To Chiang Rai

Trip Start Oct 01, 2008
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Trip End Dec 30, 2009


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Where I stayed
La Lula Hotel
(Chiang Rai hotels)

Flag of Thailand  ,
Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Breakfast then off along a dirt road up and down for about 11-12km stopping at a village wgere they seemed to be having a scout convention. Onto 2 longtail boats,  guests in one and bikes in the other, for a quite exciting trip downriver. Great scenery, shooting some light rapids etc. Off the boats and over a pedestrian suspension bridge wih uneven planks, broken handrails etc. V Indiana Jones. More off road up and down hills stopping beside rice harvesters who were enjoying an ice cream sold by a man with a coolbox strapped to the back of his moped. The ice cream blocks were cut up and stuck onto bamboo skewers. J&I  had coconut but others had papaya and durian. We saw men threshing rice by hand. V hard work. Each bundle beaten 8-10 times onto a wooden platform placed on top of the pile of rice.

We emerged onto a road by some hot springs. They said that the water was 35C but it felt more to me. When I came out, I felt totally relaxed but faintly sulphurous.

Another huge lunch then we had a pleasant ride to Chiang Rai stopping only to watch some elephants on the other side of  the river. Native elephants used to be used for logging but now just carry tourists about.

We arrived at the hotelat 1430. The boys then went for a fast cycle to the bike shop "2km" turned out to be 5 or 6 but we had some exciting urban cycling in Chiang Rai traffic.

Cocktails and an entertaining evening at a local restaurant. Waitresses in tight outfits didn't hold any interest for me. Our guide, Ant asked if we would like to eat Mexican or Italian tomorrow. No: Thai, we said.
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