I decided to do another bike trip. So I headed
down to the bike shop to buy a rack, and it was closed. Good start! Next
morning, I headed back and much faffing about with the rack, the mechanic
couldn't get it to fit. The boss was coming in the afternoon, so I came back
and finally got it fitted.
The next morning, bright & early I was off. A
familiar ride alongside the canal, heading North out of Chiang Mai. Then merge
onto the busier road upto Mae Rim. Then continue North into more unfamliar
territory. Still a flat road, continuing past the turn off for the very hilly
1095 road to Pai. I stopped for some breakfast of Chicken Rice, making good
time. After rehydrating, just follow the 107 road North. Then I arrived in
Chiang Dao town. I then turned towards Chiang Dao mountain for about another
7kms, on a gently slope down into a shallow valley nestling at the edge of the
mountain. Here I stayed at in a little bungalow
almost overshadow by the brooding limestone mountain (2186m). Todays ride is
78km.
After a shower, I headed out and turned right
towards the Wat Pho Ploy monastery on the hill. One of these secluded area
where a famous monk has mediated. Now a large temple, with a lot of stairs.
After 500 odd stairs I reached the top, nice views around as you would imagine.
The main hall, is actually set into an open side cave with a rock roof and
buddha images everywhere. I headed back down to the main street, about a mile
further down to Chiang Dao Cave.
Here you can enter the Chiang Dao cave system.
The first main area is lit by electricity, and a few guide await to take you
further inside, guided by lantern, for a fee of course.
A few unfortunate souls are rumoured to have been
trapped & lost inside the cave in the past, so keep close to the guide!
Yes, it's dark, but with the light you can make some formations which are said
to resemble various animals, such as elphants, some require more imagination
than others. To get between chambers, some crawling required, not toooo tight,
but not for the claustraphobic or fatties. After the tour happy enough to get
back out into the daylight. I head back up the road stopping off at Chiang DaoNest 2 to sample a late lunch.
I had a pretty good pumpkiny salady thing, with a
"passionade" drink. Then back to the bungalow and try and stay awake
at least till after dinner. I just had some sweet & sour pork at the
guesthouse and a early night causing I was shattered!
Off early again the next morning, crawling back up from the Chiang Dao side road onto the main highway. Low lying mist shrouds the limestone outcrops in the distance, the road rolls gently down smooth tarmac. Great place for cycling. Until the hills. There is a mountain range between here and Chai Prakan. After some gentle winding, I stopped for breakfast. Some noodles with fish balls, picked the right place to stop as soon the roads winds up and down, snakes around, requires a fair bit of climbing. I hadn't done much climbing on the bike and the added weight of the luggage meant a fair bit of resting on the big climbs. I find a roadside shelter and take a break, guzzling down some water. After a rest I continue on my way and find the summit. From here it is a zipping ride down the other side into the next valley, Chai Prakan, where the road flattens out. Passing a gruesome road safety sign of someone chopped in two, I cycle carefully onwards.
Another drink is needed and a refill of the water
bottle, but the road remains flat into the provincial town of Fang. After a
ride of 85km I find the Phumanee Hotel, run by Lahu folk.
I find a market, and have some Stewed Pork, but it comes with a lot of fat and skin, but the meat is tasty. I nosy around town, some Chinese temples on the edge of town. But the local dogs know outsiders, and soon half the dogs in town are barking. I don't want to get bitten by a dog in Fang! At night a French tour group had arrived in the hotel, and are singing some French songs which are written on the wall, strange. I have a Lahu curry, a bit like Tom Kha Gai but with some potato thrown in. After dinner I head out in the seach of some pinapple and get caught in the rain. But must have pineapple.
The next morning I actually have breakfast before
starting biking, as it's an easy ride today. Just 25km along a flat road into
the scenic village of Tha Ton. Arriving at the rideside I locked up my bike and
headed up the hill nearby, to have a look at the temple. Up top the temple had
a swarm of gazillion bees attached to the naga heads, high above thankfully.
