Friday 31st July, 1998. 2,000 kms day for William!

We left our bungalows at 07.00 hrs after having fresh juice and coffee. Our walk was flat through many villages and we stopped at “Cabbages & Condoms” and had breakfast near a lake and fed the fish. We started to enter the hills aiming for a resort, then saw a sign for “Suanthip Vana Resort” in 5 kms. The hills were steeper and more frequent. We arrived at the resort at 17.30 hrs after an enjoyable day’s walking of 28 kms. The walk to reception at “Suanthip Vana Resort” was up a very steep slope:

http://www.suanthipresort.com

We immediately met the hotel Manager after William had informed the staff at reception that we had walked there from Chiang Mai and the Manager gave us his best room at a special discounted rate of 999 baht including VAT and service charges. This generous offer from the hotel Manager was to celebrate William’s achievement today of reaching 2,000 kms “Walking For Thailand” and we had beautiful views from the sun deck across the hills and valleys. The hotel was a part of the Felix Group of hotels and was the best hotel we had stayed at so far. We had a nice meal in the hotel restaurant and celebrated William’s 2,000 kms with several bottles of Heineken and Leo beer! During our meal there, a group of local Thai businessmen arrived at a reserved large table close to us and then the leader of the group came across to talk to us.

He spoke firstly to William in Thai and then to me in English. He said that his group had heard about our “Walk for Thailand” from the TV and the Thai media and asked if William would like to say a few words. Now this is right up William’s alley. Once he starts, it’s hard to stop him! Here is a brief summary of what he said that evening:

I saw Dennis Peacock “Walking For Thailand” on the Channel 7 News in Krabi Town on 27th February 2541 (1998). He was “Walking For Thailand” on highway 4 on his own and heading for Krabi Town. He arrived at 21.00 hrs the next day 28th February. I said to myself ‘Dennis, your actions speak so loud I can’t hear what you say and I want to join you “Walking For Thailand” as you need a protector, a companion and an interpreter, so you can communicate effectively and properly with the Thai people who will give you great respect’. I arranged to meet Dennis, with the help of the Royal Thai police, who knew where he was staying and we became great friends. I made my proposal to him to join him “Walking For Thailand” and he was absolutely delighted for us both to be now “Walking For Thailand” for 60 million Thai People.

While we are “Walking For Thailand” we are telling the Thai people, that they live in the Greatest Country in the World and that the current Thai economic recession is only temporary and good times again are just around the corner. The Thai economy is currently under the good stewardship of H.E. Chuan Leekpai, Prime Minister and his Team of very able Government Ministers. We have total confidence in the future Success and Prosperity of the Kingdom of Thailand and it’s People.

William was given a very enthusiastic applause from his audience and all the staff in the hotel, who were listening to him. I was very proud of William that evening, as I was throughout our walk together, through 32 provinces and a total of 3,063 kms in 98 walking days, in 2541 (1998):

http://www.escati.net/02/2008/01/the-power-of-attitude

Yours truly,

Escati Tiger Team Walking For Thailand.

Sunday/Wednesday - 26th/29th July, 1998. We had planned to walk today, but decided to walk on the new road from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. Also, it had rained all Saturday night and was still raining Sunday morning until 12.00 hrs. We said our Farewells to all the fantastic staff at Traveler Inn, who had made us so welcome and allowed us to completely rest. Many Thanks to you all. See you again in July 2009 (2552).

We got a bus back to Chiang Mai to rest longer there, as it was cheaper at Ben Guest House. We met David & Lisa again and we were ready to continue ‘Walking For Thailand’ on Thursday 30th July. We moved to the “Arcade Hotel’ near the Bus Station and the Superhighway Junction on the new road to Chiang Rai. We had previously walked to the Arcade Hotel from Ben Guest House, so we weren’t cheating! We got a discounted room there for 380 baht.

http://www.walking-in-thailand.com

Thursday 30th July, 1998. We were well rested and now ready for our 240 kms walk to Chiang Rai and Mae Sai. We left the Arcade Hotel at 06.30 hrs and walked on highway 118. We did 20 kms by 11.20 hrs, which was a new record for us. After walking 10 kms in the mountains with no refreshment places available and dangerous road construction for walking, we decided that for our health and safety we should bus it to the finish of the mountains. During the bus ride, we knew we had made the correct decision. We could have done it with a back-up vehicle, but not alone. It takes 3 times the energy in tropical heat on mountain roads.

We walked 36 kms to Mae Khajan and found “Ruan Thai Hotel” with some very nice bungalows for 150 baht a night, behind a petrol station. There was an excellent restaurant nearby with very friendly people and we had a most enjoyable evening and an early night.

http://www.escati.com/walking_for_thailand.htm

Yours truly,

Escati Tiger Team Walking For Thailand.

Wednesday 22nd July/Saturday 25th July, 1998. We left Traveler Inn early, but both ached more than ever before. Had coffee in Mae Taeng after 2 kms. We then walked 500 metres and William said “I CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER” as he had very bad stomach pains. We had both exhausted ourselves physically and mentally. We took local transport back to Traveler Inn, got our room back and decided to make it our home for several days and have a complete break. William was not well for 2 days, but with meditation and rest he recovered fast. Andrew had put more money in our Bangkok Bank ATM account, so we could stay and rest at Traveler Inn.

What had happened was that we had set our ‘Primary Goal” to reach Chiang Mai. Our stay there had been busy meeting people, after the long walk from Uthai Thani. We did this in 26 days, walking for 15 days and 518 kms, which is an average of 34.5 kms a day. Too much. Chiang Rai was still 200 kms north and Mae Sai another 60 kms, so we still had a long way to walk. We needed to completely rest and re-set our goals for Mae Sai and re-generate our enthusiasm and energy. We had also found a nice hotel, which we liked and this made the decision for us. William slept for 16 hours. By Saturday we both felt much better and we went for a walk in the countryside to talk to and meet the animals, who all were William’s friends. Amazing William!

http://www.doyouwalkthetalk.com

Yours truly,

Escati Tiger Team Walking For Thailand.