Lone Rider
Blokes Who Can
From Plan A to No Plan
Had a plan to deliver some maps to Marty and Woraphat at the Chiangrai Saddlebag Shop and then ride to the Doi Chang Mup area. From there the plan was to follow the 1334 along the border to the west to Doi Mae Salong and then, time permitting, again north to the border with Myanmar and back home. The plan was good but as usual, along the way I found several new things (new for me) which took quite a big bite out of my time so had to cancel my plan and head home directly from Chiangrai after dropping of the maps.
Left early in the morning and the first small diversion was the sighting of a hot air balloon over the misty fields.
After a quick stop for coffee and pie (Blueberry cheese this time) at Charin off to Wat Huai San Phattana (N19.74479 E99.62377) with its intriguing guardians of the stupa. Still not really sure what they represent but I liked them.
A statue of the Lord Ganesha which generally is more related to Hinduism than Buddhism (Ganesha: Lord of Success - About the Hindu Elephant-Deity)
On the way to Chiangrai I spotted a large Singha standing in the fields along RD 1211 with lots of people enjoying a coffee in a restaurant which actuallu was still under construction
All this was part of the Boonrawd Farm (the makers of Singha Beer) and actually the farm was covereing a huge area with all kinds of crops grown there (tea, rubber, etc.) and several activities for visitors like mountain biking, etc.
Another restaurant at the Boonrawd Farm
At that point in time my original Plan A was still feasible but once I spotted a paved road going of to the north-west I needed to explore it as it was not on my map and Plan A had to be abandoned for the No Plan option. So of I went and the road kept meandering on till I cam at a quarry site and spotted on a high cliff something which looked like a Buddha Statue. Found a side road which seemed to go into the right direction and from there it went up very steep to the temple at Doi InSee (N19.90655 E99.73741). Magnificent views from high up over the plains to the north and east.
Panoramic view to the North
The elevation profile of the trip down from Wat Doi InSee to the quarry.
Along the road from Doi InSee I found another Wat which was on my list of things to do/see - Wat Phrathat Tham Doi Kong Khao (N19.91242 E99.77693). I had hope that I could drive up to the top of the mountain but no luck this time and a description I found on another forum described the ,climb as being very difficult so I did not even try it with my wonky lungs. As I was looking for a more easy way to get to the stupa on the top, I forgot to visit the cave on the same grounds so that is something I will have to do the next time I am in the neighborhood.
Buddha Statue on the grounds of Wat Phrathat Tham Doi Kong Khao.
Some pictures of the view, the stupa and a Buddha statue on top of the mountain (pictures not by me but "borrowed" from Google Earth/Panoramio - pictures by 4amExpat)
The "Reclining Women Hill" and the Kok River
The Hill by Wat Phra That Tham Doi Kong Khao
By bike or vehicle, head out of the city past Rai Mae Fah Luang Cultural Park on the road that you would take to go to Don's restaurant or on to Mae Yao/ Doi In Cee. 2.8Km past the park at an intersection, turn right and follow the signs as if going to Ban Phasoet Hot springs/ prison. A further 2.9km will take you to a gravel road off to your right marked by a Buddha statue and signage. Turn onto this road and after another 400 metres there is the monastery and wat. Park in the grounds. The hill you are going to ascend is one of those limestone plugs that you see dotted around the province, rising improbably upwards from flattish ground of the Wat. A path leads you off to the left, follow it around the base of the hill past the female monks white-painted quarters. You will pass a cliff face to your right on which hang some of the biggest colonies of wild bees you'll ever want to see. They are not so active at this time of year –but take care anyway. Follow the small path around, a concrete grey wall now on your left, until you see a shrine and some guardian animal statues with crazy marble eyes. The path then heads uphill for about 200m. through sparce woodland. You reach a clearing and a small retreat house, and the steps to the summit are on your right. Don't be fooled – the first fifty or so are smooth, proper steps – after this it's very rough and ready stone 'steps' and then it's a scramble and a glow inducing climb to the very top.