Nice view out over the village as the river winds and twists it's way East to
Chiang Rai. Back down I grabbed some lunch before the boat ride. With bike
attached to the side near the front of the long-tail boat, I was off along with
another 5 passengers. We zip along smoothly passing through sloping valleys,
some jungle, some growing coffee. We stop off and a few disembark at a hot
springs. Very hot, I dipped my finger in for a second an that was enough! A few
hours later we arrive in Chiang Rai. By the time I find a guesthouse it is late
afternoon. I decide to replenish my energy with a steak for a small local
diner. Not bad at all for the price, except it was served on a cold plate. Some
rain mean not much happening at the
night market.
The next couple of days I stay off the bike and
rest. I head about 10km north on the local bus to Baan Dam (Black House). A
bizarre artist's version of a temple. I arrive dead on 12, as it closes for an
hour. I find a small shop and have some MaMa noodles (the local equivalent of a
Pot Noodle). Once it reopens tourists flood in. The first "temple" is
a huge hall filled with looong tables, laid end to end, several large snake
skins. In the corner carved wooden
tressels, with something resembling dried bats! Giant chairs adorned with white
skulls and black buffalo horns complete the macabre feel. Outside more building
with more skulls, guns, bones and dark wood. Nearby a horse grazes. All very
odd. I head back into town and the rain starts up again.
The next day another bus, 17km south of Chiang
Rai. It takes a while to get underway, but not a long ride. I jump off at the junction
for a good look at Wat Rong Khun aka The White Temple. This is in sharp
contrast to yesterdays viewing, an incredible ornate beautiful white temple
glistening in the sunlight. As I walk in to the grounds I notice the head and
torso of a predator half sunk into the ground. Well okay that's a bit weird. As
you pass over a bridge leading to the entrance, you walk past hundreds of
outstreatched sculpted hands. Inside the main temple, the Buddha sits serenely
facing the back wall. And the back wall is not the usual temple wall. This is
covered with icons from popular culture, ranging from Superman and Batman to
Jigsaw and Pinhead. Angry birds has made it in, surely a recent addition.
After the white temple I flag down a songtaew
heading back into town, it's full so I have to hand on the back. It starts to
rain, so I head for the new Central Mall. Another huge mall for Thailand, but
once you're inside you could be anywhere.
The next day I get back on my bike, this time
heading south, at least it should even up my suntan :) From Chiang Rai, it is a
long, long hilly ride back to Chiang Mai. I start off down the busy road 1, the
superhighway which will basically take you to Singapore. Soon I turn off for
Chiang Mai, a smaller road. I remember a nice resort so try to make it there
for breakfast. I probably should of eaten sooner, as it was over 40k on an
empty stomach and those hills were getting harder. Anyway I arrived at Charin
Garden, a scenic spot overlooking the river. I settle down for a plate of
chicken fried rice topped with an egg, washed down with a couple of glasses of
water, followed by chunk of apple pie and a latte. This cycling sure makes you
hungry. Onwards through Mae Suai, and down to Wiang Pa Pao. I stopped off at a
roadside shrine for King Naresuan with a couple of giant elephant statues, a
temple sit further back. I go have a closer look. Chicken statues everywhere.
After 95km I stop for the day.
Next day I pass another couple of tour cyclists
they are heading onto Vietnam, Land of the Motorbike, good luck! I have cycled
this section in the other direction and handily remembered where the big
descent was. Of course it is now a big ascent. At the bottom is the entrance to
Khun Chae National Park. I fuel up on some raisins and a snickers bar.
One big straight climb and I make it to the top.
From here it is great riding and you zip most of the way down for the next
20km! A few final hills and I roll into Doi Saket, feeling hungry but only
another 20km till I'm back in Chiang Mai, so I push on. Running on fumes I make
it back home to guzzle some cold water, have a much needed shower and head down
to Salad Concept for a big lunch. All in all, a successful little bike tour.
Photos
