"I've never hiking before until one day I got bored and want to challenge it and it becomes something I have to do every month."
Doi Chiang Dao is the 3rd highest mountain in Thailand. I think my body is ready from the last marathon that I challenged. But none of my friends would go with me. I think I'm not going. But finally, I decided to go alone.
I traveled to Krabi - Chiang Mai flight for more than 1600 baht. I have 1 backpack with camping equipment and 2-3 pieces of clothes only. Luckily I have a relative in Chiang Mai. So I asked to stay in their house and borrow a car too, hahahaha. I traveled to the mountain in the early morning to meet another 6 people who will go with me.
They come together from 3 people from Songkhla, 2 foreigners and 1 solo traveling like me.
This is the advantage of traveling alone. It will force you to make new friends because you don't have anyone to talk to.
Our destination is the on the top of mountain. The total distance is about 2 kilometers. It seem like not so far. But it's a mountain !! The path turns into a hill, feeling like walking in a forest sloping 45 degrees, both the forest and where we have to climb a rock. The weather is quite cold and the wind is very strong. We spent a total of almost 16 hours to reach 1 kilometer where it took so long because we were resting too much. We accumulate here because everyone seems to be unable to continue. As for myself, Running a marathon cannot be compared with hiking at all. But I felt very happy to leaving the Comfort zone and deciding to do this alone and beside, there were them on this trip so I was not as lonely as I thought. We build a fire. I used a camping stove to make coffee and hot cocoa. They also prepared it. But I said to use just mine so we wouldn't have to be too difficult.
We started talking about life down the mountain. 1 heartbroken 2 want some exciting moments of life 3 people need travel information for project. And I'm just want to do something crazy things. it was a wonderful time, We talked like we know each other for a long time and haven't seen each other for so long. In fact, we almost did not know each other.
on the next day, we continued our journey. The path is similar to yesterday, only colder and stronger wind. Finally we reached to the top of the mountain. Wow, I can do it. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. And let the mind float along the wind. I stood looking at the evening scenery before the daylight has gone. We camped for watch the morning mist. Tonight is special, because 3 of our friends have prepared a strong Vodka for us. Wow.
"It's cold here. Vodka will help us." Hahahaha We drank and talked. Request emails and facebook from each other. Please don't forget us. "That day we conquer Doi Luang Chiang Dao together".
In the next morning, Wow. The sky is foggy. I can't see below there. It looked like we were just above the clouds, cold air with a hot coffee. I feel, I don't need anything anymore in my life.
I want to stop time here Stay here forever. When the noon has coming, we went back down. It took us just 5 hours to reach the ground. Because it is a way down, it's not very tired at all.
We said goodbye to each other and traveled back to our own place. After that trip, I always went somewhere to see the mist every month until today.
I can say, In the lifetime of your life, You have to go hiking and camping. It makes you feel like being reborn.
