Short post, catching up.
The last job in KL was getting our Thai visa. Good for only 14 days if you get it at the border, 30 at an embassy. Relatively painless
New tires, a seat swop and we’re off north to Thailand, yay
We take the highway our turnoff to the Cameron Highlands and the oldest forests in the world, they say
After the turn-off and a twisty ride for 50 miles, BIG trees, super hot and humid
To the one town up here, Ringlet
We went for an explore in the morning. The air’s cooler at 5000′ and every valley is cleared for agriculture, small, medium and large-scale
A great spot
Immaculate
Great strong smell from onions as we rode by
Up to a big plantation
It’s this, tea. I was surprised, in that clueless city boy way, to find out tea is a woody shrub
1000’s of acres, just stunning
Peaceful
The next day was the border crossing. We’re going the unusual way, up the east coast. Unusual because it’s not the way to Krabi and because this corner of Thailand is involved in a long term war with its Muslim minority
Descending off the mountains through dense forest
Back on the plain we pass limestone crags
There’s a dirt road to the base of some so we go off to explore
A Hindu temple unexpectedly at the end of the road
The base
Later, lunch time. This doesn’t look right
But these crazy ladies have a fruit stand
These mostly, rambutan
Yummy, but a big pit in the middle
Even yummier! mangosteen
The next town had sculptures of mangosteen at an intersection, so obviously a big deal around here
A little further
Big logging just like at home, comforting we thought
The daily rain. The clouds build quickly and all hell breaks loose. You wouldn’t believe it
Then to the border and what a mess. Somewhere in this room is someone with a brutal infectious bug as I was to find out 2 days later. Despite having a visa I had to fill out an entry form for immigration then stand in this crowd for an hour. It was well over 100F and hard work. Then off to customs which thankfully was a breeze
Then back out, onto Lucinda and through another lineup. Not the quickest
And into Thailand. An armed crossing, as expected. Very stupid idea to take pictures of soldiers on the job so this is as good as it gets
