Chiang Khong

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


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Where I stayed
Huan Thai Sopaphan Guest House
(Chiang Khong hotels)

Flag of Thailand  ,
Thursday, October 23, 2008

Brisk 40km flat ride interrupted by a stop at a temple where a Buddha had become enveloped by a banyan tree. Dead flat road and we keep a 22km/hr pace (about 13.5mph). Overcast, so we stay cool. We have break at a shop where I find an isotonic sports drink in the fridge. I then drink 7 up, which I am sure defeats the purpose.


We start to slowly climb. The sun comes out. I have to stop to shake a host of ants out of my shirt from the prev stop. The climb is long and the road is broken in places but the reward is a good fast descent back down to the plain then a 5km sprint to a lunch stop at Kaen Nua (75km). We restart on a flat but potholed road and reach Chiang Khong by 4.30 checking into the Huan Thai Sopaphan guest house. The building is 40 yr old, built of dark teak. It is airy and spacious with a veranda overlooking the Mekong. The room is dark, v basic with dodgy electrics and mix and match linen. The building compensates with an eclectic "character". We have beer on the terrace. 95km.


It soon turns out that the owner, Mrs Sopaphan is herself a bit of a character. She has bought up old teak houses and cannibalised them to make her guest house. We were shown the new project next door. I suspect that it would not make UK fire standards.


Pasit our driver, and Jump, our trainee guide, join us for their final evening. They go back to Bangkok at 0400 tomorrow. It turns out that Jump's dad is a major-general in the Thai army. He has resisted pressure to join up.
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