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Published: March 6th 2013
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So I've hired my little moped, I have borrowed a sleeping bag and I have a map...... And I'm off on my lone adventure to Do Inthion National Park for some 'me time'.
I was told about 60km away but by the time is driven for about an hourooooĆ- it was still saying 48km.... I don't drive that slow! ?w -,l.,
Stopping to fill up I now discover the bike won't start, great, kick start from here on in as the garage says the battery is knackered!
Off again its pretty easy to get to, its one road from Chiang Mai and then you turn right and come to check point one where you pay your entry fee to the park, 200 baht and then 20 baht for the bike.
Someone did say to me you can get a bus here and the walk once inside..... I think not.
Your first visit has to be to the ranger station about 23 km inside the park up steep winding roads, the moped struggled up these hills.... it beautiful here the scenery is breathtaking, thick jungle forests line the roads, when the jungle clears for a moment you
catch a glimpse of the deep valley or one of the mountains hurrying into the clouds .
After awhile I find the ranger station, this is where you organise your accomadation for your stay, there is also a restaurant and supermarket here. I have already decided that I'm camping so hire a tent that is already pitched on the camp site, so 125baht a night not bad. I also hire a sleeping matt. The camp site is huge and there are a load of tents, wouldn't like to be here in peak season as the tents are pitched so close to each other, fingers crossed though I appear to be the only one here.
I hire a blanket for 50baht and a BBQ for another 50, if I'm going to do this, I'm doing the whole thing! Lol
Between the rangers station and the campsite there is a small village, here I get a small cooking pot and cup and some food to cook.
I manage to get the BBQ going , food cooking and plenty on cups of tea, check me living it up! Theres something oddly satisfying about cooking your own tea on a
fire you've started in the middle of a forest with just your book to keep you company...
Last night was good snug as a bug, didn't even need my sleeping bag. There's a lot of dogs around here, and I think they prowl the place at night, was slightly unnerving last night.
Breakfast a fruit salad, yogurt and honey I've gathered. Typical I've left my waterproof back in Chiang Mai and there looks like there's rain due. Poncho acquired I set off in search of the summit.
By 10 o'clock I've still not had much luck on finding the path that leads up there and every local I ask they say it isn't possible.....but it shows a path on my map ... : (!
Heading back to the rangers station I try one last time, they say the only way there is by road the map is wrong ...
The weathers closing in abit and getting colder so in suit up and head off the 21km by road to the summit. Doi inthion is the highest summit in Thailand that's why I thought it would be good to come and explore.
Heading round the
winding and ever steepening roads I head into the thick cloud which has settled around the top, by the time I reach the car park and park up my hands have frozen into the handle position.
The summit is 2,565 m (8,415 ft) Above sea leavel and abit of an anticlimax, usually you get to the top thinking like you've conquered something, here I gained frost bite....There's not really a view point either here just a couple of small cafes and a sign.
After defrosting slightly in head back to a nature trail I spotted in the way up.
This is a wooden walk way through the jungle, really beautiful and mysterious, all the trees are completely covered in a thick layer of moss.
The next stop is another nature walk but this time not on wooden walk ways, more what I was after, as I arrive there is a group of american girls going in at the same time and as you have to pay for a guide we all share .
The 2 hour hike is great, taking us through the jungle and the out onto the mountains edge, which was pretty spooky
as all you can see is cloud....every now and then you'd get a break in the clouds which gave you an glimpse of the drop below.
The guide stops to show us various things on the way round and give us a sample of some of the wild fruits, including blueberries randomly growing on the side of the mountain. Fully defrosted now and the cloud is starting to lift you can get a glimps of the twin Checks (temples) appearing through the cloud.
After finishing the walk I head back to the rangers station as there appears to be a storm brewing, not wanting to get caught in it with my little 'ped. Sure enough as I arrive so the thunder and lightning starts ....and continues....and continues. No BBQ tonight I has to surrender and get something at the restaurant before heading back to my in tent for the night.
Bit of a colder night tonight, I currently have two layers of clothes on sat in the sleeping bag and the duvet on top... Brrrr good night.
Waking up it appears the storm has subsided and there is a fresh warmness in the air. A run to
the nearest waterfall let's me me get there before the ticket office opens and I sneak in for a peak.
Packing up and heading back to Chiang mai, I stop at a couple of waterfalls on my way out of the park, this park is packed with them.
The journey back is a lot quicker taking only an hour and half I arrive to Chiang mai being in a bit of a battered state, trees fallen down everywhere...... When I reach Lita's they tell me the storm hit Chiang mai aswell and the roof off the dorm was ripped off during the night , sounds like they had a worse night than me, all the mattresses ended up wet and people belongings getting soaked.
Making the most of the last day with my little 'ped I head off to the temple in the local hills, stopping along the way at another waterfall.
The temple is called Doi Suthep, and about 10km up into the mountains. These hills are monstrous and there's guys on their push bikes cycling up tonight! Mental, yes dad metal, im sure its your idea of heaven, even my 'ped struggled! Lol
Reaching there you then have 309 steps to climb to reach the top.
Heading back down this is where the cyclists come into their element, I was behind a car going down these hills and this guy overtakes us... On the wrong side of the road on his push bike....sent shivers down my spine watching him.
That night was spent having a wander around the market that had been set up in conjunction with the impending flower festival which happens every year and catching up with Robin as hes back from Pai for his check up at the hospital tomorrow.
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