Ruth: This morning we visited Wat Phumin, Northern Thailand's Sistine Chapel. The temple was built in 1596, but it was during it's restoration in the late 19th century that Thai Lue artists painted the now famous murals. These murals are noteworthy not only for their Buddhist content and their depictions of daily life but also for their political and social commentary from the Thai Lue ... Read More
Gordon: We booked a night at the Phu Lang Ka resort only because it was the sole accommodation we could find at a convenient distance from where we stayed the previous night. The few comments on the internet were not encouraging: "time has not been kind to this resort", "costs 50 percent more than comparable resorts", and "difficult to find staff to provide food or ... Read More
After 1,000 kms of cycling in Thailand it is time to make the case for why this might be just the best place on earth to cycle.1. PeopleThis is of course well known, but Thai people are lovely and this really is the land of smiles. Whether you are in Bangkok or the tiniest village, Thais are there to help whenever you need it. One ... Read More
Today we have been cycling through the infamous Golden Triangle. This was the name given to a region encompassing a portion of Burma, Laos and Thailand during the the American War on Drugs.It has now been appropriated by the town of Sop Ruak to designate the point where the three countries come together. The opium fields in Thailand are all but gone, although across the ... Read More
Ruth: No amount of flattery from Gordon will talk me up another mountain road like the road in and out of Mae Salong. I did make it without bailing and taking a $2 ride up but oh my $#€%!! Today was not as difficult as yesterday, but still we were racing down into the valleys only to climb all the way up the other side ... Read More
Fang to Huai Khum Resort on the Kok RiverHuai Khum Resort to Mae SalongWe are up at 1100 meters in Mae Salong, a Chinese Nationalist outpost with a colourful history. During the communist revolution the Kuomintang (Nationalists) were swept from power and one group of them fled to Northern Thailand and Burma. When their plan to overthrow the communists in China failed, they remained in ... Read More
We are presently only about 20 km from the Burmese border, and the landscape has changed dramatically in the last two days. This region is covered with haystack shaped limestone mountains clothed in jungle and dotted with caves. Last night we had the honeymoon bungalow at Malee's Nature Lover's Bungalows. The property has a beautiful garden that includes 700 different varieties of orchids. It is on ... Read More
We are staying in Chiang Mai for Christmas, and because of the combination of the resident expat population and Thai hospitality, it does feel a little bit Christmasy. There are Christmas trees, Christmas carols and numerous offers for traditional turkey dinners at restaurants.There are, however, a few differences from Christmas back home. This was the first time I have ever eaten Christmas breakfast outside, and ... Read More
Ruth/Gordon: Nothing breaks up an 80km ride through the mountains like elephants. We timed our ride so that we could see the elephants bathing and also take in the 10:00 show at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre. This is a rescue centre for 120 elephants that were either misused in the tourist industry or lost their jobs when they quit logging in In the country. ... Read More
Today was our last flat ride before we enter the hills. Our route was on a quiet road that passed rice fields and orchards, each with its own spirit house. No house in Thailand is complete without a spirit house. The houses are elaborate enough to ensure that the spirits choose them over the main house to live in. While Thailand is primarily Buddhist, the ... Read More