Mae Salong, Garden in the Sky ...

Environmentalist would surely cringe at the sight of denuded mountain tops.  The spectacle of temples, villages, farms and gardens perched precariously on the steep slopes is, however, a sight to behold.  Add to that the thrill of negotiating the serpentine roadways nestled snugly on the saddle of a motorbike.  The sights, sounds, smells and the occasional sensation of the back tire breaking loose as you over-break into a hairpin turn.  It all makes for a nice little day-trip.

A quick Google and you can read about those who settled this area and how the present day tea plantations and tourism replaced another profitable but illicit crop.  I simply want to share my view of a day-trip with a friend.  One of the many plusses of living in the Chiang Rai area.

These last two images are of a little place we passed on an isolated back road somewhere between home and Mae Salong.