There is a multi- layered cave to visit within the grounds – go up the steps that are directly behind the parking area. Take a torch or lighter or switch on the electrics at the connection box yourself (on the concrete pole to the left front of the steps up to the cave entrance). There are a few bats, shrines and about 200 metres of beautiful water worn tunnels to admire with sand covered floors. (Adapted from: Rock Climbing Near Chiang Rai - Chiang Rai Forum - Thailand Forum)
Had a plan to deliver some maps to Marty and Woraphat at the Chiangrai Saddlebag Shop and then ride to the Doi Chang Mup area. From there the plan was to follow the 1334 along the border to the west to Doi Mae Salong and then, time permitting, again north to the border with Myanmar and back home. The plan was good but as usual, along the way I found several new things (new for me) which took quite a big bite out of my time so had to cancel my plan and head home directly from Chiangrai after dropping of the maps.
Left early in the morning and the first small diversion was the sighting of a hot air balloon over the misty fields.
After a quick stop for coffee and pie (Blueberry cheese this time) at Charin off to Wat Huai San Phattana (N19.74479 E99.62377) with its intriguing guardians of the stupa. Still not really sure what they represent but I liked them.
A statue of the Lord Ganesha which generally is more related to Hinduism than Buddhism (Ganesha: Lord of Success - About the Hindu Elephant-Deity)
On the way to Chiangrai I spotted a large Singha standing in the fields along RD 1211 with lots of people enjoying a coffee in a restaurant which actuallu was still under construction
All this was part of the Boonrawd Farm (the makers of Singha Beer) and actually the farm was covereing a huge area with all kinds of crops grown there (tea, rubber, etc.) and several activities for visitors like mountain biking, etc.
Another restaurant at the Boonrawd Farm
At that point in time my original Plan A was still feasible but once I spotted a paved road going of to the north-west I needed to explore it as it was not on my map and Plan A had to be abandoned for the No Plan option. So of I went and the road kept meandering on till I cam at a quarry site and spotted on a high cliff something which looked like a Buddha Statue. Found a side road which seemed to go into the right direction and from there it went up very steep to the temple at Doi InSee (N19.90655 E99.73741). Magnificent views from high up over the plains to the north and east.
Panoramic view to the North
The elevation profile of the trip down from Wat Doi InSee to the quarry.
Along the road from Doi InSee I found another Wat which was on my list of things to do/see - Wat Phrathat Tham Doi Kong Khao (N19.91242 E99.77693). I had hope that I could drive up to the top of the mountain but no luck this time and a description I found on another forum described the ,climb as being very difficult so I did not even try it with my wonky lungs. As I was looking for a more easy way to get to the stupa on the top, I forgot to visit the cave on the same grounds so that is something I will have to do the next time I am in the neighborhood.
Buddha Statue on the grounds of Wat Phrathat Tham Doi Kong Khao.
Some pictures of the view, the stupa and a Buddha statue on top of the mountain (pictures not by me but "borrowed" from Google Earth/Panoramio - pictures by 4amExpat)
The "Reclining Women Hill" and the Kok River
The Hill by Wat Phra That Tham Doi Kong Khao
By bike or vehicle, head out of the city past Rai Mae Fah Luang Cultural Park on the road that you would take to go to Don's restaurant or on to Mae Yao/ Doi In Cee. 2.8Km past the park at an intersection, turn right and follow the signs as if going to Ban Phasoet Hot springs/ prison. A further 2.9km will take you to a gravel road off to your right marked by a Buddha statue and signage. Turn onto this road and after another 400 metres there is the monastery and wat. Park in the grounds. The hill you are going to ascend is one of those limestone plugs that you see dotted around the province, rising improbably upwards from flattish ground of the Wat. A path leads you off to the left, follow it around the base of the hill past the female monks white-painted quarters. You will pass a cliff face to your right on which hang some of the biggest colonies of wild bees you'll ever want to see. They are not so active at this time of year –but take care anyway. Follow the small path around, a concrete grey wall now on your left, until you see a shrine and some guardian animal statues with crazy marble eyes. The path then heads uphill for about 200m. through sparce woodland. You reach a clearing and a small retreat house, and the steps to the summit are on your right. Don't be fooled – the first fifty or so are smooth, proper steps – after this it's very rough and ready stone 'steps' and then it's a scramble and a glow inducing climb to the very top.
There is a multi- layered cave to visit within the grounds – go up the steps that are directly behind the parking area. Take a torch or lighter or switch on the electrics at the connection box yourself (on the concrete pole to the left front of the steps up to the cave entrance). There are a few bats, shrines and about 200 metres of beautiful water worn tunnels to admire with sand covered floors. (Adapted from: Rock Climbing Near Chiang Rai - Chiang Rai Forum - Thailand Forum)
