Hills of Northern Thailand

The blue hills of northern Thailand.  Different shapes and shades than the blue hills of home.

Spent today trying to be Australian- Jon Faine pod cast, Saturday Age online, skype calls to home, facebook time, cyclone watching and unsuccessfully (still) trying to access ABC iview- but I can now access BBC iview.

Also took some great photos - people and flowers - without a card in the camera - of course the best photos for the last month - don't you hate it when that happens.  Or maybe it's only a Mary thing!!

Friday Christmas Flowers - Poinsettias

Sold in pots at home to provide some Christmas colour, in Thailand Poinsettias grow profusely and in the wild.  These are planted at "Star Bugs" a road side cafe I stopped at on my bike ride this afternoon.
Great name!  Star Bugs only opened in the past week or so as when I rode past last month it was an overgrown shack with weeds, climbers and some car wrecks near a shack.  The first time I rode up the hill I stopped near by to admire the view, and rest, and would have loved a place to stop for a drink -now it has materialised.  Some serious whipper snipping, some burning, new concrete and a lick of paint, some kitsch table and chairs and suddenly its a cafe,

Steep Strawberry Fields

On my bike ride on Sunday I stopped and bought some strawberries at a road side stall/ cafe.  The  girl in charge was lovely and spoke reasonable English.  She is studying in Chiang Mai to become a teacher.  The land belongs to her family and her mother is in the photo sitting amongst the strawberries. The photo gives some idea of the steepness of the field.  It must be hard work planting and then picking the berries.  Cousin X and Sue have it easy growing strawberries on the flat at Bowman's Forest.
By the way the strawberries were lovely, but expensive.  150Baht which is $5 for a large punnet.  Cousin X's strawberries are a bargain at $2 per punnet.  Hope to be eating them soon.

A tuk tuk up the hill

 

To get up the hill on Sunday afternoon after my weekend in Chiang Mai I caught a ride in a tuk tuk.  They are rarely seen on the hill and I was concerned that it would not make it up the road.  However if I can make it on the bicycle, surely a motorised vehicle could.  And it did, but with considerable engine strain on some of the sharp corners and steep inclines.

I think the drive was impressed he made it too.  A nice Sunday drive for him and his wife.

Back on the bike

Yes, I have bought a bike.  A ladies mountain bike a Trek skye.  It was the quickest cycling decision I have ever made.  I caught a tuk tuk between two stores and within two hours had negotiated a deal, got the bike set up and  was ready to go.  This shop, Jackybike seemed the most professional and although we couldn't communicate beyond hand signals and the odd word they were very nice and looked after me and set me up with lights, rack and paniers. 

There were posters of Lance on the wall - not sure they had caught up on the drug scandal.  My attempt at a conversation about Cadel Evans didn't really work.

I rode back to school (about 25 km), an effort considering I am not bike fit at all- it took 4 hours.  I did take a wrong turn and so wasted about 45 minutes - some of that cooling down in the office of a condominium development and asking the bemused staff if I could please use google maps to find my way.

Half way up the hill I stopped at the Bamboo House for a coke and to wait out a storm for over an hour.  Then a stopped and looked at ants for a while on the steep sections.  Hopefully it won't be such a long trip the next time. 

I am looking forward to exploring the area around school and if necessary using the bike to get in and out of town. As this article describes Chiang Mai offers great cycling.  It is becoming an eastern cycling epicenter.