Mae Malai - Arunothai

There are still a few more routes in the North that I need to tell you about while the weather over there is still nice and cool. This one starts from Mae Malai, the point where Highway 1095 from Pai meets with Highway 107 from Chiang Mai.

From Mae Malai, follow the 107 up north for four kilometres and you'll find the minor road to Mae Ngat Dam on the right-hand side. The dam is 11.5 kilometres down that road and the headquarters of Si Lanna National Park is about three kilometres from the dam.

To get to Mae Taman, today's Point B, drive back to the 107 and go on for another 1.5 kilometres. Mae Taman is about nine kilometres off the highway.

Now continue along the 107 northward to Chiang Dao. This section of the highway is full of curves so you'd better be extra careful. The minor road to Chiang Dao Cave is 800 metres further from the district office.

After you're done with the cave, get back on the 107 but this time go on for only three kilometres then veer left onto Highway 1178. The King Naresuan Memorial is 4.5 kilometres up the 1178.

Almost 21 kilometres from the memorial, you'll reach the headquarters of Chiang Dao National Park. Seven kilometres from the park is the Rin Luang intersection. There, turn right and you'll soon reach the Chinese community at Ban Arunothai. Oh, by the way, for those interested in hilltribe culture, between Rin Luang intersection and Ban Arunothai, there's a Kachin cultural centre worth dropping by.
Bangkok Post Jan 06 www.bangkokpost.com