25112010 : Riding Samoeng Loop

Touched down in Chiang Mai the day before after a 16hr train ride from Bangkok. Although there were no kids in the near vicinity this time, there was a Snorlex above me snoring as loud a lion would roar in the safari. Did I really collect so much bad karma? Rented myself a Honda Dream 125cc after looking up GT rider the night before and decided to do the samoeng loop and ride up to Doi Suthep which has a temple on the summit and a view that overlooks the whole of Chiang Mai city. 

Biscuit shop!!! Heaven!!!

At Doi Suthep

Mountain Views

Overlooking Chiang Mai city from the mountain top

I’ve long wanted to ride bike over winding mountain roads and it was almost impossible to keep my eyes on the road ahead when the views to your left and right are so spectacular. I really had to force myself to keep my eyes ahead or risk veering off the road and plunge to my death.

1^st stop in the samoeng loop was ‘Tiger Kingdom’ where they allow visitors to get up close and personal with the beasts. I’m not actually in favour of these animals being kept in captivity and enclosed and exploited for the sake of generating tourist money. So I just stood from a distance and observed them instead of purchasing a ticket. It’s a grey area because on one hand the tigers are protected from the poachers and given a very nice environment to live in, while on the other they are unable to be the animals that they should be out there in the wild. Same applies to the elephant camp there as well. If I had to pay money to see such animals, it would only be in the African safari where they are free to roam and behave like wild animals.

If there’s one elephant park worth visiting in Thailand it would be this: http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/index.htm