This past Friday afternoon at four (23 February), twelve brave souls set out for a very unique Chiang Mai adventure. Sometimes our trek along the ancient south wall also known as the Kamphaeng Din (probably built by King Muang Kaeo 1495-1526) was a bit dangerous and for sure strenuous but ever so interesting.
Warren and Nack were our fearless leaders. They had done their research well and had plotted our course along the entire wall, from the southwest corner of the inner city wall and moat, all the way to its current end near the Night Bazaar. (Originally the wall went all the way from the SW Ku Ruang corner and connected to the inner wall and moat at the NE Si Phum corner.)
Much of the wall has now been destroyed, fallen in, or built upon. Some areas have been preserved to some extent. Some short sections have even been restored. Most of us have seen the remnants of the wall but had no idea what it was nor what it meant to the old city of Chiang Mai. It was not easy finding a course to follow the wall all the way. Some of the walking was on top of the wall; much along the streets and beside the canal/moat (Khlong Mae Kha) as near the wall as we could stay.
The inner city wall and moat (that we all know) was built around 1100 when Chiang Mai was at war with Burma most of the time. The south wall, which we toured Friday, was built about 300 years later when an even greater threat came from the south and also to protect the expanding city and house the army and their multitude of elephants and horses.
One thing is for sure, this trek is not on the tourist maps. It was great to see a different part of the city most of us didn't even know existed.
We passed through many different ethnic neighborhoods along the way, each one unique and colorful in its own way. Warren was able to give us a lot of very interesting and enlightening information. With all the hazards - - - trees that attack you, giant ants that eat you, fear of snakes, vicious dogs, tripping and falling hazards galore, and even the occasional traffic jam to navigate - - - there was never a dull moment. Of course the danger was balanced out by the warm smiles and cheerful greetings all along the way - "sawadee jaou!"
We completed the Great Wall Climb of 2007 at around sunset; just in time for a cool drink (or three) in the garden at Warren's house - which is within a stone's throw of the wall. That was followed by dinner on the other side of the wall at Palm Beer Garden. I think everyone slept well Friday night.
It was a great group for the adventure. We helped each other with an occasional push and a tug (even a few words of encouragement now and then; "get your fat a-- up that cliff before I poke you with my walking stick!")
We all made it! No one fainted, no one fell off the wall! With a few scratches, ant bites, and a hefty layer of dust, we all made it to the finish line. Quite an accomplishment for those of us who consider two hours of Thai massage to be quite a work-out. Now we were all looking forward to the next challenge. (That challenge came for a lot of us the next night with disco dancing at D-2.) (Such a hard life in CNX!)
John Cooley
Warren and Nack were our fearless leaders. They had done their research well and had plotted our course along the entire wall, from the southwest corner of the inner city wall and moat, all the way to its current end near the Night Bazaar. (Originally the wall went all the way from the SW Ku Ruang corner and connected to the inner wall and moat at the NE Si Phum corner.)
Much of the wall has now been destroyed, fallen in, or built upon. Some areas have been preserved to some extent. Some short sections have even been restored. Most of us have seen the remnants of the wall but had no idea what it was nor what it meant to the old city of Chiang Mai. It was not easy finding a course to follow the wall all the way. Some of the walking was on top of the wall; much along the streets and beside the canal/moat (Khlong Mae Kha) as near the wall as we could stay.
The inner city wall and moat (that we all know) was built around 1100 when Chiang Mai was at war with Burma most of the time. The south wall, which we toured Friday, was built about 300 years later when an even greater threat came from the south and also to protect the expanding city and house the army and their multitude of elephants and horses.
One thing is for sure, this trek is not on the tourist maps. It was great to see a different part of the city most of us didn't even know existed.
We passed through many different ethnic neighborhoods along the way, each one unique and colorful in its own way. Warren was able to give us a lot of very interesting and enlightening information. With all the hazards - - - trees that attack you, giant ants that eat you, fear of snakes, vicious dogs, tripping and falling hazards galore, and even the occasional traffic jam to navigate - - - there was never a dull moment. Of course the danger was balanced out by the warm smiles and cheerful greetings all along the way - "sawadee jaou!"
We completed the Great Wall Climb of 2007 at around sunset; just in time for a cool drink (or three) in the garden at Warren's house - which is within a stone's throw of the wall. That was followed by dinner on the other side of the wall at Palm Beer Garden. I think everyone slept well Friday night.
It was a great group for the adventure. We helped each other with an occasional push and a tug (even a few words of encouragement now and then; "get your fat a-- up that cliff before I poke you with my walking stick!")
We all made it! No one fainted, no one fell off the wall! With a few scratches, ant bites, and a hefty layer of dust, we all made it to the finish line. Quite an accomplishment for those of us who consider two hours of Thai massage to be quite a work-out. Now we were all looking forward to the next challenge. (That challenge came for a lot of us the next night with disco dancing at D-2.) (Such a hard life in CNX!)
John Cooley
Pictured
Back row: Lynn Morris, Warren Funnell, Khun Nack, Mark Walder
Middle row: John Smith, Luigi , Gareth Scratcherd.
Front row: Julie Morris, Norm Robinson, John Cooley, Mike Grice
Not pictured: Khun Wan, Steve Yarnold
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