Last visa run. Every two months falangs (non Thais) have to travel to another country to redeem their tourist visa. Some do not like this and see it as an unwelcome inconvenience. I take it as an invitation to have an adventure.
This time I am going south west from Chiang Mai to a little known border crossing called Mae Sot. It takes 8 hours by motorcycle. The first stop is Mae Sariang, 3 hours from Chiang Mai.
Once past Mae Sariang on the far west of Thailand, the road south narrows to an almost pathway through an hour of tiny winding roads and dells with tight bends, then up into the high mountains where you are with and above the clouds.
These trails look down across stunning vistas and over blue mountain ranges. Among the peaks are golden temples built on pinnacles. I have no clue how to reach them, only the villagers know. For about 1 hour the road is undeveloped, potholes, huge cracks that will take you off your bike, and sheer ravines. I had large snakes slither across my path, landslides coming out into the roadway (heavy rain today), and discovered a refugee town (Karen Burmese).
Theravadin Buddhist monks walking the jungle in their orange robes and armed checkpoints are the other things you will likely meet along this little traveled way. For hours there was nothing on the road behind me, I was by myself.
Make sure you have enough gas in your vehicle because there are absolutely no facilities for hours at a stretch. I took a few pictures here along the route, but it is hard to capture the experience with a camera unless skilled.
After 8 hours on the road, took refuge in this delightful guesthouse in Mae Sot, just before nightfall.
This is my building. I get two floors all to myself. Including outside dining area and space for yoga.
Inside, the bedrooms are all wood panel. It feels so good to be living ‘inside wood’.
They even make sure my bike is parked underneath my house, in the porch, away from the rain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Sot
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Sot_District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Sariang_District
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karen_people
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salawin_National_Park
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theravada
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