Chiang Mai: I'll be back...
The title explains it all... there's just too much to do up here to squeeze comfortably into a week of traveling.
I ended up renting a scooter again, despite the chaotic traffic in this city. It truly is the best way to see as much as possible without the hassle of flagging and bartering with a taxi driver. I managed to see the Wat (temple), and some waterfalls northwest of Chiang Mai. The ride up is a motorcyclists dream - serpentine curves for about 30 kilometers up and down the side of a mountain. It felt pretty good on the scooter, but my speed was limited by the nominal lean angle and tackiness of the tires... okay fine... its not a sport bike, and I really wish it was.
I'll likely be renting scooters for all my remaining stops as long as it seems safe to do so (i.e. Bangkok would be suicidal). The added flexibility and freedom you get is well worth the 4-6 dollars (CDN) per day. I would highly recommend other potential travelers to do the same if you end up coming out to asia (provided that you are comfortable doing so).
Our next stop is going to be Vientiane, Laos. We're going to take an over night bus to a town south of the "friendship bridge" called Udhon Thani, and then take another short ride to the border to a town called Nong Khai (spelling is probably all wrong). Hopefully this bus driver isn't as insane as the last one... I'm hoping to catch some sleep this time.
If I don't post for a few days, its probably because I can't find internet in Laos. Keep commenting!
UPDATE: Photo album added Aug. 8th, 2007
I ended up renting a scooter again, despite the chaotic traffic in this city. It truly is the best way to see as much as possible without the hassle of flagging and bartering with a taxi driver. I managed to see the Wat (temple), and some waterfalls northwest of Chiang Mai. The ride up is a motorcyclists dream - serpentine curves for about 30 kilometers up and down the side of a mountain. It felt pretty good on the scooter, but my speed was limited by the nominal lean angle and tackiness of the tires... okay fine... its not a sport bike, and I really wish it was.
I'll likely be renting scooters for all my remaining stops as long as it seems safe to do so (i.e. Bangkok would be suicidal). The added flexibility and freedom you get is well worth the 4-6 dollars (CDN) per day. I would highly recommend other potential travelers to do the same if you end up coming out to asia (provided that you are comfortable doing so).
Our next stop is going to be Vientiane, Laos. We're going to take an over night bus to a town south of the "friendship bridge" called Udhon Thani, and then take another short ride to the border to a town called Nong Khai (spelling is probably all wrong). Hopefully this bus driver isn't as insane as the last one... I'm hoping to catch some sleep this time.
If I don't post for a few days, its probably because I can't find internet in Laos. Keep commenting!
UPDATE: Photo album added Aug. 8th, 2007
posted by Alan at
3:54 AM
1 Comments:
So motorcycle trip to South America next summer and then figure out a way to bike to and around asia the following summer?! ;-)
Looks like you are having a wicked time! I'm jealous...
By
Pat, At
9:55 PM
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