rice, rolled together tightly to create a thin roll.

Kappa-maki

Kappamaki (cucumber sushi roll) is one of the most classic types of makizushi. Some people believe it’s named for the fictional water sprite called a “kappa” whose head resembles the top of a cucumber.

Tekka-maki

Tekkamaki (tuna sushi roll) is made using the lean cut of tuna called “maguro.” The name means “forged iron roll” and comes from the image of a hot iron rod glowing bright red. Along with kappamaki, this is another essential hosomaki roll.

Oshinko-maki 

Oshinkomaki (pickled daikon radish roll) is a type of hosomaki made with a filling of crisp Japanese pickles, chopped finely. It’s often filled with a bright yellow variety of pickles known as “takuan” that is made with daikon radish.

Salmon-maki

Salmon-maki is a type of sushi roll that has become popular in recent decades. That’s because raw salmon previously wasn’t eaten in Japan. The “Philadelphia roll” made with salmon and cream cheese found outside of Japan was inspired by this hosomaki.

Uramaki(Inside-out Roll)

Uramaki is makizushi that’s inverted with rice on the outside of the roll, rather than nori. Usually, when making makizushi, a sheet of nori is placed first on the bamboo mat, followed by sushi rice and then the fillings. But for uramaki, rice is the layer closest to the bamboo mat, followed by nori, and then the fillings. The finished roll can be sprinkled with white or black sesame seeds or tobiko (flying fish roe) before slicing.

Ehomaki (Lucky Sushi Roll)

Ehomaki is a special-occasion makizushi that’s popular to eat during Setsubun, a Japanese holiday that takes place in February to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. Unlike other types of sushi rolls, ehomaki is served as one long piece and is stuffed with numerous ingredients. The roll is eaten while facing in the designated “lucky” compass direction for the year, and is meant to be consumed in one go without stopping.

It’s considered lucky to eat ehomaki that contains seven ingredients, including items like tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), cucumber, shiitake mushrooms simmered in soy sauce, dried kanpyo gourd, and carrot. More elaborate ingredients like conger eel and roast beef may also be used.

Temakizushi (Sushi Hand Roll)

Temakizushi, or “hand roll,” is a type of makizushi made with a single small sheet of nori. Sushi rice and the desired fillings are added, and then the nori is rolled into a cone shape. Pretty much any sushi filling can be used for temaki rolls, so it’s very easy to customize to individual tastes. The cone also makes it very easy to hold and keep the filling from falling out while eating, even for people who don’t use chopsticks.

Read more: Regional dishes you need to try in Japan

Source gurunavi

Visit beautiful temples in George Town, Penang

Around Penang Island you will find plenty of Penang Temples, Mosques and Churches from all faiths, Malay, Indian, Chinese and old Colonial Churches built during the British rule of the island. Below you will find the beautiful temples in Penang to visit.

Dhammikarama Burmese Temple

Situated right across the street from Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple, Dhammikarama Temple is a Burmese Buddhist temple. It is interesting to visit it after visiting the Wat Chaiyamangalaran Temple which is a Thai Buddhist temple and try to notice the differences between them.

This temple was built in 1803 and it now includes several statues and buildings. With splashes of colors and statues which feature mythical creatures, this temple is definitely one of the most beautiful temples in George Town, Penang.

Kek Lok Si

If you move away from the coastline towards inner Penang island, you will find this majestic castle-like temple featuring a 99-feet-tall (30.2 meter) statue of the Goddess of Mercy. With several different temple halls and walkways to link them together, the hodgepodge architecture (incorporating the best of Chinese, Thai and Burmese designs) reflects the amalgamation of different Buddhist sects, including Mahayana Buddhism and Theravada Buddhism.

Yap Kongsi Temple

Just a few meters away from Khoo Kongsi Temple is the Yap Kongsi Temple. Built in 1924, this temple is also a clan house for the people in the Yap Chinese clan. The origin of the Yap clan starts in 439 BC when warrior Shen Zhu Liang defeated the troops of the Qin Dynasty. In return, Shen received a piece of land which was called the Yap district. He took the Yap surname and Yap clan was born.

The Yap Kongsi Temple’s architecture is impressive although the temple is a bit smaller than the others in this article. If you are planning to see the George Town street art or visit Clan Jetties of Penang, you should definitely visit the Yao Kongsi Temple too.

Wat Chayamangkalaram

Wat Chayamangkalaram is a Thai Temple in Penang famous for its large gold plated Reclining Buddha (not a Sleeping Buddha), which at 33 metres, is one of the largest in the world and not too easy to get the whole length in a photograph, as you can see below.

Hean Boo Thean (Kuan Yin) Temple

Hean Boo Thean Temple is one of the hidden gems of George Town. If you want to avoid the crowds from the more famous temples, a visit to Hean Boo Thean is a great opportunity to explore the Malay culture. Dedicated to Kuan Yin, the Goddess of Mercy, this temple was built in 1972.

Also called the ‘floating temple’ of George Town, Hean Boo Thean Temple was initially much smaller (a shrine built on stilts) but it was fortified over the years to face the tides. Hean Boo Thean Temple is definitely one of George Town’s best temples.

See more: What to eat when traveling to Penang, Malaysia

Source Internet