September 9, 2013, Monday-Doi Chang-Chiang Rai 60km Total: 9840km
I was planning on tackling the 4km, 200m elevation gain, ride up and over backside of the mountain. Fantastic views, but the road is absolute shit: dirt and loose gravel, and semi mud meant even my friends 4×4 Toyota Hilux was struggling up to Doi Chang vista, yesterday.. I was still keen to slog up to the top, I just need to budget a few hours to ride/push/drag my bike. Jamby, the family, and others hesitantly confirmed it was rideable at the very moment, though very weather dependent.
And of course, heavy rains came last night: The family begged me not to go via the back mountain road. I reluctantly listened. I so wanted to venture the back way, but realized that it might not actually be fun pushing my bike uphill through mud for 3 hours, and then walking it down, through mud, for another few. This one’ll have to wait ‘til dry season. The top was shrouded in clouds, anyway.
The views on the way out of Doi Chang were incredible; I was stopping every kilometer to get a different angle on the landscape, sometime hiking off the road to get that perfect shot. Really, the mountain terrain here is stunning. A quilt of greens laid over the mountains. A huge color palette of greens and yellows: the dark green coming from jungle trees, a vibrant neon green from mountain rice, patches of yellow where corn is seeded. Plus sunlight falling through openings in the clouds, adding even more texture. Seriously just awesome.
I met up with Raj in Chiang Rai, and we both met up with our Ewa and then all three of us met up with the other two hosts back at their house, that afternoon.. Once we were all gathered Katya, Ewa, and Luis offered to go hike up “the mountain” to watch the sunset. Without need to twist our arms, we biked over to a 300 foot tall solitary granite slab and sweat our way up the steep monk steps, whacking through overgrown bush.
How they found this foot-wide path climbing the bushy rock face? I don’t know! But, its just one of the many side adventures they’ve done in their neighborhood. Camping in rice huts, venturing into the nearby mountains, finding deserted houses on the edge of town; makes me excited to explore the place I settle down in, or even re explore my own hometown.
Day 216, September 10, 2013, Tuesday Chiang Rai Total 9840
This was the first of a series of lackadaisical days. Raj and I went into town and hopped across a few eatery spots. The most awesome being a Steamed bun place with non traditional Pao(steamed buns). I indulged in quite a few, my favorite being the Sweet BBQ pork, and the the chocolate cream pao.
As Ewa cooked us up a yummy meal the night prior it was only proper to return the favor. And really, it was a treat for myself to be able to cook, in a proper kitchen, inside, in a home, with a stove and pots. Beyond instant noodles? Not much self prepared cuisine.
I perused the market, brainstormed a meal, and Luis, Raj and I chopped, minced, cubed and heated our way to vegetarian meal. I was quite stoked , simply because its always nice to feed people.
September 11, 2013, Wednesday, Chiang Rai Total 9840
We did more of the same today, resting. It’s funny, really, if a backpacker were to see us in each of the traditional point A to point B spots, they’d think I’m such a lazy traveler. But the traditional travel spots become my rest places as we meet awesome people, and the journey between is where my exploring/traveling comes in.
I had a plan to do an afternoon ride, but once again, weather never listens. So I held off.
September 12, 2013, Thursday, Chiang Rai 50km Total: 9890km
Thailand has been quite the learning experience, cause I’ve been in school so much!
Today, we joined Katya and Ewa at their school, hung out in the office, graded some tests, and even had a presentation/conversation about our trips with Ewa’s kids. Answering the usual questions: how is biking, what if your bike breaks, have you seen a ghost. You know, the usual.
Post school, I carried out my plan to ride into the foothills and explore, heading down a few random roads/paths and tracks for few hours, trying to keep the trigger finger warm.
Post script: Along my travels, I’ve realized simplicity is key. Today, I’m exercising this value in a new way.
