I’am… I’am exhausted…
It’s just sometimes impossibly to cycle. There is no option – we are pushing. Against first, second, third, tenth hill. Maybe it’s just behind the bend… maybe…
Right – in fact mountains in northern Thailand are known as “really steep” for a reason. We feel that sometimes we are more standing and resting than pushing up. We have enough at moments, because it would be actually great to cycle from time to time instead of just pushing these bikes up… until we reach the top. Then we very quickly forget how tough it was, enjoy the view and quickly go down, to after a while begin it all again.
First hill after Pai was the longest, but nicest. Wasn’t that tough, and on the top there were some benches and a view point. And this German girl spoke to us, that se would like to cycle too, but she was passing us on her scooter and it seems to be so hard on our bikes… then some Thai people wanted to take a photo with us and our bikes, and when we finally cycled all the way down some woman who was passing us by bus earlier said: “so you cycled through all these hills from Pai??!. We felt appreciated. ;)
What we found out, the highest hill, doesn’t really has to be the toughest one. The worst are these annoying, smaller and shorter but almost vertical climbs. We barely made it that day to some another view point and on nature trail which had it’s beginning there we pitched a tent behind the rock. Evening was beautiful, night was dark, and stars haven’t been so clear and bright from long time.
The morning was amazing too, and on top of that we were on the top of the hill, so we had a lovely downhill to begin the day. But after that it was pushing again and vertical hills, but finally we arrived to Mae Hong Son, the city of three mists – capital of the region, where over 60% of population are hill tribes – Shan, Akha, Lahu, Lisu, Yao, Karen i Hmong.
In the city center is placed a nice pond, which is surrounded by pleasant park. There is also a historical wat and a few guesthouses. We spent a nice evening, enjoying thai food and a nice view and we are cycling further tomorrow. I mean, I don’t know if we cycle, or we still gonna walk and push :).