We left Bangkok tues night, and as usual we waited on Josh. Only this time we had three companions. Courtney, Mike and John. Courtney the one from Texas and John and mike the British boys, actyually liverpool. Anyway we grab our overnight train that cost us about 25 bucks and head to chiang mai. The train wa a riot, Loud, kinda dirty and the toilet emptied right on to the tracks. But no matter for us. We are on an adventure. We travel through some of the most beautiful countryside i have ever seen. Try and wake up for the sunrise but didnt make it. once we landed, or better, pulled into the station we looked for who ever looked the most interesting and ended up at a hostel called BMP backpackers meeting place. THEY HAVE A POOL!! first things first. We are WAY behind schedule. so we opt out of the trek to take a plane to vietnam, we leave tomorrow afternoon.
our new friends pick a two day two night trek, we more decided mostly to opt out beause it seemed a little bit touristy and not really authentic and we are blazing our own trail on this trip my friends...so we had spoken to two guys that rented motorcycles for about 5 bucks a DAY and they ahd a blast, so why not. after a few negotiations we were set two manual and three automatic 125cc motorbikes. We only had a few hours of sun light so we head out to a temple about 45 min away, if you know where you are going. and clearly we did not, another adventure begins.
Traffice in chaing mai is a little bit less hectic than in bangkok but not by much i would say its the difference between NYC and Boston. In and out of traffic you have to be aggressive and its mostly a go and pray mentality, and to be honest i think ppl are better drivers b/c yu have to be aware wof what is going on or you will get hit. So we grab some lunch and our biker gang is off. Up in the MT. winding roads and blissful views are suddenly stopped by the sounds of a motorbike careening off the edge. Courtney took a huge spill and to the hospital we go, Josh chases the cab I deal with the thia police who were amazingly helpful, a few bumps and bruises some meds later and a 6 dollar bill and we are out the door haha. 6 bucks!!!
Right so the guys head back up to the temple and have the most fun on this trip so far, josh and I find this awesome trail do some psuedo offroading and end up in some guys front yard...ok back to the highway. No speed limits and almost no rules about traffic makes for a great time with alot of freedom. We have some dinner and crash early after a few rounds of mauy Thai fighting.
This mornign we wake up early and say goodbye to our buyddies and hit the road. We are on a 120 km journey to Doi indoin the highest point in thailand. The sun is out our skin is hot and the road awaits. Just us our HOGS and the road, we head out of town with little trouble and start getting on to what looks like I-70 across the midwest but hot and with ox instead of cows and rice instead of corn. only 40 km left. I had read about 30 times that Northern Thialand was notorious for Monsoons this time of year. What Rubbish!!, except that they were right. A few much welcomed sprinkles of rain turned into an all out down pour of rain and drop of 30 degrees to about 60, we were only 9 km from the top. we had to push on
After about 20 min under some cover the rain suppressed enough for us to make it to the top to an Oasis of Ramen and hot coffee and for just 3 dollars we were warmer than before but just as wet with no sun in sight. Josh and Smith around the world or we shouldn't be alive? you decide either way we got some of the most amazing footage and shots to date. 45 min later on a slow trek down and huge goosebumps josh has a flat....good thing we are another 30+km from civilization. no matter we are a biker gang, minus three, with motorbikes not choppers but who's counting anyway.
We made it and found a nice kid that for 2.50 will change the tire in about 20 min. Exsausted and warming up we sit. "ill be right back" says josh, mind you we are in the middle of no where with a lady who has two pet pigeons and about 5 dogs who all look they have rabias, "ok Josh sounds good" and off he goes to return no more than 2 min later with two huge cold beers. what a guy. The trip home was awesome riding like the locals and exploring Thailand like no one would have expected. Off the beaten trek we found water falls, rice patties and the most picturesque locations you could imagine, Today was the best day we have had Yet. Tomorrow Viet Nam awaits. A few beers and a surise from the top of the Temple 30 min away we couldnt ask for a better ending to our journey in Thailand....
Lessons learned so far....
Never leave with out knowing EXACTLY how to get to the airport
Never use a wallet, they maybe lame but money belts are the way of the future
Never Leave for a Mt. with out a rain coat or at LEAST a jacket......More lessons ahead
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