Winter Vacation 2010: Day 5

11.2.10

This morning we woke up at 8:30 and got dressed and packed again. Then we took our daypacks and headed downstairs where our ride was waiting and we quickly made a sign for a photo to send home for shabbat. We then climbed into the back of a "taxi" car where we were joined by 2 Brits, 2 Austrians, a Canadian and 2 from Holland. The total group was about 25 people.

We were then taken to the bike center where they had us fill out waivers and sign forms and pay another 60 Baht admission fee for the Doi Suthep park and got back into the vans. Then it was a steep and windy ride up to the top of the mountain where we unloaded, got our gear (helmets, gloves, elbow and knee pads) and our bikes. Thank goodness the drive ended where it did because I was so motion sick that I almost threw up a few times.

Yo and I had signed up for the "easy" trek- a 25k of mostly downhill (80% downhill and 20% xc). Apparently "downhill" means rocks and ditches and some steep inclines, plus a water streat and "xc" means winding roads that are mostly flat. I thought that the easy was not so easy but was manageable. I did fall twice (both at near stops) and took it easy on the downs (with reciting a fair number of AHhAhAHHAHAHAAHahahahahs-should be said as if driving over bumpy roads).

There were a few stops along the way- at a coffee plantation, at a leechee field and at the tops of hills or after extensive declines.

At one point, before I did a huge downhill, I cried out, "I like my face...." (should also be said as if driving over bumpy roads).

When we finished biking, we ended up at a lake where we sat in Tiki huts on a lake.

We were served lunch- rice and vegetables. It was delish and I finished Yonina's because it was too spicy for her. I almost asked for more hot sauce. Then after a short rest, we got into the truck and went back to the bike place. On the way, I learned that our guide, Ken (from the Bay area but has been in Thailand for 6 years) teaches that in the evenings at two universities. I was amazed and thought that it was very cool that he teaches economics and intro to philosophy as well as serving as an advisor to thesis writers. He bikes for fun and as a side job.

When we got back to our hotel, we got the keys for our new room, went and showered and then went out for internet and on the way back, had pizza for dinner. Then it was back to the room and I went out and got my first ever massage that I had to pay for. It was 150 Baht (about 5 dollars) for a 60 minute massage. It was fantastic! I got back to the room so relaxed that I am writing this, lying on my belly with my head propped up on the pillow. Ah! I might get another massage before leaving Chiang Mai.