Trip to "Old City"

Here is a typical trip into town without using the car. I enjoy doing this, as I meet a lot of local people and get to see a lot more on the trip then when I am driving.

10:00 a.m. - I leave the house on my bicycle and ride to the entrance of the "Moo Baan" (about 5 minutes).
Ever try to take a picture of yourself riding a bicycle??



On the way I pass rice paddies that are just being planted for the 1st crop of the year. 2 weeks ago these paddies were dry and by using ancient hand dug canals the farmers divert water to their fields!









Once I get to the entrance I leave my bike and walk across the road to flag down a "song tauw", called this as "song" is 2 in Thai and the truck has 2 benches to sit on. Usually one goes by every 10 minutes. Today I was Lucky as one came by in just a couple of minutes.

Here is the entrance to my Moo Baan - Koolpunt Ville 9....




My "song tauw" arrives...



Some times there is not not any room to sit so you stand on the back platform!! Here are some pics on the ride to town that takes about 15 minutes or less.





These are the first wind generators I have seen in C.M. -- maybe because 90% of the time the wind does not blow here!


Here are scenes in the city and as you can see it is a challenge to drive in Thailand (notice the motor bike going wrong way on street)!! Or need a parking space? How about parking on the sidewalk!!





There are several "silver shops" on this street. C.M. is noted for its silver smiths.




The trucks are painted different colors so that you know which route they travel. Yellow is the Hang Dong route. Red is for trips around the city and some are white but have no idea where they go. At 10:25 a.m. I step off the "song tauw" pay my 15 baht (45 cents) and either walk around the city or take a "tuk tuk". Not bad for 45 cents........ meet a few locals, don't have to drive, & get to take in the scenery along the way. Now to find lunch..















I finnaly settled on a small Thai restaurant near the Thae Pae Gate. I thought it a good choice as right next door to a pharmacy in case the food did not agree with me!! Stir fry veggies and shrimp in a sweet & sour sauce.....








Street scenes - Hill Tribe Village Hats - Tuk Tuk ride back to song tauw - Dropped off at the Moo Baan - Pay my 45 cents - A successfull trip to town.



The sign says it all!!