Thread: Morning Jungle Hike: The Monk's Trail Chiang Mai.

Was hoping to trek all the way up to Doi Suthep through the jungle, around 6km or so, then roll back down the road like a spastic, but got a bit misplaced (lost) a few KM up.

The Monk's Trail starts at nice secluded spot behind CMU.

Google Maps: Wat Pha Lat Hike (Monk's trail)

Will get ya there.




Nice of them to put a wee jump at the start for those going up on their moto-x bikes.

A small skip over and off ya lulu.







Vodka makes the time go faster.





Good fun ducking and diving and being bitten by little things that might end up killing you 3 months later.



Aptly named, as the monks hike it going up to Wat Pa Lat, which is also apparently a meditation retreat.


Also just read it's also popular with school kids.

Never mind that, this is man's hike no two ways about it.

About 1.6km up you move along by the water



Then pop out at Wat Pa Lat.





Which is lovely, really.

If I ever decide to all Richard Gere I'll have to do it in this place.


Onwards and upwards. Off we go.



Pretend to walk across this for the sake of the camera.



A man's hiking trail.


Oddly enough I then popped out on to the road and there was no sign of where to go next.



Followed the water, which I believe is the thing to do when your in the jungle and no idea where or what you're doing.



Some nice, if somewhat rustic waterfalls.


And to be honest



It didn't really look like the hiker's trail.


So turned around and buggered off the way I came.

Able to release me inner Slap on the way back down.



A fun wee 4km.

Now that I can see that there is a trail that continues all the way up, in the words of Arnie. I'll be back.

Also worth nothing that Khao Soi Maesai (google map), which I read is in the CM Top 5 for Khao Soi, on pretty much every Top 5 Khao Soi list, is absolutely fokin' heavenly.



And jaysus it was only 40b. Got a few more take-away for dinner.

The fried noodles are perfectly light and crispy, without being too hard, the chicken marinaded to perfection and deliciously moist and tender, the curry rich and thick without being too overpowering.

Sweet damn sex in a bowl.

Looks fun but I am hoping you put the condiments, ie, onions and pickled veg along with the lime in your Khao Soi.

... of course.

^nice trail pics, Luigi. Food looks delish too. Thanks!

What's the difficulty level of that trail? No "knife edges" or "kiss the wall" parts? I'm not impressed!

Just kidding... looks like a nice, easy hike

Lovely, Lu.
Can't get enough of the jungle.

Enjoyed that.

Thank you kindly Sir.


^^^ Thinking of heading up tomorrow to take on the wild, mysterious jungle that is Doi Suthep, and find the rest of the trail.

Reckon you can fly in tomorrow morning K-pop?


I'll take you for the the best Khao Soi ever for lunch.

I'll even comb me eyebrows.

Can't be fairer than that.

So I'm up in ze north for a few months doing a house reno, when I end up lulu'ing me right leg when a massive sheet of aluzinc roof comes thundering down off the top beams, heading straight towards a couple of fluffy puppies in a decapitating manner last seen in Final Destination. Thankfully I was able to dive down in front of it as it was slicing through the air like helicopter rotors, sticking out my leg in front of Lil Fluffy the golden labrador, to take the full razor-blade slicing blunt of it on me leg and save the lil fluffy fella from certain demise.



A few weeks and 60 stiches later and it was as good as lulu again.

Unfortunately this meant a few weeks off Muay Thai and Taekwondo training, and generally hobbling around the place while not trying to bring any attention to it.

Popped round to the TKD lads and started showing some moves to a 10 yr old lad that really enjoyed it, his mother introduced herself after and tentative plans for meeting up in a park or going hiking or rafting or something were made.

The next 10 days were a bombardment on me phone, so finally agreed to take her up to the Monk's Trail for a nice and easy bit of morning exercise in nature.

Pick her up, a quick stop at the 7 for refreshments, and park up at the bottom.






Off we go in the nice morning air, all nice and naturey.




Just like popcorn in the cinema, perfect for the ol' 100 baht if I can throw one up and then catch it in me mouth bit of fun.

Off we go, deeper and deeper into the warm nether regions.



Before arriving together in nirvana, Wat Pha Lat.










Ah shue tiz lovely.

To be honest, I did start to suspect that maybe she isn't an experienced hiker at all, and was just using it as an excuse to hook up, but I am of quite a suspicious nature.



Quite impressive building techniques on show, and I did start to think about me new Lego city airport set and how an extra set of paws wouldn't be any harm.

Well, it is called the monk's trail.



Not the most friendly, warm and welcoming pair of murdering, drug deale..... monks I've ever seen, truth be known.

A nice wee bit of morning exercise and jolliness.

'Mexican' food, term used loosely for lunch, which she insisted we get take-away and eat it back at mine.



Which was a nice afternoon after a nice morning, and she went home very happy.


Happy trails everyone. :-)

was it the fact she had a credit card that attracted you to her?

I'm not known to knock back a free lunch, Mike.

Originally Posted by Edmond

To be honest, I did start to suspect that maybe she isn't an experienced hiker at all

You won't catch Katie in a pair of hello-kitty pink trainers on her hard-core 3am-start trail-bashing exploits!

^that's correct, loops. I wear "proper" hike shoes, the ones with more traction. Yes, some of my hikes have started at 3 am. I think one started at 3 am & ended at 8 pm, with lots of rain and slipping on rocks in between! (it was Sept = rainy season)

@eddie - good hike. Thanks for the pics. If ever we hike together, I insist that we do a challenging one with lots of knife edges (cliffs on both sides) and "kiss the wall" parts (mountain wall on 1 side, cliff on the other one).

Originally Posted by katie23

If ever we hike together,

Originally Posted by katie23

kiss

Oh my.

*swoons and faints*

Nice Hike Ed, I miss it very much!

I'll call you on when im back in LOS!

Originally Posted by Edmond

Wouldn't mind stretching me legs if ya fancy a hike up there Katie.