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Published: October 5th 2010
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Motorbikes
Kaz n 250cc play thing Chiang Mai
Hi Guys,
A change of transport this time. Night train 16 hours 1st class ( not exactly the orient express ) but a 2 berth cabin to ourselves! This was a bit more comfortable than the bus. Although they serve up some weird concoction for tea. Check out the video link of Paddy eating goodness knows what.
Northern Thailand 435 miles north of Bangkok
When we arrived at Chiang Mai, we instantly fell in love with the place. The city was bigger than I expected. The centre of the town is surrounded by a moat and city walls. These walls were built to keep out the Burmese around 700 years ago. To us the walls made a good land mark so as not to get lost haha. The city has a nice safe, laid back old feel about it and extremely clean. Even the street food looks appealing! The guest house we chose was called The Green Tulip. Stella and Nine who run the house were so lovely, Stella is the most amazing crazy cook. I think Paddy and I managed to cover the whole menu in the 6 nights we stayed there. Initially the
idea was to stay 2 nights, then we increased to 4 and finally 6 nights.
There is just so much to do here. Chiang Mai is definitely somewhere we would come back to for a holiday.
We explored Chiang Mai by motorbike, 2 - 250cc scramblers. As we have been having withdrawal symptoms for our bikes, not quite the same but still really good fun. We managed to get to the highest point of the mountain via some of the most amazing sweeping bends and not too much traffic. The last few miles were off road and I must admit I had sweaty palms by the time we arrived at Dui Pui Mong village. We were equipped with helmets and insurance but still just t-shirts and combats which makes me a little bit wary. Insurance was a bonus as I remember Paddy asking for insurance when we had a bike in Vietnam. I don't think there is such a thing. Mad!! There were some quaint little stalls in the village and we also got offered some black market diamonds. ( Paddy didn't bite unfortunately )
The following day we rode around the mountain from the other side
known as The Samoung loop. This is the best road we have ridden . Not only did it have the sweeping bends as the day before it also had hairpin after hairpin with a seriously steep gradient bloody wicked!! The only downside, being called Samoung loop would make you think a big loop and drop us back into Chiang Mai. Can you believe we got it wrong?
At the furthest part away we realised there was no ring road we had to go back the way we came and only had an hour and a half to do it. A bit tight for time to say the least but a good excuse to go over the mountain again. The bikes had to be back for 5pm. At 4.40pm we were lost (yep) and the heavens opened, the rain drops were so big and heavy they hurt. Imagine being behind a Gritter on a bike wearing just a T shirt and shorts. Ouch ha
At 5.01pm The bikes were returned to the garage probably a bit more battered than when we picked them up.
The following day we visited the long awaited Baanchang elephant park, Wow!! This was
Motorbikes
View from the mountain top the best day we have had so far "what an experience". Baanchang have rescued elephants from the Burmese border where they were badly treated. The park has also rescued an elephant from one of those awful circus shows where they have to dance, play football, paint. This poor elephant can't get out of the habit so it stands all day swaying from side to side.
The upside to this the park takes good care of the elephants, they keep mother and baby together. The money we paid to visit goes directly back to the elephants.
First up we fed the elephants banana's and sugar cane by the basket load, the guys eat up 250kg's a day!
( A bit like Paddy's diet )
Next up, how to ride an elephant bareback. We learnt commands lie down - NO LONG, left and right - KWEY, stop - HOW, and move forward - BYE, (just in case you need them ) After lunch we trekked around the jungle. I must confess the Mahouts were close at hand to assist steering. Paddy was up front leading the pack, and also had the elephant mother with her baby strolling
along beside and the little one was getting all tangled, the mother was a greedy guts and stopping to have a munch every 5 minutes it was so funny. I didn't have to much time to laugh on the way back down the hill because I was holding on for my life!! At the end of the trek we pay our respects to the elephants by giving them a bath. Now this we had been looking forward to for ages but then you learn an elephant craps 50kg's a day and they like to do it in the bath tub. Well what can I say it was a bit skwidgy under foot. Amazing experience all the same. Check out the elephant link, you may see me looking a bit nervous haha and by the way the uniform and hat was compulsory not by choice!
After 1 week at Chiang Mai I don't think either of us were ready to leave but next stop beckons and that is Koh Samui.
Via Bangkok night train again. This time back to Bangkok was not quite so smooth. First of all taxi gets us to the train station and remember we have
forgotten some clothes and walking shoes, so a u turn back to the guest house get our stuff and back to the station with approx 3 minutes to spare. Just make it! We had some nice food for the journey but unfortunately it also attracted the cockroaches by the dozen. Which does not make for a good nights sleep!
We survive the night although a bit tired and jumpy. 1 more night in Bangkok and then it is a VIP bus to
Koh Samui can't wait sun, sand, sea and snorkelling beckons.
Take Care
Kaz n Paddy
PS
If the 3 video links don't work go to
You Tube
PaddyandKaztravels
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Ruthie
non-member comment
So pleased about the elephant sanctuary sounds perfect! Does sound an amazin holiday destination! xx