Today I'm going on an adventure. Since my destination is quite far from Chiang Mai and I'm renting a motorbike for just one day, I decided to "treat myself" and rent a nice little 400cc Triumph.
I get on my bike and leave Chiang Mai heading south towards the roof of Thailand, Doi Inthanon.
This mountain is part of the foothills of the Himalayas and is the highest mountain in Thailand. 2565 meters
Crédit: landscapesUHD
Let's take a walk in the woods...
Doi Inthanon Park is lucky to be home to a beautiful diversity of animals. Poachers have wiped out elephants, tigers and gaurs (wild oxen) but there are still wild boars, gibbons, deer and... a kind of "goat-antelope-moose" called serow.
credit: Monitor Conservation Research Society
There are also over 300 species of birds and about thirty species of bats, the animal that my favorite cousin hates the most. They are so cute though...
The Royal Mountain
The mountain was named Doi Inthanon in honor of Prince Intha Witchayanon, the last king of Chiang Mai. Because yes, the Chiang Mai region was a kingdom in its own right until 1884, until its annexation by Siam. And, it was in 1939 that Siam became Thailand.
Of course, the inhabitants took the opportunity to build a temple...no, two temples, of which I especially appreciated the murals that highlight the animals, real and mythical, of Thailand. I'll let you find the rabbit there...
The environment is beautiful and calming and... some small details bring a smile to my lips, such as these baby elephants taking their bath under the waterfall.
Royal... but cool
Thailand is a tropical country and, since I arrived, I assure you that I have not been cold. Except that the summit of Doi Inthanon is at high altitude. It is cool there, so cool that there was frost this week. But, I am far-sighted and, in anticipation of these moments, I brought with me leggings and a Merino sweater. No question of freezing... it would take away a good part of the pleasure I have in visiting a new country.
The return to Chiang Mai is quite difficult. Imagine. The descent of the mountain lasts a good 10 km. The slope is steep, the curves are sharp and Monday drivers try to make me go down faster by quicking my... behind.
I bravely resist these not at all hidden encouragements but, it is with my nerves on edge that I finally arrive at the foot of the mountain. Well... it will serve me as practice for my long mountain hike that will begin in a few days.
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