DAY 4 (1st January 2023) – Pong Yaeng Area
Happy New Year!
There can only be one wish for adventurer travellers like you and me – more adventures and more travels! After the quiet celebrations in the comfort of the AirBnb the night before, it was time to venture out again. As with all adventures, it wouldn’t be one if there weren’t disruptions or changes to the plans. I guess it was inevitable since this is the holiday season in Thailand (and basically everywhere else in the world), and holiday makers were out in full force.
We covered several spots in the Pong Yaeng area, which is located slightly to the northwest of Chiangmai about an hour’s drive, but we could not get into the Pong Yaeng Jungle Coaster & Zipline because the queue was just simply too long. There were at least 100 people in front of us, and we would hardly be able to try out most of the rides at that rate, even if we could get in.
But before leaving the city, we had breakfast at the Flagship shop of the Roast8ry Coffee chain.
Roast8ry Coffee
A short walk from our AirBnb, we arrived at this famous coffee shop to taste and see what it is all about. Famous because they won many barista championships in Thailand and in some other parts of the world. Famous also because of their coffee art. And Chiangmai is their flagship store – so it was a must for us, since most of us enjoy a good cuppa in the morning. See for yourself whether you appreciate the art!
Pong Yaeng Ang Doi Restaurant
After queueing at the Pong Yaeng Jungle Coaster & Zipline entrance for well over an hour, we decided to abandon the idea of going in, much to the disappointment of the younger folks amongst us (Bro Ray: Sorry ZC, GC, GMF and REF). So, we decided to go hunt for lunch instead, and discovered this lovely restaurant called Pong Yaeng Ang Doi Restaurant, located not too far away.
The restaurant building itself was perched at the edge of a fast-flowing stream below, with a beautiful view of the chalets and gardens across the stream. The food was more than a match for charm of the place, even though we were the only people there at that time.
After the scrumptious lunch, it was time to explore the area surrounding the restaurant. Just beside the restaurant was a place where they kept the resident cow. Friendly! And then there was a rather rickety half-washed away wood-and-bamboo bridge (the bridge had probably seen better days, but must have had some trouble recently), which would allow us to cross to the opposite side to view the chalets and gardens more closely.
Pong Yaeng Elephant Sanctuary
Before we came to Thailand, we were well aware that there have been many incidences of abuse of our gentle giant friends for many centuries here and in many places. We made a conscious decision not to go to a place where they offered elephant rides or watched elephants perform “shows” for us. With still much time before sunset, we discovered Pong Yaeng Elephant Sanctuary, which was a place where abused and abandoned elephants were taken care of, mainly supported by donations from the general public, and perhaps from some private funding.
One of the elephant tenders showed us an elephant whose back was completely crooked from years of carrying human “passengers” on elephant rides. Other elephants also had their various ailments, and it was the job of these guys to tend to the daily needs of the elephants in their golden ages. Still, the elephants showed no signs of aggression towards us humans who have blatantly abused them over the years. We paid for some of the food as our contribution to the place, and fed them to the elephants.
Samoeng Viewpoint
Samoeng Viewpoint is located along the winding Route 1096. I wouldn’t really call this a ‘tourist spot’ by any means, just that I discovered this place while searching for things to do in the Pong Yaeng area and this name cropped up. The viewpoint is just a hut and a signboard by the roadside, and some locals selling local produce next to the hut. The signboard indicated that we had arrived at the viewpoint, which overlooks the Samoeng Forest in the valley below. But really, watching the sunset here was amazing.
The phases of the setting sun from the viewpoint
Summary of Day 4
Even though we didn’t get to enjoy the thrills and spills of an adventure theme park, which would have been something different in this trip for the millennials, we still had many different experiences to take home with us. Who would have thought that a simple hut by the roadside for example, can provide a myriad of colours like a canvas in the sky? What about the elephants in the elephant sanctuary – finally at peace with themselves and with the humans who once abused them? Such a tone-setter for the rest of the year ahead!
