A Brit in The Orient.

We made it to Phayao in the late afternoon, only to be told that my 'Old Friend' Vlad had driven to Chiang Mai to look me up.

Well we had a couple of strong coffees in town by the lake and set off to Lampang using the National Highway,( Route 1) and from there we could head north towards Chiang Mai again using the National route (Route 11).

These are good roads by Thai standards and mainly dual carriageway.

Using these roads took me away from the mountain roads I preferred, but we had no desire to get stuck riding the bike up in those mountains during darkness, and we didn't particularly wish to stay out over-night. It would be nice to get back to our apartment, take a good shower, relax and maybe go down to The Red Lion in Chiang Mai were Vlad would end up going, or leave it until tomorrow and call into Novotel to see him, (he virtually always makes his way there when in Chiang Mai.) time would tell.

I fair gave the throttle some stick on occasion but didn't overdo it, some of the nearside of the road was dogged with pot holes and I didn't want an accident, well being and life is far too precious for that.

The trip took about three hours with stops to cover about a hundred and sixty miles.

More tomorrow!

The photograph below was taken from a local newspaper, (maybe The Bangkok Post or Nation, I cannot remember.

Basically though it shows that rodent consumption is still a popular part of life in The Orient.

We did meet up with Vlad in The Novotel the following day.

There are some great tales regarding several of the characters I have come to know in Thailand especially. Ex-pats from various countries, Thais, Cambodians, Vietnamese and Burmese especially.

I'll probably dedicate a section to some of the guys and women we have come to know over the years.

We changed the bike for a car and made the journey out to enjoy the canopy experience which was a brilliant experience as the photographs show previously entered for me by Dutchy.

As it is, I'm taking a break this evening, got some other work I need to do, and we have three of the grandsons full time for the next two or three weeks, whilst they are off school for the holidays. Half term I suppose.

So the bicycles have been getting their tyres inflated and checked over today, and weather permitting, we shall start our rides tomorrow.

I'm looking forward to that, its great being out in the country with the lads on the bicycles.

I hope you all realise that Mathos gave you an "out" with the rat on the spit photo. I thought it was a small dog actually. A terrier maybe or an ordinary mongrel. A puppy anyway.

He knows how much you hate rats.

His bottle would go all a twitter if it was a koala bear.

It had to be a rat to keep you all on board the Mathos worship.

You're a bunch of ratists.

That's a dog Spendi...

I had quite a decent ride today, only with the youngest grandson though. Twelve years of age, but he can push the pedals.

We did about twelve miles, it was cold though and we ran into a bit of snow and hailstone. Then he wanted an ice cream at one of those farm-shops, so that was comical, licking ice cream in snow and hail-stone.

Kids. Great isn't it. He is going to France next week as well, playing tennis over there and he's just been selected for Lancashire under 14's for the season.

Right, I have some great stuff to get together this week on the first place that Aot told me about, we did make it and it was a brilliant place to find and look around, not another Farang in sight, I'll get it together this week.

In the meanwhile, I'll just fetch you up to date with some of the interesting bits and pieces we came across before we actually left Chiang Mai.

Mae Kompong was the area we visited to spend our day in the jungle upper canopy.

It was once a notorious poppy growing area and a bastion of hill-tribes.

It is now home to a rather small community of forest dwellers who in the main cultivate tea and coffee in jungle plantations.

It is a very beautiful area of Northern Thailand.

People take great pride in their homes and community, flowers abound in gardens as well as by the roadside.

The Kompong water falls are also beautiful, it is a fair old walk to the crest of the fall, but well worth the effort.

I am placing a few pictures below with a brief note on each.

This was a really attractive part of the village, the property central to the picture was also a homestay.

This particular property was in more of a jungle setting, but hopefully you can appreciate the contrasts I am trying to show in the village vicinity.

This I believe to be one of the best photographs Flobo ever took. We were having a coffee by the side of the river at a small village around Mae Rim, it was mid afternoon, we saw this young boy coming home from school on the back of his own elephant, you will note the satchel on his back.

I cannot help but think how lucky he was to live in such a beautiful part of the world, he probably takes it all for granted.

It is surprising how many people think the 'Long Necks' only exist in darkest Africa. The Long Necks or Padang as they are correctly named are part of The Karen tribe.

These particular Karen are refugees living on the Thai Border.

The rings mean a great deal to the wearers and they are very proud of them.

I understand the original purpose was to stretch and strengthen the neck to enable the women to carry heavier loads!

Hello Mathos!
Good to see you. Amazing reading about your travels. How lucky you and your wife are to be able to do that! Thanks for sharing it with us...

Oh - the necks...does it really strengthen their necks Mathos?
Glad to have you back!
mis

This photograph is of a Karen (Padang) refugee village in Thailand. The Village is very basic and from discussions I had with some of the inhabitants it has been here for about twelve years.

I travel a great deal in these mountain areas visiting Laos, Burma, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Whilst I have my personal views on some of the factors leading to the mis-placement of people into refugee camps, I do not think a public forum is the safest place to air my views.

We have been stopped, searched and questioned by several security forces out in these countries.

I have no hesitation in pointing out that both my wife and self have always been treated fairly and with respect by the Thai Police, Thai Border Patrol and Thai Army. We have no cause for complaint and realise they have a job to do.

I am of the opinion that the Thai Government in general treat the refugees very well and do a great deal for them, at the countries expense.

Hello Mismi, Personally I have no idea, I understand that if the rings were to be removed then the neck would be very vulnerable simply considering the weight of the human head.

However, in conjunction with the rings being a permanent feature, they could give strength to the neck. They would definitely increase the surface area for load carrying I imagine.

It was nice to start using four wheels after the bike, but whenever I look back on photographs or saw somebody gliding along on a decent machine I kind of wish I'd hung onto it a bit longer.

I suppose it's just a psychological aspect of growing up!

This was a beautiful elevated restaurant by the side of a small river in Mae Rim.

Paradise lost.

It's quite something to see a banana tree with fruit if you haven't seen one before and not everybody has.

The banana tree grows an outstanding flower which is just about to come out on this particular tree.

The Kompong Waterfall, a beautiful sight

This was a photograph taken on one of the initial stages of a jungle trek we undertook.

We have done a great deal of treks in the jungle. Again, I will write up a section simply on the treks at a later stage.

Goodnight for now.

I love the pictures and stories - thanks Mathos.

Question for you - since you write some much of the interesting food - such as dog and rat - what is the most unusual food you tried on your trip?