North Thailand – Chiang mai, Doi Inthanon – Highest Point in Thailand, Mae Sariang

On the way to Doi Inthanon, as soon as I see bikers, I waved or nodded to them including a few Singaporean Bikers. As the altitude climbs,  I could feel my ears blocking and temperature dropping. It was 11am in the morning, bright and sunny there but temperature was 9 degree celsius!

At the peak and a selfie shot with my monopod. My monopod drew many curious stares from other visitors.

Above the cloud. Could not see anything really.

As I was walking down to my bike, I crossed path with a group of Malaysian bikers. It was obvious I am a biker from the Dainese Jacket I was donning.

Malaysian Biker: “Hello xiao mei (little sister in Chinese), you rode here by yourself?”
Me: “Yes, but I am meeting friend at another town.”
Malaysian Biker: “Wah, daring to ride alone ah. Are you from Singapore?”
Me: “How you know?”
Malaysian Biker: “Because you got the look mah.” *Tickled my cheek*
Me: “Oei!” *Trying to dodge his hand.*

HE TICKLED MY CHEEK!!! I quickly walked away. I do not want to take any offence in that as long as he was not tickling me anywhere else. Brushing that aside, I crossed path with them on our bikes later and just gave a friendly air tickle.

The distance to Mae Sariang from Doi Inthanon was only another 150km or so. It would be quick ride out and hopefully I would have time to visit Op Luang National Park as well.

Obviously, my mind was still grounded in the complacency of having straight paved roads in Singapore. The route out of Doi Inthanon to Mae Sariang was laid with narrow bends and at some parts uneven ground. It was almost impossible to cruise fast, my speed was hovering at 30 to 40km/hr.

At times, I was lagging behind a crawling truck with little chances to overtake safely. However, going slow allowed me to appreciate the picturesque view in my surrounding. It was just swathes of undulating hills before me and the surronding space was so open and liberating. With just me and the motorcycle, the freedom became more palpable.

I could not help to stop a few times for some photos. Monopod is the best tool when you are alone and wish to take photos of yourself.

And the roads were such – not well-paved, narrow, meandering. Riding slow allowed me to appreciate the picturesque sight.

I stopped for petrol and snacks at Mae Cheam, which was also the half way point out. When I returned to start the bike and engage my gear, the bike died!

I tried again and again to no avail. By then, the sky bore tinges of orange, marking the onset of dusk. Hungry and panicking, I was clueless about troubleshooting this foreign bike, and uncertain if I could reach our rendezvous in time.

Chomped down more snacks to stimulate some brain juice, I tried to start the bike again. Unbeknownst to me, the bike could not start because the side stand was down. Ok, I admit I am very obsolete. I do not have inkling about safety powercut features in bikes. The most complex electronics in the two bikes I owned is the IU unit.

Fortunately, I managed to get out of the small difficult road before dusk. Nonetheless, the night sky was catching up with me as I was riding on highway 108. Picking up speed means having the unforgiving cold wind lashing at me, slowing down means I would have to ride in the dark. I had to find the balance.

Mae Sariang

As the sun began hiding behind the mountains, the cold became more unbearable. I soon realised that a pair of ventilated riding glove was the least appropriate in this situation. I continued to talk and encourage myself as I rode. With minimal street lamps, the bike’s head light was more vital than ever. Apparently, I would not be visiting Op Luang National Park anymore.

I regretted not bringing the thermal liner which comes with my riding jacket and pants. I always thought you would need to be riding in a temperate countries where there is snow and such for a thermal liner to come useful. But no, winter in North Thailand calls for that already. Even the Swiss lady I spoke to in the Mae Sariang Guesthouse underestimated Thailand’s winter.

The sight of street lamps and road signs brought some relief everytime I past them – I am nearing the town.

At the periphery of the Mae Sariang, I stopped to confirm my location on the iPhone with my frozen finger and also received a message from Cherie with the location of their Guesthouse.

Familiar bikes spotted

After scouring the street for the other bikes, I found them and cuddled myself at the porch. I called them and dropped a message about my arrival but the calls and messages were unanswered because they were taking a shower upstairs. Shower was the last things I wanted then.

We had dinner at the stall located within the Guesthouse compound. I learnt that the Pad Thai there is good and many locals patronise it.

The cold and prolonged time without food had quenched my hunger by then. I could not eat much.

There, the familiarity of our accents connected us with a Malaysian lady in her late 40s. She was travelling alone in Thailand for 2 months.

The topic about travelling solo as a women came up and the prominent gang rape incident in New Delhi was brought up.

She has been to India a few times and even by herself, but nothing eventful like this happened before.

“Maybe I am too old for their liking. Haha,” she laughed it off.

This lady’s name is Alice Wong and she refused to reveal her age when I asked. When I chatted with her, I could not help to see a bit of myself in her – a genial demeanour behind that placid front. Maybe that placidness comes along with age which I have not honed. At her age, travelling is still an unwavering pastime and she took it slow and easy.

After dinner, we went for a stroll down the chilly street to find a place to chill further more. To counter the cold, Wei Jie and Cherie occasionally broke out into dancing fits and we started to run up and down.

We settled down in one of the bar for a warm drink. Soon after, a guy came to our table and sat himself down.

“Are you modern?” he asked in his drunken stupor, directing the question at Cherie.  Do we look like we were from a different era or was that some new pick up line?

“Are you modern?”

“Yes, as in not ancient,” Cherie’s witty response to him.

In between his hiccup, he went on to compliment Cherie. “You are so beautiful.”

Probably he thought that Cherie’s beauty was out of this time. Maybe that was the next pick up line but no! He went on a incomprehensible rant on how British and Thai people suck.

Finally, the golden question came, “Can I have your phone number?” We decided that it was time to leave and spare further awkwardness with a guy who probably did not know what he was talking about.

We later figured out he was actually asking, “Are you a model?”

Being slaves to gadget, a power point is vital.

From top left clockwise, Cherie, Uncle Mike, Wei Jie, me and Alice from Malaysia.

Guest House with Good Pad Thai Stall in Mae Sariang
I was too cold to find out the name of the place. But here is the Google Map Street View of the place.