Chiang Mai 2

14.01.2017 - Jordan

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Chiang Mai, as said previously, has an interesting surrounding area. There is, amongst others, a mountain called Doi Suthep, which overlooks the valley. We intend to go there today, on a scooter!

We have heard of remote villages, of tribal people and different temples to visit. We're not well organised but happy to ride another vehicle than the usual Tuk-Tuk!

Barely out of the city, the road winds up on the side of the mountain and offers us an incredible view of Chiang Mai. Well, that's not the most beautiful view we have seen! It's just a city, but it's nice to be in height, to follow the curved roads and feel cooler temperatures. First time that we got almost cold since the beginning of our asian journey!

On the way, a major tourist zone bar the road. Many tiny shops offer fruit shakes: mango, passion fruit, bananas, dragon fruit, etc... Being able to get delicious and cheap fruits in South-East Asia is such a happiness compared to our last months in Korea! There is a specific reason why these shops are here: we must need hydration to climb an important set of stairs that goes up to the Wat Phra Doi Suthep.

The Wat Phra Doi Suthep is a Buddhist temple. Once the stairs climbed, we arrive in a first area, where we need to get bare feet to enter in the central temple. In the middle an imposing Chedi (A kind of 'pyramid') is entirely golden. There are many tourists, but also a lot of locals who come to pray the various represented gods. The place is beautiful, with all its whistles. Huge bells are hanging on each sides of the temple. The location is fascinating: we can see far in the valley.

But some behaviours have particularly 'shocked' us: the total disrespect from many Chinese, Korean, American and European tourists. 

You have the choice between:

Tourists who are 'shouting' in the prayer area because people walk around the Chedi and they can't take their selfies. 

Couples, as well as children encouraged by parents, to ring ALL the bells of this holy place, even if it's written with huge letters that it is completely banned.

People who spit. 

Everything that can help to hate tourists. It's perfect to feel shameful towards Thais. So, fast, We leave to go higher up in the mountains !

In our guide was indicated a tribal village, for tourists. Due to our previous experience, we want to avoid going there. But then we hear about another village, a kilometer above, where few people venture. Let's go in the small dirt roads with our powerful vehicle! I'm not the most confident with these climbs/descents full of gravel, and with Sixtine in the back ! 

Let's try to not die by falling in here.

At the edge of the road, plants with small red and green fruits attract us: it's coffee! Or at least, which will become. By having a better look, we discover that we are near a coffee plantation! Intrigued, we visit which is an experimental area, surrounded by a beautiful lawn and trees with pink flowers. The only miss is a unicorn. There, we can see the whole coffee process. Cuttings, drying, water baths and harvesting by hand.

A few hundred meters further, we arrive at the tribal village. You must imagine a local village with wooden houses everywhere. Nothing too exotic that let imagine the word 'Tribal'. Well, it is true that they live in a rather remote area, and that some people have traditional clothes. But, even here, kids buy candies and Pokemons stickers when school ends! The city probably lives from two types of agricultures: the coffee, because every family is drying his crops, and the strawberries! Yes, strawberries!

Hard to imagine for us, but it is here, in Thailand, at the top of a mountain that strawberries grow. Why here? Because, temperatures approach 20-25 degrees instead of the usual 30-35! We sit in one of the only cafes of the village : a beautiful wooden construction surrounded with a lot of greenery, which gives an amazing view on the other side of the mountain!

The sun begins to go down, so we jump again on our scooter. Mountain roads are empty, we descend at full speed, the temperatures go up as we get closer to Chiang Mai. It's nice and peaceful. The sky turns red. The City starts to shed some light.

Here we are, back in the hustle and bustle of Chiang Mai after a day away from the city!