خپور شوی: 18.10.2018
17.10.2018:
The alarm clock rang at 8 o'clock. The day before, I had planned how I wanted to spend the coming days. For Wednesday and Thursday, I rented a scooter again. At the gas station, you can get a full tank for less than 3 €. Today, a long tour was ahead. Baandam Museum, a tea plantation, the Opium Museum, and the Golden Triangle. Only four stops actually. But a distance of about 170 km. By scooter. Unthinkable in Germany. Since scooters here usually drive 80 km/h, it is no problem to cover longer distances. Between these attractions, there were also various other sights that caught my attention on the way, and I made a stop.
At a temple, an old man came up to me with a cane. He said something in Thai. He showed both hands as if he wanted to signal me a ten. And he mumbled something ... Baht. The national currency. He wanted money. This temple is usually not visited by tourists, so there is no entrance fee. So, I just went on. At the tea plantation, I drove along a path and came to paradise. Everything green. The mountains. Fields. Rivers. A dream. Normally, I wouldn't have come here. Certainly not with a standard booked tour. Thanks to the scooter and curiosity!
The Opium Museum was interesting in itself but quickly became boring. I could have saved the money. The entrance fee was equivalent to a daily rental for the scooter. Oh well. The Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet, was all the more beautiful. Especially the flowing rivers with the wide view were fascinating. To save time and manage everything during daylight, I skipped lunch. At the Golden Triangle, I wanted to have a nice dinner. No chance. Everything already closed at 5:30 PM. Strange world! Bought a little something from the supermarket.
I had to cover most of the 70 km ride back in the dark. The window of my helmet was tinted and therefore not usable in the dark. And right now all the bugs are out. Something kept hitting my face the whole time. Unpleasant! Back at the hostel, no internet again. Off to yesterday's restaurant. I sat opposite on the roadside and maintained contacts to Germany. I planned my trip for the next seven days. In the evening, I went to the market for a short time, ate something. And fresh pineapple! Shower and diary.