2015: Top Ten Mountain Photos…

Something Thailand is not short of is mountains. Down here in the south, the central range begins only twenty kilometers or so from the coast. Reaching the top is a three-day round-trip hike. No roads.

The range continues north, forming the border with Myanmar, until it spreads out and fills most of the northern provinces, bordering Burma, China and Laos.

And, strangely, mountains seem to appear out of nowhere, as though mysteriously dropped from the sky. You can be barrelling along on a four-lane expressway, and suddenly the road becomes narrow and twisty with regular hairpin bends, until its gone up, over, and down the mountain, back onto the plain. Unless you know the road well, it can be quite unnerving.

Here’s a typical mountain pass in the early morning mist, one that took only about thirty minutes to cross before the road became completely flat again…

Northern Thailand Mountains

And being cool, strawberries grow in abundance, and are available everywhere, freshly picked, and ridiculously cheap…

Northern Thailand Mountains

In February though, I had a chance to tour the northern mountainous areas; from Chiang Mai, through Pai to Mae Hong Son, and eventually down to Mae Sot. This was two days and 650kms of almost non-stop hairpin bends. Hard work, but great scenery…

Northern Thailand Mountains

One day they might finish building the road…

Northern Thailand Mountains

It can be pretty cool, so flowers and bushes more common in temperate climates grow everywhere, and the hill tribes dress strangely – but warmly…

Northern Thailand Mountains

In fact, the regular coffee places are quaint and very welcome…

Northern Thailand Mountains

And, last but not least, a couple of photos of “my” mountains here in the south…

Thailand Thale Mok Lookout

Thailand Thale Mok Lookout

Paul

...has been travelling the world for more than sixty years; having lived and worked in five countries and travelled to many many more.

He likes to write about his travels - present and past - along with his other main interests of Drones, Information Technology and Motorsport, and he adds a few general twitterings along the way.


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