RhinoTusk

There's a big bike show at Terminal 21 this week. Not many bikes. Even worse, not many girls. But I live in the neighborhood.

Here's another set from my archives. The first pic is the train station, most others were taken in the small streets around the hotel.

Thanks for your report. I never stayed there but here's a shot of the rooftop pool I took a few years ago.

Sure they're overpriced, maybe not so much when you consider the resale value. BMW and Kawasaki make great bikes, it isn't rocket science and Harley-Davidson quality took a big hit when owned by AMF in the 1970's. But like Apple, it's an iconic brand with a loyal and dedicated following. Just marketing of course, and not even by the company, mostly because of a low budget, wildly successful Hollywood movie made in 1969. But hey, they've been around for over a century and are the survivors in the USA. I'm biased because we have the same hometown. Harley-Davidson refused to provide free bikes for the movie "Easy Rider", thinking the movie would be bad for their image. The 1962 1200cc Electra Glide, ridden by Peter Fonda, was previously used by the LAPD and purchased at auction and customized. Dennis Hopper was a less accomplished rider than Fonda and rode a less custom 1950-era bike which was also purchased at auction.

Here are a few more pics And my favorite Harley-Davidson model, not the Electra Glide but the Yaowaret Fah

FYI, there's a new beachfront mall opening in Hua Hin this week http://bk.asia-city.com/travel/news/hua-hin-new-beachfront-mall?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BK%20Daily&utm_content=BK+Daily+April+11%2C+2016

I don't know if there's a joiner at the Hilton. I wasn't particularly impressed with the quality of the girls in town but I live in Bangkok, was only in Hua Hin for a few days before high season, so maybe I didn't see a representative sample. I've heard you can find freelancers in the hotel's disco but I didn't go there.

In 1972, George Carlin was arrested for obscenity for saying 7 words on stage. In 1981, Wendy O Williams of the punk rock band Plasmatics was arrested for obscenity for simulating a sex act with a sledge hammer on stage. Both of these incidents occurred in my hometown. Here's another set from Tuesday.

Unfortunately, I missed that performance, but there seemed as many motorcycles as cars at this event. We may not be seeing any more of the sexy car washes. That would be a bummer.

A few from today

Schweinshaxe with sauerkraut and potato pancakes, my Mom used to make this from a recipe passed down for generations.

Off-Road Adventure For my last day, I booked a full-day adventure in the Phaya Mengrai district, about 70 km east of Chiang Rai. A minibus picked me up at my hotel and after an hours drive I was there. I rented one of these all-terrain vehicles, the only way to navigate the rough roads. After an hour's ride and about a 40 minute walk through the jungle, I spent the remainder of the morning at Nam Tog Tad Kwan. Then back to my host's place for some lunch. The roads were so dusty I had to take my camera and lens in for cleaning at the Nikon service center on Sathorn Road when I got back to Bangkok. I did 20 laps in their Edge Pool, it was very refreshing! In the afternoon, more cruising around the area. It was like the end of the earth, another planet, remote and desolate. The last stop was the Hilltribe Village, a timeless place, like from another century. Handsome Man! SUMMARY Chiang Rai was certainly a unique experience. I would recommend it to anyone wishing to enjoy some authentic regional Thailand without the hordes of tourists. BTW, I skipped the Golden Triangle.

ATTRACTIONS Wat Rong Kuhn (AKA The White Temple) is a privately owned art exhibit in the style of a Buddhist temple. It was designed and constructed by a local artist named Chalermchai Kositpipat and opened to visitors in 1997. Admission is 50 baht. The main building is reached by crossing The Bridge of "the cycle of rebirth" over a small lake. In front of the bridge are outreaching hands that represent unrestrained desire. After the bridge is the Gate of Heaven, guarded by Death and Rahu, who determine the fate of the dead. The Ubosot is the main all-white building embedded with mirrored glass Some other miscellaneous shots Public Restrooms are in the Golden Building Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Rong_Khun Wat Phra Kaeo (The Temple of the Emerald Buddha) The Clock Tower Conceived by the same artist that did Wat Rong Kuhn in the same distinctive style, it lights up at night alternating between gold, pink, and green from 7 PM to 9 PM. The King Mengrai Monument Next: Off-Road Adventure

I recently took the opportunity to visit Chiang Rai for a few days, a city of about 200,000 serving the Golden Triangle region of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos. It was my first visit to the city and I found this experience much more relaxed than Chiang Mai, and not overrun with Chinese tourists. Prices are also lower than other Thailand tourist destinations. The Ping River I particularly enjoyed the religious diversity Local cuisine was excellent, especially the Khao Soi, a red curry with boiled egg noodles topped with crispy noodles and added chicken breast. I enjoyed the meal with some evening entertainment. I also had to try one of the riverside restaurants for prawns in glass noodles and some long island iced teas. ACCOMMODATION I stayed at the Le Meridien resort on the Ping River Some Thais lived next door NEXT: ATTRACTIONS

Try the Reuben, best I've had in Thailand, if you can tolerate sauerkraut on your sandwich

I've had a taxi driver take me from Bangkok, then refuse to take his taxi on the ferry. It was a scam and I deducted 300 baht from his fee. He wasn't very happy about it, and neither was I.

Last day today

8th Annual Bangkok Motorbike Festival at CentralWorld

Here's a shot I took this afternoon

I wondered about this place as they always seemed to have lots of customers.

I go to MK Restaurant when I want dim sum, roast duck, or wonton soup but I don't care for chicken feet. https://www.mkrestaurant.com/en/menu Here's a review from Evil Penevil http://www.pattayatalk.com/forums/topic/61547-mk-restaurant-central-festival/

The way to defeat ISIL is with positive role models, they are too young to remember Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs.

The show ends Sunday, expected to draw 1.5 million visitors this year and sales are 30% higher. A new car tax will come into effect next year that will tax based on the amount of carbon dioxide emissions instead of engine capacity which is driving sales.

Here are a couple more I snapped at the show today

Opened yesterday