Uttaradit was, I thought, unremarkable. We stopped overnight for no other reason than we had to stop somewhere. I think by this stage, weariness was starting to set in for the group as a whole, particularly after a tough day crawling through the fog on the previous day. The ride back to Chaing Mai was mostly via main roads, ie high speed motorways, with a bit of drizzle thrown in just to keep us on our toes. Kind of dull riding, until you realise that nothing is ever dull for too long with Kay leading. Wherever we got a red light, Kay lane filtered to the head of the queue, we followed, spread out, and it was on for young and old when the lights changed. At one point there was a cop car parked in the median along one stretch of dual carriageway motorway. What they were doing there is anyone's guess. When four screaming motorcycles went past them at 160 kph (and I was backing off!) and they did absolutely nothing, I presumed they were not enforcing speed limits.
This ride was punctuated by two stops, the first being at a temple built into a hillside, featuring a very large reclining Buddha, and the second being an elephant park.
This is a large scale temple, that's a mighty big statue
As usual, its the details that add to the fascination.
I don't know either, maybe they're playing leapfrog.
A nasty customer indeed. The good versus evil thing is a recurring theme in Buddhist temples.
The elephant park raises a few uncomfortable issues. Elephants were traditionally used as motive power in the logging industry. Since being replaced by machinery which finished off most of the remaining trees, there is not much of a logging industry left in these parts. Although they appear to still be doing a fair bit of it in Laos. Replanting is under way in Thailand, but that will take 50 or 60 years before there is much yield. Anyway, the result is a lot of unemployed elephants, so rather than have them running around causing mayhem while they eat their 600 kg of foliage per day, many of them are kept in National Parks, or in purpose built sanctuaries, where they can be looked after and raise a few bucks as a tourist attraction (especially if they stomp on cars!). While the elephants in this park appeared to be docile and well cared for, its hard to say whether they are better off. Do they know that they are safe, and in return for performing a few corny tricks for the tourists, they are guaranteed food and health care for their lifetime? Does that make them dole bludgers? I've got a hunch that they are smart enough to know when they are onto a good thing, but as for the old argument of whether they should be exploited by humans at all, I'm not so sure. It raises the whole issue of circuses, zoos, Seaworlds, feral animals and even domestic pets. Nobody gets too upset that people have domesticated horses, or own a dog that can fetch a ball. Well, what the hell else are we going to do with them? Keep out of their way until they're extinct, just because we can't eat them?
Taxi !!
Why can't I eat a camera?
Bathtime. Should have read the fine print, suckers!
Sit on my head will ya? Dive, dive, dive!
Periscope depth.
And with that, we headed back into Chaing Mai, and large amounts of congratulatory beer. Just for something different. I now have a few days here to unwind, shop, repack and write stuff like this. I will be going up to Chaing Rai to see the famous white temple, the Wat Rong Khun. This is unfinished business from last year. I'm also going ziplining before I leave. Stay tuned.
This ride was punctuated by two stops, the first being at a temple built into a hillside, featuring a very large reclining Buddha, and the second being an elephant park.
This is a large scale temple, that's a mighty big statue
As usual, its the details that add to the fascination.
I don't know either, maybe they're playing leapfrog.
A nasty customer indeed. The good versus evil thing is a recurring theme in Buddhist temples.
The elephant park raises a few uncomfortable issues. Elephants were traditionally used as motive power in the logging industry. Since being replaced by machinery which finished off most of the remaining trees, there is not much of a logging industry left in these parts. Although they appear to still be doing a fair bit of it in Laos. Replanting is under way in Thailand, but that will take 50 or 60 years before there is much yield. Anyway, the result is a lot of unemployed elephants, so rather than have them running around causing mayhem while they eat their 600 kg of foliage per day, many of them are kept in National Parks, or in purpose built sanctuaries, where they can be looked after and raise a few bucks as a tourist attraction (especially if they stomp on cars!). While the elephants in this park appeared to be docile and well cared for, its hard to say whether they are better off. Do they know that they are safe, and in return for performing a few corny tricks for the tourists, they are guaranteed food and health care for their lifetime? Does that make them dole bludgers? I've got a hunch that they are smart enough to know when they are onto a good thing, but as for the old argument of whether they should be exploited by humans at all, I'm not so sure. It raises the whole issue of circuses, zoos, Seaworlds, feral animals and even domestic pets. Nobody gets too upset that people have domesticated horses, or own a dog that can fetch a ball. Well, what the hell else are we going to do with them? Keep out of their way until they're extinct, just because we can't eat them?
Why can't I eat a camera?
Bathtime. Should have read the fine print, suckers!
Sit on my head will ya? Dive, dive, dive!
And with that, we headed back into Chaing Mai, and large amounts of congratulatory beer. Just for something different. I now have a few days here to unwind, shop, repack and write stuff like this. I will be going up to Chaing Rai to see the famous white temple, the Wat Rong Khun. This is unfinished business from last year. I'm also going ziplining before I leave. Stay tuned.
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