India-Myanmar Cross-Border Bus Service to Operate Soon By Zarni Mann & Myat Pyae Phyo 20 February 2020 Mandalay – The long-awaited bus service to cross the India-Myanmar border through India’s northeastern state of Manipur is set to operate from April. The 579-km service between Mandalay and Imphal, the capital of Manipur, will be the first … Read more
In the silly season rush Ducati was rumoured to be chasing new riders for their team, after failing yet again to capture the MotoGP Championship title. Their star rider Dovi has finished runner up for the last 3 years and the Ducati bike has been as good as ever. Maybe they need a new rider? … Read more
Marc Marquez has signed an almost unprecedented new contract extension with HRC, which will see him remain in the factory Honda team for four more years after his current contract expires at the end of the 2020 season. That means Marquez will be a factory Honda rider until the end of 2024. Marquez’ contract renewal … Read more
OR Grand Prix of Thailand will go ahead The Sports Authority of Thailand confirms that the event, set for mid-March, can safely take place Thursday, 20 February 2020 Following communication from the Thai government, the FIM, IRTA and Dorna Sports can confirm that the OR Thailand Grand Prix will go ahead next month. With the … Read more
The 3rd edition GTR Golden Triangle map has been released & will be on sale from 15th February 2020. From overseas you can mail order a copy here For mail order in Thailand please email [email protected] The price inside Thailand is 350 baht including EMS postage. The 2020 edition of this map has more detail … Read more
Bangkok (AFP) – Thailand has spiked Chinese-led plans to open up a key stretch of the Mekong river, in a rare victory for activists fighting to preserve Southeast Asia’s most important waterway. Beijing has long wanted to blast 97 kilometres (60 miles) of rocks and dredge the riverbed in northern Thailand to open up a … Read more
Thailand to return orangutans seized from smugglers back to Indonesia Monday, 03 Feb 2020 BANGKOK:Thailand on Monday (Feb 3) is set to repatriate orangutans seized from wildlife smugglers back to the sanctuary in Borneo Island, Indonesia. It will be the third time that Thailand returns smuggled apes to Indonesia after sending 14 in 2015 and … Read more
Laos – Pang Mon border open 1st February 2020 PHAYAO: Laos will open the Pang Mon checkpoint in Sayaboury province opposite Thailand’s Ban Huak checkpoint in Phu Sang district of this northern border province on Feb 1, provincial chamber of commerce adviser Kongsak Tharanit said on Saturday. Mr Kongsak said the Sayaboury provincial governor has … Read more
Vientiane: Laos and Vietnam are preparing to upgrade two more local crossing points to official border crossings to facilitate international visits between them. The facilities to be upgraded are the Pa Hang-Long Sap crossing point between Laos’ Huaphan province and Vietnam’s Thanh Hoa province, and the Dak Ta-ok-Nam Giang crossing point between Xekong and Quang … Read more
In Vang Vieng there is a new toll free bridge across the Xong river, 5 kms upstream from town. The old bridge downtown which has been in operation as a concession for many years will continue to operate and collect a toll fee. From the Vientiane Times 23 January Vangvieng bridge users must continue … Read more
Route 118 the main artery linking Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai cities has been undergoing some painful, slow road improvements for a few years now. The original section dug up has now been completed, but there is much more under construction now as they turn the old two-lane road into a faster 4-lane highway. Much … Read more
Oudom Xai province has two new year festivals for the Khmu New Year celebration One on 13 January 2020 @ Lak Sip, on R13N, going towards Luang Namtha.. The google maps location: (This date has been moved forward one day from 14 to 13 January.) Two on 16-18 January @ the main Oudom Xai stadium. … Read more
Crunching The Numbers: Rider Of The Decade 2010-2019 Who is the greatest MotoGP rider of the past decade? Followers of the sport will all have their own answers to this question, based on their own criteria. One way of trying to answer the question objectively is by using numbers to quantify performance. Sure, the numbers … Read more
Festivals & events in Thailand are often related to the Lunar calendar. Some Buddhist events are on full moon & some ethnic new years are related to the new moon cycle. 2020 Thailand Holidays 1st January – Wednesday: New Year’s Day. 8th February – Saturday: February Makha Bucha. 10th February – Monday: Substitution for Makha … Read more
Phayaprai on the Thai-Myanmar border has an ethnic New Year festival coming up next month. The dates 25 – 30 January 2020. The Phayaprai area on the border has a diverse mix of hill tribes – Akha, Hmong, Lisu, Lahu, plus Shan & Chinese & they will be celebrating their new year. More … Read more
Thailand’s most outrageous colourful festival is on again at Dan Sai in Loei province on the 1st weekend of July = 5-6-7 July 2019. For lots of info & trip reports on GTR visits to Dan Sai for the Phi Ta Khon festival go here on GTR Dan Sai / Phi Ta Khon 2004 … Read more
Vietnam rebuilds Forbidden City palace ravaged by war Construction has started on a megaproject to rebuild a war-destroyed palace located inside Vietnam’s ancient Forbidden City in the central city of Hue, the country’s former capital. The Kien Trung Palace, first built between 1921 and 1923 under the reign of Emperor Khai Dinh, was an important … Read more
Rossi at 40: so many memories by Mat Oxley on 15th February 2019 Recounting memories of Valentino Rossi, who turns 40 on Saturday Valentino Rossi celebrates his 40th birthday on Saturday, hoping against hope to become the first forty-something to win a world title since the 1950s, when grand prix racing was ruled by older … Read more
Laotian government told to prioritise tourism to drive economic growth. Prioritise tourism to drive growth, minister advises The government should continue to prioritise tourism and involve all ministries and local administrations in the promotion of tourism to drive growth, a minister has advised. Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara made the … Read more
For biker fans of BeerLao…..Beerlao Launches White Lager KPL) Lao Brewery Company, most known as Beerlao, launched its latest alcoholic drink “Beerlao White” in Vientiane on Feb 11. “With slight growth in the Lao beer market in recent years due to already high per capita consumption of beer, and more beer brands entering Laos giving … Read more
Motorcycles key to solving road deaths In 2015, Thailand’s road traffic death toll was the second highest in the world. Over 24,000 people were killed in road accidents, that’s 66 deaths every day. The tragedies plunged over 24,000 families into shock, grief, and anger over why so little has been done to make Thailand’s roads safer. Last year, according … Read more
John Harold Haynes OBE 25th March 1938 to 8th February 2019 It is with great sadness that we announce the death of John H Haynes OBE, the creator of the famous Haynes Manual, founder of the Haynes Publishing Group PLC and the Haynes International Motor Museum. John passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on … Read more
Off the chart: the big comeback of paper maps As Stanfords travel bookshop moves into new London premises after 118 years, its cartographer explains how the ability to tailor-make any map is keeping their magic alive Back in the fold … paper maps are enjoying a renaissance, with technology helping to element the frustration of … Read more
Does MotoGP need a combined bike/rider weight limit? by Mat Oxley on 13th November 2018 Some say current technical regulations are unfair for bigger riders like Petrucci and Rossi, so is it time to even things up a bit? Michelin and Ducati think so Some years ago I thought MotoGP needed a combined rider/machine minimum … Read more
Rossi: the tenth is possible Sepang was a strong indicator there’s life in ‘The Doctor’ yet and could title number 10 come in 2019? 115 victories, 65 further podiums, nine World Championships; the numbers speak for themselves for Valentino Rossi (Movistar Yamaha MotoGP) and in 2019, could the elusive tenth title be his? Well, if … Read more