Local Knowledge.

Now I wouldn’t say I’m old but having spent a few days in various hostels I thought, as the group I’d been travelling with had left for a few days, I’d book myself into a guesthouse away from the carnage, with a double bed, pool and relax a little. The room was dated but having a pool in the sunshine was class.

It was a perfect base to meet an old face and her new family. Georgina, Fiji and Marley, their 7 month old boy, took me out and about for some exploring and food. We headed up to Wat Pha Lat, a secluded temple which I’ve rode past the muddy tracked entrance several times but would not have known what it lead to. It was an amazing place, with real character, as a lot of it was being restored or was untouched for years. The lack of tourists was a dream, I deemed my self a local that day! After the temple I was treated to one of the best Kao Soy’s in Chiang Mai. It’s a local dish to Northern Thailand that contains a mix of deep-fried crispy egg noodles and boiled egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, shallots, lime, ground chillies fried in oil, and meat in a curry-like sauce containing coconut milk. Wikipedia will probably say something similar. Whatever is in it, it’s incredible! Marley attempted to eat a cucumber and some carrot but got most of his dinner on the floor, childish really.

The next day, after exploring the mountains on my scooter, I was invited to Georgina’s English school for a talk with Ajahn Amaro, or just affectionately “Monk Man” for those of you, like me, who will undoubtedly forget his name. He’s an English monk who, with his blend of English wit and Buddhist wisdom, makes for a really interesting listen. Getting up off the floor after an hour and a half was hard work though, bet them lazy monks have never suffered a slipped disk! Also don’t tell him that I was more impressed by the bamboo school hall architecture.

I can’t thank Georgina and her family enough for their hospitality and kindness, a few days exploring other places and traditions with friends is what travelling is really all about.

Now let’s talk about exploring the mountains on my scooter. We may have, on one occasion, become a little more familiar than I would have liked. Heading up to Panviman Resort and Spa are some of the best motor biking roads I’ve ever been on. I was alone, I had my headphones in and the sun was shining… I also may have found the limit of my tires! Luckily other than a small graze and a pea sized hole in my shirt, which I was fuming about, I got away with it. The worst bit was as I sat on my arse and the bike disappeared down the road, three wild dogs were close by and went mental at all the noise, I jumped up and grabbed the moped to get going but as I did, they all started chasing me up the road at full speed! Shitting myself I got away and left them barking at the bottom of the hill. It was far worse than the fall itself!

As you can see by the pictures, words don’t really do the roads and the resort justice. Both are beautiful and costly in different ways. The roads cost my pride and a night at the resort costs £200.

On to Chiang Rai now to see the White Temple and then I’ll be heading back down South to some islands. I need to see the sea badly, it’s been 2 weeks, far too long for me.

My hotel view;

Wat Pha Lat;

Georgina’s school and the Kao Soy restaurant;

Panviman Resort and the ride to it;