A warped sense of logic.

What's the best thing to do the day after an enormously uncomfortable 5 hour bus ride? Your back is as stiff as an arthritis ridden elderly man in mid-winter Siberia and your bum feels like you spent the last 24 years sitting on wooden planks. A day lounging at the town swimming pool, a Thai massage perhaps? No no, rent a bike and spend the day cycling 50 kilometers around archeological sites, of course.

01. Easy riders

Sukhothai was the first capital of Thailand and is viewed as the golden age of Thai civilisation. I had to go and see it, nothing like old buildings to get this old girl excited. After the bus ride that nearly broke the camels back I checked into a delightful guesthouse called Bam Thai in New Sukhothai, 15 kilometers from the Historical Park. A father and son team from Belgium run cycling tours from the guesthouse and getting on a bike for the day seemed like a smashing idea to get over the stiffness of the bus ride. Sometimes my sense of logic worries me.

02. The hand of Buddha

I got up early. Let me just repeat that. I got up early. I met up with my fellow riders, Colin from England who has wisely relocated to Thailand, Lucien from Germany and his Chinese wife Ma Xin who got married in Nepal recently. I cannot remember when I was last on a bike. I was having slight problems with the whole steering thing to begin with and my curves were rather generous, but after a while it really was 'like riding a bike.'(Oh, I crack myself up sometimes.)

The park was just wonderful. A photographer's wet dream. I fired off roll after roll. Lucian was a brilliant map-reader and appointed guide. My bossy and domineering self had mysteriously been lost somewhere along the way, instead of me grabbing the map and start bossing around like I usually do I simply just plodded along at the back of the row. Ah, it was wonderful! Towards the end of the ride around the park (before the 15K back to the guesthouse that is) cycling became mysteriously difficult, the bike just wasn't co-operating very well. Turned out Missy here had driven over a plant called Mimosa which has vicious little spikes that love nothing more than puncture bike tyres. I may not have been my bossy usual self, but I still love a bit of a drama. The boys had the tyre off and on in no time, had it been me doing it we would still be standing along the road wondering how to work the pump.

03. Sukhothai

The next day I woke up and felt like a battered piece of meat. My hands were sore from gripping onto the handlebars, my thighs quivered at the slightest movement and my bum - OH - my bum. My derriere was in a serious bad way. Sitting down was painful, standing wasn't much better and laying down was the preferred position either. So we decided to rent bikes and head off to Si Satchanalai-Chaliang Historical Park (try saying that after a few Thai whiskeys...) 54 kilometers away. So this time we rented the motorised variety. We were joined by Dino, an animated Belgian and set off. Ah, the joys of a cushioned seat and an engine to do the work for you! Si Satchanalai-Chaliang was not as restored as Sukhothai and had an eery atmosphere. We did the parks in perfect order. After spending two hard days to the suffering of my backside I decided a Thai massage was in order. For 350Baht I was mildly tortured for 2.5 hours by Samart. The first part of the massage was not very comfortable, I've got bruised arms and legs to prove it.But once the pain is over you feel such joy (and relief I suppose) After the massage the massage therapist's words were 'the only part of your body that isn't stiff is your ears.'

04. Heroes

Having had enough of roads I decided it was a better option and a time saver to fly to Bangkok (a mere 40 minute flight versus another 5 hour bus ride.) So here I am in Bangkok airport waiting for my Mum. She's arriving in 2 hours and thinks that I have sorted out the programme for the next two weeks. I'd better get my sore behind and stiff back down to the Thai Airways counter and see what I can come up with.

Pictures to follow - providing they come out half decent!!

05. Sunset

06.Dirty feet

07. Thai whiskey