After a lazy breakfast we hiked through some beautiful forested scenery. Then on to a songthaew to the highest point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon. The reason I chose this trek was to climb this mountain. But luck was not with me that day. We didn't hike it but drove to the top. Anti-climatic but the cold and cloud cover wouldn't have been pleasant to hike in. We ate lunch in the car park and then drove off to a drop-off point.
Ulraz, Saar and myself split from the Argentinian and French peoples to continue our trek. After about two hours walking we made it to our guide's wife's house where we spent the night. In our small group it was easy to chat with Chai (our guide) and learn a lot more about his background and Thailand in general. He is from the Karen Hill Tribe of Thailand.
Sleeping here was much more pleasant than the night before. The elevation is much lower and so a little warmer.
There was a bit of confusion at the beginning of the trip. There were 3 trips going on at the same time and we were all lumped in together, 10 people, when we left Chiang Mai. It was fun trying to work out who was to be on which trip. But we eventually found out who is who and where they are going. I would be trekking with Cristian, an Argentinian (not many Argentinians travel, the first I'd met abroad) and Ulraz (sp?) and Saar, a Belgian couple.
But, to start off we all did an elephant walk together. It was enjoyable but brief. I think we spent a total of 30 minutes with the elephants. We then split and headed to different venues for lunch. While we were eating our lunch I was surprised to find out we were joining up with another group. They were halfway through their trek. Two very entertaining French couples and an English couple who would be leaving us that afternoon.
Confused about who was on the trek with me? I would be if I didn't spend the time with them.
From the scenic lunch venue we made our way to a Hmong village where we would be spending the night.
I would totally recommend this to anyone (thanks James!). It is a lot of fun and easy to do. Plus they give you a free lunch.
After yesterdays Geocaching blunder I wanted to put as much distance between me and Tha Thon as fast as possible. I got two quick rides almost to the heart of Chiang Mai.
Once in Chiang Mai I organised an excursion recommended to me by James - Flight of the Gibbons. I didn't actually do the Flight of the Gibbons but instead chose the cheaper Jungle Flight. I was assured it was just as good at half the price. Bargain.
For the following day I booked a 3 day/2 night trek into the "jungle".
Finally I left Mae Salong. It was difficult and I will miss the place. There is nothing special about it except that it's Mae Salong.
I gave another try at Geocaching. Again a huge failure. I came this close "||" to throwing my GPS away. I made two trips to the hiding place with a double DNF - lingo for 'Did Not Find'. The first trip I went up after a short lunch with glee and determination.
The second time I went was a special case. I went all the way back to the hostel to check the clues online if I misunderstood anything. I didn't. I scoured the area the cache was supposed to be in. F@#*!
The upshot is I found a lot of cool spiders and insects to take pictures of.
It was my full intention to leave Mae Salong today. I even woke up (early-ish) to get going. But when I found the laundry I'd given in to be washed a few days earlier still sopping wet on the line there was nothing I could do but stay. Oh well!
I spent the day chatting to other travelers as they drifted in and out of the guesthouse I was staying in, Shin Sane. There was one girl, Suzan from Slovakia, who I chatted to for a long time. She reminded me so much of Keirayn that I had to chat with here. It was like talking to my older sister who was younger than me.
About mid-morning I started down the hill to the 101 Tea Company Plantation. It's a nice walk down with many scenic spots along the way. Once there I ambled around the tea plantation for a while and then took part in a tea tasting. I thought it quite funny because the tea tasting was exactly like a wine tasting sans the alcohol.
My favorite tea is a blend of tea leaves with a flower that grows in the area. A very fragrant tea and mild of taste.
In the afternoon I had to say cheers to Fiann and Natalie. I had only made friends with them briefly but it was a good meeting. Fiann is from Iceland and holds two world records for rowing across oceans.
In the morning I explored more of Thoet Thai. It's also a very nice town but because it's at a much lower elevation than Mae Salong it's very hot. I left by late morning.
In a town a few valleys away from Doi Mae Salong is Thoet Thai. This was the stronghold of the opium barron/warlord Khun Sa. His old home and camp is still there presented as a small museum. Mr Ho, the owner of Shin Sane, told me there is a road through the mountains to get there. So, I went on the internet and plotted a route using google maps. I put this on my GPS, which I am still frustrated about, intending to use it as a navigational guide. Hmphf!
I'd read in my Paranoid Planet (Lonely Planet) that its not advised to go hiking in the mountains as a foreigner might be confused with a DEA agent from America by the drug smugglers or a drug dealer looking to make a deal by the Thai Army. I went out and put this theory to the test.
I got lost along the way and couldn't find the path I was supposed to be on for some time. I think I did cross a once was poppy field tucked away in a hidden valley. But I couldn't find anyone that resembled a drug smuggler or a Thai Army personal. I guess I was lucky.
A the Khun Sa Old Camp I met an eccentric monk who had been a member of Khun Sa's army. His recollection of Khun Sa is of a good guy that did a lot to help the people in the area.
Because of being lost for a time I was late in getting to Thoet Thai and had to spend the night there.
ps By my experience I've had an excellent and memorable time going to places Paranoid Planet advises not to go.
There is a picaresque walk that goes up behind the town to a temple, then loops around the back end of a ridge back to a tea market. I took my time doing this walk admiring the scenery.
Once I got to the tea market I met a German guy who had been living in the area for the past year. Already a little sozzled he offered me a shot of the local moonshine. How could I refuse?
Only after taking the first sip did I spy the bottle. It was crammed full of roots, shoots, leaves, berries, mushrooms, bark, twigs and who knows what else. We enjoyed a fun chat I can't remember about what. Not that I was the drunk one but rather the funny German guy. He kept rambling on from one topic to another.
Once decently light headed I look my leave and ventured down to the Chinese Martyr's Memorial Museum a little down the hill. This for me was also fascinating (not from the drink) but what I learned. A sad story with a living happy ending all around me.
I'd figured since I couldn't go on an organised trek to the hill tribes I'd just go there myself. A place that had "blipped" on my radar was Doi Mae Salong. Driving up there as the air was cooling I knew this couild be a place I can spend a long time.
The village is at about 1070 meters above sea level in a mountain range neighboring Myanmar. Because of its elevation it's a lot milder than being down on the planes. I checked into an old hostel called Shin Sane. The ambiance of the place radiates from the owner and its surroundings.
I wonder how long I can stay until I tear myself away?
I rented a bike early in the morning from a cool tattoo artist. He wasn't fussed about when I brought the bike back, as long as I brought it back. Cool dude.
After exploring Chiang Rai on bike for a while I cycled out to the White Temple, Wat Rong Khun. A temple that stands apart from all the others I've seen by a long shot, I'd love to see the end product. Unfortunately it's a long way from being complete.
That afternoon I chilled out at the tattoo artists shop. I let him know the mamachari he rented me was the most comfortable bicycled I'd used in Thailand.
A good photographer is like a sniper... finger on the trigger. Well, I'd be a useless sniper then. In the evening there was a surprise festival down one of the main roads... well, surprise to me anyway. I'd gone out to get a bite to eat when I stumbled upon this laid back street festival. Lo and behold I'd left my camera at the hostel. Every time I do that I regret not taking my camera with me. I guess it's like a sniper leaving his gun at the base. Trust me, the festival was cool!
