Today was one the of the most different of days in riding experiences. It’s what true touring is all about. It’s about taking it easy. Taking the time to enjoy and see the places you visit.
Last night we were both tired . Before dinner we want for a massage. A great little place called Purita Spa. This morning we were still tired and decided on a slow and leisurely day. A simple breakfast at the hotel, plans made for the day and we were off.
We got to the boat pier a short ride away. It serves as a meeting point for town functions and a place for small goods and parts transfer across the river and a place to rent a long boat for a few hours . We found a guy who’d take us up the river, had negotiated a 2 hour trip up the Mekong for 700 baht . The boat ride itself was a great experience. Temperature not too hot yet, Sun still rising into the Sky.
On a riverboat life just seems to slow right down. A calmness comes into your mind as you pass by villagers working on the bank, the boat slowly making its way up the river and suddenly you’re transported far from civilisation. The river is a muddy river and littered with rocks and sandbanks so the boat man was picking his way through but I could tell he knew exactly where he was going.
We got to a point about 45 minutes out from the pier. So he steered the boat on to some rocks that were in the middle of the river. Took some snaps and set off back down the river. After lunch we set off towards the Golden Triangle. Pushing off at 3pm is the latest I have pushed off to a destination on any tour. Felt great though.
The ride to The Golden triangle is short, only about an hour so getting there by 4pm, and enough daylight to see the place nicely before setting off to Chiang Rai.
After that setting off to Chiang Rai, arriving just as the sun set and darkness fell in at around 6.30pm.
- Distance Covered Day : 139.2km / Total 1160.6km
- Fuel Used : 5.7L/100km
- Roads Travelled : 1129, 1016, R1
- Hotel : Grandma Keaw Guesthouse, Chiang Rai
- URL : Grandma Kaew Guesthouse
Motorcycle Chronicles by Jamil Siddique 