la bicyclette bleue: Mae Hong Son Loop: Khun Yuam to Mae Sariang

Wednesday 15 January 2015

We set out from the guesthouse about half past seven. The scene today was agricultural and the land had been cleared to make terraces for rice plantation. After two climbs, we descended onto a valley where we stopped for early lunch of Singapore chicken rice which was delicious.

We had intended to stop at Mae La Noi, 69 km away. Just before the town, we met a young American cyclist going the other direction. She encouraged us to push on to Mae Sariang 30km further. It was already half past twelve and we felt sorry for her as she had 65km to go in order to find accommodation overnight.

We stopped for refreshments at the local 7-11 and met a monk taking money from the ATM and driving off in a huge 4X4! In Thailand, as in many Buddhist countries, being a monk, even for a short period, is a duty and an honour. Hence, it is not surprising to see men from all walks of life serving their time as monks.

Along the way, we decided to buy some bananas at a roadside store. We only wanted half of this big bunch of bananas. The store owner looked rather embarrassed. We asked the price. 5 baht! So we were embarrassed. Well, we now have a big bunch of bananas strapped to the back of one of our bicycles.

Arriving in Mae Sariang, we found a small guesthouse with a very welcoming host. We did our laundry and set off to explore the main street in town. Our host recommended dinner at Intira restaurant nearby. Never have we seen such an efficient little family unit. The order was called out, as we ordered, to the boss who wrote it down. The cooks sets to work immediately and within a minute, the waitress delivers the dish. The food was excellent.

No TV; it is an early night with another long ride tomorrow which starts with a 17-km climb. The fan is working overtime to dry the clothes.

Distance: 98 km

Total ascent: 1308 m